No filter
When it comes to taking pictures with modern smartphone cameras, the term "no filter" can be somewhat misleading. While it's true that some photos may appear unaltered at first glance, the reality is that every image captured on an iPhone or Samsung phone undergoes some level of digital processing, even if a specific filter isn't visibly applied.
Smartphone cameras, especially those on flagship devices, are equipped with advanced software algorithms that automatically adjust various settings such as exposure, white balance, contrast, and colour saturation to optimise the image. These adjustments are done in real-time as soon as you press the shutter button, meaning that the original photo captured by the camera sensor is often different from the final image you see on your screen.
Additionally, many smartphone camera apps offer built-in features like HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode, portrait mode, night mode, and beauty filters that further enhance or alter the picture before it's saved to your device. These features aim to improve the overall quality of the image by balancing lighting, sharpening details, and even smoothing out skin tones in portraits.
Social media platforms and photo-editing apps have made filters more accessible and popular than ever before. Even if you don't consciously choose a filter, platforms like Instagram and Snapchat often apply subtle enhancements to photos uploaded through their apps, which means that there's almost never a completely unfiltered image in the digital age.
In essence, the concept of "no filter" when it comes to smartphone photography is increasingly becoming a grey area as technology continues to evolve, and digital enhancements become more ingrained in our everyday visual culture.
Professional photographers have honed their craft through years of practice, enabling them to manually use digital enhancements such as exposure, contrast, saturation and sharpness with precision to achieve the desired effect. This hand-on approach gives them full control over the editing, bringing to life their artistic vision rather than leaving it to the algorithm on a smart phone. This allows for a personalised touch that automated enhancements may lack.