Apps and Artistry: How cell phone photography might actually be ‘legit’

Is the best camera really the one you have with you?
Photographer Chase Jarvis thought so, and in 2009 wrote a whole book by that title featuring smartphone images.
I tend to agree, especially when a once-in-a-lifetime moment pops up and the one thing I have in hand is an iPhone and a split-second window of opportunity.
One of my most treasured images from the last decade is a discreet closeup of my mom cradling my dad’s hand as he lay dying. Captured spontaneously and non-intrusively with my cell phone from across the hospital room, it shows the depth and richness of their 75-year love story.
Thankfully, the moment is ours forever because my phone was in my hand and I responded in a way that was respectful to and honoring of everyone. 

The same truth holds in more everyday settings, where “smaller can be better” for the amateur or semi-pro image maker. Venues are more welcoming and subjects more relaxed when a photographer is wielding a cell phone instead of a large camera.

In sensitive or restricted locations like historic cathedrals, museums, theaters, schools and sporting events where DSLRs are forbidden, smartphone image making becomes possible without breaking the rules.
And people tend to be less intimidated, more genuine and less self-conscious when faced with a smartphone camera. That’s true in both street photography and with shy subjects in general.

So respect your phone camera — it may be the better tool for the job.
But first you need to show it some love.

Goes without saying?

Clean your lens — It may seem like a no-brainer, but when was the last time you actually checked your smartphone’s lens before snapping a sunset?
Think about where your phone’s been recently: jeans pocket, purse, backpack, car floor, shopping bag, couch cushions, edge of the kitchen sink? It should come as no surprise to find it covered in lint, dust, oily fingerprints or snack and beverage spills.
You’d never point your DSLR through a dust-streaked, rain-spotted window pane. Your smartphone lens deserves that same love and respect — wipe it gently with a super clean cloth before framing up your image.

Embrace the grid — As an experienced DSLR user, a grid overlay in your viewfinder may not be your go-to tool. But consider taking the extra help when shooting on the fly with your smartphone.
Why? Because it’s so easy to whip it into position and fire off a series of photos without proper thought and care. And because a smaller device allows us to overreach or contort in order to capture from an unexpected angle, we’re upping the odds of sloppy framing.
Nobody wants unintentionally crooked horizons and off-kilter verticals.
So go to your smartphone settings, select “camera” and display the grid. Or, if you’re shooting from inside a specific app, like Snapseed or the Lightroom CC mobile app, enable your grid from there.

Hold the phone — Just as a proper stance and posture are essential when using heavier cameras and lenses, your smartphone requires intentional stabilization. Feet planted, elbows tucked, two hands holding the smartphone, thumb or index finger opening the shutter without causing any movement. It’s surprisingly difficult to hold a 4- to 8-ounce rectangle completely steady.
Mini tripods for cell phones are currently popular with vloggers, so why not take a cue from them and consider using one to help stabilize those trickier captures? Or substitute the nearest water bottle, coffee cup or potted plant to prop your phone securely before setting a timed shutter release.

Technically speaking

Shoot raw — The good news is, newer smartphones allow users to shoot in RAW rather than JPG, which provides plenty of detail and editing possibilities.
Even better news for the rest of us who don’t own the latest cell phone models, RAW files can be captured using apps like Adobe Lightroom CC (Android/iOS), Snapseed (Android/iOS), VSCO (Android/iOS), Darkroom (iOS), Halide (iOS), ProCam 7 (iOS) and RAW Power (iOS).
Files will be much larger, so you may need to transfer them off your phone more often, but it’s a small price to pay for all that data.

Lock your exposure — Frame up your shot and touch and hold where your subject appears on the screen to lock in your focus and exposure.
Your phone will almost always automatically overexpose because it’s evaluating the overall image. To take charge by sliding your finger down on the screen to underexpose and capture more data.
A safe rule of thumb: expose for highlights. You can always bring shadows back up in editing.

Long distance — Phone camera technology still has room to grow, especially when it comes to electronic zoom. Image quality will plummet if you attempt to zoom via the on-screen “finger pinch and spread” method.
If you need a closer view, move closer, or use an add-on external lens by a company like Olloclip, Moment or Hitcase. Newer phone models often have multiple in-camera lenses to choose from, but if we’re spending money on new gear for our DSLRs, a new phone may be a few years off.

All the angles — Want to get the shot from the lowest, closest possible angle? Rotate your phone 180 degrees to bring the lens closer to the ground or butt closer up against your subject.
Conversely, lift your camera as high overhead as your height will allow for a top-down angle. Extend that height by mounting your phone on a mini tripod.
Test every possible angle from different vantage points — low, high, near, far, purposefully off-kilter. Because of the ultra-compact size of your device, you can shoot from perspectives most people don’t get to see every day, which brings viewers back for a second look.

Bokeh — Shoot in the portrait mode feature (if your phone has it) to blur out backgrounds and make your subject pop. Have them step away from the background or wall to create more depth and dynamics.

Working with people — Don’t stop after a handful of posed photos featuring people, children or pets. Shoot the initial image and continue shooting while you’re talking together. You’ll capture more natural smiles, expressions and body language, and the winning image may just be buried in the stack.
Another option: if possible, and if you’re willing to settle for JPG instead of RAW, try shooting in live mode to gather multiple sequential frames. Again, the golden moment may be hiding inside that burst.

Respect the medium — Composition basics still apply even though you're not using your DSLR.

• Work those leading lines using roads, paths, railroad tracks, rivers, fences and natural shapes to keep the eye moving through the image.
• Apply the rule of thirds and rule of odd numbers by intentionally placing and staging subjects.
• Look for and leverage the power of symmetry.
• Position matters when it comes to lighting. Window light from a 90 degree angle creates contrast and drama, while moving so the light is closer to the camera axis (off your shoulder) creates softness.
• Avoid shooting into the sun to minimize unintentional flares.
• Create a frame within a frame by placing your subject in front of the doorway, or use architecture, leaves or branches, fence posts, a bottle, a wedding ring or anything with an opening to frame your image.
• Create a reflection naturally using a window, pond or puddle of water. You can also use a small mirror, CD or the glass of a second iPhone held at a 90 degree angle with the bottom edge of your cell phone to reflect a landscape component.
• Shoot through a prism or lens ball to render your subject abstract.
• Fill the frame with your subject.
• And remember to keep it simple. Identify one subject, create a clean and uncluttered composition, pursue minimalism, make use of negative space and remove distracting elements by changing your position. Also try shooting from a lower angle to remove distractions, fill the background with sky and make your subject stand out.

Experiment

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  Many of the photo genres you love shooting with your DSLR are entirely possible on your mobile phone. The sky really is the limit.
• Long exposures with apps like Slow Shutter make intentional camera movement (ICM) images a breeze.
• Macro shots of patterns, textures and colors can be achieved by adding an external clip-on macro or zoom lens by Olloclip, Moment and Hitcase. And if you have the latest phone and camera features, you already have what you need right in your hand.
• Clip-on 3-stop ND filters that allow for a longer shutter speed are also available from Neewer, Moment, Apexel, Zomei and others.
• Editing apps like Lightroom CC, Snapseed, Moment and LD-Lens Distortion open up a world of possibilities for photographers looking to bypass stock filters. Apps are free, free with subscription or available for purchase, and are well worth exploring. I’m enjoying Lightroom CC because it resonates so well with my desktop subscription and syncs up when needed.

So it’s time to test your own phone camera, technique and imagination. Why not intentionally leave your camera bag at home and see what you can come up with?

For the purists among us, cell phone photography may never rank alongside DSLR. But I think, as with camera gear, the product may depend entirely on who’s behind the lens.

And to quote Chase Jarvis from his most recent book, “Creative Calling: Establish a Daily Practice, Infuse Your World with Meaning, and Succeed in Work + Life” — “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.”