Lightroom Mobile: RAW photography and HDR with your smartphone

More and more people are taking photos with their smartphones in today's time. The image quality has improved tremendously, and with the right software, you can fully utilize the potential of your smartphone camera. In this tutorial, I'll show you how you can use the camera in Lightroom Mobile to create impressive RAW images and HDR photographs.

Main Insights

• You can take photos in RAW (DNG format) with Lightroom Mobile.
• The app offers manual control options for exposure, ISO, and white balance.
• With the HDR function, you can capture detailed photos in different lighting conditions.
• All imported images from Lightroom Mobile automatically sync with your desktop Lightroom.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Accessing the Camera

First, you need to open the camera function of Lightroom Mobile. You can find this next to the Import button. Clicking on it will activate the camera.

2. Exploring Camera Functions

You will then see the camera view, which functions like the standard camera app. Here you have the option to turn on the flash and switch to selfie mode. Use these options to prepare for your shot.

3. Choosing JPEG or DNG

You have the option to choose between JPEG and DNG (RAW). To take RAW photos, you need to change the setting from JPEG to DNG. This allows you to store more information and details in your images.

4. Controlling Manual Exposure

You can adjust the exposure manually by simply going to the exposure slider and increasing or decreasing the exposure according to your preferences. This way, you can avoid overexposed or underexposed photos.

5. Adjusting ISO Values

For better control over the image noise effect, you can also manually adjust the ISO value. You can adjust the ISO values from 25 to 1600 to control your camera's light sensitivity. Pay attention to image noise, which can increase with higher ISO values.

6. Setting White Balance

Another important function is adjusting the white balance, which affects the color temperature of the image. You have the option to adjust the white balance manually or work with a gray card for optimal color coordination.

7. Setting Manual Focus

You can also set the manual focus. To focus on the desired area, move close until a focus point turns green. This confirms that the focus area is correctly chosen.

8. HDR Photography

One of the most exciting features in Lightroom Mobile is the ability to take HDR photos. To achieve true HDR, you need to keep your hands steady and take the shots consecutively. The camera captures multiple images with different exposures and then combines them.

9. HDR Image Processing

Once the HDR image is captured, it will be processed. This may take a moment depending on the number of images and their sizes used.

10. Finding Processed HDR Images

You can find your processed HDR images directly in the Lightroom library. In this case, the image is saved in DNG format, which opens up numerous possibilities for post-processing.

11. Synchronization with Lightroom Desktop

All images you capture or import with Lightroom Mobile will automatically synchronize with your desktop version of Lightroom. This way, you always have access to your latest work, no matter which device you are on.

12. Adjust Cloud Storage Settings

Before you even start importing any images, I recommend checking the cloud storage settings. Go to settings and disable the "Use Mobile Data" option to save unwanted mobile data when uploading many images.

Summary

In this tutorial, you have learned how to effectively use the camera function of Lightroom Mobile to capture impressive RAW images and real HDR photography. You have gone through all the necessary steps to use the various manual functions and how to synchronize your photos to the desktop version of Lightroom. Use this knowledge to maximize the full potential of your smartphone camera!