Here are some important things you need to know to take photos on your smartphone:

 

Source: Getty Images

Phone cameras have changed the way we look at ourselves and the world. People who used to spend time in front of a mirror a decade ago have now moved on to selfie cameras. It has also become a tool to capture everything from jokes to the vices of the authorities. Art and even fine art are created. Ninety thousand camera apps are available today in addition to the default apps provided by the companies that launch smartphones. There may not be so many apps in any other category. Newer phones and some apps have a lot of modes. It would be useful for shooters to know something about them.

∙ Manual or Pro mode

It is available by default on Android phones. This is a mode that gives the camera 'complete' control over many apps in iOS. Here users can select ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus mode, etc. You do not want to be frustrated if you cannot get the right pitch so invest in a good capo. While camera apps are capable of understanding their context, in many cases the user taking control can lead to many creative changes. It may seem a bit daunting but by learning you can see your photography skills rising to the next level.

∙ Night mode ...

Smartphone camera researchers, especially those behind the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd versions of Google Pixel, have entered an area that traditional camera makers have largely ignored. This is where the excellence of computational photography comes into play. Many phones, including Wow's flagship phones and this year's iPhone 12 Pro Max, now excel in night photography. You can see the modes that take multiple photos and combine them. It is often thought that taking a photo with Night Mode while holding the phone firmly somewhere without shaking may increase the benefit. Inexpensive models also have a Night Mode by name, but it is generally seen that they do not provide the quality as seen in the top models. Another method used in night mode is to reduce the shutter speed. Still, the phone should be able to move without shaking anywhere.

∙ Pro Video ...

This is similar to Pro Photo Mode. This is also included in the relatively newer models. One difference from Photo Pro mode is that you can adjust the direction of the microphone to capture sound. Contrast, highlights, shadows, saturation, tint, and temperature can also be adjusted.

∙ Slowmotion video

Many Android phones are capable of reading up to 960 frames per second! Even if you only captured the video a few seconds earlier, it may take longer to view the clip. Clips that are taken at a higher frame rate will stretch the action longer. Like the slow-motion replay seen in cricket and so on. For example, video taken at 960 seconds per second will be 'stretched' more than videos recorded at 240 frames per second.

∙ Time-lapse and hyper-lapse

Some phones offer time-lapse while some other companies offer hyper-lapse. Time Lapse copiers will ask the phone to copy a frame within a specified time. These will then combine to create a faster video. On the other hand, in HyperLap video you can choose whether you want fast video or short clips.

∙ Raw photos

This year Apple has given Pro Pro support to their iPhone 12 Pro models. But even though this phone is not in hand, third-party apps have been allowed to take pictures in raw format on iOS and Android for years. Its feature is that it captures maximum data, unlike the JPG format. The advantage of raw files is that more data is available during editing. You do not want to be frustrated if you cannot get the right pitch so invest in a good capo.

∙ Portrait mode

Portrait mode is how a person takes a photo and presents the plants, trees, and walls behind him with a slight blur. Here, too, computational photography excels. Some phones even have telephoto lenses for this purpose. Portrait mode is how the subject is slightly highlighted from the background in which he stands

Check out some of the modules that claim to be only available on their phones:

∙ OnePlus: Ultrashot HDR, Nightscape, Micro, Panorama, Cat and Dog Face Detection and Focus, AI Scene Detection, RAW Image.

∙ Vivo: Motion Autofocus, Autofocus, Body / Object Autofocus, Super Wide Angle Night Mode, Tripod Night Mode, Ultra Stable Video, Art Portrait Video, Super Macro, AR Stickers, 3D Soundtrack.

∙ Realme: Starry Mode, Super Nightscape, Panorama, Ultra Wide, Ultra Macro, Chroma Boost.

∙ Samsung: Single-Take, Super Slow-Mo, Food.

∙ iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max: Pro

(Many of these are also available on phones from other manufacturers.)

Summary: Here are some important things you need to know to take photos on your smartphone...