Xiaomi Mi3 Macro Photography and Landscapes Practical Shooting Tips

These Tips are things I learned from my experiences and in no way exhaustive. There are tons of articles online regarding mobile phone photography and if you want to know more, you can just google for them. But this tips i think covers the basics. Tips on getting the most out of Macro shots Close-up (Macro) shots here where taken with an Mi3 with a macro lens attachment. 1. The Mi3 has a superb camera which can actually shoot decent macro shots even without a lens attachment. Try it. On the phone camera app, go to focus and select macro mode. Then get close to your subject (about 3-5 inches, depending on how big your subject is) then tap on the screen to focus. You can also zoom in on your subject by making a two-finger outward swipe on the screen. (I don't recommend it though since its a digital zoom and would degrade picture quality) 2. Make sure it bright enough where you're shooting since getting really close to a subject tends to cast shadows created by your hands and mobile phone. 3. Insects are most inactive during early mornings (before the suns barely up) or late afternoon (when the suns going down). During these hours, you can get really close to them and they won't even move. 4. Breath deep, exhale and hold. Taking macro shots are tricky, the more you get close, the more your movement are amplified. So when you're about to take a photo hold your breath for a second then shoot away! Tips on getting the most out Sunsets and Landscapes in General 1. The best time to take nature shots is during the Golden Hour. What is the golden hour? Wikipedia says:"The golden hour is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer compared to when the Sun is higher in the sky." Because at this time of the day, there are no harsh shadows and the suns soft light can highlight textures not possible with bright sunlight. And depending on weather, light at this time can add more drama to your images. 2. Try fiddling with exposure. On the camera app, find the icon [+/-] that's your exposure. A negative exposure will give you a darker scene and positive will be bright. depending on what your subject is, you can bring out more impact on your subject by either lowering or increasing exposure. 3. Watch the horizon. When taking nature or landscape shots, it's always best to have the horizon level horizontally. Specially when your taking photos of bodies of waters or tree lines. This is where a reference line come in handy. On the camera app, go to settings and turn-on the reference line. So now whenever you shoot, you'll if your horizon is level or not Other Tips: 1. Dont be afraid to get down and dirty. Angles play a big part in composition and great picture tells a story. So sit down, get on you're belly or climb a tree. Trust me, it will be all worth it when you get that once in a lifetime shot.