Tech Tip: How to Take Better Photos on Your Android Phone

4 days ago
4 min read

Unleash the Power of Your Android Camera

Android smartphones today are equipped with incredibly sophisticated camera systems, rivaling the capabilities of traditional point-and-shoot cameras. However, the vast majority of users leave these powerful tools in their default state, missing out on the opportunity to capture truly stunning images. At New Look Computer and Data, we want to empower you to move beyond simple snapshots and start creating professional-quality photographs.

This guide will explore the essential settings and techniques that can transform your Android photography, providing not just the "how" but also the "why" behind each tip.

1. Build a Better Composition with Grid Lines

The foundation of a great photograph is its composition. One of the most enduring principles of composition is the Rule of Thirds, which suggests that an image is more visually appealing when its subjects are placed along imaginary lines that divide the frame into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Placing key elements at the intersections of these lines creates a sense of balance and guides the viewer's eye through the image naturally .

How to enable: Open your Camera app, tap the Settings (gear icon), and find the option for Grid Lines. The exact location may vary slightly between manufacturers like Samsung, Google Pixel, or OnePlus, but it is a standard feature on virtually all Android phones.

2. Lock in Your Focus and Exposure

Your Android camera is constantly analyzing the scene, but it can't read your mind. To ensure your intended subject is perfectly sharp, you must take control. Before you press the shutter button, tap on your subject on the screen. This simple action tells the camera where to set its focus point. More importantly, it also sets the exposure based on the light hitting that specific point.

After tapping, you will typically see a brightness slider or sun icon appear. This is your manual exposure control. Sliding it up or down adjusts the Exposure Value (EV), allowing you to fine-tune the brightness of the final image. This is crucial for correcting scenes that are too bright (like a sunny day) or too dark (like an indoor shot) .

3. Create Professional-Looking Portraits

One of the most sought-after photographic effects is a shallow depth of field, where the subject is sharp and the background is beautifully blurred. This effect, known as bokeh, makes the subject pop and gives the image a professional, high-end look. Most Android phones offer a dedicated Portrait Mode (sometimes called Live Focus on older Samsung models) to achieve this.

How it works: This mode uses a combination of software algorithms and, on many phones, data from multiple lenses or specialized depth sensors (like Time-of-Flight sensors) to create a detailed depth map of the scene. It then intelligently separates the subject from the background and applies a digital blur. A key advantage on many Android devices is the ability to adjust the intensity of this blur after the photo has been taken, giving you incredible creative control .

4. Understand the Perils of Digital Zoom

When your subject is far away, the temptation to pinch-to-zoom is strong. However, it's essential to understand the difference between digital and optical zoom. Digital zoom is not true zoom; it is simply an in-camera crop. The software enlarges a portion of the sensor's image, effectively throwing away pixels and resulting in a grainy, low-quality photo.

The better approach: If your phone has multiple lenses (e.g., a wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto), use the dedicated zoom buttons (like 2x, 3x, 5x). These engage the optical zoom, which uses the physical telephoto lens to get you closer without any loss in quality. If you don't have an optical zoom lens, the best strategy is always to "zoom with your feet" and physically move closer to your subject.

5. Maximize Detail with High-Resolution Settings

Modern Android phones boast incredibly high-megapixel sensors (from 48MP to over 200MP). However, by default, they don't save images at this full resolution. Instead, they use a process called pixel binning, where they combine data from multiple adjacent pixels into one "super-pixel." This technique improves low-light performance and dynamic range for everyday shots .

When to use high resolution: For well-lit, detailed shots like landscapes or architectural photos, switching to the highest resolution can capture an astonishing level of detail. You can find this setting in your Camera Settings under Picture Size or Resolution. Be aware that these files will be significantly larger, so it's best used when you know you'll need the extra detail for printing or cropping.

6. Conquer the Dark with Night Mode

Low-light photography has long been a challenge for smartphones. Night Mode is a revolutionary feature that uses computational photography to create bright, clear, and detailed images in near darkness. When you activate Night Mode, the camera takes a rapid burst of photos over several seconds at different exposure levels. It then uses sophisticated algorithms to align these images, remove noise, and combine them into one well-exposed photograph.

This process is essentially a form of handheld long-exposure photography, allowing you to capture scenes that would have been impossible just a few years ago without a tripod .

Bonus Tip: The Easiest and Most Important Fix

Before you dive into any of these settings, do one simple thing: clean your camera lens. Your phone spends its life in your pocket or hand, and the lens inevitably gets covered in fingerprints, dust, and oils. This grime can cause photos to look foggy, reduce contrast, and create unsightly lens flare. A quick wipe with a soft, clean cloth can make an immediate and dramatic improvement in your photo quality.

Conclusion

Your Android phone is a powerful creative tool waiting to be explored. By moving beyond the default settings and taking intentional control of features like Grid Lines, Manual Exposure, and Portrait Mode, you can elevate your photography from simple snapshots to compelling images. We at New Look Computer and Data encourage you to experiment with these tips and discover the incredible photographic potential you hold in your hand.