Do you often think you must have a DSLR $4,000 camera to take great images? Well, its 2020 and incredible images are taken everyday on all kinds of smartphones. Here are 10 tips that can help you take your images to the next level!
All images were taken by Nechama Photography on the iPhone (5s, 7Plus, X)
Tip #1: Rule Of Thirds Ever heard the concept “Rule of thirds?” That plays an important role in photography.
Turn the grid on and use it as a guide. When taking an image look for the merges of lines ones on each side. Try to get your subject in the area of the circles.
When the main subject is placed in the general rule of the red circles shown in the first image. The eye gets pulled in to the image, having something to land on. Which turns the image into a story pulling the viewer in willing them want to stay.
Tip #2 Lines Rule of thirds does not apply when it comes to lines. Lines are powerful, wonderful. When you find interesting lines right there is your opportunity to take out your phone and get the picture of a life time.
Lines in itself can be what turns an image into interesting. It is helpful when lines lead to something, however they don’t always need to.
Lines are so often right in front of you. It is your job as a photographer to catch them!
Tip #3 Tell a story Take in your surroundings and tell a story. Use lines, negative space and rule of thirds to draw the viewer into the story. Force the viewer to ask ask questions: Where are you going? What happened here? Why is this here?
The viewer may get pulled in to this image by the use of rule of thirds and negative space. However, what holds the viewers interest is questions: Where is this butterfly going? Who’s going canoeing. Is it quiet? Can I hear the birds chirping the sound of the butterflies wings.
Allow imagination to run wild!
Tip #3 Hero Shots: Hero shots can show off more of the subject, bringing out the colors and appealing more to the viewer, telling a fascinating story.
This is a small Starbucks coffee cup. Yet here it appears to be larger than a medium. Making the image more interesting. Pull on your creative strings by simply by flipping your phone bringing the cameras to the bottom close to the floor of the subject.
Tip #4 Use the sky as a background Sometimes you don’t have an interesting background. Sometimes it’s too messy. Well, life just got easier, you can always use the sky.
The sky can be a beautiful backdrop! Use the clouds to add interesting patterns.
Using the sky as a background you need to get really low. Sometimes even lying on the ground. Yet it is worth it when your subject pops out with a clean background.
Tip #5 Always have a subject A Subject is something that catches the viewers attention, that plays with the viewers mind. Something that allows the eyes to settle.
Yes, the lines are interesting, yet it’s the subject essentially that pulls you in.
Landscape photography with an iPhone can be challenging due to the issue of everything getting merged onto one blob. How to make it interesting? Find something that can be your subject and bring it to the focus. In the image above I used the orange building in the center where the eyes can travel to and settle on.
In such a large area of grass, I used the round hay-stacks to be my subject.
Tip # 6 Always Notice the Lighting: Lighting can be the tell all to your image. Essentially photographers paint with light, creating an even more interesting image. Look around there are so many carriers of light. All of which can be very useful to you. sun, window light, lamps, fire, and more. look out for all the sources around you and use them to your advantage.
Use the sun shining in through your window to your advantage. Window light can create beautiful rays of light as well as beautiful fall of of shadows. The closer you are to the window the less the shadows will be creating soft beautiful light. Pull yourself further away from the window to create beautiful interesting, unique shadows creating a story.
Know that light bounces Light is like a ball that bounces.(Reflects) It shines and bounces off any light surfaces. Buildings. water, light cement ground etc. Use that bounce to light your subjects.
Tip #7 Backlight: Turn your back to the sun to remove the harsh shadows on the face and find a light building to allow the light to bounce back. Use the sun as backlight use lighter buildings to bounce the lighting towards the face. This is especially helpful When photographing people.
Tip #8 Lookout for interesting Color and Texture Use color and texture to make the image more interesting
The image below may look like dead flowers, yet the texture it creates makes for an interesting image.
Tip #9: Creating bokeh: Take a cup and bring it extremely close to your face. Now while the cup is close to your face notice the background is blurry. That is called bokeh. The closer the camera is to the subject the more likely it is for the background to be blurred out.
Use bokeh to take advantage of color, lines and more helping your subject stand out.
With bokeh you can take full advantage of color and lines, since they are blurred out - not taking away much attention from the subject.
Use bokeh to take advantage of color, lines and more helping your subject stand out.
With bokeh you can take full advantage of color.