10 Simple Smartphone Photo Tips

BE A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER

By Dan Gould - Chief Photographer

The Samsung Galaxy S III camera has several custom controls, including flash override. (JORGE BANNISTER)

For the past 40 years I've carried my Nikon SLR or a quality point-and-shoot wherever I went. That's what photographers do. That changed three years ago when I picked up my first iPhone. Since then I rarely carry my prized Canon G11 compact camera, choosing convenience over ultimate quality for everyday snapshots.

I still break out the big guns for publication or an important shoot, but as so many others have realized, a smartphone will often do the trick. As any photographer knows, it's what you do with the camera that counts. That said, I compiled a top ten list of camera tips, with an emphasis on smartphones.

• Clean the lens: iPhones, Galaxy, Droid, Lumia, etc., all live in a dirty world, at the bottom of pockets and messenger bags sharing space with their arch enemies, lint and dust. Considering that the lens is only a few millimeters wide it doesn't take more than a crumb or a fingerprint to blur your photo. Cleaning the lens is a big deal. A soft microfiber cloth is recommended but an eyeglasses cleaning cloth or even a soft piece of clothing will do in a pinch. A gentle breath to lightly moisten the lens before a wipe can be helpful. Never use tissue or toilet paper, which are derived from wood products and will scratch the lens. 

For a steady shot, brace yourself against a solid surface, holding your elbows close to your body. Jorge Bannister, a site producer at the T&G, demonstrates the technique. Note how Jorge keeps his fingers clear of the lens. (T&G Staff/DAN GOULD)

• Zoom with your feet: Get as close to your subject as possible. Fill the frame. If you're taking a portrait there is no reason to have the subject's legs in the photo. You may not even want their arms. Avoid the digital zoom feature, unless you enjoy fuzzy, pixelated photos. 
• Never stab: Shutter buttons on touch screen phones are counterproductive. Tapping the screen causes the camera to shake and results in blurry photos. If you must use the touchscreen button, touch it ever so gently with a thumb or finger. Better yet, use the volume button on the side of the camera and squeeze. Reserve your tap and stab skills for texting or games. 
• Brace yourself: Holding your arms straight out is a recipe for disaster. Be steady, bring your elbows tight to your torso. Breath slowly and shoot between breaths. Your photos will be sharper if your brace yourself against a wall, sit in a chair or rest the camera on a solid surface, like a table. 

Most cameraphones allow the shooter to set a single point for focus and exposure. Third party apps, like Camera+, let you select individual points for even better control. (T&G Staff/DAN GOULD)

• Tap dance: Before taking your prize winning photo, tap and momentarily hold the screen on the spot where you want to lock the focus and exposure. The improvement can be stunning. Some camera apps offer even greater flexibility, letting the user tap once for focus and a second time for exposure. 
• Digit control: Fingers are not photogenic, keep them out of your pics. Know exactly where the lens is located and avoid it. 
• The horizon calls: Yes, you should always shoot horizontal and vertical versions of a given situation but consider how the photo will be used. If the photo is for the web, chances are it should be horizontal. 
• Video is not vertical: This one really annoys me, so listen up. Your TV is a big horizontal screen. Don't forget that. When shooting video, always hold your camera as if it were a TV screen and you will never suffer the embarrassment of shooting a tall thin video. 
• Flash override: Just because it's the middle of the day doesn't mean you shouldn't use the flash. Fill-in flash can brighten faces and is especially usefully when the subject is back-lit. Your flash is most likely set to auto and will only fire at night or inside a dark building. Tap the flash control, select "On" and shoot away. Keep in mind that the flash drains the battery. 
• Control overload: Fumbling with the controls as the winner crosses the finish line is ugly. Smartphones have dozens of menu items, as do the camera apps, taking time to experiment and understand the controls will vastly improve your hit rate and the quality of your photos.

Source: Telegram