Makes a perfect photo on the iPhone: a lesson from The Verge

The Verge at Work - a series of site The Verge of articles about how to do something and do it perfectly. Today we will focus on how to create stunning photos with your iPhone. The author of this article, Jordan Oplinger, warns all the advice and solutions, which will be discussed, based on his personal experience and subjective, however, controversial moments, we can always discuss comments. Enjoy reading.

I have always loved photography and have always believed that the best camera - the one that is always with you. In the age of smartphones this statement is more relevant than ever, because now the camera is always in your pocket almost everyone. I have many years I was smart and downloaded them many applications for capturing and today Day the perfect combination for me is my iPhone 5S and a dozen photoappendices for all occasions life.

The App Store has hundreds or even thousands of applications for capturing and processing images. I am a long time, "sat" on PhotoForge2 and PictureShow, then moved on to SwankoLab and Noir Photo, where there are tremendous opportunities for vignetting (approx. per. - blackout pictures edges). In fact, every application is perfect to cope with one or two tasks that makes me constantly to import and export photos from the app in the app. But the result, fortunately, is always worth it.

survey

It begins with the order to make the picture itself. You can adjust the exposure, select the color temperature and increase the sharpness even during processing, but you will be much easier, if the photo will be done right from the beginning. Focus and exposure - here are your top priorities. When you are not sure that properly focused - move the focus and take another shot. And one more.

Of course, there are a huge number of applications, alternatives to the standard iOS camera, but I think its capacity is enough in almost all cases. There is a grid (turn it on, if not already included: Settings> Photo & Camera> Grid), which does not allow me to forget rule of thirds. I do not always follow this rule, but that the grid allows me to violate it knowingly and not accidentally.

Also, I like being able to fix the autofocus and exposure. Press and hold the frame in a specific area of ​​the composition, and the application itself will calculate the focus and exposure, ignoring the rest of the areas. This is very handy if you, for example, photographing silhouette at sunset in front of or close the window.

There are applications that provide the opportunity to share the exposure and focus to tune them separately. Sometimes it can be useful, but they lose in speed. When you need to take pictures of fast standard cell has no equal.

HDR

iPhone 5S has the best photomatrixes in the smartphone market, but it is - nothing compared to the equipment of professional cameras. This becomes obvious when the iPhone faces a high contrast scene - details, shadows and shades are lost. And then comes into play HDR. The program combines two identical images (do not move the camera!), In one of which the exposure is too high, and the other - low. The result is truly amazing. Many uses it to create unrealistic images, but I like to use it to compensate for the shortcomings of the mobile camera. The standard function is not bad, but I have chosen for myself for a long time ProHDR - this app is really capable of much.

The process is incredibly simple: two runner in front of you - a drag to the light point, the other - to the dark. Do not choose the maximum values, it can make the picture contrast and too unnatural. Stay 80% and taking photos. From the first time may not be possible if you, for example, slightly move the camera or subject is moving.

Treatment

Previously, it was a real torture - sharpening in a single application, the contrast - in the other, and in the third - the use of filters. But all of this behind us, I, like many before me, went to VSCO Cam. Large selection of options, and most importantly - the ability to choose the intensity of the filter. By the way, very beautiful and stylish filters. I literally fell in love with this app and now almost all do it is there.

There are all the steps from capture to publish. The library is ideal for importing many photos simultaneously, remove the same or unsuccessful, to celebrate the good and, of course, to make them even better.

Sharpen:

More often than not, the first thing I sharpen. Of course, this is not a good habit, but this is what gives me to understand how "perspective" that photo. Gain 1 or 2 - is enough, but if you have suffered a setback with the focus can be even 5 or 6 a try. Try. The more you increase the sharpness, the more noise there is in the photo, and do not forget that what looks great on a clear mobile screen may not live up to expectations in the display more.

Exposure:

With exposure also should be careful, 1 or 2 in the desired direction - this is the maximum. Of course, you can get to save some too dark (or vice versa) photo, but it is the exception rather than the rule.

Temperature:

Color Temperature - a setting that many people underestimate. However, it can greatly improve the results. For example, photos can be made to seem natural in natural light, as long as you do not go into the room. When artificial light they will look too warm, but the temperature setting you can easily fix it.

Using only these three settings, you can significantly improve the image. They are, in my opinion, the main. Besides these there are a dozen, but they should be used with caution and in cases where it is really needed.

filters

In addition to free, in VSCO have filters that need to buy for the money. I recommend that you do not skimp and buy to start "launch bundle". Once a filter is selected, I once again I go to the "Tools" to adjust the contrast and saturation (and often they need to be reduced to a filter to look more natural). Sometimes I set up in the shadow of "shadow save", to return the items, which have become less clear after the filter overlap. When the photo looks the way you want it - just import it to the gallery (save to camera roll). You can directly from VSCO Cam send photos in Instgram, Twitter, Facebook, Weibo or email.

"Film 0"

You made a photo, process it using multiple applications and posted, for example, in Instagram. Let me guess, your gallery became even more unnecessary copies of the same photo? Some aspire to an empty e-mail box, but personally I dream of an empty gallery iOS.

Many applications promises you cope with the chaos in your albums, but none of them can not be called perfect. Everpix was close to it, but, unfortunately, he is no more. I use a combination of Google+ and Flickr. Google+ automatically saves every frame made in full resolution me that really calms and gives confidence that a good frame will be lost forever. Processed photos I post to Flickr, where terabyte of free space enough for everyone. Then, delete all of the "Films" - clean and tidy.

In conclusion, I want to say that the way we do the photo on their smartphones - is constantly changing. New applications come out every day, each of them could theoretically change the entire process or just part of it. In addition, there are new smart phones. Products such as the Lumia 1020 and Galaxy Camera are betting on the photo and define the future of mobile imaging.

Clear, sharp and nicely processed photos.

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