PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Phone photography is very common and widely used in day to day lives. Unfortunately, most pictures taken with smartphone cameras end up being of poor quality, which in some part is due to a poor quality phone camera, but sometimes it is due to poor photography techniques, or lack of. That is why there are some basic phone photography tips I want to share below.

1. Ensure your Lens is Clean.

Have you seen professional photographers with their cameras? Yeah, they do not allow dirt onto their camera lenses. Your phone camera is the same. You put your phone in your pocket together with your tissue, handkerchief, ‘mwakenya’, pieces of paper, sweets and all those other things you are thinking of right now. When you want to take a picture, the lens is full of dirt and dust particles. You touch it with oily hands after eating, or touching your hair, leaving prints all over it. All these interfere when you try to take a picture. Therefore, clean your lens with a soft cloth to ensure clear view.

2. Focus.

This is basically ensuring that your image is in sharp focus. When you click on the screen of your phone, a small square appears green. When not in focus, the image can appear blurry. To ensure this, you might need to get close to your subject. At times though the image becomes blurry when you are too close so you might need the space. ​​​

This is what happens when the camera is too close to the object.​

​there is just enough space between the camera and the object.

Zooming an image by pinching or stretching two fingers on the phone screen might seem to bring an image closer. But it is good to pretend it does not exist as it reduces the quality of the picture fast. You can take the photo then crop it for better results. If there is no other option, you can then zoom.

3. Exposure.

This is all about the brightness and darkness of an image. When you touch the darkest part of your photo, exposure is adjusted that the photo brightens. If you touch a bright part, it darkens. Some phones allow manual exposure adjustment which is better than the automatic one.

Lighting of the image can also constitute exposure. If your object is well lit it makes a nice photo. In the dark, one might use an alternative source of light other than the natural ones.​

An alternative source of light can create an intriguing shot.

Some phones even have a flash for the camera. I would highly discourage the use of the flash since most phones just have glorified LED flashlight. These have been given a task they are not meant for and thus are sometimes too bright but fail to freeze the action in the frame. The ‘flash’ is too long creating a blurry image that is terribly lit. They are also close to the lens therefore causing the Red Eyes most of the time. In a low light situation, choose an alternative source of light as it may even create an interesting picture. You can still use the flash if there is no other option.​​

​The first image has been taken with the flash and the second one without.

4. Composition.

No, it is not the primary and high school composition. It is the photo composition. It is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art, as distinct from the subject of a work. Not only does it affect how the picture looks like, but also how the viewer feels about it. 

One of the main factor in composition is the rule of thirds. It involves naturally dividing the image with two horizontal and two vertical lines. You then position the important elements in the scene along these lines or at their meeting points. It makes a good composition that causes your photo to be eye catching. The idea is that off centre composition makes an interesting shot. Some phones have the grid lines that can be used for guidance. When you have mastered the rule, then you can break it at times.​​​

Grid lines guide you to create an off-centre image.

This is an example of an image following the rule of thirds.

Another element is lines. Our eyes are drawn to lines so they help lead the eye to the main subject of the picture. They direct attention deeper into the image. Different types of lines add a different feel to the image. Horizontal and vertical lines tend to feel static, diagonal dynamic and curvy or wavy are both dynamic and gentler.

Space, another important element, makes the subject of the picture stand out. Negative space reduces distractions from the subject. Distractions may arise from colours in the background too so it is not just about empty spaces. On the other hand, a picture with a lot of details can be interesting to look at too.

Frames are another element of composition. They could range from anything to everything that surround your object from trees to your own hand. They, too, focus the eye to the main subject of the picture.​

​The trees create a frame for the setting sun and the moon.

Patterns and repetitions too bring out the interesting composition as they are eyecatching. They could also help in leading the eye to one subject.

Reflections and shadows are good elements to use as they make an intriguing image.​​

​The water creates an amazing reflection making it eyecatching.

5. Editing.

Editing is best done to pictures already taken. If you filter your images it limits the editing options. For example, a picture taken in black and white cannot be edited into colour but that taken in full colour can be turned to black and white. Therefore, take your shots in colour as it gives many editing options if need be.

6. Steady your camera.

When taking your shots, ensure that your camera is steady. This helps you avoid blurry shots especially in low lit situations where the camera has slow shutterspeed to allow more light to hit the sensor. You can do this by holding the phone with both hands or by leaning the hand with your phone on a steady object. Some phones like the iPhone have stands which can be used to hold them. Another solution is to set the camera on selftimer mode and place it on a good surface.​

The above are the most basic photographic elements. Now that you know them, try them out. And as you learn, share your experience, cause that, that’s how it is!