Ditch The Flash

The problem with many smartphone flashes is that they dont actually, well, flash. Theyre glorified LED flashlights, thrust into a duty theyre not fully prepared for. They are bright, but the color temperature can be gross and they miss one of the primary duties of a strobe: freezing the action in the frame. The actual flash duration is much too long, so you end up with an image thats both blurry and terribly-lit. Not to mention how close it is to the lens, which makes those horrible demon eyes almost a given. So, what do you do in the dark, then? Unfortunately, even with advances like Nokias nifty PureView technology, theres only so far you can push a smartphone sensor in low-light. Often, your best bet is to seek out another light source. It likely wont be perfect or even flattering, but it can be interesting. In a dark bar? Look for a neon sign or a bright juke box. At a concert? Wait until one of the wacky swinging stage lights makes its way over to your area. Photography is about creativity after all.