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Difference between revisions of "Taking Pictures with Different Cameras"
Taking Pictures with Different Cameras (view source)
Revision as of 10:44, 11 August 2023
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''Experiment with adjusting focus and brightness on various parts of the scene you intend to capture. It is the fastest way to end up with the best photos!'' | ''Experiment with adjusting focus and brightness on various parts of the scene you intend to capture. It is the fastest way to end up with the best photos!'' | ||
=== HDR or High Dynamic Range === | |||
We would like to have the highest ability to capture lighter and darker parts of our picture, but the two requirements are opposite to each other. We either strive for better details or we avoid overblown pictures. HDR or High Dynamic Range promises to change all that. However, there are many caveats. The most important is that HDR means a composite picture, a picture that superimposes the less exposed and more exposed picture of your subject. This means that some details are preserved but colour accuracy is not maintained. | |||
To compensate for colour mismatches between the lower and higher exposure snapshots, the picture is processed and ends up over-saturated. Since the result is so heavily processed and there is no way to control transformations, many pictures will end up with an artificial look. Also, it is important to be aware that such compounded pictures require more time to capture and, thus, do not lend themselves well to scenes or subjects that are not static. | |||
The above mentioned limitations are present in any camera, whether we consider smartphones, semi-professional or professional products. HDR trully became interesting, unfortunately, because it stood out from conventional photos, as some manufacturers attempted to differentiate themselves. As this tendency became common and many people enjoyed the artificial look, there is little interest to mute the picture and get closer to what the principle of HDR photos state it should be. | |||
=== Macro mode === | === Macro mode === | ||
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While potentially appealing, panorama modes present many shortcomings due to limited abilities of phone camera lenses. Curvature aberrations are highly noticeable and lead to generally poor images. Any misalignment in successive photos or changes in light affect the final outcome. It is not recommended to use this mode except for practice purposes. | While potentially appealing, panorama modes present many shortcomings due to limited abilities of phone camera lenses. Curvature aberrations are highly noticeable and lead to generally poor images. Any misalignment in successive photos or changes in light affect the final outcome. It is not recommended to use this mode except for practice purposes. | ||
=== Slow-motion and Burst Mode === | |||
Showing the movement of a subject may be interesting in some circumstances, as happens in sports, dance or when there is an interest in highlighting a well known phenomenon that is too quick for us. Capturing such scenes require cameras that are able to take quickly a set of pictures, at very short intervals. However, requirements for this type of captures are even stricter than for typical photos, as exposure times are shortened and the available picture processing times are much more limited. The result is that pictures can more easily end up being underexposed or darker than they should, or show slight focusing problems. | |||
Before cameras were able to take successive snapshots at intervals below one second, the only ability to capture subjects and movement was to use the so-called "Burst" mode. This ability commonly translated into a couple of pictures being taken in 5 seconds, usually one every second. Another additional use of this mode aims at obtaining more useful snapshots, since at least one of them may end up with a good result. Unfortunately, using burst mode in these circumstances results with more near copies of the same picture, wasting space and time. Overall, the same limitations applied as for slow-motion pictures occur for burst mode pictures, meaning that the risk of under-exposure and focusing were present. Some cameras may still provide a burst mode today. | |||
'''As a rule of thumb, most cameras will require much better lighting and improved stability to capture useful slow-motion pictures. There are few circumstances where the burst mode will be useful.''' | |||
=== Timed pictures === | |||
In the past, pictures that were taken with a timed delay of a couple of seconds were, perhaps, the only way to achieve the camera operator to also be part of the picture, long before smartphones created the selfie photo opportunity. Nowadays, using timed pictures does not offer as many advantages since most cameras are much better able to handle our preferences. Moreover, since we experience countdowns less in our lives due to most products reacting faster, waiting for the countdown and making repeated attempts when something goes wrong, seems tiring. | |||
'''Due to the risk of not synchronizing the picture with the subject, as the person taking the picture is not aware precisely when the snapshot will take place, timed photos frequently end in frustration, and may be avoided.''' | |||
=== Timed shots and burst shots === | |||