Lesson 2. HDR, night mode, and stabilization

A modern phone can “stitch together” several shots into one — the magic of computational photography. Two modes are worth understanding. HDR (high dynamic range). When a scene is both very bright and very dark (say, a dark room and a bright window, or the ground and a sunset sky), a normal shot can't handle both: either the sky is white or the ground is black. HDR takes several shots at different brightness levels and merges them into one that shows both light and dark. On most phones HDR is automatic; if you have a choice, turn it on in high-contrast scenes. Hold the phone steady: it takes several shots. Night mode. In the dark, the phone takes a series of shots over a couple of seconds and stacks them, removing noise and lifting the brightness. It often turns on by itself in the dark. The key condition: don't jerk the phone while it shoots — lean on a wall, rest your elbows on a table, hold your breath for the shot. Ideally, use a support or a tripod. Stabilization. Even in daylight, shaky hands ruin sharpness. Hold the phone with both hands, elbows tucked against your body, and press the button smoothly (or shoot with the volume button — less shake). In the dark, support matters more than any setting. Don't fear the automatic modes: most of the time the phone picks HDR and night mode correctly on its own. Your job is to keep it steady.