Tips for Using Your Phone to Photograph From The Heart
[Editor’s Note]: For this ArtsNews photography series, exhibiting artists in ArtsWestchester’s 2023 Lawrence Salley Photography Award exhibition were asked to write about specific photography topics that our readers can easily implement on their smartphones. Here, Elisa Pritzker explains how to use your phone to capture photos from the heart.
It is known that, when photographing, there are many techniques to achieve what it is called a “good shot,” like lighting, composition, and depth of field, among others. Using the mind as a planning process to take professional photos is very important. It can promise good technical results.
This time, I propose that you use your cell phones to photograph from just your heart instead of your mind. Heart and mind are not opposed; they complement each other, but I believe that the heart gives different emotional moods to the images, and it is the best way to make sure your images come across as being “only by you.”
Here are three simple tips to photograph from the heart:
- Be spontaneous:
The camera is like an extension of your sight; a window to the world. As soon as you see something that catches your attention, get your phone and click without any previous thoughts. This spontaneity may give you a chance to discover new things from surroundings that maybe you didn’t see before. - Be playful:
Use your cell phone horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or any other angles that capture your subject in different positions. Use the zoom to shoot at different distances. Never underestimate the different ways that one can capture any subject. It is exciting to see the differences just by simply playing with your cell. - Awake the inner child:
Like a child opening a new gift or going to a new place, give yourself the opportunity to have an amazing moment of wonder while photographing.
In current times, there are many features in the cell phone and/or computer that allow you to crop, retouch and of course to delete images that you are not drawn to keep. But my last bonus tip, is to wait a few days to delete any of them so you have a chance to look through your shots again. You may be very surprised at what you were able to capture.
Photo Credit: Patagonia Enero 2019 Ruta 40 camino a El Chalten National Park by Elisa Pritzker
