Better phone photographs: clean lenses, winter light and vertical panoramas
Sometimes the things that make the biggest difference to a photograph are surprisingly simple. Here are three worth trying next time you reach for your phone.
Start by cleaning the lens
Your phone spends a lot of time in pockets, bags and hands. A dirty lens can make photographs blurry or dull before you’ve even started thinking about the picture.
Give it a gentle clean with a suitable lens cloth. It’s an easy thing to overlook, and the same principle applies to those of us with rather larger cameras and lenses.
Think about where the light is coming from
When the evenings get darker, it’s tempting to expect the phone to sort everything out. Technology can help, but looking for a decent light source will usually give you a better starting point.
Notice what is lighting your subject. Try moving nearer a window or another available light, and look at how the direction changes the photograph. Even another phone’s torch can be worth experimenting with.
Turn your panorama on its head
If you use your phone’s panorama mode for wide views, try a vertical panorama too. On phones that support it, rotate the phone and sweep upwards rather than across, following the on-screen guide.
It can be useful for tall buildings and trees, or simply a different way of looking at a scene. If people are in the picture, ask them to stay still while you make the sweep to reduce odd distortions.
A clean lens, a little thought about the light and a different viewpoint: none is complicated, but they’re all worth remembering.
