You may be aware that NI Cockapoo Club ran a very successful PHOTO CHALLENGE in April. Our members loved it so much we have decided to do it all over again!
This time around it’s going to be even bigger and better – with a TWIST! So in advance of it starting in AUGUST we are doing a series of blog posts to help you prepare for the challenge and get your photography game on!
Today we are sharing top tips for taking better pictures with your smartphones. You don’t need to own a fancy camera these days to get some great images of your doggies! Thanks to technology and an array of free editing apps available you can take high quality images and edit them yourself at home.
But taking great images on your phone is a lot more than pointing and shooting. So here are a few top tips to improve your smartphone photography skills…
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TIP 1: Turn on the GRID LINES to line up your image
One of the easiest ways to help improve on the quality of the photos you take with your phone is to turn on the gridlines so you can properly set up your shot. This allows you to break an image down into horizontal and vertical thirds (9 grid squares in total) and is better known as the ‘Rule of Thirds, a common principle of photographic composition. The theory is that if you place point of interest at the points of intersection or along the lines, then you will have a more naturally balanced image.
To switch the grid on …
- iPhone: Go to “Settings” > “Photos & Camera” > and then switch “Grid” on.
- Samsung Galaxy S5: Launch the camera app, go to “Settings”, then scroll down and tap “Gridlines on.”
TIP 2: Avoid using ZOOM function
It’s actually better to get closer to your doggie (if you can!) than using the zoom function on your smartphone. Zooming can blur the quality of the image. If you can’t get close enough you can crop your image down afterwards using one of the many apps available out there (another blog post about apps coming soon!).
TIP 3: Be aware of your BACKGROUND
Too many things going on in the background of your image can make it look busy and then you loose focus on your subject – your doggie! Many of the best images have the focus on the dog, plus its easier to get your composition right when your image only has one subject. Tap the screen of your smartphone to focus the camera on your dogs face and use the negative space behind them to your advantage so it helps make your dog stand out more.
TIP 4: Use NATURAL LIGHT wherever possible
The best time to get good quality images is a not in the full summer sun. Too much light will make your image overexposed. Same goes with using flash on your smartphone! Avoid the flash! The best time to get good images is an over cast day – the clouds act as your natural light defuser and your images will shine!
TIP 5: LEADING LINES
A leading line image naturally draws your eye into the picture, from one part to another. The example below shows a dog running towards the camera and the edges of the path are leading your eye towards them and the owner following behind. These sorts of images are great for creating a sense of depth and they can make your images look extremely well composed! Think staircases, pavements, even a path through the woods.
TIP 6: Try taking sneaky CANDID snaps
While posed images of your dog are great, sometimes getting a candid photo of them captures the emotion of the moment better! One of the best way to get a good quality candid shot is to take loads of pictures. You will have loads of images to choose the perfect one from and sometimes its just that one second that counts to get the shot of your doggie with their tongue out, giving you a cheeky grin or perhaps the look of shock on their face when you’ve caught them getting up to mischief!
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Feel free to leave a comment below as we would love to hear what you think about these tips. Perhaps you have some others tips of your own to share too!
The PHOTO CHALLENGE starts on 1st August 2019 and is exclusively for CLUB MEMBERS ONLY. If you would like to take part to be in the chance to win some amazing prizes then click here to join.
In our next blog post we will be talking about ideas for getting creative with your doggie images!
NI Cockapoo Club 