Everyone with a smartphone considers themselves a photographer. But what can you do to stand out from the rest of the shutterbugs? Emirati photographer Yousef Al Habshi, who is currently exhibiting his latest show, Little Monsters, at The Project Space, NYU Abu Dhabi, shares good advice.
Know your gadget.
Read the user manual. Do not toss it in the bin. Switch from the automatic setting to the fully manual one; this will give you more control of your output. Also, read up on terms like shutter speed and aperture.
Stay alert.
The handy bit about a phone camera is that you always have your instrument with you, and it is easy to lug around. Your next move is to stay alert at all times. You never know when a picture-perfect moment will arise. Blink and you will miss it.
Get inspired.
Photographers share a great camaraderie and enjoy exchanging tips with each other. Get talking to others and take the time to learn. This will also help you find what type of photography you like – landscape, portrait, wildlife, street, etc.
Post-processing magic.
Post-processing the images in applications like Photoshop is important. But it is just as important that you don’t overdo the editing. These apps are meant to enhance your images, not ruin them.
Photography is fun.
And finally, learn to relax and have fun with your camera. Enjoy the art of photography. Let the thrill of capturing a beautiful moment or scenery excite you, not stress you out or burden you.
