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Improving your camera phone photos |
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While the cameras in camera phones have improved dramatically recently,
the technology is a bit more limited than a digital still camera. However you can still get great photos from your
camera phone and, unlike your digital camera, you always have it with you, ready to capture those "I wish I had
my camera!" moments that happen every day.
The following tips are designed to help you get the best photos possible with your camera phone; photos ready for
printing and sharing.
You'll find more tips and tricks that apply to camera phones, as well as digital cameras, in the
take better photos section of the
HP Digital Photography Centre. |
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Framing the photo |
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A good 4x6 print only needs between 1.3 and 2 megapixels — well within the range of a camera phone. But you need all
those pixels for the photo, which means you need to take care when framing your photo.
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Come closer |
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Get close to your subject — he, she or it should fill your viewing screen. Resist the temptation
to rely on zoom as you would with your digital camera. Digital zoom is of limited use in a 2MP camera phone. So you probably
need to get closer than you think. If you camera phone has optical zoom — this is less of a concern but you should still try
to 'zoom with your feet.' Today, only a few camera phones have optical zoom.
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Get focused |
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Many camera phones have 'fixed focus' lenses. Some have auto-focus. Find out which one you have and use it accordingly.
If your camera phone is fixed focus, then you need to understand its focus range (called depth of field) and find its optimal
focus. Take a few shots that have many items at a range of distances and then carefully look at the focus of the items to
determine where your camera is focused. This will help frame your photos and ensure the important people, animals or things
are in focus.
Other camera phones have auto-focus then learn how to use it. Some camera phones have a 2-step shutter button. Press the button
halfway down and it will focus. Then, without releasing it, press it the rest of the way down to take the photo. Check your
manual to learn how to focus your camera phone if it has auto-focus.
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Use the rule of thirds |
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There's nothing wrong with placing your subject in the exact center of the frame, but there's
nothing particularly interesting about it either. It's actually more aesthetically pleasing to place your subject off
center than mid-frame.
We're referring to the rule of thirds, a trusted compositional technique. Here's how it works: In your mind's eye,
divide the picture area into vertical and horizontal thirds (like a tic-tac-toe grid).
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Rather than placing your subject directly in the center of the grid, try placing it on one of the four lines to
create a more interesting picture. You might line up a human subject on line A or line B, for example. Or in
a landscape photo, you could experiment by aligning the mountains or horizon on line 1 or 2. Use the rule of
thirds to create a picture with a more dramatic sense of scale.
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Lighten up! |
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Good lighting is critical to any photography, but particularly important for a camera phone. That's because camera
phones usually have "slow" lenses — lenses that let in less light than a large digital camera lens.
The flash on most camera phones is usually dimmer than the flash on a typical digital camera. Try to find the brightest
location possible and avoid low-light situations.
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Avoid backlighting |
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Don't get flashy |
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If at all possible, try not using the flash. A longer exposure under natural light will give you better photos.
One useful trick is to use the self-timer. Set the self-timer mode in the camera, place the camera on something
stable, and then frame the photo. Press the shutter button (which starts the timer), and then let the camera do the
rest. Even if you're not running to get in the shot, you'll be amazed at the photos you take.
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Know your light |
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Many camera phones have the ability to set the camera for a particular type of lighting. Some cameras call this colour
balance, others white balance and some may use a term like "ambience." Check your camera phone manual to see the terms
used with your phone.
If you think the colour of your photo is off, try setting the camera to the type of lighting you are using. Most common
problems will occur inside under a mixed light scene where you get light from, for instance, fluorescent lights inside
and sunlight from windows. You may find setting the camera to one or the other will help.
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Sometimes printing is believing! |
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Even if a photo doesn't look great in your viewing screen, it might improve when printed with your HP
Photosmart printer. That's because many HP Photosmart printers have Photo Fix Technologies, including HP Adaptive Lighting and
Red Eye Removal, which can repair many of the common problems in digital photos. You see, sometimes what you get is even better
than what you see!
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Cut the clutter |
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Nothing ruins a photo like stray objects that detract from your subject. If there's a phone wire, an aluminum can,
or anything else unsightly, remove it from view by either rearranging the area or blocking it out of the frame. Also, notice
how objects in your background interact with your subject. A plant that appears as if it's growing out of someone's head, for
example, will ruin an otherwise great picture.
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Hold steady |
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Look at things differently |
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Get creative by using different angles. Get down on the ground or up on a chair, and look at your subject from a
different perspective. Take time to find the best viewpoint and take several shots of the same subject from various
angles. Remember, you can just delete what you don't like!
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Hold the "cheese" |
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Sometimes you want a perfectly posed picture, such as a portrait of the kids with their grandparents.
But you don't need to pose your subjects every time. Part of the beauty of digital photography is that it's much easier to capture
life's candid moments. So forget "cheese" and tell a joke or two! Your subjects will look relaxed and natural, allowing for pictures
with more personality.
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Choose the right backgrounds |
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