Taking Great Photos - It All Comes Down to Knowing Your Camera and Your Subject #shotonnokia

Hi Guys, 

90% of people who have ever taken a photo have not used a camera. Those photos were taken on a phone.¹ Whatever phone you have and whatever you like to snap, there are a few fundamentals that can help improve almost any shot. Alright, let’s jump in.

1. Clean your lens

Photos looking a little milky? This is the biggest problem we see with smartphone cameras. Because the lens is so small, it’s very easy for it to get dirty while you’re using your phone for other things. You spend the whole day holding your phone, so make sure you wipe away those smeary marks before you start snapping. Remember to clean the front camera, too.

2. Focusing

Focus makes the photo. Try not to just point and shoot, but take time to make sure that the main subject of your photo is in focus. Most Nokia smartphones have touch focusing. Just touch the most important part of the image on the display and the camera will adjust focus to make sure it looks nice and sharp.

3. Apply the rule of thirds

This is a simple concept that helps you compose your landscape-orientation images. It’s based on the idea that dividing an image into nine equal parts to form a three-by-three grid creates visual interest. You should aim to place the main subject of your photo – like a tree line or a group of faces – in the intersections or along the lines. The left or right third of the image usually yields the best results.

4. Consider the flash and use night mode

Using the flash on your phone can sometimes result in too much noise and not great photos. With increasing performance in low light conditions, turning off the flash could improve your nighttime photos. Shooting at a concert in dark conditions? The flash is not going to reach the stage, only the people in front of you. At a zoo shooting through glass? You will have a bad photo and you could scare the animals.

When you are shooting in daylight and the subject is in shadow, that’s the time to use a flash – it can give some great portrait results. But in low-light conditions, like in the evening, try using Night Mode instead. A lot of people don’t use it, but it’s a simple and powerful feature.

5. Steady your shot

Smartphone cameras are sensitive to movement. Even a slight shake can leave a smartphone photo looking blurry. So, we want to minimise camera shake as much as possible. A tripod will stop this. The good news is that you can buy small, cheap tripods specifically for smartphones from most online vendors.

If you don’t want to buy a tripod, then using a wall, a friend’s shoulder, or even your other arm will help reduce camera shake. Keeping the shot steady is especially important in low-light conditions when the longer exposure times are that much longer.

6. Try using HDR Mode

Ever tried to take a photo of the sky, only for the scenery below to become lost to shadow? Or tried to focus on a dimly lit subject and notice that the sky becomes overexposed? That’s where “High Dynamic Range” comes in.

HDR mode brings out the darkest and lightest parts of your picture and creates a better balance of colours overall. The only downside is that, in HDR Mode, photos take a little longer to process, so avoid using HDR mode on fast-moving subjects or when you can’t keep your phone steady. But in general, it’s great when there’s a big difference between the darkest and lightest parts of your photo.

7. Learn your camera features

Learn what your phone does, and when to use them. You’ll want to turn on HDR for most phones for day-to-day photography. Use night modes for shooting in dim interiors, or outdoors after the sun has set. Portrait mode blurs the background behind your subject and is sometimes called the Bokeh Effect. Panorama mode when you are taking landscape photos so you can see everything around you.

It’s also worth understanding aspect ratios. Common aspect ratios include Full, 16:9, 4:3 and 1:1. Professional photographers use 4:3 for photos because it works well for computer monitors and for 8x6-inch prints. 16:9 is used for video because it works great for TVs and the 1920 x 1080 resolution.

8. Set your resolution high

The higher the resolution of your photo, the better quality it is. When taking images, try to go as close as possible to the subject rather than zoom in when you take a shot. Using digital zoom will reduce the image quality, so avoid it if possible. Whereas, if you get up close, you always have the option of cropping the image later.

9. Shoot your videos in landscape

Vertical video only works if the audience is on a phone, like in Instagram Stories, for instance. It does not work on TVs and screens though, because they are wider than they are long – in other words, they have a landscape orientation.

If you are shooting a video of something amazing that you might want to share on the big screen, or even YouTube, you should always rotate your phone to landscape so that you can fill the frame with your awesome footage.

10. Always know where the light source is

When taking a photo, it is vital to know the light is coming from. Smartphone cameras can only take in a limited amount of light. A lot of light can overwhelm the sensor and can also throw off its exposure. You should always ensure that the light falls directly on the subject. So, when taking pictures indoors, make sure the subject is facing the light source. The light source should not come from behind them, otherwise, the subject will be underexposed.

Show us your photos!

Have a Nokia smartphone and feel inspired to try out some of these tips? We want to see what you’ve got! Head to Instagram and share with us the best photos you’ve taken lately using #shotonnokia. And don’t forget to tell us which Nokia phone you shot your photos on!

¹ Source: https://www.eksposure.com/mobile-photography

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish
Thanks! Cheers!!!
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The Three-Day Battery Powerhouse: #NokiaG20 @NokiaMobile #KeepIt

Hi Friends, 

-Designed in Finland-

Love it: Do what you love for longer with a 3-day battery life[ii]

Trust it: Three years of security updates, data centre in Finland, ioXt certified

Keep it: The nordic premium quality that’s built to last and two years of Android TM OS upgrades guaranteed

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, reveals the latest in Nordic engineering to keep up with life’s daily demands – the Nokia G20.

Two new series have been introduced to Nokia smartphones mid-range portfolio, the G-series, and X-series. The new G-series boasts the longest battery life yet for a Nokia smartphone.

The G-series is our smartphone heartland. Here the commitments as a manufacturer are extended and unlock the very best of what the industry has to offer, to as many people as possible.

The Nokia G20 captures images in 48MP clarity, in widescreen or macro and videos with OZO Audio for amazing content that you can capture on the go with three days battery life from a single charge.

Shaun Durandt, General Manager for Southern Africa at HMD Global said:

“You can always trust a Nokia phone to deliver a secure experience and go the distance thanks to our unique android promise and our now well-documented battery life. We take pride in looking after our customers for longer by creating phones that you can keep for longer thanks to the durability of our devices both inside and out. What we have achieved with the Nokia G20 is a truly reliable smartphone with incredible three-day battery life, ensuring you needn’t be on the constant lookout for a charging cable.”

Indulge your life’s loves and passions

An on-the-go creative studio that fits in the palm of your hand, the Nokia G20 will help you immortalise your visionary ideas with its stunning 48MP quad camera and ample storage. Beautiful widescreen and detailed macro lenses will capture the big picture or those minute artistic flourishes, and you also have night and portrait modes at your fingertips. With immersive OZO Audio with surround sound recording, you can capture then relive your memorable moments in all their glory.

You won’t miss a thing with the Nokia G20’s impressive 6.5” teardrop display. It’s perfectly designed for your big screen needs like image editing or reviewing presentations. With the handy brightness boost, you won’t struggle to see your work, be it day or night.

Security and software you can trust

The Nokia G20 is supported by the signature Android promise available on Nokia smartphones. That’s three years of monthly security updates to help keep your data as secure as possible and two years of OS upgrades priming Nokia G20 for the next leaps in AndroidTM OS ingenuity with AndroidTM 12 and beyond. With AndroidTM 11 straight out of the box, you can enjoy the latest features and spend more time focusing on yourself.

Unlock the Nokia G20 on your terms. Choose between the side fingerprint sensor or face unlock to access what you need, when you need it.

Style and substance never fade

Staying true to its heritage, the Nokia G20 is inspired by Nordic design and comes in two colour-changing chassis – shimmering Night and cool Glacier. It’s a marriage of Nokia smartphones’ signature durability and state-of-the-art technology. The result is a mobile phone that’s built to last, striking to look at and a dream to use.

Pricing and availability

The Nokia G20 will be available from early July at selected retailers in South Africa in Blue and Glacier. Nokia G20 comes in Dual Sim, 4/64GB configuration starting at R3,299. The Nokia G20 also comes with a free phone cover and screen protector.

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The #NokiaC10 and #NokiaC20 – Keeping You Connected to What Really Matters @NokiaMobile #LoveTrustKeep

Hi Friends, 

Sleek Nordic design, rigorous testing and close attention to detail pave the way for the ultra-attractive and ultra-high value Nokia C10 and Nokia C20 – letting you stay connected to what really matters

Love it: All-day battery life¹ lets you do more of what you love even longer – whether it’s listening to music or watching videos –the big screen makes everything look even better

Trust it: Run faster and save data with the latest AndroidTM 11 (Go Edition) software

Keep it: Nokia smartphone durability and quarterly security updates for 2 years with a stunning Nordic design that is built to last, durable and accident-proof

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announces the Nokia C10 and Nokia C20, the newest C-series smartphones.

With its superior build quality in a sleek Nordic design, the Nokia C10 arrives at the portfolio as a result of rigorous testing and close attention to detail – even the casing has been ergonomically designed for a better grip.

Nokia C10

With all-day battery life[1] and stunningly clear 6.5” HD+ screen, spending a quiet moment alone or with your family has just become more enjoyable. Immerse yourself in your favourite tunes while travelling to work or settle in to watch a film with the kids. The Nokia C10 champions me-time and family time at a price point you’ll love. The Nokia C10 sports a front and rear LED flash paired with the HDR cameras. Now you can capture and share your special moments in all their glory, even in low light, be it a dusk-time selfie or a candid shot of the rug rats before bed to share on the family group chat.

Equipped with Android™ 11 (Go edition) straight out of the box, this smartphone comes with the latest software innovations. Based on HMD lab tests loading speeds are up to 20% faster than before, and with access to improved security features, your data will be safer. Android™ 11 (Go edition) offers more memory and consumes fewer data. With recent surveys showing an increasing decline in trust in some parts of the world, our customers can feel secure knowing their data is stored in our homeland, Finland, where data protection is subject to high EU standards.

The Nokia C10 showcases its Nordic heritage in tandem with Nokia smartphones’ trademark durability, and the superior build quality stems from rigorous testing and attention to the most minute details. The ergonomically designed casing with a micro-texture finish makes it easy to hold even for the smallest of hands.

The Nokia C10 is a leader in the following vs competition:

• Most affordable smartphone to offer 6.5” HD+ display
• Leading in security for ultra-high value handsets with two years of quarterly security updates
• Android™ 11 (Go edition) from the moment it’s turned on, a rarity among ultra-high value smartphones
• High dynamic range (HDR) and front and rear LED flash takes photography to the next level

Patrick Henchie, Head of Product and Operations for HMD Global in SSA:

“Following the popularity of our ultra-high value C-series, we are expanding the range to continue our mission to provide accessible connectivity to everyone. You get that peace of mind with the rigid and sleek Nokia phone build quality and all-day battery life, complimented by that premium feel with a removable unibody back cover with micro-texture finishing.”

Nokia C20

Representing one of three distinct smartphone series to be introduced (X-Series, G-Series and C-Series), the Nokia C20 makes smartphone technology more accessible. It also gives consumers peace of mind thanks to its ultra-high value price point and two years of free security updates as standard.

When it comes to precious moments with loved ones, blink, and you’ll miss them. But with a 5MP front and rear camera, you don’t have to worry about missing one again – even in low light. A front and rear LED flash means that you can capture those important moments from dawn till dusk, making your pics and selfies shine bright.

Combining a 3000mAh[2] battery with a big, 6.5” HD+ screen means you can entertain the whole family all day, without battery anxiety – just plug into a podcast, pop on a classic film or listen to your favourite tunes.

Spend more time speaking to those you love. With fast 4G, you can keep in touch with family on facetime, even on the move. With its Octa-core processor and the latest operating system, you can rely on C20 to get things done swiftly.

A dependable phone needs an operating system you can rely on every day. Android™ 11 (Go edition) makes it faster and easier for you to open apps and store, find and share photos and videos. With quarterly security updates for two years and added security features, you can also rest assured that everything on your phone is being kept safe.

As you would expect from Nordic design, the C20 doesn’t just look sleek, it’s also built from quality materials, so it will stand the test of time. The strong, polycarbonate body - in Sand and Dark Blue colour options - make for an attractive offering you won’t want to let go.

Patrick Henchie, Head of Product and Operations for HMD Global in SSA: 

“The Nokia C20 is a seriously exciting addition to the Nokia C-series. It was important to us that we created an incredible value smartphone that looks great and that families could depend on. We’ve equipped the Nokia C20 with some fantastic features, and our rigorous testing program means this handset will stand the test of time and the test of family life.”

Pricing and availability

The Nokia C10 will be available at selected retailers in South Africa from mid-June in Light Purple and Grey priced from R1,499. The Nokia C20 will be available at selected retailers in South Africa from mid-June in Sand and Dark Blue priced from R1,699. Nokia C10 and Nokia C20 are dual sim and come in 1/16GB configuration. Nokia C10 and Nokia C20 come with a free phone cover and screen protector.

[1] Based on real-life usage test by HMD Global. See more info at www.nokia.com/phones/nokia-c-10 and www.nokia.com/phones/nokia-c-20

2Battery has limited recharge cycles and battery capacity reduces over time. Eventually, the battery may need to be replaced.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!