Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time
We could argue forever whether gear matters or not. In some cases, it does, but if you know light, composition, and have an eye for beauty around you, a smartphone will do just fine. In fact, even more than fine!
Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) is a perfect example of what photographers mean when they say that gear doesn’t matter. The 2022 contest winners have just been announced, and they are truly marvelous examples of photography – of course, all taken with smartphones.
Common sense says you pick up the iPhone, open the camera app and just start shooting. That’ll work, but there happens to be so many settings and features hidden within these phones that stump way too many people, even some of us pros sometimes.
Thus, I was inspired to jot them all down and explain them one by one, with tips on what I think are the best settings for each one of my top 13. And I’m singling out the iPhone here because A., I’m an iPhone user, B. I think the 13 Pro is far and away the best smartphone camera on the market and C. if you’d like me to do a follow-up on Android, just say the word!
To begin, let’s assume you’ve updated to iOS 15, the latest operating system. Next, open the camera app. Here’s what you’ll see, and what I recommend.
We’ve all been there. We’re trying to get great food shots in a bakery, but the brownies and cookies are hidden behind reflective glass. Our shot is ruined!
Or we’ve paid good money to go to an urban rooftop or another location for the best view in town, only we’re stuck behind glass. Foiled again! The glass seems dirty, but it’s not. Still, it’s ruining your shot by catching the daylight reflections, your image, and any other bright objects out there.
So what to do? Thanks for asking. Because we have a common-sense solution.
The new iPhone 13 Pro has some pretty cool new specs, including a macro lens. Sure, it can be of great help for us photographers, but have you ever thought that it could help a doctor in his job? An ophthalmologist Dr. Tommy Korn has recently demonstrated how the iPhone 13 Pro’s macro eye photography helps him and his patients, and it’s really fun to see (no pun intended) how phone photography can be repurposed.
Google has launched its latest flagship phone, Pixel 5a. Once again, it focuses largely on camera capabilities and packs two rear cameras and a bunch of features for making your photos look as good as possible. It’s capable of shooting 4K at 30 and 60fps – at least on paper. In real-life conditions, it may suffer from an overheating problem after a few minutes of video shooting.
Most of us rely on our DSLR or mirrorless cameras for photoshoots. Some also take them on causal walks, while others rather rely on their phones or these casual shots. But instead of just using your phone to capture quick snapshots, you can use it to hone your skills. In this video from Adorama, Pye Jirsa talks about how taking photos with your phone can make you a better photographer with your camera.
Over the past year or so, my trusty Nikon D7000 has collected more dust than it has beautiful memories. Sure, the pandemic was partially the reason, but even with that on the side, I noticed that I more often grab my phone to shoot than I do my camera. It got me thinking – am I going backward as a photographer? Am I downgrading and degrading? In this article, I’d like to reflect on some of the reasons for the change and hopefully give some insights to all of you who may have made the same switch.
At this week’s Google I/O, Android VP Sameer Samat announced some major changes in the camera app. Apparently, Google is working to make its Android camera more versatile, more inclusive, and more flattering to darker skin tones and different hair types.
I love it when two different art forms come together to create something unique and outstanding. By combining macro photography with illustrations, Indian artist Vimal Chandran creates charming stories of a character he named “Yellow Girl.”
Mobile Photography Awards is one of those contests which prove that you can take a stunning photo even with just your smartphone. The winners of the 2020 contest have been announced, showing some of the best, most intriguing, and most interesting shots people took with their phone cameras.
FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!