Photography Tips · Part 3
Sometimes a disappointing photograph needs a small practical fix. A fingerprint on a phone lens, focus on the wrong branch or a hurried press of the shutter can spoil an otherwise promising picture. The good news is that none of those problems requires a shopping trip.
Begin with the lens
Check your phone’s camera lenses before taking pictures. Use a suitable clean microfibre cloth and gentle care; avoid gritty fabrics. With a separate camera, check the lens or protective filter too. A little attention here is particularly useful when bright light makes smears obvious.
Choose what needs to be sharp
For a butterfly, you might choose the head or the most important wing detail. On many phones, tap that part of the screen to choose focus. On a camera, check where its focus point falls; do not assume it has selected the same subject you have.
The exact phone controls vary. Apple’s guide to setting up an iPhone photograph explains its focus and exposure tools. You can learn one useful control at a time.
Give the camera a steady start
Hold it comfortably with both hands where possible, keep your elbows reasonably close and press gently. If you use a support, make sure it is stable. A self-timer or remote shutter can help avoid the movement caused by pressing the button, but cannot stop your subject moving.
Long zoom makes framing small details possible, but it also magnifies the effect of a shaky hold. If your picture looks soft, check both focus and movement rather than immediately blaming the camera.
Take a second to check the edges
A close flower photograph can still be distracted by a bright leaf or an awkward cut through a neighbouring bloom. Move slightly, leave a little breathing room and check again. It is often easier to improve the frame now than repair it later.
Try this: a three-check routine
Before your next five photographs, repeat: lens, focus, edges. Afterwards, enlarge the important part of each picture to check its detail. Viewing only a tiny thumbnail can hide both success and mistakes.
Try a little more
If your camera offers a choice of focus modes, compare a single focus point on a still subject with a tracking or continuous mode on something moving. Check your manual for the available options. Keep the exercise small enough to see what changed.
My Lumix can be controlled from my iPhone through Panasonic Image App, which I find excellent. We will use that setup again when looking at garden photography.
Photography Tips: All eight posts · Previous: Learning to see a photograph · Next: Making the most of light
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