By LISA MIKITKA

Special to The Press

The Parkland Garden Club met 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Jordan Lutheran Church, 5103 Snowdrift Road, Orefield, to hear a presentation by guest speaker Scott Piccotti, the main photo instructor at Dan’s Camera City, Allentown.

The program, titled, “Taking Better Pictures with Any Camera,” focused on horticultural and flower photography, as well as landscape photography.

Piccotti, a PCA-rostered teaching artist, shared techniques for better cellphone pictures and gave suggestions for unique and interesting angles from which to take photos.

He also reviewed some of the settings available for the average cellphone camera mode that can enhance photos, such as adjusting the light and angle.

Piccotti shared techniques on how to accentuate certain areas in a picture to create the most interesting photo.

He showed how close-up photos simplify the focus of a picture.

Taking shots with the sunlight behind the plant or flower is best, he explained.

Piccotti discussed how the time of day can determine how the image will look and how a camera seeks a mid-exposure light.

He demonstrated how the sun icon can adjust exposure from light to dark, if natural light needs to be enhanced or to decrease natural light.

Piccotti discussed the various flash settings available with the flash lightning icon and the value of accessories, including a tripod, affordable filters, which can cut reflection/ or shine on the subject, and using white paper to reflect light onto a subject.

Backing up photos to a computer, iCloud or Google device is of the utmost importance, he explained.

Saving photos as “Favorites” helps retrieve them faster when searching for a particular photo.

The Parkland Garden Club meets 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Jordan Lutheran Church, Orefield.

Guests are welcome to attend. New members are always welcome.

For Parkland Garden Club’s activities and events, go to parklandgardenclub.com.