How to take good photos. Basic rules for taking high-quality photos from a smartphone. The golden ratio rule

There are many events in the life of every person that you want to leave in your memory for a long time. This is why we love photographing them so much. However, it often happens that our photographs turn out unsuccessful, and it is even embarrassing to print them. In order for the photos to turn out beautiful, you need to master several important rules, the main ones being golden ratio and composition.

Special attention You need to pay attention to choosing a camera (phone), but you should understand that this is just a tool in your hands. Think about it, why do people get different pictures when they are in the same place? The photographs may differ so much that outsiders may think that the photographs are of different places. It is clear that it is not only a matter of the camera (phone), but also the personal skills of the photographer. After all, if you know what a street shot and composition are, and also know a couple more rules, then you will be able to do very beautiful photos, which you won’t be ashamed to show to others by posting on social networks or hanging on the wall.

Composition

If you are thinking about how to take a good photograph, then the first thing you should learn is the rules of composition. Composition is the harmonious arrangement of objects in a photograph. It makes the photo look more cohesive and also takes on meaning.

In order to see the composition, you need:

• choose a suitable point for the frame (walk around and see how the object will look from different angles, because even a slight shift can change the photo for the better);
• choose the correct arrangement of objects in space.

It rarely happens that a photograph has a good composition from the start; more often than not, the photographer needs to create it himself. Every time you take a photo, pay attention to the composition, and then, after a certain time, you will be able to feel it automatically on a subconscious level.

This is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. To increase the level of perception of composition, you need to master several fundamental rules:

1. Separating the subject from the background elements.
2. Framing and perspective.
3. Balanced frame composition.
4. Guide lines in the frame.
5. The "golden ratio" rule.
6. Simplicity of composition.

Of course, these rules won't help you take a beautiful photo without some creativity, so take them as guidelines. Below you will see more detailed description each of them.

Separating the subject from the background elements

Photography is a two-dimensional space, so in our perception the foreground and background are combined into one. Try to separate the background from the subject itself so that they overlap less. Make sure that the object does not blend in color with the background. Choose a more neutral background. To avoid awkward shots like those where a person has a palm tree growing out of their head, always pay attention to the objects that are behind you and simply change the angle.

Framing and perspective

Framing involves choosing the boundaries of the frame. For this purpose, you can use both objects located in the background and those located in the frame itself. Cropping is very important because it helps give the photo depth and additional focus on details. Thanks to this, the photo turns out more voluminous and vibrant. Let's say a photograph in which a boy is running is framed by the line of the clearing and the side trees, so it turns out to be more lively and voluminous. If this photograph had been cropped in such a way that only the boy and the line of the clearing remained in it, then it would have turned out less interesting and “flat”.

Balanced frame composition

This is necessary for the photo to be harmonious. You can balance the composition using another object (if the additional object does not distract from the main one), the color components of the photo, shadows or play of light. For this rule you need to use your creative thinking.

Guide lines in the frame

Lines. They are always in the picture. Sometimes the lines are clearly expressed, an example is a road heading into the distance, or the horizon. More often, lines are created by the objects themselves, located in a certain way in space, through which you can draw a conventionally straight (smooth) line or get an interesting geometric figure.

It can be used both to compose the plot of a photograph, to emphasize it, and to add harmony. A good example a line that emphasizes and, as it were, directs to an object, can serve as a road leading to a building. Another example of a line that adds harmony to a photo is a directed sunbeam. Interesting photos are obtained when a line (usually a geometric figure) is used as a plot. For example, several people are presented as some kind of figure. Flash mobs are often held in which a large number of people are created a certain image.

The golden ratio rule

For correct location objects in the frame use the “golden ratio” rule. Its essence is to mentally apply a grid to the frame. The stack consists of three horizontal and vertical lines evenly spaced in space. Once you have visually outlined the frame, position the target object(s) along one of the grid lines or at its nodes (at the points where the lines intersect).

Example. Imagine a sailboat against the sunset. If you place it right in the center, the photo will be boring. If you apply the rule of the golden ratio, the photo will immediately become more interesting, and you will see a beautiful sunset reflected in the water.

Most often, a sunset located in the center will look ugly, since the photo will be visually divided into two parts, and the accent of the photo will also be unclear.

If you are taking a photo of a static object, then take the frame not from the front, but at an angle, and also leave space in the direction where the object is facing. It is important that there is a sense of space in front of the object. If you are photographing a person, ask him to turn halfway towards you. If you are taking a photograph of a building, then take the frame so that the facade is not parallel to the plane of the photo, but is at some angle.

Simplicity of composition

Simplicity is important when photographing a specific subject. It consists in allowing the subject to occupy a dominant position. That is, so that, when looking at a photograph, a person pays attention precisely to the object. To make the composition simple, you need to follow three rules:

1. Choose one subject, as otherwise the viewer's attention will be distracted, which may disrupt the composition.
2. The subject should fill a large area of ​​the frame.
3. Choose the simplest possible background that does not contain distracting bright elements, thereby focusing attention on the object.

Example 1. You want to shoot a sunset. Then why would you include part of the bush in the photo?

Example 2. You want to withdraw beautiful building. Then why would you turn on a part of a car that is parked in the parking lot?

Take the photo in such a way that the viewer can understand the purpose and meaning that was put into it. Secondary parts should be included in the frame in such a way as to complement it, and not distract from the main idea.

However, don't make the mistake of thinking that a simple frame consists of just one subject! The point of keeping the composition simple is to make it stand out. Thus, the viewer will pay attention first of all to the object itself, and only then to others that complement it.

There are two tricks you can use to highlight:

1. Play with scales. Do more for the main object in relation to the secondary ones.
2. Shoot a specific subject.

Another secret is the location of the subject in the frame. Surely everyone has a photograph where he (she) stands against the background of a monument, and the person’s position is strictly in the middle of the frame. Such photographs are not interesting primarily because it is not clear which of the objects is the main one. To figure out which photographs are best to take, you should not place the subject in the middle of the frame, this makes the photograph boring. Try to move the subject away from the center to make the photo more vibrant and natural.

How to take a good photograph so that the object in it is located at the correct point? Here we need a look into the future. For example, if you are shooting a moving subject, then try to make room in front of it (in the direction of its movement).

Selecting a location

How to take a good photo? The above rules will help you. People often worry about where they will get the most beautiful shot. If you are just a hobbyist and are wondering where to make nice photos, then do not forget that we take pictures as a keepsake, capturing pleasant moments of our life. So don't agonize over this issue. If you see a place you want to remember, just take a photo!

General rules The tips listed above will help you figure out how to take good photos with your phone. This is relevant, since recently computers and cameras have been well replaced by phones.

Various programs will help you with the question of how to improve the quality of photographs. At the moment, there are a large number of programs and applications for processing and editing images. Rules for taking a good photo in Photoshop:

1. Darken the highlights and add light to the shadows.
2. Use vignettes and shadows.
3. Use the clarity and sharpness settings to understand.
4. Use filters.

So, we have briefly decided how to make good quality photographs in Photoshop.

However, these are not all pressing issues. If you are thinking about how to take a good photo on Avatar, then give preference to those pictures where your face is clearly visible, those where you are happy and beautiful.

Phone cameras have improved significantly over the past few years, thanks to improved sensors and smart image processing. The multi-camera revolution also brought improved zoom capabilities and depth of field that had hitherto only been found in DSLR cameras.

However, having a good camera is only part of the road to success. The rest depends on the photographer, so we are publishing these few tips on how to take beautiful photos on your phone, which you may not have known about.

Shoot a lot...

Once I was engaged in professional photography and came to the conclusion that the difference between a good and a bad photographer comes down to the number of pictures taken. Do you agree that if you take 100 photographs, there will definitely be a few photos that everyone will like?

So next time you take a photo, don't be lazy and click the shutter again, it should become a habit. Thanks to the excellent function Reserve copy Google Photos, the pictures taken will not fill the device's memory. A slight change in position, focal point or angle when shooting and there will be plenty to choose from in the future.

Try burst mode or 4K recording

Burst mode is very convenient to use when shooting children, group shots (there will always be someone who asks to retake), athletes or home devices. Play with the shutter speed, a short shutter speed (about 1/1000) will literally freeze time, and a long shutter speed of 1/15 will allow you to get artistic blur.

I also recommend trying to shoot 4K video and then choosing a frame to take as a photo. The easiest way to do this is to press the camera's shutter button while filming. There are several pre-installed video players (for example, Samsung) that allow you to frame while playing a clip.

If your phone doesn't have this feature, try a third-party app like AndroVid.

Find out everything about the camera in a smartphone...

This is one of the most valuable tips. Whether your phone is old or new, take the time to learn all the features of the camera app. After all, you can’t seriously talk about taking beautiful photos from your phone if you shoot everything in auto mode.

Take the cameras in Huawei phones for example, tap to focus the camera on the subject, and then drag your finger out of the focus area to exposure. Any brand of phone has such hidden functions, Nokia and Samsung they are available after clicking on the “plus” icon in the camera mode menu.

Install a third-party camera app

The stock camera app isn't always perfect and may not have many features. In the shop Google Play There are a huge number of decent camera apps from third-party developers.

These applications will provide more advanced settings, which will give you more space for creativity. If you want a camera with manual controls and a histogram, try Footej Camera. Do you need a camera with a built-in editor? I recommend Candy Camera. Even if you don't need the features available in third party applications, they can still take beautiful photos easily.

Regular readers should be aware of the unofficial camera app. You won't find it on Google Play, but it's a fantastic app (if your phone has support). Another app worth checking out is Open Camera.

Still using flash?

Smartphones have made great strides in shooting in low light conditions, so in principle, you can practically not use the flash. Very often, flash ruins what could be a really cool photo.

In fact, most flagship smartphones can shoot without flash most of the time. So, the next time you shoot at dusk or indoors with poor lighting, try taking a few pictures with flash and a few without.

Of course, there are times when you can’t do without a flash, but again, this doesn’t stop you from experimenting. Just remember that many professional photographers specifically shoot darker photos because they can be more dramatic. Dark images can also be more memorable than lit ones.

Know when and how to properly shoot in the sun

A rule of thumb is to try not to photograph people in the sun. Of course, there are exceptions, for example if you want to create silhouettes or just experiment. However, try to let the sun illuminate your subjects rather than directly hitting the camera.

Speaking of the sun, I recommend trying to photograph during the so-called golden hours (just after sunrise or before sunset). Try it, and most likely it will be in the pictures gorgeous colors. Everyone knows that the sunset itself looks great in pictures, and I'm sure you'll get some great pictures. Also try focusing on the horizon and sky to get really gorgeous colors.

Turn on the grid and use the rule of thirds

One of the main techniques in photography is to use the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds involves dividing the camera's viewfinder into nine sections. All phones have a camera grid, find it in the settings and turn it on.

This rule is based on the fact that key objects should be ideally located at the points of intersection of lines. Choose which objects are the most important and try to place them along the intersection lines.

Obviously, following this rule will take you a step higher as a photographer. But you shouldn’t get too hung up on this, in some cases you won’t be able to use them, for example, if you plan to use your photos on Instagram.

Use HDR more often...

Nowadays, almost every phone has an HDR mode, which combines the best parts of three frames taken at different exposures. Using this mode will give your photo more detail in the shadows and highlights of the scene. Some phones have an automatic HDR mode, while others need to enable it manually (for example, Huawei).

HDR is best used with landscapes and city scenes, where the combination of bright skies and dark shadows can ruin the photo. If you don't use HDR, you may not be able to see what's in the shadows in the photo.

The processing speed of HDR images has increased significantly over the past few years, but with the advent of AI cameras, this mode has become less relevant. Since it is not always possible to see the difference between HDR and a standard photo taken with an AI camera. But it is still relevant in most budget phones. When shooting HDR, keep your phone still a little longer than when shooting normally, otherwise the photo may turn out blurry.

Google's Pixel phones show that HDR photography (or rather HDR+ mode) is very useful when shooting night scenes. So this mode is not limited to daytime scenes only.

Explore Manual Mode

Manual or Professional mode may seem like one of the most difficult features for beginners. But, besides reading articles about him, one of the most simple ways learning everything about manual mode means taking the time to learn it yourself.

Here are some quick tips for using manual mode.

• Long exposures should be used in the dark, but the camera should be held still during this time.
• ISO is light sensitivity. The lower setting should be used during the day, and the high setting in the dark. With too high level the picture will be noisy, i.e. very grainy.
• Aperture - how large the gap in the shutter is; the amount of light entering the matrix depends on its size.

Just remember that when using long exposures, the phone must be as still as possible otherwise the frame will be blurry. When shooting, try to fix your hand as much as possible or lean on something and hold your breath, then the blur will be minimal. Place your phone on a stationary surface and use a timer to eliminate any camera shake. Or you can try the following tip...

Buy a tripod for long exposures

Long exposure photographs in most cases turn out gorgeous and show more detail. The point is that the shutter opens for a long time and if the camera is not fixed, this will lead to inevitable blur. Some phones, such as the Huawei P20 Pro, use AI stabilization, allowing you to take photos with shutter speeds of up to 4 seconds.

One of best solutions is to buy a tripod for mobile phone, with its help you can shoot with long shutter speeds and absolute stabilization. You can buy a good tripod on AliExpress, for example, a Xiaomi selfie stick, it costs about 1,200 rubles. Even if you don't plan to use a tripod, a selfie stick is always useful.

Clean the lens before shooting

The lens glass often plays second fiddle to other phone features such as aperture, sensor resolution, and a second camera. But this is also one of the important factors when it comes to quality photographs, since low-quality and dirty lenses ruin the picture.

So make it a rule to wipe your lens before you start shooting. Of course, a sleeve is not the best option and it is better to carry a microfiber cloth with you. Once you get into the habit of wiping your lens before shooting, you will notice that you will take more good pictures.

Use the auto-correct feature in Google Photos

Google Photos is more than just a photo backup service, as it has a variety of photo editing tools. These tools let you adjust everything from lighting and color to applying filters and changing orientation.

However, despite all these options, I recommend just using the “auto” option (click on the “Change” button, then click “auto”). Once applied, the photo will look aesthetically more pleasing than the original photo.

Install a different photo editor

Google Photos has many photo editing options, but you can install another photo editing app. For example, I am a big fan of the Snapseed photo editor from Google.

The editor has a large number of tools, ranging from RAW editing and S-curve support, to changing head tilt and white balance. It also has filters, cropping and auto-correction capabilities.

Remember you can always trim

Back when I first started shooting with my phone, I had an aversion to cropping photos. I think this was due to the fact that earlier phones had cameras with a small resolution and after cropping the photos looked terribly noisy. However, one of the most obvious tips is to simply crop out what you don't need in your photo.

Nowadays phones shoot in high resolution and after cropping the image quality does not deteriorate. Therefore, do not be afraid that you will capture unnecessary things in the frame; you can always cut them out. If you didn't think about the rule of thirds while shooting, you can implement it after shooting by cropping the photo.

If you want to become a successful blogger, it is important to understand that a blog is not just what you write. Yes, written content is definitely important, but posts with beautiful photography should also be included. This is especially true for some blogs (for example, fashion, travel or food, etc.), where success and marketing depend on visual effects. Either way, images in your blog posts will improve readability and optimization. search engines(SEO) of your content.

Here are some photography tips you can use to create a beautiful website:

1. Camera and accessories

Smartphone cameras in last years have become very good, and you can absolutely easily take beautiful photographs using them. However, when comparing photos taken by a good smartphone camera to an average one, there is still a significant difference in image quality.

If you are serious about your blog and want to make money from it, then it makes sense to invest in new photography equipment. You can buy a good digital SLR camera at a discounted price in some hardware store, place an order online or order from another country.

Depending on the kind of photographs you will be taking, you may also want to purchase several accessories such as: a tripod, which is a must to keep the camera safe while taking pictures, or a lens. DSLRs have a universal lens, but you can upgrade to more specialized lenses if necessary.

2. Natural light

Natural light is generally considered to be the best lighting you can use for photography. Try to take photos outdoors during the day, and shoot indoors with the curtains open to let in the sun's rays.

Different lighting creates different effects in your photos. Very beautiful photographs are taken at dawn, when the sun rises, and in the evening at sunset, when it sets; photographers call this the “golden hour” or “magic hour”. If you're taking photos when the sun is shining, see what effects you can get from shooting like this. For example, if the camera is pointed directly at the light source, then you will get a “backlight”, often used in silhouette photography. A flash is generally not needed for daytime photos, and it's best if you can find other light sources for night shots as well. Because flash often results in poor quality photos.

Don't be afraid to experiment with light and shadow, it can make for an amazing photo shoot.

3. Lots of photos

If you've ever looked at a blogger's Instagram photos and wondered why their photos look so perfect and yours don't, there's one thing you need to understand: You're only seeing one photo out of many carefully selected photos. They take dozens of photographs, but only the best ones are shown. Professional photographers usually take hundreds of photos of their photo shoots.

You don't have to get everything right in one try. When you take photographs, experiment with different positions and arrangements, and play with the angle and angle of the shot. Even minor adjustments can create a completely different picture.

The main reason to take a lot of photos is that they will give you a lot of opportunities. Have more photos than you need instead of “ good options” of those that exist. Also, with more shots, you increase your practice and train your eye on how to take better pictures.

4. “Live” photos

Staged photographs may look fake, staged and may not resonate with viewers. In such cases, it's the little touches needed or the little missing elements that will evoke emotion when you look at the big picture.

It's easy to give your photos more life. For example, photographing a street scene in a city as people walk, talk, laugh, or otherwise go about their day. Good live shots require getting creative. Perhaps instead of taking a photo of your friend sitting at a table in a cafe, you take a photo of him taking a sip of coffee. And if you need photographs without people, then elements of the processes of what is happening or living decor are important here, for example flowers, burning candles, pouring water, etc.

5. Negative space inphotographs

Negative space is a great way to bring more focus to the theme of your photo. Without enough negative space, your photos can appear cluttered, leaving viewers unsure of what they're supposed to be looking at and what they're trying to convey.

In photography, negative space is the “free” space surrounding your subject. To make better use of negative space, you need to consider the entire scene when you take a photo, instead of focusing entirely on one subject. Just like with lighting, seeing negative space is a skill that comes with practice and experience, learn more about it and start using it to your advantage.

6. Finishing touches, editing and filters

Often the difference between a good photograph and a great photograph is the editing and processing. A little editing can fix small problems and improve elements of a photo. Lighting, sharpening and contrast are basically all aspects that you can use in your editing program.

Adobe Photoshop is software for professional photo processing, but you can also use paid and free online image editing services. Whatever program you choose, spend some time learning it so you know how to use all of its features.

And remember, dear friends, that you don’t need to be a professional photographer to create great photos for your website or blog. With the right equipment, a basic understanding of photography and enough practice, you will notice that the quality of your photos will improve dramatically, and as a result, your images will take their rightful place on your website, and therefore on the Internet.

Steps

Composition

Find the shadowed side of the face. Look in the mirror or take a test photo and see which side of your face is further from the light source and therefore looks darker. Take your photo from this side to achieve an artistic effect and appear slimmer. In bright sunlight this technique may not work.

Take creative photos. Instead of a traditional frontal self-portrait, try taking an artistic photo with a completely different composition. Here are some ideas:

• take a photo in profile, that is, from the side;
• photograph only half of the face – left or right;
• Take a close-up photo of an eye, lip, or cheek.

1. Don't place your face strictly in the center of the frame. Best photos usually built according to the rule of thirds. This means that the eyes (the compositional center of the portrait) should be one third vertically from the top border of the photo and to the right or left of its middle. The photo will be more interesting, and the angle will probably be better.

   Keep the camera away from your face. The lens distorts objects that are too close. Selfies are usually taken with the camera or phone held at arm's length, which is a very short distance, and therefore the nose often looks larger than it actually is - definitely not the effect you want to achieve.

   • If you want to take close-up photos, it's better to use the optical zoom and shoot from a greater distance. You can also take a waist-length or full-length photo, and then crop it.
   • If your camera has a timer, prop it up against something stable, set the timer, and step away. This photo will most likely be more successful than a handheld selfie.

2. Use your phone's main camera. It is more convenient to photograph yourself on front camera smartphone, but the main one allows you to take much better pictures.

   Place a mirror behind the camera. Taking photos is easier when you can see yourself, so placing a mirror behind your camera or smartphone will help you achieve a better pose or facial expression. Make sure your smile is natural!

   Ask someone to take your photo. This is not always possible, but it is preferable to have someone else take your photo. You'll be able to focus on posing without having to think about holding the camera and pressing a button at the same time.

   • Ask a friend to take your photo. He may tease you a little, or he may ask you to take a photo of him too.
   • If this is happening at a holiday or other event, ask someone present to take a photo of you (and your friends, if you came in a group). It's better to be someone you know, or at least someone who seems trustworthy, so your phone or camera doesn't get stolen.

Poses

1. Avoid double chin. One of the ugliest features that a bad photo can give you is a double chin. This can usually be avoided by elongating your neck and moving your chin slightly forward, away from your body. It will seem strange and awkward to you, but in the photo it will look just right.

   Straighten your shoulders. Slouched shoulders and poor posture don't look good on anyone, so move your shoulders down and back. This will give you a more alert look, visually lengthen your neck and thereby improve your photo. You can slightly raise one shoulder or turn it towards the lens, rather than standing in an even, static position.

   Change your attitude. If you take a lot of self-portraits and post them online, and you look serious in all of them, without exception, you may seem overly serious and even boring. Try to fool around and take a funny photo. When you allow yourself to relax and have fun, you can suddenly end up with a surprisingly good shot.

   Face the camera at an angle. Instead of standing strictly frontal in the photo, try turning your face or whole body slightly. Experiment to find your sweet spot. If you stand half-turned in the photo in full height, this will make you visually slimmer and emphasize the curves of your body.

   Don't look directly into the lens. Even if your eyes are your most beautiful feature, try looking away from the camera to make the photo more interesting.

   • You can still make your eyes pop by opening them wide and looking over or away from the camera.
   • Try not to look away too obviously. Looking slightly away from the lens will make it seem like you don't know you're being filmed. If you look away even thirty centimeters from the camera, it will already look like conscious posing.

2. Show emotions. Sincere emotions are usually immediately visible on the face. A forced smile usually doesn't make you more attractive. So if you pose for a photo smiling, think about something really nice or funny.

   Dress appropriately. If you're taking a self-portrait for a specific purpose, think about how you should dress.

   • If you need a photo for work or for a page on a professional network, choose clothes in a discreet, business style and a simple, neat hairstyle.
   • If you're taking photos for a dating site, you can wear something bright or funky, but don't dress too sexy (this photo will immediately show that you're trying your best to look sexier!). Hair doesn't have to be perfect; let it be casual, but show that you pay attention to your appearance.
   • If the photo is for your social media page, think about how people will perceive you. The choice of clothes is very wide, but a dirty T-shirt is still not the best choice for a selfie (unless, however, you demonstrate that you just returned from a twenty-kilometer hike).

3. Don't do duckface! The so-called duckface (a face with duck lips) - lips folded into a bow and stretched out as if for a kiss - has become boring to everyone and has become an example of bad taste when taking selfies. There are plenty of other, cuter facial expressions.

Situation

Shoot in natural light. Natural light is always preferable for photography. However, direct sunlight, especially at midday when the sun is directly overhead, is not ideal for portrait photography: you don't want harsh shadows on your face!

• If you have a choice, it is better to take photos on a cloudy day.
• Indoors, try to take photos near a window, in natural light (but not in direct sunlight).
• If you must use artificial light indoors, avoid fluorescent lamps and overhead lighting. You may get more favorable lighting if you turn off the ceiling light and turn on desk lamp and sconce.
• If you're shooting with direct overhead lighting (whether natural or artificial), use flash to fill in shadowed areas so your photo doesn't have shadows under your nose or eyes.

1. Check the background. When posting a photo on the Internet, you are unlikely to dream of the fame of the person who captured himself against an absurd or indecent background.

   Think about visual frames. The photo can be more interesting if the composition forms a kind of frame. Here are some ideas for such visual frames:

   • pose in a doorway;
   • hold the camera in two outstretched hands, not in one;
   • stand between two objects - for example, trees or bushes;
   • Grasp your chin or prop it up with your hand to create a visual frame underneath.

Editing

1. Zoom into the desired area. If you want to highlight a part of your face or body, use a photo editing app to zoom in on it and save the edited version. Most smartphones and computers have photo editing software, many of which are very easy to use.

   Crop the frame to remove any excess. Any unnecessary or ugly parts of the photo should be removed by cropping. If you took the photo with one hand, it is better to remove it from the frame, as it will look large and not very attractive. If the hair is standing on end, remove it at least partially. You are not obligated to show the photos to anyone the way you took them: edit them first, then post or send them.

   Use a filter. Most photo sharing sites have a built-in filter option. With their help you can change the shades, contrast and brightness of your photo. Try different filters until you find the one that works best for your photo.

   Retouch the photo. In addition to programs and applications designed for photo editing in general, there are applications specifically designed for portrait retouching. These programs can help you remove red eyes, remove pimples and blemishes, even out your skin tone, and more to perfect your photo.

Today we will tell you how to take photos with your phone correctly. Although some rules are quite applicable for shooting with a camera. If you use our tips, your shots will definitely improve. You will be able to stand out among the stream of completely identical pictures on Instagram or any other.

Professional photographers know that the horizon line must be even if it is present in the frame. Previously, this was a big problem - you had to track the position of the air bubble in the level on the tripod. Now it’s enough to turn on a special mode, which can be present in both the smartphone and the camera. It consists of either displaying a digital level or showing a grid of nine rectangles. With these auxiliary tools, you can notice in time that the horizon line is slanted.

Cropping with a 3X3 grid

However, the horizon line should not be flat in one hundred percent of cases. Sometimes you can take a beautiful photograph by deliberately blocking the horizon. This is required, for example, when filming action scenes. You should also remember that modern cameras have high resolution. If detail is not very important to you, then in the future you can crop the photo in any graphics editor. This way you can easily correct the horizon line.

The background should not spoil the picture

But this rule must be followed strictly. What is meant here is not that the background should not be disgusting. No, theoretically you can even take photos at a landfill. You need to not let the background spoil the picture. What does it mean? For example, inexperienced photographers may photograph a person in such a way that a tree branch appears to be growing from his head. If you are observing something like this, ask the person to stand a little to the left or right so that the tree is out of the way. The person’s body and head should clearly stand out against the background of all other elements of the photo!

Note: The blurred background is called “bokeh” by professional photographers. Lenses are often chosen based on how beautifully they blur the background. Of course, this only applies to portrait optics that have a minimum focal length.

Don't use digital zoom

At one time, we managed to get used to the fact that digital cameras allow us to zoom the picture. But such a device uses optical zoom, and therefore the picture quality hardly drops. Smartphones are only equipped with digital zoom. And many of us continue to use it. But in vain! This practically kills the image, destroying clarity and detail. Stop using digital zoom! Forget about him!

If you read about, you will notice one pattern. Recently, more and more devices are equipped with a dual camera. Some of them have lenses of different focal lengths. If you have such a device, then optical zoom is available to you. You can use it without any worries.

Flash doesn't always help

If it’s dark around you, you’ll have to use a flash to take pictures with your smartphone. Typically one or two bright LEDs are used. Some people are lazy to turn off the flash, using it absolutely always. This is completely wrong! Firstly, when taking photos regularly, it drains the battery. Secondly, it focuses on the details around it, rather than on the object itself. Thirdly, there is uneven lighting in the frame. And some flashes also spoil the skin color, which is completely unacceptable when shooting portraits.

Use flash only when absolutely necessary. Even professional photographers try to shoot in natural light. And if they use a flash, it is especially powerful and with a large number of settings.

Don't forget about HDR

Nowadays, almost any phone has several shooting modes. Among them you can often find. In this mode, the smartphone takes two frames with different exposures. Then they are mixed into one photo, the automation eliminates too dark and very bright areas. If you don’t overdo it with the exposure difference, you can get a very beautiful photograph in which there are no indistinguishable objects.

You need to use HDR when shooting scenes in high contrast conditions. For example, without HDR, you might end up with a photo of a room where the window has turned into a bright white blur because the lighting behind it is much brighter. Also, without HDR, it is difficult to get a high-quality photograph of a building if the sun is directly behind it.

The church in this photo would have looked very dark without HDR.

Remember that each smartphone handles HDR mode completely differently. It all depends on the camera module, RAM and processor. Some devices are not equipped with this function at all. Others in HDR mode require you to hold the smartphone motionless for a couple of seconds. And only a third work perfectly, taking both frames almost instantly.

Adjust exposure

Many smartphone owners prefer to shoot in automatic mode. Moreover, they only use the shutter button without knowing about any camera settings. This is an unforgivable mistake! For such people, pictures often turn out too dark or too light. And all because the exposure was not adjusted during photography.

In short, exposure is the overall brightness of a photo. Usually the smartphone sets the correct exposure, but sometimes it still makes mistakes. If you see that the phone wants to take a photo that is too dark or very light, then you have two options:

• Try aiming at something else to get a normal picture. After that, keep your finger on the screen. By doing this, you will lock the exposure - now it will not change until the moment you take the photo.
• Try manually adjusting the exposure. Each Camera app has a different way of doing this. The exposure changes downwards (decrease in brightness) and up (increase in brightness) in 1/3 stop increments.

On the right are the white balance, ISO and exposure settings

Whatever method you use, you will be able to get a frame with exactly the brightness you need. It’s even easier for owners of smartphones that can shoot in RAW format. They should not be afraid of overexposure - in the future these images can be properly edited in a special program. But very dark pictures will still be worthless - if you increase the brightness through the program, the digital noise will increase.

Use burst shooting

Just five years ago our advice would not have included this item. The fact is that previously it took a smartphone a long time to form an image. But now the processor power is enough to create two or three frames in one second. This type of shooting is called serial shooting. It should be used when photographing dynamic scenes. In burst mode you will definitely not miss the most beautiful or funny moment!

But you should not use this mode on an ongoing basis. The fact is that after each shooting in burst mode, you will have to spend some time deleting unnecessary frames. You won’t store dozens, hundreds, and subsequently thousands of almost identical photographs? Also, when shooting in burst mode, you won't be able to adjust the exposure. In short, use this mode only when shooting some action scenes.

Don't forget about the panorama

Some landscape photos don't turn out beautiful when taken in normal mode. Try using the Panorama mode. In it, the device automatically creates many pictures, combining them into one wide image. In particular, this is how 180- and even 360-degree panoramas are obtained.

A typical panorama stitched from several photographs

You can also take several shots of a very wide landscape yourself. You can combine them into one image using a computer - you will need Adobe Photoshop or Kolor Autopano Giga.

Don't forget about physical buttons

Most often, smartphone owners take pictures using the virtual shutter button. But in this case, the device oscillates, which can cause the photo to be blurry. If you want to learn how to take beautiful pictures with your phone, then try to remember that you can use physical buttons. Of course, not every smartphone now has a separate shutter key. But instead, the volume buttons perform the same function. Most often, they operate in exactly the same way as the shutter button on a digital camera works. You hold down the key - the device focuses, then the button is released - a frame is created.

Use a timer to take selfies

The easiest way to take selfies is to use a timer or voice command. In this case, at the moment of creating the frame, the device will definitely not move. And everything will be fine with clarity if you use a separate Bluetooth button (it should not be on). But let's talk about it in a separate article.

Rule of two thirds

Earlier we mentioned a special item in “Settings”, after activation of which a 3x3 grid appears on the screen. It will help not only level the horizon. With its help you can make your photo more artistic. The fact is that a person’s gaze most often falls at the intersection of these lines. Therefore, it is in these places that the most important objects should be located. For example, you can place the heads of people, birds or anything else in them. Of course, this doesn't apply to every photo.

Use filters wisely

You shouldn’t add one filter or another to all your photos. First of all, you should think about whether the photo can do without a color filter altogether. Now people understand that most often the presence of a filter indicates that the smartphone used to take the photo has a very bad camera.

Filters may even be available in the Camera app.

In many cases, filters do not decorate the photo, but only hide some important details. We are all already tired of how many photos are supplied with different filters. Their abundance in in social networks starts to irritate. If you want people to pay attention to your photos, try to apply filters in the rarest cases.

Summarizing

If you have carefully read this article, then get ready to forget about thinking about which phone takes better photographs. Now you understand that, first of all, the beauty of a photo depends on the photographer. If you follow the tips above, you will get good shots even with an 8-megapixel camera.