Getting the best pictures on your iPhone
Want to improve your holiday pictures? It’s all about the resolution you choose to take your picture with, too small and the images are grainy when you try to increase their size. We always take high resolution images as you can always make them smaller but never bigger later.
To change the resolution on your iPhone: go to SETTINGS then CAMERA then FORMATS.
On the FORMAT page choose HIGH EFFICIENCY. Slide the bar for ProRAW & Resolution Control and select Pro Default and choose ProRAW Max (up to 48MP) for best / largest images.
Taking a good Picture
A good picture is always a personal thing but you can make images better with a few tweaks.
Rule of Thirds: Use a Grid (SETTINGS / CAMERA / GRID) to help you with getting thirds in an image eg. the subject such as an animal should be at least 1/3 of the image. In a landscape the sky should be about 1/3 of the image. Place your subject off centre for more interesting compositions.
The grid also helps you make the horizon level in your photos which is always more pleasing to the eye.
Leading Lines: Use lines (e.g., roads, fences, rivers) to draw the viewer's eye into the scene.
Fill the Frame: Get closer to your subject to make it the focal point.
Consider the Background: Choose a background that complements your subject and doesn't distract from it.
Symmetry: Symmetry can create a sense of order and balance in a photo.
Natural Light: The golden hour (early morning and late evening) provides soft and flattering light.
Eyes in Focus: Ensure your subject's eyes are sharp and in focus.
Direct Your Subject: Guide your subject to look at the camera or to where you want them to be.
Get Close: Close-up shots can reveal details and create a more intimate feel.
Be Aware of Your Background: Avoid cluttered or distracting backgrounds. It’s easier to not include the trash etc. when taking the photo rather than having to process your image to remove it later!
Hold Your Camera Properly: Use two hands for stability and avoid camera shake.
Sending images on Messages
When you are sending your images via Messages remember to make them smaller by setting Low Quality Image Mode or they will take ages to upload.
SETTINGS - APPS - MESSAGES - LOW QUALITY IMAGE MODE (Almost the last item on this page, so keep scrolling down)
Editing an image in Messages
Don’t forget you can also edit an image when in Messages. Select the photo while in your message using the + on the left of the message bar. Once the photo is in the message tap once on the photo to open the edit options. Tap on the word EDIT in the bottom right. You can now adjust the image.
ADJUST allows you to change the Exposure, Brilliance, Highlights, Shadows, Contrast, Brightness, Black Point, Saturation, Vibrance, Warmth, Tint, Sharpness, Definition, Noise Reduction and Vignette.
FILTERS apply a coloured filter to your image for some interesting effects.
CROP allows you to resize your image and remove areas from the photo, don’t forget to select done at the end to save you image. This area also allows you to flip an image and rotate.
Select an image and give it a go. If you want to do this to your high res image just deselect Low Quality Image Mode before you start. Send the image to yourself and download to save it. You now have the original and the adjusted image in your photo files. Don’t forget to re select Low Quality Image Mode if you only want to send small images. This is probably the quickest way of editing a photo. If you want all the bells and whistles you would need to use something like Adobe Lightroom and will need to download your images to a computer or ipad first.
Downloading images
Downloading your images to another device is easy. For single images you can’t beat Share and Air Drop. For lots of images I would usually connect my phone to my computer and do a direct transfer.
Steps:
Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.
For Windows: Open the Photos app, select Import, and choose your iPhone as the source.
For Mac: Use the Photos app or the Image Capture app on your computer and select your phone as the source to import your photos.
Saving to the cloud or an internet drive is a great way of protecting your images for the future. Remember to delete any image that does not make the grade to save space.