Ah, summer…! The best time of the year to check out the hottest beaches, enjoy a lazy afternoon by the pool and, of course, show your perfect holidays on social media. Not too confident about your photography skills under the harsh sunlight? Then check out these simple tips to get stunning photos with ASUS PixelMaster Camera on your ZenFone!
Tip #1 – Capture more details in a strongly backlit scene with HDR Pro
Imagine you are outside on a bright summer day. The vibrant blue sky and the colorful landscape create the perfect photo op, so you take a few pictures. Maybe you’ll notice that the results look a bit off: either the blue sky has turned into a washed-out grey, or the landscape and people in the foreground suddenly look too dark.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is a commonly used technique that tackles this problem by merging multiple photos taken at different exposures in a quick succession, then combining them into one single image. The result is a photo that looks much more like what your naked eye would see, with the right amount of brightness on its darkest and lightest spots. This technique is awesome for sunny landscapes, or shooting people against harsh sunlight.
Photo captured using HDR Pro mode
PixelMaster’s HDR Pro mode does the whole process automatically, and all you have to do is hold your phone steady and make sure you maintain the frame, to avoid a blurry result! From your camera screen, tap 
> HDR Pro, then shoot.
Note: This feature works best when shooting landscapes and other still subjects. Avoid moving subjects and make sure you hold the phone firmly when shooting.
Tip #2 – Create a dark silhouette effect
Summer holidays are always full of opportunities for the most amazing sunset shots, whether it’s by the pool, on the shore or up in the mountains. For a more creative, mysterious or dramatic picture, how about showing only a silhouette? It could be of a person, a palm tree, you name it!
To get that effect, all you have to do is follow these simple steps:
- Make sure the subject of the picture is placed between the source of light and the camera.
- On the camera screen, tap the HDR icon on the top left until you find the off icon, or
. - Disable the flash by tapping the icon on the top right until you find the off icon, or
. - Tap your screen to focus. Make sure you focus on the background light.
A perfect example of a silhouette effect
Tip #3 – Use the flash for portraits on a bright sunny day
Yes, you read it right: using your flash when it’s already super bright outside may be counterintuitive, but sometimes the harsh sunlight can create a lot of shadows on the most undesired spots: under the eyes, the nose and the mouth. So if you’re shooting a portrait outdoors and the sun is causing you trouble, try turning on the flash to light up the darker spots! Just keep in mind that the flash has a limited reach, so this would work best on portraits or short distances.
From the camera screen, just tap the flash icon on the top right until you find the always-on icon, or 
.
Tip #4 – Bring your little companion… in your bag!
What happens if the sky is grey and dull? Well, here’s a way to divert the attention from the background and into the foreground: If you are a kid at heart, you know how cool it is to look through your pictures and find your favorite little action figure or plush toy in a famous sightseeing spot – as if your little companion had embarked on his own adventure. While this tip may not be everyone’s cup of tea, you might want to give it a try; if anything, it’s a great conversation starter!
So get ready to crush your Instagram game and hear all jaws dropping on Facebook when you start posting the most creative photos of your holidays. Just update PixelMaster before you go, and enjoy the summer!
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