The top versions of today’s camera phones are now almost identical to DSLRs. I can easily snap pictures with my phone that are on par with or even better than those from my Canon.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one factor contributing to that accomplishment, but it’s not the only one. Smartphone camera applications, like the Pixel 8 Pro, provide real-time controls that are simpler to use rather than requiring constant testing and adjustment. Furthermore, compared to many DLSRs, Android cameras provide greater flexibility.

However, it takes a little more work to acquire a decent picture. I want to demystify that method for you and break down certain ideas so that everyone can grasp them.

Let’s begin. I’m using a Pixel 8 Pro to show you these techniques. You’ll need to change the directions or find the camera app function on your phone if you’re using a different device.

1. Frame using the Golden Ratio

The secret to taking creative pictures is framing. Most individuals make the mistake of instantly placing their subject in the middle, particularly if you want an artistic effect. The one-third rule, which places your primary topic in either the left or right third of the frame, is the better framing choice. This method may be made much simpler with the use of the Golden Ratio.

You may make it simpler to frame your subjects by turning on a grid in the viewfinder of Android cameras. The Golden Ratio, often known as the Divine Proportion, is one grid that you may utilize that switches the grid to the one-third rule. Your topic should always be at the upper-right or left intersection of the lines when using the Golden Ratio grid. In this manner, your picture will have the ideal frame. Tap the gear icon in the lower left corner of your camera app to activate the Golden Ratio grid. Locate and hit Grid Type after tapping More Settings, then choose Golden Ratio. Returning to the viewfinder reveals the updated grid, which facilitates creative framing of your subjects.

2. Use a manual focus

The majority of individuals would rather let the camera AI do the laborious tasks. However, there are benefits to going manual. Even while the auto-focus on a smart phone is amazing, it may sometimes interfere with taking creative pictures. Instead, determine what’s crucial in the picture by using manual focus.

It might be difficult to understand auto-focus, but the Android camera app makes it quite simple by showing Peaking Active. This feature uses a fushia outline to draw attention to the main topic. You can tell a topic is in focus when you notice that color on its edge. That function makes manual focus much simpler than one may imagine. Locate and press the Focus button, then use the dial to change the focus. To use the Manual Focus option, hit the Settings icon in the bottom right of the window (or top right if you’re in landscape mode).

3. Make use of the appropriate ISO

Your camera’s ISO regulates how much light it allows in. More light will get through with higher ISOs. Less light is permitted at lower ISO values. Consider this: if you use a high ISO when you’re out in the noon light, the picture will blow out. That is not what you want to occur. Similar to manual focus, current cameras are capable of automatically determining the ideal ISO, but this does not guarantee that the images you capture will be artistically pleasing. To create a darker effect, you can choose to lower the ISO in the middle of the day. Or perhaps you’re inside and don’t want auto ISO to get too clinical. By manually setting ISO, you may regulate the amount of light that enters your images. press the Settings icon, find ISO, press it, and make the necessary adjustments to gain control of ISO.

4. Adjust the shutter speed.

The pace at which the shutter shuts is known as the shutter speed. The exposure time increases with the shutter speed. The exposure decreases with a slower shutter speed. There may be a noticeable change. For example, you may clearly see a vehicle passing by if you use a fast shutter speed to snap a nighttime shot of a busy downtown street. For a lovely artistic expression, choose a shutter speed that is sufficiently slow and produce a picture with tail light streaks.

Slow shutter speeds only have the drawback of requiring a steady hand. With shorter shutter speeds, the smallest tremor may ruin the picture, so you could even think about using a tripod. Faster shutter speeds work well in bright light conditions, whereas slower shutter speeds work better in low light conditions. Images with slower shutter rates are blurrier, while those with greater shutter speeds are crisper. Fractions of a second, as 1/150 or 1/24 (as in 1/150th of a second or 1/24th of a second), are used to measure shutter speeds. To access Manual Shutter Speed, choose Shutter Speed by tapping the Settings button, then make the necessary adjustments.

5. Take note of the white balance

White balancing is just a technique to make white photographs seem white. Because you will be taking pictures in various lighting conditions, which affect the whiteness of the photographs, this approach is crucial. Depending on the ambient or focused light, the camera app will do its best to make white seem white when White Balance is set to auto. When you prefer a warmer sensation, you may sometimes find yourself in daylight conditions, when the color temperature may go up to 6k. The white balance should be adjusted under such circumstance. Consider white balance in terms of warm and cool: the light is more amber at warmer temperatures, while the light is bluer at colder temperatures. By selecting the Settings icon, finding and tapping White Balance, and making the necessary adjustments, you may access the white balance.