Cameraphone Photography
There’s an old photographer’s saying: the best camera is the one you have with you. The day you’re faced with a photo op and your multi-megapixel wonder machine is stashed in your sock drawer at home, you’ll be thankful if there’s a cameraphone in your pocket a cellphone with a tiny, built-in lens that takes tiny, built-in pictures.
Of course, cameraphones don’t have all of the handy settings that you’ve come to adore on your digicam, but they can still take perfectly good shots. Here’s a look at the most common cameraphone settings and how they can help you take better pictures.
Cameraphones are designed for moderately close portraits. Head-and-shoulders compositions usually turn out well. But avoid super-closeups: The wide-angle lenses built into most phones can distort your subject. Compose your portraits as shown here; you’ll get the shot and keep your friends.
1. Picture size.
This option gives you the choice between two resolution settings: large and small. (They would be more accurately labeled small and smaller, but that wouldn’t fly with the marketing department.) Choose large, which is usually about 640 x 480 pixels. You can’t make a very big print with these images, but they’re just right for emailing.
2. Effects.
You may get a menu of oddball settings called effects. Here you can change from normal color photography to things like sepia, black and white, or even negative, which is perfect for that X-ray look you’ve been yearning for. Generally speaking, don’t bother with the options in this menu; shoot your pictures in living color. You can always add an effect later on your computerwith much greater control.
3. Self-timer.
Often considered the best way to include the photographer in family group shots, the self-timer is also a great tool for getting sharp pictures in less-than-perfect lighting. Rest the camera on any steady surface, compose the image, activate the self-timer, and press the shutter button. The camera counts for about 10 seconds and then shoots. (As usual, the steadier the camera, the sharper the shot is.)
