Getting The Most Out Of Your Camera Phone

Many of us who have camera phones tend to neglect their potential, especially us older folks. Youngsters, with their natural affinity for technology and a desire to play with all the bells and whistles on their favorite appliance, probably do more shooting (and thus learn more about their phone cameras) than those of us who still tend to think of a phone as a voice communication device.

This was particularly true in my own case, since I have a pretty extensive background in photography with professional grade equipment, and tend to think of my VGA camera phone in sort of the same category as those cardboard and plastic disposable cameras. This can be a self-fulfilling prophecy: if you don’t expect good results, you may not make the effort to get them. One needs to remember that the photographer is far more important than the camera. I’ve seen serious art produced by disposable cameras and, while I haven’t rushed out and bought a case of them, I won’t be selling them short again.

The same is true - perhaps even more so - of camera phones, which are, after all, part of a computer system that is generations more sophisticated than the ones on the Space Shuttle. They are capable of a good deal more than casual inspection might indicate. It isn’t my intention to get into a lot of detail here, as they’re all different. Read the instructions and play with them. Most camera phones have certain characteristics in common, however, and paying some attention to those and the details of their use can pay off in memorable pictures, and fewer uninspired (and uninspiring) snapshots. Your phone’s camera is the one that’s always with you, and it pays to learn its secrets well.

1. If your camera phone has a setting for “quality” or “resolution,” set it to the highest setting. Don’t even consider bothering with lower settings unless you have one of the rare new phone cameras with 2 or 3 megapixel resolution. Then it might be worthwhile if you want to take a lot of shots. Remember, phone cameras are low resolution at best compared to even cheap digital cameras. Don’t handicap yourself further.
2. If your phone has a flash or “night mode,” be sure to turn it on if you’re taking pictures at night or in low-light. Remember that the flash is extremely low-powered, and won’t be much use beyond three or four feet. Consider using it in daylight to help fill in shadows.
3. Try to have as much lighting as possible. Turn on room lamps, overhead lights, and what have you. Put subjects next to windows. In low-light conditions, move in as closely as possible and fill the screen with your subject. This will minimize complications from dark backgrounds.
4. Take lots of pictures. Most phones have enough memory to hold several dozen, at least. You can always delete them after you’ve transferred them to your computer, or later when you can review them in the phone.
5. Unless your phone has an optical zoom feature (and most don’t), forget about zoom. Move closer instead. So-called “digital zooms” just enlarge part of the picture at the cost of quality. If necessary, you can do a better job of this later by editing in your computer. Remember this basic rule of photography: all else being equal, an original is always better than an enlargement. When you don’t have a real zoom, get up close and personal.
6. If your camera does have an optical zoom, use it as needed for general shots - but always use it for portraits. For reasons I won’t go into here, it will distort your subject less than the normal lens.
7. Always try to fill the frame with the subject. (See #5)
8. Generally speaking, mobile phones are designed for talking and texting. Their design does not always lend itself to being used as a camera, especially the clamshell models. You need to take special care to brace yourself to avoid blurring the picture. Experiment with ways to trip the shutter so as to minimize movement of the camera. A useful technique is to try to have another finger directly behind the shutter button, so that you can squeeze the button instead of pushing it. Try different techniques. It’s worth the trouble to find one that works well for your camera.
9. If you have a burst or “motor drive” effect, it can be useful for action shots. Remember, though, that you still need to hold the camera steady and “squeeze the trigger.” Even if you are panning with a moving subject, you must follow through with a smooth squeeze (and it’s harder - you have to concentrate).
10. Finally, if possible, always transfer your photos to your computer for editing and backup. It is tempting to mess around with the editing tools on the camera, applying cute frames, cropping and so forth. There are three good reasons not to do that if you can avoid it: (a) you’re working with the original, and if you screw it up, it’s screwed up forever; (b) it’s much easier to see what you’re doing on the big screen; and (c) you have many, many more editing options with even a simple program like Picasa or FastStone than you will ever find in the software carried on board the camera.

Use the tools available to you, along with a bit of knowledge and care, and you’ll be amazed what you can do.

[tags]bill’s web, bill webb, photography, digital photography, phone cameras, camera phones[/tags]