Why faces stretch near the edge of an iPhone ultra-wide photo
By Juste Tools · Published
An ultra-wide view includes more of the scene, but close faces and subjects near the edges can look stretched. Start by moving people towards the centre and increasing the camera distance. This is often a framing problem before it is a problem with the phone.
Change position before settings
Photograph the same person in the middle of the frame and then near an edge without changing distance. Next, take a step back and compare. The test helps separate the effect of placement and perspective from a filter or edit.
- Keep faces and important round objects away from the far corners.
- Avoid placing the phone very close to a face with the ultra-wide view.
- Leave a little crop space rather than filling every edge.
Keep lines and horizons useful
Tilt can make buildings and furniture lean. Level the phone and decide which lines you want to keep straight before pressing record. A correction in an editor may crop part of the image, so do not put essential details at the extreme edge.
A wider lens is useful for showing a room or a whole process. It is less useful when all you need is a close portrait and the main camera already fits the subject.
Compose both rear views together
When recording wide and ultra-wide cameras, use the wide frame for the subject and the wider frame for context. Check both previews: moving to fix the ultra-wide view can cut something out of the closer view. Test a small movement through the intended area before the full take.