Active photos in Motorola capture seconds of video just before and after you take a still picture.
Understanding Active Photos
On Motorola devices, active photos are a camera feature that enhances your standard photographs by embedding short video clips around the moment you press the shutter button. This means instead of just a single frozen image, you get a brief glimpse of the action that led up to and followed the shot.
According to the provided reference, active photos:
- Save seconds of video before and after you capture a photo.
- Offer a way to animate part of a picture while the rest remains still (this is also mentioned alongside active photos, potentially referring to a related feature like cinemagraphs).
Essentially, active photos turn a static picture into a miniature moment, allowing you to see movement and hear sound (if recorded) around the capture time.
Active Photos vs. Cinemagraphs
The reference mentions both "active photos" and "cinemagraph". While the primary description for "active photos" focuses on saving video clips, the reference also says "Or, animate part of a picture while the rest remains still, with a cinemagraph. Active photos." This phrasing suggests that animating part of a picture (cinemagraph) might be considered a type of active photo feature, or at least is related and enabled through similar settings.
- Active Photos: Capture brief video clips before and after the photo.
- Cinemagraphs: Animate a specific section of the photo while the rest stays static.
Based on the reference, both seem to fall under the umbrella of features designed to make your photos more dynamic.
How to Enable Active Photos
Enabling active photos is a simple process within the Motorola camera app.
According to the reference:
- On the camera viewfinder, you need to touch and select the appropriate icon.
- Look for the icon associated with turning active photos on. (The specific icon is not described in the reference, but it is indicated you select it from the viewfinder).
Once enabled, every photo you take will automatically include the short video sequence unless you disable the feature.
Benefits of Using Active Photos
Using active photos can add context and life to your memories. Instead of just seeing a posed picture, you might capture a genuine smile forming, a quick wave, or the environment around the subject moving. This can make viewing your photos a more engaging and memorable experience.
