But is it always the best option?

Below, we dive into everything you better know about howand whento incorporate HDR in your photography repertoire.

Its supposed to make your pictures look better, but your results will depend on when you use it.

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Heres a quick primer on how HDR works, and when you shouldand shouldntturn it on.

Instead of just taking one photo, HDR actually usesthreephotos, taken at different exposures.

HDR can even that all out and make your subject look better.

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HDR will make this less intense, resulting in a less interesting photo.

However, if youre dealing with colors that are already very vivid, HDR can wash them out.

As with all things photography, you cant go wrong with experimentation.

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But if youd rather control things manually, heres how to do it.

iPhone (iOS 14)

In iOS 14, Smart HDR mode is enabled by default.

If youd rather control things manually, head to yourSettingsapp and scroll down to Camera.

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Just tap the HDR icon to turn it off.

(Youll know its off because a slash will appear through the icon.)

Once you get the hang of it, HDR can be a great tool for getting better pictures.

While youre at it, check out our general tips fortaking better pictures on your phone, too.

This post originally appeared on Lifehacker in March 2013.

Updated 3/4/22 with new details.