2. Snap Photos Using the Camera App
In This Chapter
Learn ways to activate the Camera app
See an overview of the Camera app that comes preinstalled with iOS 7
Use the Camera app’s shooting modes
Adjust the Camera app’s settings
When it comes to taking pictures on your iPhone or iPad, the easiest thing to do is to launch the Camera app and start shooting. Using the Camera app, your smartphone or tablet literally transforms into a powerful and feature-packed point-and-shoot digital camera that’s capable of shooting vibrant, colorful, highly detailed, and high-resolution images that immediately get saved on your iOS mobile device.
As you’ll discover, the Camera app that comes preinstalled with iOS 7 is chock full of easy-to-access features, but not all of the app’s features are available from all iOS mobile devices. In fact, if you want to see everything that the Camera app is capable of, you must use it with an iPhone 5s.
The Camera app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a powerful point-and-shoot digital camera that can be used for snapping digital photos or shooting high-definition (HD) video. (If you’re using an iPhone 5s, you can do both at the same time.) Because you probably carry your iPhone and/or iPad with you just about everywhere, you can now capture more moments in your life using the Camera app and preserve or share these memories with ease.
After you’ve taken some digital snapshots, it’s possible to view, edit, enhance, print, or share them using the Photos app that also comes preinstalled with iOS 7. However, to gain access to additional photo editing tools and a greater selection of options for showcasing and sharing your images, consider using the optional iPhoto app or another optional third-party photography app that’s available from the App Store.
Note
Although Camera and Photos are two separate apps, as you’ll discover, they’re nicely integrated with one another. You learn all about the Photos app in Chapter 6, “View, Organize, Edit, and Share Pictures Using the Photos App.” Also developed by Apple is the optional iPhoto app, which is the focus of Chapter 7, “Expand Your Photo Editing Toolbox with iPhoto.”
Getting back to the concept that digital photography is both a skill and an art form, this chapter focuses on the technical information you need in terms of how to use the Camera app. You learn the basic skills required to use this picture-taking app with your iPhone or iPad. Then, in Chapter 3, “Ten Strategies to Quickly Improve Your Picture-Taking Skills,” and beyond, you’ll discover digital photography techniques that enable you to use the Camera app with your own creativity to consistently capture visually interesting, artistic, and eye-capturing photos.
Ways to Launch the Camera App
Sometimes you have very little advance notice when you’re about to experience the perfect picture-taking opportunity. Knowing this, Apple has made it easy to launch the Camera app in a variety of different ways, regardless of what you’re doing on your iOS mobile device. After you launch the Camera app, based on what and where you’re shooting and the available light, for example, you might need to adjust various settings within the app before you begin snapping photos.
Regardless of what you’re doing on your iPhone or iPad, use one of these methods to launch the Camera app to start taking pictures.
Launch the Camera App from the Lock Screen
When you wake up your iOS mobile device from Sleep mode, the Lock screen always appears. Displayed in the bottom-right corner of the Lock screen (shown in Figure 2-1) is a Camera icon. To quickly launch the Camera app from the Lock screen (without first unlocking the device), place your finger on the Camera icon and swipe upward.
Note
When you launch the Camera app from the Lock screen, you can snap photos but your access to your mobile device’s other features and functions is limited. Exiting the Camera app returns you to the Lock screen, not the Home screen.
Launch the Camera App from the Home Screen
App icons for all the apps you have installed on your iPhone or iPad are displayed on the Home screen. To launch the Camera app from the Home screen, tap the Camera app’s icon (shown in Figure 2-2).
FIGURE 2-2 From the Home screen, tap on the Camera app’s icon to launch the Camera app and begin taking pictures.
Tip
If you plan to use the Camera app often, consider moving it to one of the positions along the bottom row of app icons found on the Home screen. This makes it easier to access because the app icons on the bottom row appear regardless of which Home screen page you’re viewing.
To save time when launching the Camera app from the Home screen, refrain from moving its app icon into a folder. If you do this, it requires additional screen taps (and valuable seconds) to ultimately find and launch the app.
Launch the Camera App from the Control Center
Rather than go to the Home screen to launch the Camera app, you can save a few seconds by instead accessing the Control Center, and then launching the Camera app.
To launch the Control Center (which is a new feature in iOS 7), place your finger near the very bottom of the iPhone or iPad’s screen, and swipe upward to open the Control Center.
On the iPhone, you find the Camera app icon at the bottom-right corner of the Control Center window (see Figure 2-3). Tap this icon to launch the Camera app. Whatever app you were previously using continues running in the background.
On the iPad, you can find the Camera app icon at the bottom-right side of the Control Center, just above the Screen Brightness slider (see Figure 2-4). Tap on this icon to launch the Camera app.
FIGURE 2-4 While using any app on an iPad, access the Control Center and then tap on the Camera icon to launch the Camera app.
Launch the Camera App from Multitasking Mode
The iOS 7 operating system enables your iPhone or iPad to run many apps at the same time, although you use only one. To quickly switch between apps that are running, access Multitasking mode by pressing the Home button twice. Then, use your finger to swipe left or right and scroll through your device’s currently running apps (see Figure 2-5). Tap on either the app’s thumbnail screen or the app icon to relaunch and begin using a specific app.
To shut down an app while in Multitasking mode (so it no longer runs in the background), swipe your finger in an upward direction over its thumbnail. Keep in mind that when you power down (turn off) your iPhone or iPad (as opposed to placing it in Sleep mode), this automatically shuts down all apps that were running in the background.
Overview of the Camera App
After you’ve launched the Camera app and it’s running on your iPhone or iPad, you can either adjust the app’s settings or begin snapping photos. As you will see, the touch screen on your iOS mobile device transforms into your viewfinder. Anything you see in the viewfinder via the iPhone or iPad’s camera lens is what will be captured when you snap a digital photo.
Based on whether you’re using an iPhone or iPad, the appearance of the Camera app’s viewfinder screen is slightly different. On the iPhone, shown in Figure 2-6, displayed along the top and bottom of the screen are a series of icons and options used to adjust the Camera app’s settings and to snap photos.
FIGURE 2-6 The main Camera app screen on the iPhone displays your viewfinder, along with a handful of command icons and options.
On the iPad, many of the same icons and options are available, but they’re all displayed along the right margin of the Camera app’s screen (see Figure 2-7). Compared with the iPhone, you’ll notice the Camera app offers fewer options when it’s used on an iPad.
FIGURE 2-7 The main Camera app screen on the iPad displays all available command icons and options along the right margin.
Note
Depending on how you set up the Camera app (covered later in this chapter), you can opt to automatically display an onscreen grid. This grid can be used as a tool to help you frame your images, but the grid itself does not appear in your actual photos.
Using the Viewfinder
Your iPhone or iPad has two built-in cameras. The front-facing camera is located on the front of the device, near the top center of the display. The rear-facing camera is located on the back of your device, near the top-left corner. What you see in your viewfinder when the Camera app is running depends on which camera you have selected.
When the Camera app is running, the main area of your iPhone or iPad’s display becomes your viewfinder (refer to Figures 2-6 and 2-7). After you select your subject, position it within your viewfinder to frame your image, and then snap your picture by tapping on the Shutter button.
Tip
When you’re ready to snap a photo, you can either tap on the Shutter button that’s displayed on the iPhone or iPad’s screen, or press the Volume Up or Volume Down button that’s located on the side of your device.
In the next chapter, you learn all about how to creatively frame your subjects within the viewfinder to capture professional looking, visually interesting, and/or creative photos using your iPhone or iPad.
Just like when using any point-and-shoot digital camera, as you’re taking photos using the Camera app, you have a variety of tools at your disposal, such as the ability to zoom in on your subject.
Tip
On the iPhone, while you’re looking at your subject(s) in the viewfinder, you can activate the autoexposure/autofocus sensor (also referred to as the AE/AF sensor), switch shooting modes, activate and adjust the zoom, turn on or off the smartphone’s built-in flash, add a filter, utilize the Camera app’s HDR mode, or switch between the front- and rear-facing cameras—all of which you’ll be learning more about shortly.
On the iPad, while you’re looking at your subject(s) in the viewfinder, you have the option to activate the AE/AF sensor, turn on or off the HDR feature, switch shooting modes, activate the zoom, or switch between the front- or rear-facing cameras.
When all of the Camera app’s features and functions are adjusted to your liking (which takes just a few seconds) and you’ve framed your image in the viewfinder, press the Shutter button to snap your photo. The digital image(s) you take are automatically stored in the Camera Roll folder, which is accessible from the Photos app, from the iPhoto app, from other apps that come preinstalled on your iOS mobile device, or from many third-party photography apps.
Preview the Image You Just Shot
After shooting each image, a preview of the image you just shot appears as a tiny thumbnail at the bottom-left corner of the iPhone’s screen or in the bottom-right corner on the iPad’s screen. Tap this thumbnail to view a larger version of the image without having to open the Photos app.
Here you see a variety of icons and options, shown in Figure 2-8, including
Camera Roll—Tap this option (displayed in the top-left corner of the preview screen) to view thumbnails of all images stored in the Camera Roll folder on your device. You learn more about using this option in Chapter 6.
FIGURE 2-8 Immediately after taking a photo, you can preview it on your iPhone or iPad’s screen plus access a handful of tools from the Photos app by tapping on the Edit option.
Done—Tap this option to immediately return to the Camera app so you can continue taking pictures. The Done option is displayed in the top-right corner of the image preview screen after edits to an image have been made.
Edit—From within the Camera app, you can quickly use the photo editing and enhancement tools offered by the Photos app, including the Rotate, Enhance, Filters, Red-Eye, and Crop tools. After tapping on the Edit option, tap on an icon for the tool you want to use (see Figure 2-9). Upon using any of the edit or enhancement tools, additional onscreen options become available, including
Cancel—Returns you to the previous image preview screen.
Undo—Removes the last edit or enhancement you made to the image.
Revert to Original—Returns the image you’re editing/enhancing to its original form and removes all edits you’ve made.
Save—Saves your newly edited or enhanced image in the Camera Roll folder. Doing this replaces the original image file.
Trash—Deletes the image from your iPhone or iPad. Tap the Delete Photo option to confirm your decision.
FIGURE 2-9 From the Camera app’s Edit mode, you can rotate, enhance, or crop an image; add a filter; or fix red-eye.
Trash—To delete the image you just shot from your iPhoto or iPad, tap on the Trash icon. Tap the Delete Photo option to confirm your decision, or tap the Cancel option to keep the photo and return to the image preview screen.
While actually taking pictures with the iPhone, you have the option to tap on the Filters icon and incorporate a special effect filter to your image as you’re shooting in real time. However, on the iPhone or iPad, if you snap a regular, filter-free image, you can always add one special effect filter after the fact, either when previewing an image in the Camera app or while using the Photos app to view and edit your images later. How to use filters is explained shortly.
Switch Between the Front- and Rear-Facing Cameras
Located on the front of the most recently released iPhone and iPad models is the built-in FaceTime HD Camera. This 1MP-resolution camera was designed for the FaceTime video calling application, but you can use it to take photos of yourself while you’re using the iOS mobile device. It’s important to understand, however, that the FaceTime HD Camera does not offer the high-quality resolution that the rear-facing camera offers.
Based on which model iPhone or iPad you’re using, the rear-facing camera offers either 5MP or 8MP resolution. The resolution of the camera is then digitally enhanced thanks to other technology and hardware that’s built in to the device.
Note
MP stands for megapixel, which is equivalent to one million pixels. Thus, when a 5MP camera takes a photo, that image is composed of five million colored pixels. An 8MP camera creates images composed of eight million colored pixels. The higher the resolution of a camera, the more detail and vibrancy you’ll see within the images you shoot.
If you want to capture the highest-quality images currently possible using an iOS mobile device, you should use the rear-facing, 8MP camera that’s built in to the iPhone 5s. Although the iPhone 5c and iPhone 4s, for example, also have 8MP cameras built in, the lens aperture, image sensor, and lens quality in these devices is inferior to the iPhone 5s.
The iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad mini with Retina display all feature a 5MP rear-facing camera, while the iPad 2 offers a much-lower-resolution rear-facing camera that’s capable of capturing images at just 960 by 720 pixel resolution (which is equivalent to less than 1MP resolution).
The Camera app works with both the front- and rear-facing cameras that are built in to your iPhone or iPad; however, the rear-facing camera on these devices is a much higher-resolution camera. Thus, you’ll always be able to take better-quality pictures when you utilize the rear-facing camera.
In general, unless you want to hold your iPhone or iPad and simultaneously be in the photo (to take a selfie), you’re always better off using the device’s rear-facing camera. When the Camera app is running, to switch between the front- and rear-facing cameras, tap on the Camera Selection icon that’s located in the top-right corner of the Camera app screen.
Note
A selfie is a digital photo taken on a smartphone or tablet that you take of yourself. It’s captured either using the front-facing camera or by standing in front of a mirror and snapping a photo of yourself using the device’s rear-facing camera. Publishing and sharing selfies with online friends is common on Facebook, Instagram, and other online social networking services.
Switch Between Portrait and Landscape Modes
You can hold the iPhone or iPad in either Portrait or Landscape mode when shooting pictures using the Camera app. Portrait mode, where you hold the iPhone or iPad vertically (see Figure 2-10), is ideal when the subject of your photo is intended to be the main focal point of the image and what’s in the background is not as important. Choosing whether to use Portrait or Landscape mode when taking a picture is a matter of personal preference, based on what you’re trying to accomplish.
FIGURE 2-10 To shoot in Portrait mode, hold your iPhone or iPad vertically, and frame your image so the subject is the main focal point.
When using Portrait mode, much less of what’s in the background (behind your intended subject) is visible. So, as the name suggests, Portrait mode is ideal for taking portraits of people or pets or when taking close-up shots of your subject(s).
Landscape mode, which is activated by holding your iOS mobile device horizontally (see Figure 2-11), is better for taking pictures where the subject and the background are equally important, or when you want to showcase what’s in the background as well. It’s also useful for taking landscape shots, city skyline shots, group shots, or photos of large (wide) objects.
For example, if you’re on vacation in Washington, D.C. and your kids are standing in front of the White House, use Landscape mode to showcase your kids as well as the White House in the background. On the other hand, if they’re standing in front of the Washington Monument, you’ll probably want the extra height that Portrait mode provides.
You’ll notice that when you rotate the iPhone or iPad between Portrait and Landscape mode, the position of the onscreen icons and options rotates accordingly within the Camera app, and the field of view captured in the viewfinder widens dramatically.
Tip
If you want to significantly increase your field of view and capture a panoramic shot from your iPhone, this is done by switching to the Pano shooting mode, which you’ll learn about later in this chapter.
Keep in mind that digital photography is all about creativity. Instead of holding your iPhone or iPad in Portrait or Landscape mode, you always have the option of holding the device at another angle to create a more visually interesting shooting perspective. For example, you can literally hold your iPhone or iPad at a diagonal.
Chapter 3, “Ten Strategies to Quickly Improve Your Picture-Taking Skills,” focuses more on the creative aspects of digital photography using your iPhone or iPad.
Activate the AE/AF Sensor and Sensor Lock
Anytime you attempt to take a photo of a person using the Camera app, the camera’s automatic Face Detection feature kicks in. This works for taking pictures featuring between 1 and 10 people. What you see in the viewfinder is an AE/AF sensor box superimposed over each subject’s face. When one or more of these autofocus sensors kick in, this is what the Camera app focuses in on as an image is captured.
The Face Detection feature helps to ensure that the people in your photos are always in focus and properly exposed, while whatever other objects in that same image—located in front, to the sides, or behind your primary subject(s)—might not be in perfect focus.
If you’re taking photos of objects or anything else besides people, the Camera app’s AE/AF sensor might try to kick in, but the artificial intelligence built in to the app might not select the correct part of the image for your intended subject. Thus, you should manually activate the Camera app’s AE/AF sensor. To do this, position your intended subject(s) within your viewfinder and frame your image accordingly. Then, using your finger, tap on the area where your main subject is located. The AE/AF sensor box appears superimposed over your intended subject in the viewfinder (see Figure 2-12). This square does not appear in your actual digital image.
FIGURE 2-12 To manually set the Camera app’s autofocus sensor, tap on the screen where your primary (intended) subject is positioned.
Whatever is displayed directly behind this AE/AF sensor box in the viewfinder is what will be in sharp focus when you press the Shutter button and capture the image.
Caution
If there are several objects in your photo, and you fail to manually set the AE/AF sensor, the Camera app does this for you. The result could be that the Camera app winds up focusing on an object that isn’t your intended subject.
For example, if the object on which it focuses is physically located in front of your intended subject, the depth of field in the image might make your intended subject appear blurry, while the object in front of it winds up in focus and crystal clear. Always make sure that the AE/AF sensor is positioned over your intended subject(s).
Tip
If you plan to take multiple photos and want the AE/AF sensor to stay locked onto your intended subject, press and hold down your finger on the viewfinder, directly over your intended subject, until the AE/AF Lock banner appears on the screen and the sensor square pulses. You can then take multiple photos without having to reactivate the AE/AF sensor. To deactivate the AE/AF lock, simply tap anywhere on the viewfinder, or tap on a new intended subject.
Zoom In on Your Subject
The rear-facing camera that’s built in to your iPhone or iPad has a digital zoom feature built in that’s controlled from within the Camera app as you’re taking pictures. When you’re looking at the viewfinder, to zoom in on your intended subject(s), use your thumb and index finger to perform a pinch gesture on the touch screen. The Camera app’s Zoom slider appears near the bottom center of the screen (see Figure 2-13).
FIGURE 2-13 Use a pinch finger gesture on the touch screen to make the Zoom slider appear when using the Camera app. Here, the Zoom slider is activated but positioned to the extreme left, so no digital zoom is actually being used.
Place one finger on the slider dot and drag it to the right to zoom in on your subject, or move the slider to the left to zoom out. With the iPhone physically kept at the same distance from the subject, Figure 2-13 shows the viewfinder with the Zoom slider slid to the extreme left (so no zoom was used). Figure 2-14 shows the zoom slider positioned near its halfway point, demonstrating a partial zoom, while Figure 2-15 shows the same subject with the zoom fully utilized.
FIGURE 2-14 In this image, the digital zoom is being used at half its possible intensity. The iPhone 5s was not physically moved from its original location.
FIGURE 2-15 In this image, the zoom is being fully utilized. The Zoom slider has been moved to the extreme right.
Tip
Anytime you use the zoom or attempt to shoot in a low-light situation, it becomes more important to hold your iPhone or iPad extremely still when taking a photo. Not doing so may cause blur or an out-of-focus image.
To avoid unnecessary movement, as you’re about to take a photo while holding your iOS mobile device in your hands, lock your elbows against your body and hold your breath for a second or two as you tap the Shutter button. Other options are to lean against a wall or post to help steady your entire body, stand the iPhone or iPad on a stable table or ledge, or use a tripod or mobile device stand.
Enhance Images as You Shoot Using HDR Mode
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. This is a shooting mode that’s built in to the Camera app and that should be used when taking pictures in low-light situations or when the ambient lighting where you’re taking photos isn’t ideal.
When HDR mode is turned on, every time you press the Shutter button to take a photo, your iPhone or iPad captures either three or four images simultaneously (depending on which model device you’re using). Each image is taken at a slightly different exposure and captures the ambient light slightly differently. Then, within a fraction of a second, the three or four images are digitally combined into one image that offers better clarity and a truer representation of the natural colors and lighting.
To turn on HDR mode while you’re shooting, tap the HDR On/Off option that’s displayed on the viewfinder screen of the Camera app. On the iPhone, it’s located near the top center of the screen. On the iPad, this option is located immediately above the Shutter button.
Tip
Depending on how you set up this feature from within Settings, when HDR mode is turned on, your iPhone or iPad can either save just one image (captured with HDR mode turned on), or it can store two of the same images in the Camera Roll folder (one with and one without HDR mode turned on).
To adjust this setting, from the Home screen, launch Settings. Then, from the main Settings menu, tap on the Photos & Camera option. Scroll toward the bottom of the Photos & Camera submenu and turn on or off the virtual switch that’s associated with Keep Normal Photo.
Note
In some situations when you compare an image shot using HDR mode with a similar shot taken with HDR mode turned off, the differences between the images can be very subtle, and the “better” image will be a matter of personal preference. However, in certain circumstances, particularly in low-light situations, the image shot with HDR mode turned on offers more detail, better lighting, and improved contrast.
Thus, for more options and control over the appearance of your photos, it’s better to turn on the Keep Normal Photo option from within Settings, manually compare the two saved images, and then choose the best one using the Photos app (or when you transfer the images to your computer or an online service).
How to Utilize the Grid Feature
Another feature you can turn on or off from within Settings is the Camera app’s Grid feature. This feature simply superimposes a grid (which looks like a tic-tac-toe board) over your viewfinder as you’re taking pictures. This grid is a useful tool when it comes to framing your images and incorporating a shooting technique called the “Rule of Thirds,” which you’ll learn about in the next chapter.
When turned on, the grid appears in your viewfinder but does not appear in your actual photos (see Figure 2-16). To turn on this feature, launch Settings. From the main Settings menu, tap the Photos & Camera option. Then, from the Photos & Camera submenu, turn on the virtual switch associated with the Grid option if you want the grid to appear in your viewfinder anytime you use the Camera app.
FIGURE 2-16 Shown here is the Camera app with the Grid feature turned on. This is a useful tool when utilizing the “Rule of Thirds” framing technique as you’re taking pictures.
If you turn off the virtual switch associated with the Grid option, the grid does not display at all in the Camera app.
The Camera App’s Shooting Modes
Depending on which model of iPhone or iPad you’re using, the Camera app offers several different shooting modes, each of which is used for a different purpose.
When using the Camera app on any model iPhone, the Shooting Mode menu is displayed directly above the Shutter button. Place your finger over this menu and swipe to the left or right to select the shooting mode you want to use. The mode that’s displayed in yellow, directly over the Shutter button, is the one that’s currently active.
On the iPad, the available shooting modes are all displayed simultaneously below the Shutter button, near the bottom-right corner of the screen. Tap on the mode you want to use. When selected, the active shooting mode is displayed in yellow.
The following sections offer a summary of the shooting modes built in to the Camera app. However, all of these shooting modes are available to you only when used with an iPhone 5s.
Note
When using the Camera app on an iPad, only the Video, Photo, and Square shooting modes are available. On the newer iPad models that run using Apple’s A7 chip (including the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display), the Burst shooting mode is also available.
Slo-Mo (iPhone 5s Only)
This is a slow-motion shooting mode used when capturing HD video on your iPhone 5s. It’s not used for taking still images.
Video
When selected, the Video shooting mode allows an iPhone or iPad to shoot 1080p HD-quality video at up to 30 frames per second. You can then view, clip, and share video clips using the Photos app. You can also fully edit, view, and share them using the optional iMovie app.
Tip
If you’re shooting video using the iPhone 5/5s/5c, it’s possible to simultaneously take digital photos using the rear-facing camera. To do this, tap the red button to begin shooting your video. The timer appears near the top center of the screen. Then, as you’re filming video, tap the white circle (displayed to the left of the red circle icon) to snap individual photos, which are automatically saved in the Camera Roll folder. Tap the red circle icon again to stop filming the video.
Photo
Use the Photo shooting mode to capture regular (rectangular-shaped) digital images using the Camera app. This is the shooting mode smartphone or tablet digital photographers use most often.
Square
The Square shooting mode works just like the Photo shooting mode; however, the viewfinder displays a smaller, square-shaped image (see Figure 2-17). What you wind up capturing with this mode are digital photos that are automatically cropped into a square shape. This is ideal if you plan to upload your images to an online photo sharing service, like Instagram, that utilizes only square-shaped images.
Tip
You can always shoot a regular-shaped image using the Photo mode and then manually use the Crop tool to transform the image into a square shape after it’s been taken. This can be done when previewing an image with the Camera app, while using the Photos app, or with another photo editing app. The official Instagram app also offers a cropping and repositioning/resizing tool for transforming regular images into square-shaped ones.
Pano (iPhone Only)
Using the rear-facing camera of the iPhone 4/4s/5/5c/5s, it’s possible to shoot panoramic images. These are extremely wide-angle shots that enable you to capture a vast landscape, a city skyline, or a large group of people, for example. See “Taking Panoramic Photos from Your iPhone,” later in this chapter, to learn how to use this Camera app feature.
Tip
Instead of taking panoramic shots from your iPhone, the optional Cycloramic app (available for free from the App Store) enables you to easily capture 360-degree panoramic shots from any iPhone or iPad’s rear-facing camera. Thus, you can take panoramic shots from an iPad and more visually impressive 360-degree panoramic shots from an iPhone. You can view these images using this app, or convert them into short movie clips and then share them with others via email or any online social networking or photo sharing service. You can also embed the 360-degree panoramic movie clips into web pages or blogs, for example.
The Cycloramic app also offers enhancements specifically for use with the iPhone 5s. You’ll learn more about the Cycloramic app in Chapter 9, “Photography Apps That Expand Your Photo Editing and Enhancement Capabilities.”
Burst (iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPad mini with Retina Display Only)
Typically, when you press the Shutter button in the Camera app once (or press the Volume Up or Volume Down button), one image is captured and saved. However, if you’re photographing a fast-moving subject and you want to shoot a specific movement or instant that can’t easily be replicated, or that would otherwise require extremely precise timing to capture, consider using the Burst shooting mode.
To activate this shooting mode on any iOS mobile device that utilizes an Apple A7 processor chip, including the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, or iPad mini with Retina display, instead of tapping the Shutter button, press and hold your finger down on it. This enables you to shoot up to 10 frames (pictures) per second.
The Camera app automatically groups together and stores these images in the Camera Roll folder. You can then review the collection of photos and pick and choose your favorites, and at the same time, quickly delete the unwanted images. You’ll learn how to do this in Chapter 6.
If you’re taking pictures at a sporting event, for example, and a player is about to make a basket, score a touchdown, or shoot a goal, the Burst shooting mode enables you to capture images leading up to, during, and after that split-second event, ensuring you ultimately capture the perfect shot you’re looking for. Keep in mind that, when shooting sports, sometimes the athlete’s facial expression immediately after scoring, for example, makes for a more impactful image than a shot of the scoring action itself. The Burst shooting mode enables you to capture it all, without having to worry about achieving perfect timing when pressing the Shutter button.
Work with Filters
When using the Camera app with any iPhone model, it’s possible to activate and incorporate one of eight special effect filters in real time as you’re actually taking pictures. To do this, as you’re looking through the viewfinder, tap on the Filters icon that’s displayed near the bottom-right corner of the Camera app’s display. When you do this, the main viewfinder screen is replaced by a nine-box grid (see Figure 2-18). Each box displays a different special effect filter. To select one of the filters, tap it. The original viewfinder screen reappears, but the filter you selected is displayed and automatically incorporated into your image(s) as you’re shooting.
FIGURE 2-18 The Camera app, when used on an iPhone, includes eight special effect filters that can be added in real time when taking pictures.
Available filters include Mono, Tonal, Noir, Fade, Chrome, Process, Transfer, and Instant. When you select a filter, to deactivate it, press the Filters icon again. When the filter screen appears, tap the None box (displayed in the center of the screen).
Instead of selecting and utilizing a filter when shooting in real time, on either the iPhone or iPad, it’s possible to add a filter after the fact, either when using the Image Preview option that’s built in to the Camera app or when editing images later using the Photos app. To do this, after snapping a normal image using the Camera app (on an iPhone or iPad), tap the Image Preview thumbnail. When the image you just shot appears, tap the Edit option. Then, tap on the Filters icon and select which filter you want to apply to the image you’re previewing. Tap on the Apply option to save your changes and store the “edited” image in the Camera Roll folder.
You’ll find more information about adding filters when editing and enhancing photos after they’re shot using the Photos app in Chapter 6.
Tip
In addition to the special effect filters available to you in the Camera app (iPhone) and the Photos app (iPhone or iPad), a variety of different special effect filters are available from third-party apps that you can add before sharing your photos online. For example, both the official Facebook and Instagram apps (which you’ll learn more about in Chapter 12, “Share Your Digital Photos Online”) have their own image filter options.
Use the iPhone’s Flash
All of the more recent iPhone models, including the iPhone 4s/5/5c/5s, have a built-in, rear-facing camera flash. However, instead of just a bright white, single-color LED flash, the iPhone 5s offers what Apple calls a True Tone flash, which works much better. None of the iPad models currently have a flash built in.
As you’re using the Camera app on the iPhone, you have the option to have the iPhone automatically turn on or off the flash as needed (based on the available light where you’re taking pictures), or you can manually turn on or off the flash. To adjust the flash settings, tap on the Flash icon that’s displayed in the top-left corner of the Camera app’s screen. There are three options: Auto, On, or Off.
The Auto mode tells the Camera app to automatically decide when and whether the flash is needed and then activate it accordingly as you’re taking pictures. However, if you select the On option, every time you snap a photo, the flash is automatically used (regardless of the ambient lighting conditions). Likewise, if you select the Off option, the flash never activates as you’re taking photos.
Each of these flash modes has pros and cons. For example, the Auto mode kicks in and emits a bright burst of light, aimed directly at your subject, if the iPhone determines you’re taking pictures in a low-light situation. However, if your subject is too close to you (the photographer), this could result in an overexposed, washed-out image, or your human subject could display red-eye in the photo. Or if your subject is standing in front of a window or a reflective surface, you might discover unwanted glares within your images caused by the flash.
Deciding whether to utilize a flash when taking pictures is both a creative and technical decision, based on what you’re trying to accomplish. The entire focus of Chapter 4, “Taking Awesome Pictures in Low Light,” deals specifically with how and when to use the iPhone’s built-in flash to consistently capture the best images possible, without capturing unwanted glares, shadows, or red-eye or winding up with overexposed or underexposed images.
Note
The True Tone flash that’s built in to the iPhone 5s is really composed of two different-colored LED flashes that work simultaneously to more accurately match the color of the ambient light while brightening up the area where you’re taking pictures. By automatically adjusting the color and intensity of the light emitted by the True Tone flash, many of the common problems that occur when using a bright white flash are reduced or eliminated altogether.
To avoid overexposed images or red-eye when standing close to your subject and using the iPhone’s built-in flash, try taking several steps away from your subject and then compensating for the distance using the zoom. Also, make sure your subject is not standing in front of a window, mirror, or another reflective surface that the light emitted from the flash will bounce off of.
Take Panoramic Photos from Your iPhone
The Camera app when used with the iPhone features the Pano shooting mode for taking visually impressive panoramic shots. To utilize this shooting mode, select it from the Shooting Mode menu. The look of the viewfinder will change slightly (see Figure 2-19).
FIGURE 2-19 The Pano shooting mode built in to the Camera app (when used with an iPhone) enables you to capture visually stunning panoramic images.
Displayed near the center of the viewfinder screen you’ll see a yellow line upon which is a large, white, right-pointing arrow. Position your iPhone to the extreme left of your subject, and then tap the Shutter button. Upon doing this, slowly move the iPhone from left to right, in a steady horizontal motion. Make sure you keep the iPhone level.
As you’re doing this, pan across the landscape, city skyline, or group of people you want to capture in the panoramic shot. Keep this steady panning motion going until the white arrow reaches the right side of the screen or you’ve captured your entire subject matter. If you want to stop capturing the panoramic image before the arrow reaches the right side of the screen, tap on the Shutter button again to save your image.
Once a panoramic image is taken (see Figure 2-20), you can edit, enhance, view, print, or share it just like any other digital photo taken on the iPhone.
FIGURE 2-20 A panoramic shot enables you to capture a vast landscape, a city skyline, or a large group of people within a single shot.
A tripod that enables you to rotate the iPhone while holding it steady and level can be a useful tool when shooting panoramic images. However, thanks to the artificial intelligence built in to the Camera app, a tripod is not necessary as long as you pay attention to the warning messages that appear on the screen if you begin panning too fast or don’t hold the iPhone steady as you’re panning.
Tip
Be sure to hold your iPhone in Portrait mode (vertically) when shooting in Pano mode.
Tip
If, for whatever reason, you want or need to shoot a panoramic shot by panning the camera from right to left (instead of from left to right), before pressing the Shutter button in Pano shooting mode, tap on the white arrow icon once. Its starting position changes to the opposite side of the screen.
Customize the Camera App from Within Settings
In addition to being able to turn on or off various Camera app-related features and functions from within the app itself, you can adjust several additional app-specific functions in Settings that relate to the Grid and Keep Normal Photo options already discussed.
Every time you snap a photo, the Camera app also records metadata related to that image, and then stores that metadata as part of the image file. This automatically includes the exact date and time each photo was taken.
Based on how you set up the Location Services feature in your iPhone or iPad, the metadata information captured with each image can also include the exact location where it was shot. When you include geotagging information with your photos, and then use the Photos or iPhoto app on your iOS mobile device or the iPhoto app on your Mac, you can automatically display a detailed map that shows exactly where you took the photos. You can also automatically sort and group images by location.
The potential downside to geotagging is that if you publish your photos online and opt to display this information, the exact location where your photos were taken is displayed with the photos themselves. If you’re publishing photos online for the public to see, you might not want strangers seeing your photos to know exactly where they were taken or where you are.
Caution
When publishing photos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, for example, use common sense before opting to display geotagging details about the photos you publish online.
Turn On/Off Photo Geotagging
From within Settings, you have the option to turn on or off the Camera app’s Geotagging feature. To adjust this setting, launch Settings and tap on the Privacy option. From the Privacy submenu, tap the Location Services option. Then, from the Location Services submenu, you can leave the main Location Services feature turned on but turn on or off the Camera app’s capability to determine your location and store it with your digital photos. To do this, scroll down and turn on or off the virtual switch associated with the Camera option (see Figure 2-21).
FIGURE 2-21 Turn off the virtual switch associated with the Camera option to prevent the Camera app from determining your location and saving this information with each image you take.
The 10-Step Camera App Recap
Much of what you just learned about using the Camera app to take photos can be summed up if you follow these 10 steps each time you want to snap a photo using the app:
1. Launch the Camera app.
2. Choose a shooting mode.
3. Select either the front- or rear-facing camera.
4. Turn on or off the flash (iPhone) and/or HDR mode.
5. Turn on or off the Grid feature.
6. Add an optional filter as you’re shooting in real time (iPhone only).
7. Zoom in or out as needed.
8. Focus on your subject(s) and activate the AE/AF sensor by tapping on the screen where your subject is positioned in the viewfinder.
9. Hold the iPhone/iPad very still.
10. Tap the Shutter button (or the Volume Up or Volume Down button) to snap the photo and have it saved in the Camera Roll folder.
After taking a photo, you can then tap on the Preview icon to view that image, and/or choose to edit or enhance it using the tools offered by the Photos app (while still working within the Camera app).
As you’re viewing an image in Preview mode, it’s possible to zoom in using a reverse-pinch finger gesture or by double-tapping on the screen in the area where you want to zoom. To zoom back out, double-tap again or use a pinch finger gesture.
Note
In addition to following these steps when using the Camera app, you should use some of the picture-taking strategies outlined in the next chapter to adopt a more creative or artistic approach to your picture taking. Doing this results in your photos being more visually interesting and professional looking.
You Now Have the Skill; Let’s Get Creative
Knowing how to use the Camera app and adjust its settings based on your shooting conditions and available light plays a huge role in your ability to take professional-quality photos using your iPhone or iPad. Now that you’ve acquired the core knowledge needed to properly use the Camera app and its many features and functions, let’s focus on developing your creative skills.
Starting in the next chapter, you learn how to use the Camera app, with your own creativity, as you develop your photographer’s eye, to consistently capture visually interesting, artistic, in-focus, and meaningful images. Don’t worry: It’s not at all difficult, and it can actually be rather fun as you challenge yourself to look at everyday things from a new perspective as you’re seeing them through the Camera app’s viewfinder.
As you’re about to discover, how you compose and frame your shots, utilize light, adjust your shooting angle, and showcase your subject(s) within each photo will help you capture more professional looking pictures, regardless of what or where you’re shooting.