17.05.2018

How to make great smartphone photography

written by:
Alia Pupella

17.05.2018

How to make great smartphone photography

I love photography since I was a little girl, I started off with old-fashioned cameras, then passed on to compact cameras and now DSLR. DSLR has been a good travel companion, but although it makes higher quality pictures, it’s very heavy, and I now prefer to travel without it, and to shoot with my iPhone6 instead. I have worked to make up my own photographic style over the years: I prefer light pastel colours, and I research the most attractive subjects, creating a very nice-looking mix. Nowadays, smartphones allow to create pictures of the same quality as compact cameras, also with the possibility of using some advanced post-production apps. Anyone can create amazing pictures with a smartphone, simply by following some little tips. The most important advice to keep in mind: create a nice-looking composition using the rule of thirds, where the main subject is positioned at one of the four main points of the grid.

Choosing a nice subject is fundamental to create a good picture, and my favourite subjects are the sea, the colourful houses, and anyting beautiful enough to catch my attention! When I shoot, I can’t do it without these two Manfrotto products: PIXI Evo universal table tripod, and Twist Grip. Twistgrip is made of aluminium, it’s light and small, you can attach a small flash light onto it and you can mount it with the camera screwYou can carry it in your bag or pocket, you can regulate it and use it with any smartphones, even with a smartphone case on. Absolutely convenient, especially for people like me who search for comfort and lightness. You can open and close it very easily, with a simple rotation. I really find it smartly designed, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Match it with a Pixi Evo, a convenient table tripod which can be used with a smartphone, mirrorless and DSLR, and carries a maximum weight of 2.5kg. It’s made of 3 sections, so you can regulate its legs in 5 steps, to use it on irregular surfaces, and it’s perfect when you’re out and about or during a travel, when you want something comfy, light and easy to carry. Ballhead allows to shoot both in landscape and portrait mode, which is my favourite.

Besides, you can get very creative, in shooting new perspectives, shooting videos, tipe-lapses or long exposures.

To edit my pictures I then use two apps: Snapseeds and Vsco. I calibrate mt image on Snapseed, by modifying brightness, contrast, lights, shadows, etc. Then, I change details rotation and perspective to get the best results. Eventually, I use Vsco to apply filters and make the picture just perfect! This is the result i get:

La Maddalena, Sardinia. Ortygia, Siracusa. Last step is to save it before posting!

To me, photography means not just clicking and shooting, photography is passion, love, and makes you want to travel the world to discover more! I believe  there’s no greater passion than this.

Alia Pupella

Italian

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