Take Instagram photos like a pro

Take Instagram photos like a pro

Singapore Sports Hub is not only one of the most iconic destinations in the country, but also in the region. Developed as a multi-use sporting and entertainment complex that integrates sports, lifestyle and retail activities, its most identifiable structure is the 55,000-seater National Stadium. Measuring 312 metres across, it is the world’s largest free-spanning dome, with a retractable roof that shelters the field from sunlight and rain.

Shaped as an upturned bowl, it’s easy to see why many have referenced it to a grounded spaceship, especially when lit up during the night. This unique structure and the many architectural details around the area are fascinating to explore, and have inspired many eye-catching Instagram posts.

To help you capture some great shots at Singapore Sports Hub, here are 10 tips to up your social media game:

Photo by @stanley_cheee

1. USE THE NATIVE CAMERA APP
Social media apps like Instagram often compromise the quality of the picture you’re taking in favour of efficiency. So always opt for your smartphone’s native camera app to take the highest-quality-possible images.

Certain third-party camera apps like VSCO or Cymera may appear to take better pictures after your snap — but the reason for this lies in their predetermined software algorithms that immediately tweak the picture’s settings. It’s not as bad as the former but for the “cleanest” picture, go native. That said…

Photo by @sgsportshub

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PHOTO-EDITING APPS
Don’t delete those apps just yet. After taking your pictures, run them through third-party apps to help correct common concerns such as white balance or exposure issues. This is where they excel, and when apps like Snapseed and Pixlr can save mistakes with their specialised settings.

Look out too for specialty apps. Filter apps like Priime can instantly create a mood with their selection and up your Insta-game. Also, check out others like SKRWT that are dedicated to adjusting perspectives, or TouchRetouch that can remove unwanted objects (say a dustbin in the background) from your shot.

Photo by @melmeru.2212

3. USE NATURAL LIGHT
The best things in life are free. Natural light shows up more details and makes colours more vivid, so keep that flash turned off. For the best architecture shots, look towards strong lighting to boost their attributes, such as light beams coming through gaps or shadows created by features. When taking subjects, diffused light works best. At the 100PLUS Promenadethe geometric shelter evens out lighting for great portraits.

Photo by @angchenxiang

4. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME
Time your visit to coincide with the “golden hour”— long agreed upon by photographers as the best period to take pictures. During this first hour after sunrise and before sunset, the light turns especially soft and golden, and if you’re lucky, you’ll find elements of other shades like pink or purple making their way into the shot.

When taking pictures of structures, it provides a dramatic sky as a backdrop to make the building really pop. The Tanjong Rhu Promenade Park Connector is a great spot to see the effect of this hour on the National Stadium dome, or have your portraits done with a stunning backdrop.

Photo by @sgsportshub

5. BE CREATIVE
It’s easy to be swept away by the impressive structures at Singapore Sports Hub, but there are plenty of smaller aspects that can make for a great Insta-shot. Instead of trying to capture the whole building, look for elements that speak to you. It could be focusing on the details of a sheltered walkway or new plants growing in a corner. You can even try reflective surfaces like water puddles or shiny car hoods to get a different effect. These investigations will reveal perspectives unique to you, and thus make for a compelling shot and not just a carbon copy of others.

Photo by @eshton

6. FIND THE PERFECT BACKDROP
Some of the trendiest pictures on social media feature a subject standing against an arresting backdrop, so keep your eye out for these visual props. They can be a panoramic landscape or cool installations that you can get up close to, such as the benches around Singapore Sports Hub that are repurposed from the old National Stadium seats. When in doubt, look out for repeated patterns or interesting textured surfaces to stand in front of to make an instant impact.

Photo by @sgsportshub

7. THE RIGHT WAY TO ZOOM
If you’ve been using the digital zoom, stop. While seemingly powerful, these built-in options are really software algorithms machining the image. While you might get a closer view, the results are often pixelated with washed-out colours.

Instead, play around with the different lenses and optical zooms on your phone. If you’re not using one of the more premium models with advanced hardware, try to move yourself as close as possible to get the shot you want to maintain crisp, vibrant pictures.

Photo by @sgsportshub

8. BE NIMBLE
Move. A lot. It’s sometimes easy to forget and just take a subject dead-on from where we are standing but adjusting our position can produce more intriguing angles that surprise.

If you think the running track is interesting, try crouching to give a more dynamic perspective. Even as you arrive at the Stadium MRT, you’ll notice the striking lines on the shelters can look very different when you walk about. For portraits, have subjects pose and then move around them to test out new angles.

Photo by @kerstinong

9. STAY FOCUSED
It requires just a tap but is something that people easily forget. When taking a picture, ensure your subject is truly in focus. Mobile screens are sometimes too small to determine clarity so it’s a good habit to affirm with that tap.

When taking pictures in dim environments or at night, keep your hands steady to ensure the picture stays sharp during the longer exposures. Rest your arms against a stable surface if need be. And after you’ve clicked that button, hold it for a second more — some devices have a slight lag before the image is fully captured.

Photo by @stories.ryanchia

10. INVOKE A FEELING
When looking for inspiration, remember that some of the best pictures tell a story. To connect to your audience, choose an emotion you want to convey and let that drive your photo walk. Want something awe-inspiring? Look at scale, like the National Stadium dome roof or a person against a large beam. Joyful? Look for bright areas with plenty of colour. For action shots, try having some friends play out at the beach volleyball courts — their dynamic moves and waterfront backdrop can be a great combination, and the elation of a score can produce winning pictures. Just remember to use the multiple-shot mode to choose from a few.

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