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The Gardens are a photographer’s paradise and the best camera, as they say, is the one you have with you. With nearly two-thirds of all Americans owning one, the camera you’ll most likely have with you while visiting the gardens, will be the one on your smartphone. Smartphone cameras have evolved from just being convenient to near pro-quality and with a few helpful tips and tricks, you’ll be taking photos like a pro in no time.
First, let’s go over a few housecleaning tips that are obvious, but easy to forget.
- If you see a ghost in the picture, chances are it’s a piece of dirt or dust so keep your lens clean.
- Keep your battery charged and make sure you have enough storage. Consider storing your photos externally.
Now, to get the most out of every shot, understanding the basics of photography will help immensely.
Lighting is king. Whenever possible, avoid using the camera’s flash—natural light will almost always produce a better shot with realistic color. And be sure your subject is facing the light source and you’re not.
You might be inclined to place the subject in the center of the frame. As unnatural as it may feel at first, use the Rule of Thirds instead. Break the frame into three equal sections, both horizontally and vertically—the basic concept is to place your subject or subjects at the points where these quadrants intersect or along the grid lines.
Another great tip is to move around and get up close. Smartphones are light, easy to maneuver and have a large screen making it possible to compose your image in awkward positions. Use this to your advantage. Move around and explore every angle of your subject. And for best resolution… DON’T zoom … simply step closer or crop later.
For even better close-up or distance capabilities, there are a variety of 3rd party companies offering everything from wide-angle to ultra-up-close lens capabilities. And if you’re looking for more flexibility with editing or special effects, there are many apps that will let you snap, edit, and share your photos all in one place…plus many are absolutely FREE.
Now that you’ve learned how to take better smartphone photos, get out there, have fun and take some pictures. To really take your photography to the next level, Selby Gardens offers a variety of photography classes that will help with the fundamentals of exposure and composition to techniques for cropping and editing photos or adding effects. For more details or to sign up for a class, please visit https://s33944.p20.sites.pressdns.com/events/category/classes/ or contact Marilynn Shelley at (941) 366-5731, ext. 239.