Ten Tips For Awesome iPhone Photography

Are you one of the many people that have a smartphone camera without knowing exactly how to use it to better advantage? Most of the people that have them are familiar with the various filters that can be used to make pictures look great or even hilarious, but is there more that can be done with them is what many wonder?

Richard Koci Hernandez is an iPhone street photographer who sat down with CNN’s Facebook community iReport was keen on telling everyone how they too could be a better smartphone photographer. He believes that photographers do not quite grasp the many opportunities that are available to them right from their mobile devices.

Here are a few of the tips he gave:

1. Where most photographers go wrong is in failing to ensure that they have the right amount of light. Capturing an ordinary situation during early morning light or late in the evening will ensure fabulous results.
2. For close-up shots skip using the iPhone zoom feature - really avoid it. You will have to physically move closer to your target to capture the best shot.
3. The default camera will have a feature where you can tap and hold on the screen to set your focus point and exposure. You will notice a significant increase in photo quality. You will know it is working, when the box blinks. If your phone does not have this feature. There is a great app called ProCamera that will allow you to do this.
4. They always say we are our own worst critic and for photographers, this seems to hold true. It may take some practice but try to go 24 to 48 hours snapping every shot that your gut tells you to no matter what your inner voice says - you can always use the practice.
5. It may be tempting to post each and every shot you take, but this is the very worst thing you could do. If you want to grow your audience, only post the best of the best. Edit your work and then reedit those choices.
6. There is a big difference between looking at something and actually seeing it. One of the greatest tools and photographers arsenal is their powers of observation.
7. Some of the best moments caught on film had been when no one knew they were being photographed. Go for the candid shots by holding your phone at waist level and shooting as many as you can before your subject realize it’s being photographed. You may get a lot more unusable shots, but one should get the hang of it, you will get some really great ones.
8. Today’s technology is great without a doubt, but even the best filters cannot replace the human eye. Trust your eyes more than your filters. This is especially true if you’re aiming to use your photographs for journalistic purposes. If you choose to use black-and-white, sepia or any of the other creative filters that are found or programs like Hipstamatic or instagram, that’s fine too. But remember, you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
9. Becoming a good photographer takes practice and discipline. Make it a habit to assign yourself a specific tasks with a deadline. You could do something like spend a few hours taking photographs of one item from a variety of angles or make an assignment of arranging an item in an area that gets natural light and observing how the light falls on it from its various angles. This would be a very interesting photographic assignment one in which you will learn more about how light interacts with objects. It touches.
10. While spontaneity can be good in certain aspects for photographer. It is best to have a specific thing in mind when you set out to take pictures. Each day. Make a list of 10 things that you want to photograph that day. Once you’re out and about and you start to photograph that particular thing, other opportunities will naturally present themselves.