Camera phones have made it easier than ever to digitally capture special moments, major events or even an amusing street sign. Now that most new cell phones come with a built-in camera, taking cell phone pictures has become less a question of convenience and more a question of aesthetics. Given the limitations a cell phone camera has compared to a regular camera, you have to make some adjustments to obtain the best picture quality.
Instructions
1. Clean your lens. Chances are that the subject of your photo is something other than a massive fingerprint or a piece of lint. Soft cloths such as those used to clean glasses will do the job.
2. Adjust for lighting. Since many camera phones do not include a lighting apparatus, your pictures will usually turn out darker than what you see. For silhouettes, face your camera in the direction of the main light source. For a clearer façade, turn your back against the main light source, so you can capture the light reflecting off your subject. If possible, take the picture outdoors.
3. Photograph small subjects. For example, if you want to take pictures of your friends, it’s better to photograph one or two at a time rather than the entire group at once. Resolutions in many camera phones are limited to about 2.0 or 3.0 megapixels. If you try to zoom in on an individual face in a picture of 10 faces, the result won’t be pretty.
4. Get close but not too close to your subject. The picture will be very small, so you want to get a good shot that does not require you to zoom in to see your subject. Getting too close to the subject, however, may distort the picture.
5. Hold your camera steady, especially if the lighting is weak. Cameras tend to have longer shutter speeds to allow more light in, so brace your phone against a sturdy, stationary object if possible.
6. Take multiple shots. One of the greatest advantages of digital cameras is the ability to see a take instantaneously and, if unsatisfactory, make adjustments for a better second attempt. It’s better to judge the image on a computer monitor than on your phone’s screen, since the former has higher resolution and more options for editing.
Tags: your subject, cell phone, light source, main light, main light source
