Smartphone photography tips during the total lunar eclipse

Main photo: A “blood moon” during the upcoming lunar eclipse on 26 May will be visible across Southeast Asia and Australia for about 14 minutes, weather permitting. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Certain times of the day are sacred to avid smartphone photographers. The golden hour is a prime example – many of us relish capturing moments illuminated by soft, gentle hues of the rising or setting sun. While night photography can be just as amazing, shooting in low light can be challenging for the average photographer. 

But for users of the Samsung Galaxy A and S series, after-hours photography provides the perfect opportunity for you to flex the features of your camera, including the Pro Mode and Night Mode, to take a variety of creative shots – from slick light trails that capture the energy of your city to ethereal shots of the sky and moon.

And if you needed a nudge to plan an after-dark photography outing with your friends, let it be the upcoming Blood Moon on May 26!

To get you ready for this once in a (blood) moon occasion, here are some pro tips for the ultimate night photography outing. 

Optimize your smartphone’s settings

When light levels are low, leveraging the right settings become imperative to a successful shot. For users of the Samsung Galaxy A and S series, there are two key functions you should be acquainted with: Pro Mode and Night Mode.

Night Mode uses multi-frame processing to produce a clear photo in low light instantaneously, while Pro Mode gives you control over individual settings that affect light levels before you snap a photo, 

such as ISO (exposure), shutter speed and aperture. 

To have both modes readily available on the main camera screen, do this:  

• Open the Camera app and swipe to the ‘More’ tab at the bottom 
• Drag the ‘Pro’ and ‘Night’ icons down to the panel for easy access (see below)

If you find manual settings overwhelming, start by playing around with the night mode function first. Once you become more familiar with this function, you can start fiddling with other functions in Pro Mode for a more nuanced control. 

Night Mode

Using multi-frame processing, Night Mode combines 30 images into one clear photo. This is particularly useful for users looking to capture photos in low light conditions instantly – simple snap a picture and let your phone do the processing for you.

Pro Mode

Once you’re more confident taking photos in low light areas, take your night photography to the next level by playing around with the ISO (exposure) and shutter speed settings in Pro Mode.

•  Shutter speed: Determines how long the camera spends taking the photo
  Shutter speeds are measured in fractions of a second. When light levels are low, pick a slower shutter speed to let the camera sensor capture more light.
• ISO: Determines the camera’s sensitivity to light 
  Pick a higher ISO value (upwards of ISO 400) for better image clarity when there is very little light. This increases the camera’s sensitivity, allowing the right exposure to be achieved with less light.

Practice and familiarize yourself with the settings by taking the same photo with different values for each setting. For instance, try taking a night shot on your smartphone with an ISO 400 camera setting, and gradually increase the ISO value for subsequent shots to understand the differences.  

While toggling with shutter speed and ISO can better illuminate your night shots, note that your smartphone should also be super stable when taking the photo. If not, your image could turn out blurry. To prevent this, invest in a simple tripod to stabilize your phone, or prop the phone against a sturdy surface to minimize image blurring.

Time to Get Inspired with Night Photography

Now that you’re familiar with your smartphone’s camera settings, it’s time to put your newfound knowledge into practice!

Fly to the Moon with Space Zoom

Those planning to document the total lunar eclipse this year will be happy to know that they can now take night photography to the next level with the Space Zoom feature on the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. Powered by Samsung’s first-ever dual-tele lens system to deliver greater clarity to shots, Space Zoom on the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G lets you capture clear shots even when you are far away from the action – like the upcoming blood super moon.

As always, a tripod will be your key ally. Find a good, stable spot to plant your tripod, point your camera to the moon and slowly zoom towards it until the round shape fits snugly into your frame. Once this is done, tap on your screen to adjust the exposure automatically. Don’t forget to secure a prime viewing spot in advance as well! 

Create an Amazing Light Show 

Look out for areas that have some form of light, but not too much! Examples include street lamps, storefronts or car headlights, which can provide contrast against the darkness and help make an image pop! If you’re shooting a scene with multiple light sources, try heading into Pro Mode and switching from auto to manual focus to generate a cool, abstract camera effect.

You can also create light streaks with your smartphone camera if there are moving vehicles around. To do this, set your ISO value low and increase shutter speed to at least two seconds. Don’t forget to stabilize your smartphone with a tripod or lean it against some structural support as well! 

Capture Stunning Night Mood Scenes

As you explore your surroundings, find a reflective surface that can illuminate the scene in a unique way. Again, toggle your smartphone’s shutter speed for greater control over light

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As you explore your surroundings, find a reflective surface that can illuminate the scene in a unique way. Again, toggle your smartphone’s shutter speed for greater control over light

Enhance Your Photo with Post Production Magic 

After snapping your pictures, remember to fine-tune them on your desired editing app before posting them on social media! 

Enhance the vividness of your photos and achieve the desired mood by toggling with contrast, white balance and saturation. 

Ultimately, night photography is a fun way to make the most of the advanced features built within your Galaxy A and S series smartphones, so be bold with the camera settings and explore all possibilities!

Level up your smartphone photography game at night on May 26, when a total lunar eclipse will bring about an enchanting blood moon* in our skies!  

Night photography offers countless opportunities for smartphone photographers to express their creativity – from light streaks generated by moving vehicles to enchanting images of the sky.

Read on to find out how you can make the most of the Night Mode and Pro Mode features on your Samsung Galaxy A and S series to take magical night shots – without the need for professional equipment. If the skies are clear, you might even be able to snap the blood moon in its full glory! 

*Visibility of blood moon is contingent on weather conditions 

The Galaxy S and A series are now available at the following prices:

• Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G – PHP 66,990 (128GB), PHP 69,990 (256GB)
• Galaxy S21+ 5G – PHP 54,990 (128GB), PHP 57,990 SRP (256GB)
• Galaxy S21 5G – PHP 44,990 SRP (128GB), PHP 47,990 SRP (256GB)
• Galaxy A72 – PHP 23,990 SRP
• Galaxy A52 5G – PHP 23,990 SRP
• Galaxy A52 – PHP 18,990 SRP

Avail of the Trade-In, Trade-Up promo where customers can trade in their old smartphones to get discounts and additional tokens on top of the traded-in device worth up to Php 3,000 for the Galaxy A72, A52 5G, A52 and A32, and up to Php 10,000 for the Galaxy S21 Series 5G. For flexible payment terms, pay at 0% interest for up to 24 months in participating Authorized Samsung Stores. 

For more information about the Galaxy devices and its exclusive promos, visit www.samsung.com/ph/.