10 Steps to Amazing Camera Phone Snapshots
- Size does matter.
Buy the camera phone with the best camera you can afford. This gives you an advantage from the start. With camera phones, the higher the number of mega pixels, the better your photos will be.
- A clean shot.
Ensure your lens is free from any fingerprints, debris or lint. It is easy for the lens to accumulate debris if it lives in a purse or a pocket. Use a lint free cloth like those used for eye glasses to keep your lens clean. Whenever possible, keep the camera phone in a case. Phones with external lenses can get very scratched up in a pocket or purse with keys, coins, etc.
- Capture the most.
Always set your camera settings to capture the most detail and information. This means set it to the highest resolution for the highest quality picture possible. Do not use digital zoom - it makes the pictures fuzzier. If necessary, edit the pictures later on a PC to crop, zoom, change colors, and add lighting or other effects.
- Lights, camera, action!
Always try to make the light brighter. Inside a dark restaurant is not the best lighting condition. Anything you can do to increase the amount of light will help. Are there lights you can switch on before the shot? Can you open a curtain? If there is a flash, use it but don't expect too much. Today's typical LED flashes only illuminate as far as about 3-4 feet. However, the few high end camera phones with xenon flashes illuminate effectively even up to 8-10 feet. Outside daylight is best.
- Throw some light on the subject!
Always try to have the light fall from behind you onto the subject. Light coming from behind the subject will make the subject dark in the shot. This is worse for camera phones than for digital still cameras, as there is usually no sophisticated backlight function in phone cameras. If you absolutely must take a picture with a strong light source in the background use your onboard flash and bring the subject closer.
- Center it.
Try to get your subject right in the center of the shot. This will ensure the most clarity as camera phones are susceptible to fuzziness and other aberrations like reduced light at the corners of the picture. Note: This is contrary to artistic compositional advice that says to place the (focused) subject away from the center, when using digital or film cameras.
- Steady there!
Be a steady shooter. Always try, as much as you can, to reduce any inadvertent shaking of your hands, and hold the phone steady before, during and after the shot. Most camera phones suffer from shutter lag so that the final picture is taken seconds after the button is depressed. This makes a steady hand that is held longer, even more important.
- The subject in Focus - and fill 'er up
Most camera phones use fixed focus lenses and are set for optimum focus at about 18-24 inches from your subject. To ensure your subject looks sharp and in the best detail, you should be about 2 feet away. Fill up your frame with as much of the subject as possible. Anything beyond about two feet falls into infinity i.e. it falls into a range of O.K. clarity, but not super sharp. A few high-end camera phones on the market use auto-focus. These take sharper pictures.
- Action shots
These are when the subject is moving - either walking or waving or even running. These are the worst shots for the camera phone. If you have to take one, hold the camera phone extra steady. Perhaps hold your arm against a wall or table
- Plain Jane Background
Composing a good shot means bringing attention to your subject. This is easier if the background behind your subject is free from distracting clutter such as lots of small objects or other odds and ends. Choose a plain background.
- *Bonus* Cut the noise
Always ensure your camera phone is stored in a cool place before you use it. Leaving it in a hot car while you are shopping will ensure the camera sensor heats up. This increases random thermal noise, resulting in 'noisier' and less desirable pictures.
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