Category: tech

Having just completed his MBA at Western Governors’ University, Devon Berry has over 20 years of experience in nursing administration. Berry most recently served as the executive associate dean at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing. When not working in health care, Devon Berry enjoys taking photos.

While many photographers prefer using a DSLR, the best camera for capturing a moment is the camera you have on hand—in some cases, that may only be an iPhone. Made by Apple, the iPhone has been improved upon every year for over a decade, with new camera advancements that make capturing photos easier, with better results. Below are three tips for improving iPhone photography, no matter your skill level.

Utilize Different Shutters

You can capture photos by pressing the top volume button on the side of the phone or by touching the shutter button on the touch screen. Note that on the touch screen, the shutter isn’t released until you take your finger off the button.

Refrain from Digital Zoom

Activated when you tap the screen to focus, the digital zoom box can make taking pictures less forgiving if the camera shakes, causing the image to blur. Try not touching the screen and shooting with the lens at its widest angle of view, which is the default setting for most iPhones.

Use the Grid

Especially helpful for beginners who want to improve their photo composition, the grid option under camera settings provides a guide when shooting. The grid can be used to follow the rule of thirds, a type of composition where placing points of interest at the intersection of the lines yields a more balanced photo.

An experienced academic nursing administrator, Devon Berry most recently served as executive associate dean at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing. He has also held executive positions in the midwest, including at University of Cincinnati and Wright State University. Devon Berry currently resides in Happy Valley, Oregon with his family and in his spare time likes to practice photography. 

When shooting on a smartphone, sometimes built-in filters and adjustments won’t do the trick to get your image to appear the way you’d like. Fortunately, there are a handful of free, high-quality apps that can achieve the look you want quickly, so you can snap and share on the go. Read on for some of the best smartphone photo editing apps out there.

Snapseed for iOS and Android

Created by Google, Snapseed is great for detail-oriented photographers who like a wide range of reshaping tools, brushes, and filters. The brushes are especially advanced, with one that allows you to apply an edit to a specific area on your image and another that “heals” areas, which covers up an unwanted part of an image with the surrounding scene. 

Photoshop Express for iOS and Android

Photographers at any skill level can enjoy Adobe’s Photoshop Express, where you can create presets to save time and do simplified photoshop tasks, such as adjusting exposure, applying clarity and dehaze, removing redeye, and adding texture.

VSCO for iOS and Android

Standing for Visual Supply Company, VSCO was one of the first photo editing apps made for smartphones, designed to make digital photos look more like film. Its simple interface makes it good for beginners, with a selection of filters and editing sliders.