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How to Improve Your Cameraphone Photos

by Thomas Houston on September 17, 2008 at 01:21 PM



While cameraphones have been blessed with additional megapixels over the past few years, it's still tough to get a halfway decent shot with one. Sure, you could buy a dorky add-on lens for your phone (which won't guarantee good pictures), or you could keep in mind a few simple tips when you whip out your cameraphone to snap a spontaneous shot or two.

Popular Mechanics recommends three easy areas that can improve your cameraphone shots: lighting, composition, and steady hands. Of course, most cameraphones don't have a built-in flash, so you'll want to optimize your lighting as much as possible. Popular Mechanics recommends you keep the surrounding light shining on your subjects for a good shot, so you might need to move yourself around to get decent lighting. If you're outside and it's extremely sunny, you'll want to keep the sun behind you.

You've probably heard of the rule of thirds (a classic photographic principle where you break down the frame into 9 parts), but to keep it simple, just think about creating interesting compositions: Move your friends out of the center of the frame, keep the horizon near the top or bottom of your screen, and look for interesting balances of lights and shadows.

Also, keep it steady. Cameraphones are notoriously fickle (especially in low light), and your pics will turn out better if you stay still -- Popular Mechanics says you can stabilize your phone by propping your elbow against something solid (for example, a wall or a table).

We'll add one of our own: Get closer! You've probably heard this as a tip for regular cameras for years, but we promise it will help -- fill the frame with your subject, whether it be your friends on vacation, your kids at a sporting event, or a funny pet snapshot. Very few cameraphones actually have an optical zoom, so take advantage of the limitations of your phone and move in closer. Finally, please stay away from the digital zoom -- if will merely make your pictures even more pixelated.

Looking for some more photo tips? Check out our one-on-one interview with a pro photographer at the US Open. [From: Popular Mechanics]

Tags: cameraphone, photography

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