10 useful tricks to take good photos with your mobile - Happy Android

I'm going to start this post by throwing away the bit of credibility that I had left: no, I am not a professional photographer. I'm just a simple I.T. I have come to blogger, but I can assure you that I have taken many photos with my mobile, and I want to believe that I have learned something in all this time. And now comes the key question:How to take a good photo with your mobile phone? That is the point!

Not everything is Megapixels, the quality of the lens also counts

Before starting with the advice, we must bear in mind that the quality of the photographs we take It will not only depend on the resolution or megapixels that the camera has. You also have to take into account other things such as:

• Lens aperture (F): The lower the “F” number, the better it will work in low light conditions.
• Sensor size.
• Image stabilizer: Optical (OIS) or digital (EIS). Opticians are usually better.

In the end, we don't need to pay 600 euros to have a smartphone with a good camera, but it is worth taking into account other factors in addition to the useful megapixels. Xiaomi, for example, is a brand known for having one of the best cameras in the mobile sector, and their phones do not usually exceed 300 euros in most cases.

10 tips to take good photos with an Android mobile

What we will see next is a compilation of recommendations that will be great for us to improve the quality of our photos. Like everything in life, in the end it is a matter of practice, and taking a lot of photos. All this without forgetting factors or tips such as the following.

Know your camera software

It is important that we know the application that the mobile camera uses to take photos. For that it is essential that we use it and “salsee” everything we can and more. Many cameras do not usually have the maximum resolution activated by default, and that, among other things, is something that we can change in a matter of seconds.

On the other hand, if our camera does not have a factory software with many possibilities, we can always install a good camera app to have greater power over the configuration of it.

Clean the lens

This one is very obvious, okay. Of course, when cleaning the lens keep in mind that not just any cloth is worth it and that we must be careful not to scratch it. It is recommended to use a special chamois, a microfiber cloth, or a soft cotton cloth or t-shirt. The best.

Take note of the frame

Try not to put the main object in the center, and try to leave "free spaces" in the snapshot. For example, if someone is looking to the side it is interesting to leave some empty space towards the place where their gaze points.

Most mobiles also allow you to activate the grid mode: This will be great for avoiding tilted horizons and creating more stable compositions. Important!

Be careful with the lighting

It is advisable use natural light whenever possible, and avoid large light contrasts (especially if our camera is not very good). To solve the latter, a good option is activate HDR mode present in many cameras. In this way we will avoid to some extent that the lights appear too burnt and detail is lost in the shadows.

Another thing we can do, if the sun is facing us, is to cover the sun's rays with our hand, as a visor (but without covering the lens, of course).

Image stability

Another point that must always be taken into account is not to move and hold the mobile firmly. Good advice is usually find a foothold or hold the breath. In addition, we must know that cameras take the image before hearing the sound of the shutter. Therefore, we have to patiently press the shutter and hold our pulse for a few seconds.

It is also generally advisable to use a tripod. Especially at night, as low lighting suffers much more, and generates more noise when the image is not really stabilized.

Get closer and avoid zooming

In generaldigital zoom lacks quality - it distorts and blurs - and it is recommended not to use it. If we want to enlarge an image it is better to take it at maximum resolution, and then zoom in as we please with an image editor.

Another tip for a good photo is to use close-ups or photos taken from very close. Many smartphones have "macro", "detail" or "close-up" modes, settings that help optimize these types of shots.

Forget about the flash

The LED flash that most mobiles integrate have a very strong light, and they generate very marked shadows and contrasts. Flash photos subtract naturalness and flatten images. It is best to avoid it whenever possible.

Dare with plans and creative perspectives

Taking a photo from the front and at eye level is fine, but boring. Get down and look for perspectives at ground level. The plans chopped and low angle they tend to bring a more creative and eye-catching point of view. If you want to go even further, you can try even with nadir planes (from below) or zenith planes (from above).

Vanishing points and the sense of depth

Vanishing points are those lines that project to infinity and that help to give a great sense of depth to a photograph. The classic example is the image of the train tracks that are projected to infinity, but you can look for more everyday shots that contemplate this same principle. They give a very professional touch to the matter.

The image editor is your friend

Finally, we must not forget about photo editors. Android has a great offer of free image editors, for example, Pixlr and many others. Editors with which we can correct errors afterwards and retouch things like color, exposure, or adjust the frame.

In addition to these, there are many other tips and good practices for taking photos like a good "high level" hobbyist. Feel free to share your tricks in the comment area!