Better photos with your phone
Q The camera phone tripod mount featured in issue #80’s Tips and Tricks column really helps me take better shots of my work. However, I’m still struggling to improve my camera phone photography. Any advice?
—Mark Clemons, Biloxi, Mississippi
A Professional photographer John Blackford replies:
Shooting with a camera phone can be challenging because of its tiny sensor, which limits dynamic range and tends to produce digital noise, especially in low light. The fixed wide-angle lens can also cause distortion when the camera is too close to the subject. Try these suggestions to improve lighting and minimize noise and perspective distortion. And remember; the best way to learn is by experimenting.
Camera settings. In your menu settings, select the highest resolution possible. Also, select auto focus, auto white balance, auto ISO, and auto contrast. These auto settings will help you initially, but as you gain more experience, try the manual controls for better results.
Camera position. To minimize perspective distortion, move the camera back until the project’s vertical edges are nearly parallel. (As a reference, select grid view in your camera settings.) Then, fill the frame using digital zoom, by spreading your fingers on the live-view image. (Note: Digital zoom or cropping reduces image quality.) Using a tripod mount produces sharper images.
Composition. Avoid shooting a project straight-on. Orient it at an angle, with the front, a side, and a bit of the top visible. Avoid distracting backgrounds or shoot against a plain light-colored wall, a suspended bed sheet, or a roll of seamless photo paper.
Lighting. To compensate for the small sensor, flood the scene with light. For best color, avoid mixing natural and artificial light. If your light source is a window, use a white poster board to reflect light onto the project’s darker side. If any highlights in your shot are “blown out” (lacking detail), adjust the exposure setting or move the lights back. To create more visual depth, begin by placing one light twice as close as the other, with each aimed in at about 45°. Then fine-tune direction and placement.
Post-processing. You can improve your images in a photo app, tweaking exposure, sharpness, color balance, and more. Adobe Lightroom Mobile lets you sync with your computer, and Google’s Snapseed offers extensive filters and lighting effects. Both apps support iOS and Android.
