Phoneography Techniques

Marc

Marc

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Anyone got any good techniques for using camera phones?

For example, I'm pretty cack handed and it can be quite frustrating, holding the phone, especially when the shutter release (don't know what you'd call it on a camera phone) is usually near the bottom of the screen.

List any techniques (for holding or otherwise) you use in here.
 
I generally use mine in landscape format as then the shutter button is on the top and you can sort of use it like a real camera. If I try and use mine portrait mode then it it's more difficult. It does seem to turn photos the right way up though so it doesn't matter which way up I use it. If I use portrait mode then I have to hold it with my thumb on the shutter button and a finger up the back of the phone to steady it. Luckily the lens is right at the top so it doesn't cover it.
 
A lot will come down to the layout of the phone of course. The HTC has the shutter on the front, under the screen, which can lead to pressing it at the wrong time whilst composing the shot, but not nearly as often as I used to with the LG where it was on the side [like the iphone possbly?] where it was exactly where you would natural rest your finger while composing :bonk:
 
On the iphone, it does depend on the app. With one that I know of, its basically anywhere on the screen which is an absolute nightmare when trying to compose. But most that I know (standard camera, instagram, camera+ to name a few) it's at the bottom centre of the screen which is normally where my thumb is whilst I'm composing.
 
That makes it much harder. I've got a an actual button to press which doesn't move :)
 
fabs said:
On the iphone, it does depend on the app. With one that I know of, its basically anywhere on the screen which is an absolute nightmare when trying to compose. But most that I know (standard camera, instagram, camera+ to name a few) it's at the bottom centre of the screen which is normally where my thumb is whilst I'm composing.
Click to expand...

gotcha - so like mine then, my technique is to hold the phone by the edges, thumb and forefinger on each hand either end then move one of the fingers over to set focal/exposure point - but I can see this being awkward if fingers aren't always as dexterous as we would like. With the htc the biggest annoyance is the length of time the chosen point stays on before flicking back to centre, its just not long enough.

if an iphone differs app to app then pressumably its best to find a technique that suits you then chose an app that suits that technique?
 
Yv said:
gotcha - so like mine then, my technique is to hold the phone by the edges, thumb and forefinger on each hand either end then move one of the fingers over to set focal/exposure point - but I can see this being awkward if fingers aren't always as dexterous as we would like. With the htc the biggest annoyance is the length of time the chosen point stays on before flicking back to centre, its just not long enough.

if an iphone differs app to app then pressumably its best to find a technique that suits you then chose an app that suits that technique?
Click to expand...

There is an app I've just downloaded which is a 12mp camera (not sure how that works) which has the shutter button moveable to anywhere on the screen so will have a play with that.
 
fabs said:
There is an app I've just downloaded which is a 12mp camera
Click to expand...
What's that one called, Marc?

If it's the one I just looked at the reviews are NOT good!
I look forward to hearing what you think as I can't understand how it works...
 
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It'll just be an upscaling app. Just like upsampling in photoshop.

On iPHONE remember that the shutter is released when you take your finger OFF the screen, not when you initially touch it. Also, if you own the last version of Camera+ app (the one before it was pulled from app store) you can hack it to allow you to use the hard vol+ button as a shutter release.
 
Just taken a quick test shot with the 12 mp app. Not too bad, noisy but it IS a phone and it was taken under a desk lamp

IMG_0054.jpg
 
Gordon F said:
It'll just be an upscaling app. Just like upsampling in photoshop.

On iPHONE remember that the shutter is released when you take your finger OFF the screen, not when you initially touch it. Also, if you own the last version of Camera+ app (the one before it was pulled from app store) you can hack it to allow you to use the hard vol+ button as a shutter release.
Click to expand...

I have Camera+ but, with the rubber case on the iphone, the vol button would be even worse for me.

stan the man said:
the gorrilla pod app will allow you to touch the screen anywhere to take the shot ;).it also has a self timer,anti shake,can take several shots in quick sucession,has a built in level and grid...best of all,it's free :D
Click to expand...

I have the gorilla pod app but didn't really like it that much. The 12mp app also allows you to touch anywhere on screen, I've only just found out.
 
fabs said:
Just taken a quick test shot with the 12 mp app. Not too bad, noisy but it IS a phone and it was taken under a desk lamp
Click to expand...
Hmmm, might risk the £1.19 on it myself then.
Ta! :)
 
when it comes to phone...

forget about resolution
forget about DoF
forget about stopping motion

go right back to basics. think of it as using a disposable.

Think Composition, Composition, Composition.
 
Yv said:
A lot will come down to the layout of the phone of course. The HTC has the shutter on the front, under the screen, which can lead to pressing it at the wrong time whilst composing the shot, but not nearly as often as I used to with the LG where it was on the side [like the iphone possbly?] where it was exactly where you would natural rest your finger while composing :bonk:
Click to expand...

:agree:
iv just changed phones from a Sony erricsson cypershot to a HTC Desire HD. I use my camera phone alot.... Im finding the button which is on the screen quite frustrating, its very oversenstive when trying to compose a shot.... shame they didnt put on a dedicated button for the shutter instead of putting on a huge volume button on the side......:cuckoo:
 
fabs said:
tbh, a shutter button on the outside of the phone was one reason I never used a camera on a phone until I got the iphone. The on screen one is, for me, the lesser of two evils.
Click to expand...


I guess it depends on the camera, the HTC Desire HD has a much bigger screen than the iphone so its harder to hold to keep still to compose with one hand..:shake: so you really need two, on smaller phones an onscreen would be ok and makes more sense I guess..........:thinking:
 
Nope, they're both good phones, but there's no point in exaggerating their differences! :D
 
I'm an ardent iPhone fan, seriously in actual use there is a massive difference in screen size. But I still love my 3GS more - and a 4 next week! :love:

On the topic of shutter releases, I much prefer the onscreen version as it is independednt of af - in that the second you press the button, the shot is taken. I remember on my old K800 the physical shutter button (and on my spare Xperia X10 too actually) is very stiff and slow. Virtual shutter FTW for me anyway.
 
DemiLion said:
Nope, they're both good phones, but there's no point in exaggerating their differences! :D
Click to expand...


well id like to say size doesnt matter, however................... we all know men like to exaggerate the difference! :naughty: lol

The iphone4 is 3.5 inch, the HTC desire HD is 4.3 display, infact I think youll find its display is as big as the whole iphone! Both are good phones, you just get attached to the one you buy, i went HTC instead of iphone even though Im a mac user, I wanted a bigger display and better camera, 8mp as opposed to 5 on the iphone4......... HTC also has a flash, I dont think the iphone comes with one? :thinking:

In terms of apps, the iphone still has the lead though, no contest.......:)
 
Jailbroke my iPhone last night! :naughty:
No benefit photography-wise, but still... ;)
 
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