Today’s smartphones give everyone the power to capture unforgettable moments and awe-inspiring photographs with a single tap on the screen. It’s also easier than ever to take your photo-snapping skills to the next level by unlocking the full power of Snapdragon® camera technology. That’s why we kicked off our first mobile photography newsletter by interviewing two Snapdragon Insiders who use their devices powered by a Snapdragon® mobile processor to take some seriously stunning shots. Check out what Bhaumik (@BhaumikBheda1 on Twitter) and Mohamed (@smasithick on Twitter) said about their creative process, favorite Snapdragon features, and what tips they’d give to beginners.
How did you get involved in the Snapdragon Insiders community?
Mohamed: I joined Snapdragon Insiders soon after the program was announced. Then, at the start of this year, I got to know some Snapdragon Insiders on Twitter and joined the Discord server.
Bhaumik: I’ve used Snapdragon powered devices for about seven or eight years. I started getting more involved with the community when they introduced the Snapdragon Insiders Discord server. It’s a nice platform for engaging with other Insiders all around the globe.
Can you show us one of your favorite photos that you’ve taken recently and tell us about it?
Mohamed: I took this macro photograph of an Arabian Jasmine plant; the macro shot brings out incredible details. I took it with my Xiaomi Mi 11x, which has Snapdragon 870.
Bhaumik: My favorite that I’ve taken recently is one of the Milky Way. I’m a part of a photography club at ASU, and I led an astrophotography workshop with them. I took some really nice astro shots with the OnePlus 9 Pro and the [Samsung] Galaxy S23 Ultra.
What inspired you to start mobile photography?
Mohamed: After getting my first job, I purchased my first mobile phone with a camera, the Nokia Lumia 710 with the Snapdragon S2 chipset, and from there, my mobile photography journey started. I still remember taking a great photograph with that 5MP camera, and I could still capture incredible details.
Bhaumik: I got into the modern mobile photography world in 2014 when I was introduced to OnePlus. I was taking a road trip in North India, and my friend was using the camera on the OnePlus 3, and the results blew me away. So when I came home, I got a OnePlus 3, and it’s just been an upward journey from then on.
What are your favorite subjects to photograph, and why?
Mohamed: I love to capture landscapes, I’m in the southernmost part of India, and we have very large mountain ranges here. But with the #SpringonSnapdragon challenge, I’ve been posting more flowers recently.
Bhaumik: My favorite subjects are astrophotography, nightlife, city life, and nature. I try to find light and then the absence of light to get dramatic results. I like focusing on where the light comes from and using it instead of external light sources.
What do you think sets mobile photography apart from traditional photography?
Mohamed: Nowadays, we don’t have to carry heavy DSLRs everywhere. Wherever we spot a moment, we can capture it with our mobile phone.
Bhaumik: The thing that sets it apart is that your phone is always in your back pocket. With the sensors constantly improving, I think we’re moving toward phones that could eventually have attachments that go on them, similar to a traditional camera.
Can you share a few of your favorite mobile photography tools, tips, or tricks that could help beginners?
Mohamed: Mobile photography is full of experiments. So I’d say experiment a lot and practice a lot.
Bhaumik: I would say for anyone using an Android device for mobile photography, the easiest tool to use is Snapseed. I would tell beginners to focus on exposure, highlights, brightness, and shadows and start understanding what each one does. Then you can move on to color temperature, vibrance of the photo, and enhancement tools.
What features of devices with Snapdragon do you find most useful for mobile photography?
Mohamed: The 3X portrait mode in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best I’ve ever used. It’s great for capturing some incredible portraits of people and their pets. I also love the 10x optical zoom capability of the S23 Ultra.
Bhaumik: I think the camera processors are unbelievable. Especially the fact that you don’t have shutter lag.
Lastly, what features would you like to see in future devices with Snapdragon that could further enhance your mobile photography experience?
Mohamed: I have huge expectations for the next Snapdragon mobile platform. I think it will deliver even better battery and camera optimization than Snapdragon Gen 2.
Bhaumik: Since OEMs have different displays, colors look different if you switch between different devices for photography or editing. I would like to see a dedicated camera mode and display options that would be calibrated so that the color profile is the same on every device.
Do you have a favorite camera feature from a Snapdragon powered device? What other mobile photography topics would you like to see us cover? Let us know on Discord.
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