Getting Exposure Right In Smartphone Portraiture
Nokia have published an interesting article on their blog describing how to maximize the use of exposure with their 808 PureView smartphone, (we have one of these in our lab actually and it really does take some great images). The blog explains how in the ‘creative mode’ on the 808 PureView, you can manually adjust the exposure, deliberately under exposing or over exposing the photograph. Of course this is ‘standard’ photography and these tips can be applied to whichever smartphone you have (within reason).
Exposure
Above are two images one showing the cameras ‘correct’ exposure and the other deliberately ‘under’ exposed.
Bracketing
If you bracket the exposure, allowing the camera to take three or five exposures spanning the ‘correct’ exposure with increments in either direction, this will give you a great learning tool.
The above shots show three images that have been bracketed, one over, one ‘correct’ and one under.
Flash
Of course, flash plays a key part in photography and you may find your smartphone trying to fire the flash and fill-in when you don’t actually want that effect. Just turn it off and the camera will under expose, if your subject is backlit, this will result in a silhouette portrait which to many is considered an ‘error’.
To my mind and many others, there is not necessarily a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ photograph, once you have mastered the essentials and fully understand what your camera is doing, then don’t be afraid to override it and experiment.
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
One Comment
Carlos
The model used for this article on the Nokia blog looks like she was dragged in for these images. “Deer in the headlights” expression on her face, term we use here in Texas. On their blog there are some images of her on a balcony with snow in the background. Her expression “seems” to say…hurry up…I am freezing out here! LOL-could be Adam’s girlfriend or wife. Heheheh.
My wife is not crazy when I use her as a model and has “delete” rights after the test shots.
http://conversations.nokia.com/2013/04/02/how-exposure-helps-you-take-better-smartphone-portraits/