Smartphone Photography: From Snapshots to Considered Shots

What's inside

1. Level 1: How Your Phone Camera SeesFree
   You'll find out how your phone's small sensor, its several lenses and its built-in processing work together to turn light into a finished photo.
2. Level 2: Clean Lens, Steady HandsFree
   We'll build two simple habits that fix most blurry, hazy shots: wiping the lens and holding the phone steady.
3. Level 3: Rule of Thirds and Keeping It Simple
   You'll learn to place your subject on purpose using the thirds grid, and to cut out clutter so the eye knows where to look.
4. Level 4: Leading Lines, Framing and Perspective
   We'll use lines, natural frames and a change of height or angle to give your photos depth and guide the viewer's eye.
5. Level 5: Reading Light: Direction and Quality
   You'll learn to see where light is coming from and whether it's hard or soft, and how that changes the mood and shape of a subject.
6. Level 6: Golden Hour and Window Light
   We'll use two of the most flattering light sources you can get for free: the low sun near sunrise and sunset, and the soft light from a window.
7. Level 7: Taking Control: Focus and Exposure Lock
   You'll take over from auto mode by choosing what's sharp, locking it there, and making the picture brighter or darker yourself.
8. Level 8: Portraits: Light, Angle and Background
   We'll bring light, composition and control together to photograph people in a way that looks natural and flattering.
9. Level 9: Getting the Most from Portrait Mode
   You'll learn how portrait mode fakes a blurred background, when it works well, and how to spot and avoid its tell-tale mistakes.
10. Level 10: Landscapes: Main Lens vs Ultra-Wide
    We'll photograph wide scenes and learn when the ultra-wide lens adds drama and when the main lens gives a cleaner, sharper result.
11. Level 11: Food and Product Shots That Sell
    You'll learn to style, light and shoot food and products that look appealing on social media and in online shops.
12. Level 12: Night Mode and Low Light
    We'll find out how night mode merges several exposures into one bright, clean picture, and how to help it succeed.
13. Level 13: Motion: Burst, Live Photos and Long Exposures
    You'll learn to freeze fast action with burst mode, or show movement as a smooth blur using live or motion photos.
14. Level 14: Camera App Settings, RAW and Pro Modes
    We'll tour the settings that matter on any phone and get a broad overview of RAW files and pro or manual modes, so you know what to look for.
15. Level 15: Editing with Restraint, and AI Tools
    You'll edit on your phone using crop, straighten, light and colour, and learn what AI editing tools can and can't do well.
16. Level 16: Organise, Back Up and Share at the Right Size
    We'll keep your photos findable and safe, then share them at sizes and in shapes that look sharp on each platform.
17. Level 17: Final Challenge: Your Considered Portfolio Exam
    You'll bring the whole course together by planning, shooting, editing and sharing a small, varied set of photos, then judging each one against everything you've learned.

Access

The first 2 levels are free with a free account. Every level, the podcast edition and the AI tutor come with All Access at £4.99/month or any Creator plan — see pricing.

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