The accessibility of mobile photography has led to a rise in the number of people taking photos and sharing them online. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is a photographer.
Many are discovering they have the potential to create artistic, quality images with their smartphones. This trend has prompted the formation of a growing body of mainly instructional literature on the subject.
Know Your Camera
A smartphone camera can be a powerful tool to explore the world around you, capture memories, and express your artistic vision. However, it’s important to understand how your mobile camera works so you can get the most out of it.
Almost every smartphone has a built-in photo editor that allows you to tweak your work and create some really amazing photos. You can do anything from correcting lighting to adding a touch of sharpening. Plus, many of these apps offer a range of presets that you can use to achieve different looks with just a tap.
Another easy way to improve your mobile photography is by using gridlines to balance your composition. These lines superimpose themselves over your image and are based on the “rule of thirds,” a common technique for creating visually appealing photographs.
Get Close
When taking pictures, it can be tempting to zoom in on a subject. However, doing so will often result in a grainy or blurry photo. Instead, try to get closer to your subject physically. This will not only ensure a better quality image, but it will also make it easier to crop or manipulate later.
It’s important to capture all of life’s big moments – birthdays, holidays, and first times. But don’t forget about the small, everyday things that make up a lifetime of memories. Whether it’s sitting together on the sofa watching television or walking the dog in the park, these things may seem mundane at the time, but they will be cherished in years to come.
By following these photography tips, you can take professional-quality photographs that are sure to impress your friends and family. From improving your camera skills to creating captivating compositions, these tips will help you take better photos that will last a lifetime.
Use Leading Lines
Leading lines can be a powerful compositional element in your photos. They naturally guide the viewer’s eye to a focal point and create flow, or dynamism, throughout a shot.
Finding leading lines in the world around you may seem daunting at first, but they are actually everywhere. Bridges, roads, sidewalks, and railroad tracks can all provide strong straight lines. Natural features like bodies of water and hiking trails can also be used to create flowing lines.
If you want to create more dynamic lines, try incorporating diagonal lines into your shots. These will add an angular energy to your image and draw the eye towards the horizon. You can also use lines to create a sense of depth and perspective by using leading lines that converge toward a vanishing point.
Before you begin shooting, take the time to survey your scene for any potential leading lines. Evaluate your location and time of day – are you in a natural setting, or among skyscrapers in an urban environment? Is it late in the day, and the sun’s rays may be casting long shadows that can serve as a powerful lead line?
Shoot from a Low Angle
Shooting from a low angle is an effective way to make your subject appear bigger and stronger. This technique works great for images of people and animals, and can be used to highlight a particular feature or add contrast to the image. For example, if your model is short and you want them to look taller, standing from a low angle on the ground will make them appear larger than usual.
A low angle can also help to close the distance between your foreground and background subjects, making it easier to fit both of them in your frame. It can also be a good way to create interesting shadows and reflections, especially when you use a wide-angle lens.
The best part about low-angle shots is that they give you a unique perspective of a familiar scene. So don’t be afraid to crouch down, kneel, or lie on the floor to get that “worm’s eye view.” You can even experiment with different camera movements (pans, dollies, tilts) to further deepen your shot. This is one of the most powerful tools in a filmmaker’s arsenal.
Take Time to Compose
Having the right equipment and knowing the basics of photography can help, but a great photo is more than just technical know-how. Taking the time to compose your photos properly can make all the difference in capturing a captivating scene.
This can be as simple as following the rule of thirds, which is essentially dividing your image into thirds vertically and horizontally with important elements placed off center rather than in the middle. Another composition technique is to use leading lines, which can be literal or implied and guide the viewer’s eye toward the subject. These lines may be straight, curved or angular and can be found in both the foreground and background of your photo.
Lastly, don’t forget to record both the big moments and the small details that tell the bigger story. It’s often the things that aren’t necessarily obvious at first glance, like a row of shoes lined up in size order or the loose button eyes on a favorite teddy bear, that are truly memorable. This type of composition can add a sense of depth to your image and help it stand out from the rest.
