There’s no question that ‘balik kampung’ is on the agenda for many as Hari Raya approaches. As with any festivities, we want to capture the most special, heartfelt, and dramatic moments during the celebrations with friends and family.
Whether it’s preparing a feast in the kitchen or playing nostalgic traditional games like ‘congkak’ and ‘capteh’, the iPhone lineup allows the user to explore features like Burst mode, Slo-Mo, Cinematic mode in 4K, and Action mode when making content. Thanks to these Malaysia and Singapore-based content creators, here are some handy tips and tricks that were #ShotoniPhone:
YouTuber, Jason Goh (Smashpop)
- Keep the videos short, within a few seconds for each scene. By doing this, you get more specific angles and keep the audience fresh with new perspectives.
- Ultra Wide lens is best for tight spaces, or if you want to set the scene and let the audience know what situation you are in.
- When editing, always start the clip when the subject is already moving, and not when the subject is about to move. This will ensure the video appears more natural.
Photographer, Zarnizar
- Turn on Grid under Settings for Camera and be experimental, try different styles until you find your own.
- Always show depth in your photos – Most photos look better when they convey a sense of depth. Creating depth helps draw the viewer’s eye into the scene.
- The art of flatlays is a game of balance. Use straight lines on the table to help guide your frame.
Photojournalist, Annice Lyn
- When working with people or talents, build a rapport with them! Capturing special moments takes more than just an iPhone to point and shoot. The process of creation is beyond that and how you interact with your subject matters.
- For outdoor portraits, natural light is your friend.
Photographer, Ahady Rezan (Hux)
- Outdoor portraits: Use the Ultra Wide for a sense of scale and use Portrait mode to get that nice bokeh effect — You can even adjust Depth Control later when editing on the Photos app.
- Food photography: Capture those cooking moments with Slo-mo and Burst mode, the result are satisfying to look at!
- Videos: Know your tools. Use Cinematic mode, when necessary. Switch on Action mode when running. Turn your phone upside down to get that low angle and the result will be more dynamic looking.
Photographer, Shaz Sharif
- To create more impact, try capturing moments using suitable camera features, including modes like Cinematic, Portrait, Ultra Wide, Action, Burst, and Slo-mo.
- Pay attention to details that can add more value to the photos and videos, e.g. shadows, colours, textures, leading lines, etc.
- Change your perspective by shooting from different angles. You can even turn your phone upside down to get the lowest angle.
Singer, Cik Manggis
- Get your photos taken using Ultra Wide lens to capture far more of your Raya scene and Portrait mode for a stunning family portrait! (Try the Contour Light effect on Portrait mode if you haven’t. You’re gonna love it for close-up shots!)
- Toggle on Live Photo if you’re taking photos. This mode is perfect for preserving special moments that wouldn’t look the same in an ordinary picture. Besides, if your photo was taken not on the right moment, you can always pick a different key photo. Don’t forget to be creative with the effects too!
- Turn ON Action mode to capture next-level stable-looking videos! Hari Raya is about documenting the moments; the chaos in the kitchen, the kids playing with each other, the ‘salam’ moment and many more! So, go on and shoot like a pro with the best video feature ever, Action mode!
Content creator and creative director at ProductNation, Umar Naqshbandi
- Use natural frames to compose your shots (eg. Placing the family between trees, with food in the foreground).
- Use Portrait mode and bring close focus to smaller details to convey a bigger story – In this case that would be focusing on things like the ladies rings, their hands holding the cups, the sweets on the plate, the father’s watch – anything that adds another layer to the story you’re trying to capture.
- Use natural light in your favour – Soft/Diffused light that’s slightly angled will always work best (food shot top down with light coming from one direction).
Content Creator & Marketing Specialist, Faz Gaffa
- Shift your perspective while it’s easy to snap a photo from where you’re seated during Raya, get up, move around, squat down to get a variety of angles.
- Use Action mode when capturing children on video even when you need to run after them, your videos will look stable!
Traveller and Photography Enthusiast, Rozz Lee
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq2NzMAtvqB/
- Photo tip: I usually like to add borders and textures to my photos using whatever’s organic to the composition, for example if you are outside you could use a leaf. It helps direct attention to the subject and makes the composition look less busy.
- Video tip: On top of shooting motion shots in Slo-mo, for example fire from a satay grill, I like to take a piece of music authentic to the content piece (here I chose an orchestra arrangement of a popular Hari Raya song) and layer that song with foley sounds of a sizzling grill.
Hopefully this will inspire you to unleash the content creator within you 😉
