Quick Smartphone Hacks #4 Close-ups

Smartphone close-ups. There are techniques and software to use and real lenses you can attach to your smartphone. You can even go total ‘macro’ but…

Let’s start simple with one easy hack for good close-ups.

How Do I Take A Close-up?

1. Be patient and calm, get close as you can.
2. Stay calm and quiet when capturing a shot of a cat or other animal.
3. Try not to use your digital ‘pinch zoom’ unless you have to. Wobble = fuzz.

Portrait Mode

Quickest close-up smartphone hack? ‘Portrait Mode‘ on your smartphone! Find it. Check out the optimum distance. Your phone will tell you when Portrait Mode works best.

Background Blur (Bokeh aka)

TOP TIP: In a hurry and can’t find Portrait Mode? Don’t panic. Take the photo, add bokeh later. Here’s how Snapseed does it:

1. Open your photo in Snapseed.
2. Tap Tools and select Lens Blur.
3. Choose between a Linear or Elliptical blur shape using the icon on the bottom-left.
4. Pinch and drag with two fingers to position and size the focus area over your subject.
5. Tap the middle settings icon to adjust things like Blur Strength, Transition, and Vignette.

Macro – What is it?

Easy definition? The subject or an important detail really fills the frame.

Focus distance, stability and light become much more critical here. Smartphones like recent iPhone Pro models and some Android ‘phones automatically switch to their ultra-wide lens when you move close (as near as 2 cm) to a subject. Check your smartphone to see what it can do.

You can also buy supplementary lenses for your camera from Apexel, Freewell, and ShiftCam. With these good light and stability are vitally important.

Macro Lens (Amazon Affiliate)

Challenge Yourself

1. Get comfortable with how close you can get and practice your close-up shots.
2. Find your Portrait Mode tool and see where YOU need to be to take a good portrait shot.

Marjorie Dawson

Cat Photographer, Instructor and Writer

Marjorie is an award-winning cat photographer, tutor, and published writer based in New Zealand. A Professional Member of the Cat Writers’ Association, she helps cat lovers strengthen the bond with their pets by improving their photography and editing skills through short how-to videos and encouraging, human written and well-researched posts. Marjorie believes anyone can take amazing photos and show off their cats to purrfection!

Professional Member of the Cat Writers Association,
Winner of the Kuykendall Image Award
Published at the Guardian newspaper