Tips For Mobile Phone SOTD Photos

[Toothpick]

Howdy folks! I don't think I've ever started a thread in here before.

So here's the scoop:

1. All I have is my iPhone 5.
2. I'm not very creative and the shots I set up usually consist of poor lighting and/or crappy backgrounds.

So I'm wondering if you all can help me with tips to take decent shave related photos with a mobile phone.

here is a SOTD photo I took today. This is probably my most creative to date, and all I did was set up the gear inside the shelf of my entertainment center. Turned out ok I think.

 

[celestino]

Jason, your photo, today was quite nice, actually! You could try some outdoor pics in the later evening as the sun is setting to get the best light. Use a garden, plants, shrubs as background if you can as those things really help accentuate your pics.
With regards to indoor shots, keep doing what you are doing and just back up a tiny bit for you shots. You could also try using a light box by simply using white cardboard paper in a box shape with a few lights around it to lighten your shaving items.
i am new at this, so take these suggestions at your own risk! i am sure some of the experts will come along and give you some better suggestions. i hope you keep posting your pics on the SOTD thread!

 

[Redzone]

Great question this is me too, looking forward to the tips Gents.

 

[Toothpick]

Jason, your photo, today was quite nice, actually! You could try some outdoor pics in the later evening as the sun is setting to get the best light. Use a garden, plants, shrubs as background if you can as those things really help accentuate your pics.
With regards to indoor shots, keep doing what you are doing and just back up a tiny bit for you shots. You could also try using a light box by simply using white cardboard paper in a box shape with a few lights around it to lighten your shaving items.
i am new at this, so take these suggestions at your own risk! i am sure some of the experts will come along and give you some better suggestions. i hope you keep posting your pics on the SOTD thread!

Thanks!

I thought about taking them outside actually and I do have a garden, although its late in the season and mostly all dead cept for the pepper plants.

Do I place them facing the sun or with the sun behind them? or does it matter?

 

[celestino]

Jason, you are asking me too many questions and putting me on the spot! Really, i don't really know that much about photography and was hoping the more experienced lads would have come in, by now!
From my limited experience, As i previously suggested, i would shot in the later afternoon/early evening just as the sun is about to go down so the light isn't as strong. If you shoot during midday, you'll have too much light.
i don't really know much about ISO and aperture settings. i just got a book by Bryan Peterson, "Understanding Photography; Field Guide" which seems to have great information that you may want to acquire.
Personally, i have shot all by feel and with a bit of editing, i have gotten some decent pics. You can check them out on the older SOTD threads if you want to see them.
It really depends on how much light is hitting your subjects and what setting you are using on your camera. As you mentioned that you will be using a cell-phone, i really can't help you with the specifics as i have never had a cell-phone and don't know anything about the camera in them. i would suggest using whatever greenery you have left as the background and trying different positions with the subjects to see which turn out better. Depending on what effect you are trying to achieve, you can get a very dark/gloomy/mysterious look or a bright/clear/cheery atmosphere to your pics. Again, i really wish someone with more experience than i could come in and offer some more helpful ideas/suggestions/recommendations.
i will send you a few examples via PM of what i am referring to.
Best of luck, my friend.

 

[djh]

The more light you have available, the better your smartphone photos will be. You obviously don't have the control which you would have when using an SLR camera, so more light will mean a faster shutter speed and nearly always sharper images. Decide for yourself how you would like to compose and actually light your subject, but light is your friend.

 

[Lakebound]

The more light you have available, the better your smartphone photos will be. You obviously don't have the control which you would have when using an SLR camera, so more light will mean a faster shutter speed and nearly always sharper images. Decide for yourself how you would like to compose and actually light your subject, but light is your friend.

This is something that I did not know and is great advice for those of us who use our cell phones to snap photos. Thank you for your advice and help.

Frank

 

[Bird_Flu]

Check out an app called Camera Awesome by SmugMug, a photo sharing site. It lets you control more features of your iPhone camera. Also a beginning photo book that explains some of the concepts of good photography is helpful. I don't have any recommendations but the book celestino recommended is as good as any. Lots of folks can get great shots from an iPhone just make sure you have enough light.

 

[Toothpick]

Thanks everyone for the tips so far. Let there be light!!

How do I take the grainy look out of the photos? or is that possible?

 

[Lamb Root]

Your entertainment center looks great! Grainy is ok by me. It usually can't be seen when the picture is resized to what is usualy presented here. There is software available for the reduction of grainies but it does more harm than good IMHO.

 

[Bk124tt]

That's a great shot J. I too need to work on my creativity!

 

[Redzone]

I just took this inspired by this thread. Went over to SOTD but its a B&W theme so I'll do another.

 

[Toothpick]

View attachment 364120

I just took this inspired by this thread. Went over to SOTD but its a B&W theme so I'll do another.

That a super pic!

what is the background? looks like ice.

 

[Redzone]

Thanks Jason, its actually grass.

 

[Toothpick]

Thanks Jason, its actually grass.

ahhh I can see that now. Nice effects!

 

[celestino]

I just took this inspired by this thread. Went over to SOTD but its a B&W theme so I'll do another.

* Great pic and you can still post it in the SOTD as the B&W theme doesn't begin until Monday, 2 September. Regardless, the theme is voluntary, so any pic this good should be in the SOTD, in my opinion!