Take Great Photos With Your Cell Phone

You don't have to be a professional photographer to take superior pictures with your refurbished cell phone. Plenty of admired photographers use their phones to capture their images since the idea behind the photo is much more important than the tools used to capture them. Below are some simple and insightful compositional rules of photography that can make your photos go from "nice" to "unbelievable!"

Rule of Thirds

Never center your subject when taking a photo with your phone. Instead, follow the "rule of thirds", which essentially means using your imagination and draw two lines vertical and horizontal onto your frame (what you are taking a photo of). You will have three columns across and three down (like a tic-tac-toe board). Important elements in your photo (such as the horizon, a tree, your friend, etc) should be placed either along those four lines or where they intersect. Doing so creates a better overall visual balance and makes for a more enticing photo to look at.

Foreground Interest

Did you ever notice that a boring photo of a sunset always looks more interesting when there is something in the foreground? It could be a person, a tractor, an animal, or anything else you can think of. When taking landscape photos with your Blackberry camera, for instance, try to find some kind of interesting element that you can include in your composition.

New Perspectives

The best thing about cameras on cell phones is that you can take them anywhere and not have to worry about clumsy gear getting in the way. With this in mind, don't be afraid to explore new perspectives and angles. Try getting down on the ground and take a photo of your pet at eye level, or stand up on a rock to take a photo of your friends while looking down.

Get Up Close and Personal

Rules are meant to be broken, and that also applies to cell phone photography. When taking portrait pictures of people you know, don't be afraid to take up-close photos that focus in on the detail of their expressions. Not every portrait photo has to be taken from head-to-toe, but rather you can align your frame so that the top of their heads are cropped out. This eliminates distractions and can provide a very dramatic photo that concentrates on the eyes rather than the body.

This rule applies to landscapes as well. While it is always beautiful to capture a lakeside sunset or a mountain range, look around to see what else you can find. A close-up shot of a ladybug on a flower or raindrops cascading down your car window can be just as glorious.

Despite the limitations of used cell phone cameras, you can still create magnificent and engaging photos just by following a few simple composition rules and trying out new angles and perspectives. Just remember that the only limitations with your refurbished cell phone or its camera are the ones set in your mind!

Scott Bradshaw writes articles that focus on cell phones, cellular apps, and mobile services. He encourages people to save money with used cell phones and avoid signing contract extensions by purchasing refurbished cell phones.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._Bradshaw