Tips for Taking Pictures with a Mobile Phone

Photography is how we want to see the world. It is freezing time and preserving memories in a click of the shutter button... your baby's first smile; a breathtaking sunset; your dad's 50th birthday... special moments you'd want to remember and keep.

And it's always good to have a handy camera with you anytime, and anywhere you go, lest you want to pass up those possible picture-perfect moments.

It is the photographer, not the camera, who takes good photos. You don't need expensive digital SLR(Single Lens Reflex) cameras like the pros use in order to take good pictures. In fact, a simple camera phone will do. What you really need is to see the extraordinary in the most ordinary things around. Most importantly, have fun shooting.

Here are some basic tips to get you started:

Good composition can make a difference between a snap shot and a great shot.

Follow the Rule of Thirds
Imaginary lines are drawn dividing the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. You place important elements of your composition where these lines intersect. This helps produce nicely balanced easy-on-the-eye pictures.

Frame the Subject
Framing your subject adds emphasis and focus to it. Find an architectural or natural feature to serve as a frame. Leaves in the foreground add seasonality to your scene. A window can make a convincing frame for a view.

Leading Lines
Use leading lines to draw attention to your subject. It can almost be anything: a road, a tree branch, sidewalk, fence, river, the list just goes on and on. You just need some imagination, and patience to look for them if they are there. Lines in the picture should lead into, and not out of, the picture.

Change your point of view
The most common angle is eye level but raising or lowering you camera can show your subject in a totally new light and add a new element of interest to it.

Use colors for impact
It is always nice to look at colorful pictures. Photography is like painting on canvass so experiment with the colors around you.

In shooting people (portraits), go for the best expression. Make your subject relax by talking to them. Keep the background simple to put focus on your subject. Catch a natural expression and capture those unguarded moments for a more candid shot.

Why use a camera phone? Nowadays, mobile phones has evolved to be more than just a trend, it has become a necessity. It is an important communication tool. You wouldn't see a person on the street without one. Because it's so handy, you can easily capture photographic moments that you may encounter within your day. Also, you can instantly share your pictures with family and friends through MMS (Multimedia Messaging System) for less than the price of high end digital cameras.