The latest smartphones have amazing cameras but a good camera alone is not going to take great pictures. The person behind the lens still has to know what they are doing.
I have compiled 10 tips to help get the most out of your smartphone and take better pictures.
Compose yourself
Use the rule of thirds by turning on the grid lines on your camera screen. The grid is a really helpful guide when you compose your picture. Try to place the important content in the image where the horizontal and vertical lines intersect. To turn it on go to Settings > Camera > Grid section.
Get a grip
Holding your phone securely is fundamental to taking good, sharp photos. Use both hands for a comfortable and secure grip and try to use the volume buttons on the phone to take the picture, rather that the on-screen button. In low light, a small tripod will help keep things steady.
Pay attention to details
Slow down and take a close look around the screen before you take the shot. Make sure the horizon is straight and eliminate any distractions like lampposts, bins or signs. Changing your perspective a little or moving a bit closer may eliminate unsightly elements. The lighting can also be improved by changing the direction you’re shooting.
Focus and exposure
The autofocus on your smartphone is generally very good at getting the key elements in focus, but you can take control yourself. Tap the screen where you want the point of focus to be — this will bring up a little yellow box to show that it has been selected as the point of focus. And, next to or below the box (depending on your phone), you’ll see a small sun symbol — if you slide your finger either up or down, or from side to side, it will darken or lighten the image.
Make your portraits pop
Portrait mode allows you blur the background behind your subject, so it is less distracting. After you have taken the picture in Portrait mode, you can select the edit menu and with a little slider, change the amount of background blur you want while your subject stays in focus. Portrait mode also lets you apply different lighting modes.
Panorama
Panorama mode is, as the name suggests, good for capturing a wide panorama of a scene, but it can be useful for other things as well. Did you know that you can take both horizontal and vertical panoramas? A vertical panorama can be handy if you want to capture a tall tree or building, and a horizontal panorama can be very good to capture a large group of people where you don’t have much room.
![A macro shot of a hibiscus flower.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-15237208/ee23f5667250728c019c0959805552d5c7d42df8.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Go close
Macro photography is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding genres of photography. When you start looking, previously unseen details can make great pictures. Water droplets, peeling paint and textures and patterns, interesting plants and flowers can all make terrific standalone pictures, but they can also add to a picture story about a place. You can, for example, shoot a wide pic showing a landscape and some macro shots showing pretty flowers.
Look for good light
Light plays an important role in any good picture. You can take great care creating a picture with nice composition, but if the lighting is no good, it just won’t make the cut. The golden hours around sunrise and sunset always produce nice light. The soft golden hues add a warmth to your pictures and the lower angle of light is generally more flattering when photographing people — and the shadows it creates can also add a sense of drama and interest.
![Look for good light, like this picture of the Stirling Range National Park in late evening light.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-15237208/c506dfcd6ffeb5113300ec1a562eeb1cd8c91e08.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Mix it up
When you want to create a little a picture story from a place, mix it up. Shoot wide and deep, change your perspective, use different focal lengths. Look for big establishing shots, portraits, and macro. If, for example, you visit a cafe during your travels, you may want an establishing shot of the cafe, a close-up of the food or coffee you enjoyed, plus and a nice portrait of your companion in the cafe. Three or four shots like that can really help tell a story.
Night photography
Most phones have a night mode that enables you to capture some amazing shots with a minimum of fuzz. The key is to hold the phone steady for a few seconds while it captures the images it needs to produce the picture. You’ll get the best result if you put the phone on a small tripod, but any stable platform like a table or a handrail may be enough for you to rest the phone on during the exposure.
![The Sentosa Sensoryscape captured using the night photography mode on an iPhone 13 Pro.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-15237208/10983584bfc90e37a2797c6f2778904d8fbf0cc8.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
https://thewest.com.au/travel/travel-tips/10-tips-for-better-phone-photography-c-15237208