The Art of Cell Phone Photography

June 25, 2008

Just about everyone has a camera with them, all the time thanks to the cell phone camera. They are notorious for taking bad pictures. It doesn’t have to be that way. Most of the new cameras are capable of achieving good results, due to the fact that cellphone manufacturers are putting better cameras in the phones.

You probably will not be able to take an image that you could print out at 13×19 and frame. You have to know the limitations of the camera. There are still some techniques you can put in your arsenal to get the best cellphone images possible.

Have Good Light - Lighting is the most important aspect in photography. Without light you don’t have a picture. The more well lit your subject is the better the quality of the image. Outside pictures are usually better lit than indoor pictures are.

Know Composition Rules - Know them, use them, but don’t be bound by them. The basic rules of composition are a guide not something to be shackled to. The are there to help make your images more interesting but don’t let your artistic ability be confined by them.

Brace Yourself & the Phone - Sharpness in photos is always a good thing. If you are shooting in low light conditions then the shutter speed of the camera will be slower to allow enough light in. That slow shutter speed will increase the chances of your images being blurry. You can counter act that by holding the phone against a wall or table. Anything stationary will work. You can put your back up against the wall to stable yourself to achieve similar results.

Break Those Stick Arms - A lot of people when taking pictures hold their arms out straight in front of them. This is a big no-no. It is not a sturdy form for photography. It will incorporate movement into the image, especially in low light situations. You should bring your elbows into your side which will add support to your arms. This will create stability which will give you a sharper image.

Avoid the MySpace Look - This is the distorted face look you get by taking self portraits with your cell phone close to your face. Cell phone cameras have wide angle lenses on them. When you take a picture with a wide angle lens close to your subject it will distort it. If you want to take a self portrait try to hold the phone as far away as you can to lessen the distortion.

Have Fun!!!!! - This is the most important tip. Photography is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. Capture those great times, and interesting moments you experience. Move around, try different angles, get different perspectives of your subject. Variety is the spice of life. Experiment, don’t take the same old boring photos.