🐶 The 2024 Dog Photography Awards are here: Cuteness overload! A white shepherd named Kooki is first place in the “Portrait” category, but the pups in “Action” stole my heart. There were thousands of entries from over 60 countries. Don’t forget to check out the honorable mentions tab. If you need another reason to smile, check out my Abby ready for Halloween.
Android tip: 7 surefire ways to take better photos every time
There’s an amateur photographer inside each of us. For years, iOS devices constantly outperformed many Android devices regarding camera quality and built-in camera modes. But that’s changing.
Now that Android phone cameras are punching up with better hardware and software, you can take stunning photographs like a DSLR camera. This guide will teach you how to unlock the features in your Android phone, frame your shots and make share-worthy photographs that look highly professional.
Keep reading for tips and tricks to help you capture the best photos possible on your Android phone.
1. Basic tips before you start taking photos
Before you can flip into photography mode, we should get a few things in order first. Do these quick setup tips so you can focus on the fun part without running into problems.
Clean your camera lens with a microfiber cloth
Microfiber cloths are excellent because they won’t scratch lenses. Wipe down your lens for 10 seconds to clear any dust or debris. Always store your phone in a case or bag that minimizes the risk of scratching the lens.
Find your camera specifications
Your camera specs will impact what type of photos you can take. Find out what megapixel (MP) resolution it takes pictures in and if it has a high dynamic range (HDR). Optical zoom will also be helpful; the digital zoom is not. You’ll find the specs in your phone’s manual. Don’t have it on hand? Tap or click for thousands of free manuals online.
Double-check your storage
With the correct settings enabled, high-quality photos quickly add up and take up a lot of space. Check your phone’s internal storage and take a practice photo with your correct settings. Check the photo file size to give yourself a rough idea of how many you can take before you run out of storage space. You can always expand your phone storage with a micro SD card.
Now that you understand the basics let’s move on to some pro photography tips.
10 tips for using Windows’ built-in photography apps (no extra downloads required!)
Who says you need a paid service or heavy software to store and edit photos? Unless you’re a professional photographer who is trying to work on client images, there’s no need to pay for a photo editing service.
Instead of wasting money, turn to your trusty Windows computer. Many free programs come pre-installed with any new PC, including photo apps.
The Pulitzer Prize is the biggest award in journalism, and two winners this year used AI. Was it to … A.) Write their first drafts, B.) Analyze aerial photography, C.) Survey police files and/or D.) Generate images? Two are right!
Organize your messy photo collection in 6 simple steps
Almost everyone today has a high-powered camera in their pocket and can take photos with reckless abandon. The days of “I wish I had a camera to capture this moment” are over. While it’s great to be able to take as many photos as you want, the drawback quickly becomes clear.
Never heard of Google Collections? It makes sharing links, images and plans a snap
Google is a divisive company. Maybe you love the ease of Gmail and how easy it is to find anything you want online.
Or maybe you get a shiver up your spine thinking of all the data the search giant has on you. Tap or click to see everything Google knows about you.
Tech how-to: Colorize old black-and-white photos
Does your family have a collection of vintage photos you’d like to modernize with color? Maybe you have some old black-and-white pictures to which you’d like to add color for creative effect.
No matter the why, transforming an image with the addition of color can make all the difference in the world.
The world complains about these consoles, mobiles and laptops the most
They say the cream always rises to the top. On the opposite side, the scum sinks to the bottom. For every beloved Apple and Android product, there’s an equally-loathed item that users vent about on social media.
Electronics Hub wanted to see which devices people complain about the most. Its team created a complaint detection tool that analyzed thousands of tweets that mentioned popular tech products. They used Twitter because it’s usually the No. 1 place people go to when they want to scream into the social media void.
A shady new side-hustle earning people $10K in a week
Who doesn’t want to earn extra money, especially during these difficult times? People have taken on side gigs during the pandemic or discovered new careers.
With remote work becoming so prominent, there are more ways to make money without leaving your house. From sitting on a virtual jury to transcribing audio, the opportunities are there if you know where to look. Tap or click here for some tips to get you started.
Tech tip: Convert your old film negatives into digital photos
Preserving old photos, films and videos is an art form in and of its own. If you stumble upon a cache of old film negatives, you may start to research the best preservation methods. If so, prepare to be blown away by what you find.
How to take great photos with a cheap camera or smartphone
Just how money can’t buy happiness, expensive cameras can’t always capture good images.
Good photography has never really been about the equipment. Cheaper cameras are less durable, which makes them less reliable. That’s why professionals are willing to invest in nicer gear. But the secret to capturing amazing shots is actually all about techniques and perspective.
Photography tip: How to shoot a winter landscape
If you consider winter the most beautiful time of year, you might want to capture it on camera. That can be tough when you’re new to photography, though. There are all sorts of harsh elements for a newbie to balance, especially the intense light caused by snow reflecting the sun.
Need some extra cash? How to make money selling photos
If you’re a photography enthusiast, you’re likely familiar with all those stock photography companies. And you know you can sell your photos as stock images.
But that’s not the only way you can make money through stock photo sites.
9 ways to take better photos with your same old camera
Anyone in the creative community can tell you what it’s like to hit that visionary wall. It’s the moment you’re staring at that blank page and ideas refuse to come to mind. You just can’t figure out where to start.
Take better photos with these genius tips
Every year people snap tons of photos. Scroll through your phone’s camera roll or grab your digital camera to see just how many you take. If your photos are out of control, it’s time to set aside an hour or two to clean them up. Tap or click for Kim’s three-step process.
Access a million free, high-quality images for any project
Content is the backbone of the internet — and few pieces of content are more important than graphics. They allow us to share what we’re feeling without words, create an atmosphere and attract bigger audiences. Tap or click here to learn some basic photo editing tricks that make anyone’s amateur photos look pro.
5 best new features in Photoshop Express you haven't heard about
When you want to edit photos, Adobe Photoshop is one of the most attractive programs. That’s for good reason: This professional software offers a ton of powerful features that help your photos pack a punch. There’s just one problem … it’s super expensive.
Photography tip: Should you shoot in JPEG, TIFF or RAW?
When it comes to working with photos, there are many container formats you may find yourself working with from time to time. This may not affect you much if you’re only saving photos from the internet to your computer in your leisure time, but it’s something photographers must contend with often.
The hidden iPhone setting that can eat up all your storage
Your iPhone camera is capable of taking incredible photos without much input from you. The camera’s default settings are more than adequate for everyday photography, so why would you mess with that? It comes down to how much effort you’re willing to put in.
5 hidden smartphone features for better photos and videos
As with any art form, photography can range from a fun hobby to a serious practice.
When it comes to social media posts, you probably just snap a quick photo and post it without much thought. But there’s a lot you can do to make your own snaps stand out. Tap or click here for three ways you can take a better photo every time.