If you're wondering whether you can capture speed with your phone, the answer is yes! Even without a dedicated camera, there are apps and resources available that allow you to capture motion effectively. Additionally, using manual mode on your phone can give you more control over the shutter speed and help you achieve the desired effect. Keep exploring and experimenting with your phone photography to capture the essence of speed

Apps to help when playing or experimenting with speed

PROSHOT APP

This is an app that you can use to take normal photographs or videos, in P or Manual mode.

Extra features are using this app to take light graffiti photographs or record a timelapse video.

SLOW SHUTTER CAM APP

Slow Shutter Cam brings new life into your device's photo toolbox by letting you capture a variety of amazing slow shutter speed effects that you only thought you could get with a DSLR.

LONGEXPO APP

LongExpo is a camera app that enables you to capture high-quality long exposure, light trail/stream, and low-light photos.

Equipment or Resources that will help when using your phone & speed.

Okay! Just like using a camera, you can take slow shutter speed photographs with your phone and these are the types of photographs that you will capture:

• Starry Nights

• Ghosts

• Light painting/Light trials

• Cloudy/frosty water

Another key accessory to consider is your main process when storing your photographs. Possibly use the memory card that is provided when you get a new phone, and upload images to either a Dropbox or iCloud account so that you have them stored.

If you have an iPhone you can link your phone to your Mac and you can Airdrop any files to your photos or download files on your computer.

Take a read of this article on how to use airdrop -

• How to turn on AirDrop on your Mac computer, and send files between your Mac and other Apple devices

Using the manual mode on a phone

Okay, many new phones give you access to use manual modes which can either be Manual or programmed. I do appreciate that not all phones have this option, so how can you do this if you have not?

Well, I would suggest using any of the suggested apps from this blog if this is the case.

If you have a phone that has not got a manual, you have these options to play with:

• Slo-mo video recording

• Self-timer is perfect to use with a tripod and shoot or capture quick action.

• One more app to consider is - Camera+2

  Read this article on how effective this app is - Shoot your pics like a pro

If you do have the option of manual mode then here is a list of what you can change and why:

1. Shutter speed (1/45000 to 1 second). If you amend the speed you can take either a slow or fast shutter speed photo.

2. ISO (15 to 2304). If you change the ISO you will control the noise of your final images. In low light situations, which is at night or inside you will need to increase the ISO number.

3. White balance. This option controls the white areas in a photograph. You want to make sure that you don’t have an image that is either two blue or orange in tone.

4. Focus distance. This means you can focus on a subject that is close or far and you will be able to take the depth of field images.

5. Exposure compensation (-6 to +6 stops). This means that you can over or underexpose an image by controlling the light exposure in each photo. - Represent the under & + represents the overexposed.

6. You will also be able to take RAW photos, which gives you more options when you edit your images.

Here is another app that I have found that is really effective to use with your manual settings. Since researching this option I have found that you can experiment with the in-camera app that you have with your phone, but to be more effective you may decide to use an app to help take better-quality photographs and play with the manual settings when required.

For more information on how to use your phone manual, then take a quick watch of this video, I have found this lady uses a Moment app, which is another really useful app to use.

If you decide to use Pro Camera by Moment app, you do have the option to buy extension apps from this series that can help you take a slow shutter picture or capture a timelapse video.

Reading up and writing this blog has given me the challenge to try out two apps and compare the best, which are:

• Camera + 2

• Pro Camera by Moment

Both of these apps are DLSR-related and as a photographer, I would like the option to be able to take better-quality photographs with my phone and share quality videos via my social media.

One thing I have learned is that to use your phone more effectively you need manual settings and an app of some form so that you can play with shutter speed with the app Pro Camera by Moment, they sell extra lenses to add so that you can take DLSR photo with your phone.

After reading this blog you should have some idea of how to use your phone and speed. I may have promoted or given you an idea of an app you may wish to use.

For the following month, I will be re-promoting my depth of field, aperture, focus stacking & bokeh blogs for my adult education classes.

• Adult Learning session - How to use aperture with your camera

• Adult Learning session - How to use aperture to take a depth-of-field photograph

• Adult Learning session - How to take and edit a focus-stacked photograph

• Adult Learning session - How to take a Bokeh photograph

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