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Want to take better smartphone photos? Stop relying on auto

If you take the time to learn about the different camera features, it can make a difference with photos.

OUR SMARTPHONE CAMERAS are pretty advanced but for many of us, we tend to rely solely on auto to capture our shots.

While it works for the most part, getting to know the different features and the difference between taking good and great photos. It doesn’t take too long to learn.

Depending on the type of smartphone software you’re using, your options will vary somewhat, but there are basic features in place. Here are the main ones.

Grid - Superimposes a grid on your screen to help you take better photos. This is to help you with the rule of thirds which recommends you place the subject where the lines intersect. A good rule of thumb to have.

Flash - In theory, it’s used to brighten up low-light subjects but in reality, it adds a harsh light to photos you take. There are cases where it works, but for the most part, it’s better to turn it off completely as the auto-function can activate a little too often in certain cases.

Exposure - Adjusts the lighting of a photo before you take it. This is usually tied in with the focus feature which is done by tapping on the screen, but most cameras allow you to adjust it manually.

Timer – Mainly used for when you’re taking a selfie, allowing you time to get yourself in place. Other than that, its use is limited.

HDR - High Dynamic Range. The reason it takes longer to take a photo is because it’s actually taking three photos of varying brightness and stitching them together. It’s better to use this for landscape and low-light situations.

ISO – This adjusts the sensitivity to lighting in the photo. The higher the number, the more light it will take in. It’s better to adjust this for low-light situations than to use the flash on your camera, but by cranking it up, it also increases the level of noise a photo has so be sure to test it out before sticking to one level.

Zoom - Usually done by pinching the screen or using the volume buttons. Honestly, you’re best avoiding this entirely as digital zoom reduces the quality of the image.

Instead, get as close to the subject as possible, or if that isn’t achievable, then take the photo and crop it when editing. Either one will provide a better result.

Resolution - The higher it is, the sharper your image will be when you blow it up. This is more important if you’re deciding whether to email or message a photo.

A low-resolution photo would be better suited towards messaging as it’s small in size, but grainy when put up on a large screen, and vice versa.

Burst Mode - Takes numerous photos in one go. Any photo that has a moving subject is a prime candidate for this setting as numerous shots have a better chance of capturing it than one single photo.

While it’s handy to know these features, it’s good to know the basics of taking a good photo as all the tools and editing features in the world won’t disguise a bad shot. Also, don’t forget your phone can save numerous photos so don’t be afraid to take many with different settings.

Read: How to turn your smartphone photos from good to great >

Read:  These amazing images were all taken on smartphones or tablets >

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14 Comments
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    Mute Mr Snuffleupagus
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:14 PM

    Netherland vs Neanderthals.

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    Mute Keiko
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:30 PM

    That’s an insult to Neanderthals.

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:14 PM

    Build that wall!

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    Mute Biróg
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    Mar 14th 2017, 3:11 PM

    @Beachmaster: Absolutely. Dear EU. Please build a robust border on your SE Greek border. Then support Russia and Syrians against the tyranny of Saudi, Erdogan, and all other wahhabi supremisists. Also do not fall for the trap and fight israels wars. Stop all tourism and contact with Turkey and let them thrive in their wahhabi society.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Mar 14th 2017, 4:24 PM

    They want to give this guy extra power? This guy?!!

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    Mute Keiko
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:35 PM

    Armenian Genocide, Invasion of Northern Cyprus, Turkish troops currently illegally holding Syrian territory and redrawing the Turkish-Syrian border as we speak. Turkey receiving stolen oil via IS which the Russians put a stop to.. Turkey wishes to be a full EU member… No chance.

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    Mute John B
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    Mar 14th 2017, 5:12 PM

    I am always thankful for incidences such as this. It helps remind everyone why Turkey can never be compatible with membership of the EU.

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    Mute gregory
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    Mar 14th 2017, 8:26 PM

    Correction: 400 – 500 thousand Turks in NL https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turken_in_Nederland

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    Mute gregory
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    Mar 14th 2017, 8:28 PM

    indeed-the following succinct synopsis of the genocide perpetrated by Turkey against Armenia is well worth a read and should be officially recognized internationally. the elimination of a 3000 yr old society-horrific; http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/armenians.htm

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    Mute gregory
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    Mar 14th 2017, 8:31 PM

    Video on here of Russian Airforce taking out ISiS oil truck convoys to Turkey: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-11-19/caught-tape-russian-air-force-destroys-dozens-isis-oil-trucks

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    Mute gregory
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    Mar 14th 2017, 8:39 PM

    Commercial scale’ oil smuggling into Turkey becomes priority target of anti-ISIS strikes Published time: 27 Nov, 2015 00:42 https://www.rt.com/news/323603-isis-oil-smuggling-turkey/

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    Mute gregory
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    Mar 14th 2017, 8:41 PM
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    Mute gregory
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    Mar 14th 2017, 9:07 PM

    looking at this today and NL elections tomorrow i’d say Erdogan really wants Geert Wilders/PVV elected!!

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    Mute Zx5vZulB
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    Mar 15th 2017, 7:57 AM

    Add to your list, a million refugees from the middle east, as a result of EU policy.

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    Mute Aaron
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:15 PM

    All the while, Liberals demanding that we let Turkey join the EU as a full member

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    Mute Fox in the Box
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:50 PM

    @Aaron:

    Not all “liberals” hold the same niave views Aaron

    But go ahead and divide everyone into two camps – “Libertards” and “Alt Right”

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Mar 14th 2017, 3:51 PM

    @Aaron: Try and keep up. Nobody’s saying that these days. Germany has withdrawn support and so has pretty much everybody else. Nobody wants them anymore.

    In fact Turkish EU membership is likely to become legally impossible when Erdogan reinstates capital punishment. Moreover, see the current row and insults hurled at not only the Netherlands and Germany but also at the EU for sticking up for these countries. He is readying public opinion and is expected to officially withdraw from the membership process in two years time.

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    Mute Noel Dillon
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    Mar 14th 2017, 4:20 PM

    Not true. There is now little or no support among liberals for Turkish membership of the EU.

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:15 PM

    And all the time Wilders is loving it.

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    Mute Seán Domhnall O'Sullivan
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:22 PM

    ‘Wilders a surprise’

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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:53 PM

    @Paul Fahey:
    Money can’t buy that type of publicity.

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    Mute Piotrek Król
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:42 PM

    “Turkey’s “enemies”” says Erdogan. The greatest enemy of the Turkish people since around 1920 is, without a doubt, Erdogan himself. It will be interesting to see how the Turks in Germany and Netherlands vote in this referendum of his. If they are almost unanimous in their support for this antichrist, they should be sent packing enmasse back to Anatolia.

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    Mute Seán Domhnall O'Sullivan
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:21 PM

    One things for sure Erdogan would definitely conspire against both the EU and his people in order to further his authoritative​ stance. Many inside Turkey as well as outside it believe he was involved in bombing campaigns out of the many attacks they’ve seen

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    Mute jane
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:36 PM

    You’d have to be a bit concerned where all this is heading.

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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Mar 14th 2017, 3:08 PM

    @jane: Does anyone know where this is heading? There appears to be no strategic purpose to what Erdogan is doing.

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Mar 14th 2017, 3:27 PM

    @Ben McArthur: Yes there is. Erdogan is not only aiming to pick up a few million votes from the Turkish diaspora, but also deliberately stoke up these tensions in order to shore up the Turkish nationalist vote.

    Erdogan is so desperate to win that referendum which increases his powers substantially, that these tensions, rows and crises are simply part of the campaign equation for him.

    After the vote next month things are expected to slowly cool off again on the international stage. But I guess whether it does in other ways depends on whether he’ll actually win. The very fact that he isn’t sure about it himself causes this bizarre behaviour. And if he does win it depends on what exactly he’s going to do with his brand new all but dictatorial power.

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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    Mar 15th 2017, 10:59 PM

    @Mick Tobin: Hes already won the vote..all of his opposition are in prison or “missing” and if they are not now, they will be

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    Mute Ger McKenna
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    Mar 14th 2017, 3:28 PM

    I’d sooner have chicken for Christmas dinner than Turkey in the EU

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Mar 14th 2017, 3:24 PM

    Build a big wall on Turkish-EU border.

    49
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    Mute Damocles
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:18 PM

    With Turkey and Russia now being a bit matey, after the events of last year could Turkey be attempting to foment right wing sentiment in The Netherlands at Russia’s behest to further destabilise The EU?

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    Mute Mr Snuffleupagus
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:24 PM

    @Damocles: More likely he’s just another obnoxious w@nker in power. Another uncontrollable ego mixed with an unhealthy unwavering belief in theocratic states.

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    Mute Mr Snuffleupagus
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:26 PM

    Did you hear the one about Erdogan, the goat, the German comedian, and Edam cheese?

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    Mute Lord Clanricarde
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:28 PM

    @Damocles: Russia and Turkey are a bit matey??…Happy out that Russian diplomat shot dead in Turkey, alls forgiven for Turkey shooting down a Russian jet which was stopping the Erdogan oil supply route with ISIS???…Are these mates??

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    Mute Damocles
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:28 PM

    No. In a world where Trump is the US president this is a possible scenario.

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    Mute Damocles
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:42 PM

    Mr Clanricarde, Turkey and Russia have begun to normalise their relationship after earlier tragic events. Putin saw the assassination of Karlov as an attempt to derail that normalisation particularly as it was carried out by a terrorist group.

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    Mute gregory
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    Mar 14th 2017, 9:11 PM

    Erdogan cost Turkey many Bln when he shot down that Russian fighter jet. Russians used to go en-masse to Turkey for holiday-no more. Also, Ru placed sanctions on imports from Turkey who had huge exports to Ru especially agri etc

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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:45 PM

    “The Netherlands and the Dutch, we know them from the Srebrenica massacre. We know how much their morality, their character is broken from the 8,000 Bosnians that were massacred.”
    “Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called his claim a repugnant historical falsehood.”

    The falsehood Rutte was referring to was in fact Erdogan’s implication that the Dutch UN peacekeepers actually carried out the massacre themselves rather than fail to stop it after being overrun by the Bosnian Serbs.

    But to be fair: Rotterdam mayor Aboutaleb said in a TV interview last night that he had ordered to use firearms against the Turkish minister’s entourage if necessary. This is because the convoy wasn’t communicating with Dutch authorities and it was hence unknown who the twelve security guards were, whether they were armed and under what sort of instruction they were.

    I thought it was logical to order the use of firearms as police chief in case things escalate, but I also thought it was a case of ‘too much information’ on behalf of the Rotterdam mayor. Because Erdogan made his bizarre Srebrenica rant in response to that TV interview.

    The Dutch authorities have explicitly stated their aim is to de-escalate, so I reckon Mr Aboutaleb, incidentally a very admirable chap, got a bit of a bollocking behind the scenes.

    31
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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Mar 14th 2017, 4:50 PM

    Where does this leave Atta Turks dream ?

    26
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    Mute Mike Cantwell
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    Mar 14th 2017, 5:40 PM

    Its going downhill fast Tony , he attempted to turn it into a modern state but it looks like medieval Islam is gaining the upper hand , it will be interesting to see how our political masters stand up to this facist

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 14th 2017, 3:20 PM

    Erdogan is typical of the authoritarian and autocratic personality. This contrived row with the Netherlands is doing Erdogan immense good with the hardliners in Turkey.

    Erdoggan has far more of a grip in Turkey than Trump has in the USA.

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    Mute AR Devine
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    Mar 14th 2017, 5:56 PM

    Note that Erdogan & many of his followers would be considered ‘moderate’ Muslims. However, many so called moderates are anything but. We need to challenge the extremist Muslims amongst us like those at Clonskeagh Mosque whilst defending the genuine moderate Muslims from both Islamists & the actual far right https://areomagazine.com/2017/01/24/moderates-in-the-extreme-the-islamist-spectrum-and-its-challenge-for-liberal-democracy/

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    Mute Fifty Shades of Sé
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    Mar 14th 2017, 11:02 PM

    For a “Broken, Amoral” society the Netherlands still seems to a place 400,000 Turks would still rather live in than Turkey, wonder why that could be?

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    Mute Fifty Shades of Sé
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    Mar 14th 2017, 11:02 PM

    @Fifty Shades of Sé: *be* a place.

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    Mute Paddy Downey
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    Mar 14th 2017, 7:59 PM

    Increasing the executive powers of the president is exactly what Putin did to effectively make himself a dictator for life. This stinks of the same trick

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    Mute tea biccies
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    Mar 14th 2017, 2:49 PM

    Fuk off erdogan you dick

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    Mute Nick
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    Mar 14th 2017, 8:58 PM

    Another despot just what europe and the world needs. Not good

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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    Mar 15th 2017, 10:44 PM

    Had Merkel and her meddling fools in the EU not insisted that the Turks remove the right of the army to remove the government if they brought in religious laws that thratened Turkeys secularalism we wouldnt be in the mess.Erdogan would be rotting in a cell now. THis was the single biggest mistake made in the history of the EU. We need to stop watching the trump show and watch Turkey, who currently have their own version of Hitler in power, controlling the worlds largest army.

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    Mute Sean O Grady
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    Mar 14th 2017, 11:16 PM

    ‘Foreign falsehood and foreign dross would be imported into German lands’…. And Dutch et all. Enough is enough ..

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