5 Real-World Ways Dirty Phone Lenses Ruin Photos

1. Night photos and bright lights become streaky and hazyMany people blame their phone camera when bright lights create streaks, halos, or glare at night. In reality, dirty lenses are often the cause. One iPhone user complaining about excessive glare was told that "light streaking" is usually caused by a dirty lens. (Reddit) If your city skyline shots look like a watercolor painting, check the lens before blaming the hardware. 2. Fingerprints make photos look soft and foggyBecause smartphone lenses are so small, even a single fingerprint can cover a large portion of the lens surface. One photography article showed how fingerprints create a soft veil that makes images look blurry, hazy, and far less sharp. (Photo-Video Creative) Portrait? Landscape? It doesn't matter — a smudged lens turns every shot into an accidental impressionist painting. 3. Poor camera placement creates a smudge trapSamsung users complained that placing the fingerprint reader close to the camera lens on certain…