Have you ever taken a photo on your phone, only to look back later and wonder where all the life went? Google seems to have heard everyone's cries and implemented a new feature on the Pixel 11 series called Camera Looks. These looks change how color science works and how shadows are calculated when you take a photo, leading to a result you'll hopefully like better.

To understand Camera Looks, you first have to understand how modern smartphone photography works. Your Pixel phone constantly takes pictures while the camera viewfinder is open; it just doesn't store them until you tap the shutter button. The moment you press the shutter button, your Pixel saves roughly five photos taken before you press it, plus another five taken during and slightly after. Your Pixel then takes those photos and combines them into a single picture at the pixel level using HDR+.

Google is now letting users pull back on the proverbial reins with Camera Looks. You can reduce or enhance specific processing parameters, including sharpening, shadows, vibrance, tinting, and more. Camera Looks aren't filters; each look changes how the photo is processed when taken.

Camera Looks is supported on all Pixel 11 series phones, including the base Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Google hasn't ported this feature to older Pixel phones yet, as Camera Looks currently runs at the hardware level on the Tensor G6's ISP.