My Secret to Stunning Smartphone Photos Has Nothing to Do With Camera Quality

Have you ever heard numerous folks inform you that the one strategy to take nice pictures is by getting a greater smartphone digital camera, and now you are feeling disheartened? The excellent news is that these persons are fallacious, and I will show how one can get gorgeous pictures no matter your cellphone’s digital camera high quality.

1 Search for Symmetry and Reflections

On the lookout for symmetry is among the best methods to raise your smartphone digital camera, no matter its high quality. I really like doing this in low-light situations, particularly with synthetic lighting. For instance, I took the photograph above in an amusement park after the solar had gone down; I feel the ultimate consequence was fairly stable.

Nonetheless, you do not want synthetic lighting to create reflections. You are able to do this near most our bodies of water, particularly if you happen to’ve received some vibrant colours to work with. I may also suggest discovering reflections in puddles and different water sources after it has been raining; you may get some fascinating street-style pictures in these cases.

Symmetry, nonetheless, doesn’t must contain water. You may utilize leading lines if either side of a river or avenue look related. I additionally like searching for shapes once I {photograph} buildings.

2 Plan the Shot

FOMO is actual in images, and it is easy to assume that each second is fleeting. This may be true; you in all probability aren’t going to see a dinosaur driving a skateboard down the road each day, for instance. However when capturing static scenes, and even these with one frequent transferring topic (e.g. bicycles and boats), you will nearly at all times get a second likelihood.

I nonetheless take many extra photos than the common particular person, however I’m now making it a behavior to cease and take into consideration what I need to seize. Much more necessary than desirous about what I need to hold in a scene, I take a look at what to take away. For instance, I in all probability do not need to have a trash can in my photograph, not less than more often than not.

As soon as I see one thing that I need to embody in my picture, I will fortunately attempt to seize it. And if I fail the primary time round, I will simply give it one other try till I am pleased with the consequence.

3 Discover Complementary Colours

As you possibly can see on this photograph, I’ve used a mix of complementary colours. The pastries and berries go effectively collectively, however the inexperienced filling additionally provides one thing to the picture (and makes it look much more scrumptious, if you happen to ask me).

You may learn our full information on what complementary colors are and how to use them in design if you happen to nonetheless do not know the place to begin. These ideas additionally apply to images and each different type of digital artwork.

4 Discover Distinctive Views

Whether or not you are taking pictures in widespread spots otherwise you’ve discovered a hidden gem, realizing the best way to discover distinctive views will make it a lot simpler to take gorgeous smartphone pictures. For instance, I wished to initially take an image of town skyline within the above shot. Nonetheless, I then selected to incorporate the encircling timber as a part of the composition.

You too can discover distinctive views in lots of different methods. For instance, if you happen to’re capturing a picture from a airplane, take into account including the wing to your image. Different issues to consider embody capturing photos by way of small areas and ready for particular occasions—akin to Christmas markets—earlier than capturing your pictures.

5 Use Fundamental Composition Ideas

One of many most common smartphone photography mistakes that I’ve made previously is attempting to make issues too sophisticated. The reality is that almost all pictures that stand out wouldn’t have that many parts, and you’ll typically use lots of the identical composition ideas to get superb outcomes. For instance, within the photograph above, I used the rule of thirds.

I typically use different composition concepts, too, akin to desirous about my foreground, center space, and background. You too can consider using unfavorable area, straight traces and shapes, and lots of different types. Should you want extra inspiration, study what occurred when I tried different composition techniques with my smartphone.

6 Make the Most of Your Smartphone’s Digicam Filters

Some purists assume that enhancing your pictures is akin to against the law, and I feel that these persons are silly. Modifying is how most pictures that you simply like look the best way that they do. The great factor about having a smartphone is that you do not even want to purchase complicated software program. Filters are a implausible place to begin, particularly when you have an iPhone.

The filters I take advantage of will differ considerably relying on the kind of image I take and what its colours are. I will typically take into consideration any further enhancing I need to do, and the way the filter will complement these. Aside out of your cellphone’s native filters, there are many different methods to get Instagram-style filters on your smartphone. Even if you happen to do not need to publish your pictures on-line, you should utilize these ideas to make them stand out.

7 Take Plenty of Photographs

The primary motive why I am good at taking pictures nowadays is as a result of I’ve taken effectively over 20,000 photos. I began taking images extra critically in 2017, and even earlier than then, I already had a substantial quantity of labor to look again on. If I had by no means picked up my smartphone digital camera (or my mirrorless/DSLR cameras), I might not be excellent.

Studying images will not be too totally different from another talent. You have to have a progress mindset and consider that you would be able to take higher photos. Simply as importantly, you must exit and truly take some photos. Should you do that for a number of yr, you will advance faster than you thought doable.

8 Do not Be Petrified of Blurry Photographs

When you’ll typically need to keep away from taking blurry photos, you possibly can typically use this impact to your benefit. Studying how to use motion blur in photography is a good way to point out how rapidly one thing is transferring in entrance of your predominant topic, and it is a wonderful strategy to seize cinematic-style pictures.

Blurry images is one thing that you will have to experiment with, and it may be fairly difficult. Nonetheless, I do not assume that it’s best to routinely dismiss an image simply because it isn’t 100% sharp.

9 Choose the Proper Lighting Situations

One other manner that I take higher smartphone photos no matter digital camera high quality is by selecting the correct lighting situations. All of images is about lighting, and if you happen to’re selecting occasions of the day that are not very interesting, you’ll battle to take the varieties of images that you really want.

Once I’m out with my smartphone digital camera, I will usually take pictures when the lighting is softer. It is also, usually, a good suggestion to seize a picture together with your digital camera pointing in a distinct path from the sunshine supply. Nonetheless, if you happen to want to get artistic, you possibly can take lens flare photos with your smartphone.

You do not want a flowery smartphone digital camera to take higher photos; a lot of your outcomes will rely on how you utilize the instruments you have already got. At all times take into account your lighting situations, study the fundamentals of composition, and do not be afraid to make use of your smartphone’s digital camera filters.