It’s easy to see why loads of people head outside in spring to snap the cherry blossoms. In the right conditions, they’re stunning to look at. And they’ll look ace on your socials, or as that new background on your laptop.
The trees are only in bloom (and looking their best) from late March to early April though. Which doesn’t give you much time to get out there and grab some photos.
With that said, you’re going to need a great smartphone to do them justice. So, here’s how some of the latest phone features could help you out…
Google Pixel 8 Pro - Magic Editor
Let’s say you’ve just taken a picture National Geographic would be proud of. But someone’s wandered into your shot at the last second. And now the blossoms are obscured a bit.
Don’t sweat it – your masterpiece isn’t ruined. Just fire up the Pixel 8 Pro’s handy Magic Editor. With a wave of your digital wand, you’ll be able to get rid of that photobomber in a few seconds. Draw a circle round them, or scribble over them with the eraser tool, and they’ll be gone for good. Just like magic.
Samsung Galaxy S24 – Edit Suggestions
Once you’ve taken your photos, you’ve got to make sure they’re Insta-ready, right? If you don’t rate your editing skills though, the Galaxy S24 can handle that for you.
AI gives your scene the once over, and then recommends some handy suggestions on how to make it pop. It might tell you to tweak the colour balance – bringing out those delicate whites and pinks – or to bump up the contrast slightly.
It can even help to completely remove any annoying reflections or shadows you don’t want. And you can accept all these pointers and edit your image with only a couple of taps too. Clever stuff.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 – FlexCam
Mum’s asking for a nice photo of you with the blossom. FlexCam to the rescue! This clever little Flip 5 feature lets you capture a hands-free selfie without a tripod. So, you won’t have to lug one of those around with you.
Pop it on the nearest bench, the ground, a step – whatever – then angle the screen round to face you. Make sure you’re in frame (and your head isn’t cut off) and get ready to say cheese. If you’ve done things right, you’ll have a picture-perfect shot.
And if you want to get it on your social feeds quick time, it works with WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. So, you can post your Reels and Stories straight away while you’re out and about.
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Smart HDR 5
The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Smart HDR 5 will make the blossoms look even more natural and lifelike. Especially when you’re snapping away late at night or early in the morning. That’s because the balance between super bright spots and really dark scenes has been fine-tuned – darkening any highlights and brightening up the shadows.
This’ll help a lot with your backgrounds as well. So that night sky will actually be pitch black, while the rising sun will shine through nicely.
Our top phone photography tips
Shoot during the golden hours – Sunset or sunrise are the best times. It’ll give your pics soft, warm lighting which’ll make the blossoms really stand out. And you’ll avoid the midday sun, which adds harsh shadows and overexposure.
Composition is key – Experiment with different angles and compositions to make your shots more interesting to look at. We would use the rule of thirds, which is just a fancy way of dividing your image using three imaginary lines – which you then position each element of your photo along.
Switch on depth of field – Toggle on the depth of field feature on your phone. This’ll blur the background and draw focus to the blossoms, meaning they’ll be front and centre, and showing off all that beautiful detail.
Clean your lens – This is probably an obvious one, but a lot of people don’t realise how grubby their smartphone lens gets. And smudges and dirt can easily take a photo from woah to so-so. So give it a quick wipe before you start shooting.
Looking for some more great photography advice? If you’re into your action sports, choosing the right GoPro will take your mountain biking, kayaking and climbing shots up a level. And if you want to capture epic aerial pics – but don’t know where to start - here are some of the best photography drones for beginners.