Click Dazzling Photos this Diwali with Phone Cameras

Do you know what the key to an amazing photograph is? Yes, light! And what better place and time to capture some amazing photos than the Festival of Lights!Diwali—the time when all our loved ones come together, wear traditional clothes, eat sweets and savouries to our heart’s content, decorate our homes, light diyas, burst firecrackers and most importantly create beautiful memories together.Let’s explore some amazing ways of freezing these memories for life! No, you don’t need a DSLR camera. After all, it is not the camera that matters, it’s the photographer that does. So, pick up the mobile phone that you have and shoot away!.Capturing CultureDiwali is celebrated across India. But what makes our photographs unique is the variety of celebrations. If you are in Goa, shoot the burning effigy of the rakshasa Narkasur as he is killed by Shri Krishna. If you are in Varanasi, capture the millions of diyas being lit on the ghats for Dev Deepawali. Find out what’s different in your culture and capture it. See to it that you know the importance or significance of what you are shooting. Being aware of the story behind the tradition always helps in providing a perspective when we shoot. While shooting, explore different angles and perspectives. Don’t shoot randomly. Be aware of what you choose to include in your frame and what you exclude..Capturing Family and FriendsGo Candid! Group photos are good, but also shoot those moments which you will cherish after Diwali. Your cousins pulling each other’s leg, your mom and aunts preparing sweets in the kitchen, your grandparents giving aashirwad to the younger ones, etc. Our memories always lie in these little moments. It is possible that people may feel uncomfortable when you shoot them. In that case, give them some time, show them what an amazing photograph you have captured of them and soon they will happily enjoy being photographed. While shooting people, shoot at their eye level. Explore the portrait mode in your camera if you want to blur the background. For group photos, keep an eye out for a beautiful background—a decorated area, a simple wall, beautiful steps, etc..Capturing DécorThe marigold flowers, the glowing diyas, the lighting at home, the traditional ‘aakash-divo/kandil’ and the colourful rangoli—photographs will be incomplete if all these aren’t captured. Try playing with light when shooting these. Capturing decorative items on a stand-alone basis is beautiful. But adding a human element has a different charm altogether. Explore compositions like your sister filling the rangoli with colours, your nephew looking in awe at the aakash diya, your dad putting up the toran, etc. Try not to zoom in, go close and shoot. Zooming pixelates photographs..Shooting FireworksFor fireworks, you can explore the night mode on your phone. And if it doesn’t work, don’t worry! See to it that you focus on the brightest area when you shoot. If you love reels, you can also explore, slo-mo and time-lapse for fireworks, it will look amazing. If you use an I-phone, you can also capture the photo in live mode and explore long exposures. Experimenting with light and composition is the key to capturing brilliant photos of fireworks..Capturing FoodImagine, the spiral jalebis being artistically created in that hot pan of ghee or the cutting of the karanji or nevri using that curvy cutter or the soaking of the gulab jamuns in the sugar solution; how can we not photograph these?!There are primarily two ways we can photograph food—candid and posed. In both cases, it’s always helpful to be aware of what the process is and what the ingredients are. This helps you to be prepared as a photographer as to what is going to happen next. When capturing candid, framing is very important. There will be drops of oil, maybe the person who is making is sweating, the half-opened ingredient boxes and packets may be lying around, etc. Hence, consciously choose what you want to include and exclude from your frame. Go close to the action. Ensure that you are holding the phone in both your hands. Be aware if the phone is heating up, stop shooting for a while if it does.In case you are styling the food and then capturing it, see to it that you have a nice background, a simple chart paper will also do. Go for a front lay or a top shot. Include some traditional brass utensils—they give a nice Diwali feel. Also, include the ingredients if possible—like a small bowl of kesar, or a few elaichis. To add more feel, you can also keep a few marigold flowers, a shubh-labh, a box of fuljhadi, or a diya. Try not to overdo it. Keep it simple..Be You!Be yourself, shoot what you like, what you feel, what captures your attention and in your own style. In this process include your family members too. Remember, it’s not just about capturing memories, but being a part of them too.Wishing you a happy and prosperous Diwali!.For more tips and tricks on photography, follow us on www.instagram.com/thesaloneejain