MUSKEGON, Mich. — The Camera Shop in Muskegon is still open for web orders, and any phone advice you might need. They are also offering up a weekly photo challenge on their Facebook page. Justin Stubleski sent us this update.
The Cell Phone Photo Challenge
"If you don't think you can take a picture of something with a certain camera, you're playing by the rules." Chase Jarvis
This week's Camera Shop Facebook Photo Challenge is to capture an image with your cell phone. That's right, we are asking you to put down your consumer cameras this week and pickup your cell phones to push your creativity. After all, "The best camera is the one that's with you." Chase Jarvis,
Instructions:
1. Grab your cell phone. Get out there and capture something that captures your eye.
2. Share your images with us on our Camera Shop Facebook Photo Challenge post, through a Facebook message, or email them to sales@camerashopmuskegon.com. Provide us with your Instagram username and phone used to capture your image. #camerashopmuskegon
Cell Phone Photo Tips:
1) Inspiration - Research "Best Cell Phone Photographers" there's no shortage of them out there. I would encourage everyone to search for inspiration within the types of photography you want to or are passionate in capturing. If you like landscapes, search for "landscape photography", if you like portraits, search for "portrait photography".
2) Use your grid lines to frame your shot - One of the easiest ways to immediately improve your cell phone images is to use your grid lines. The grid lines are utilizing the compositional guidelines of "rule of thirds", which breaks your image into three sections both horizontal & vertical. To Switch your grid on...
iPhone: Go to "Settings," choose "Photos & Camera," and switch "Grid" on.
Samsung Galaxy: Launch the camera app, go to "Settings," scroll down and switch the "grid lines" option to "on."
3) Set you cameras focus - Our cell phones will typically automatically focus on objects in the foreground of the frame. Make sure to tap on the area or object you want the camera to focus on. This will ensure that the subject you want your viewer to focus on is properly in focus. No one likes a blurry image.
4) Use a the phones multiple lenses & shooting modes - Unlike phones of the past that were limited to one lens by design, newer phones now have multiple lenses. Typically a Wide-Angle, Standard, and Zoom. If you have a camera with multiple lenses, try using them to see which one best suites what you're trying to capture. Also use the focus modes. Newer camera phones also allow you to blur the background creatively to emulate depth of field. Experiment with these modes on a single subject in your image, especially if you're shooting portraits.
5) Compositional Elements - As always, composition is key. Composition is the arrangement of visual elements within your image that aid your viewer in interrupting and perceiving your photograph. ie: patterns, texture, symmetry, asymmetry, depth of field, lines, curves, frames, contrast, color, viewpoint, depth, negative space, filled space, foreground, background, visual tension, shapes.
6) Chase the light - Photography at its core is all about light, so go find the light. Some of the best times to create images is a couple hours after sunrise in the morning and a couple hours before sunset. These are the morning or evening golden hours. That's when you'll get some of your best light. If you're creating portraits, look for window light. Window light diffuses the light, creating flattering light that will give you soft gradual shadows.
7) Use a photo editing app - Phones can capture some pretty good images, but sometimes it's prudent to edit your images to your own taste. Some of my favorite Photo Editing apps are: Snapseed, Adobe Lightroom Mobile, Adobe Photoshop Express, VSCO, Instagram, TouchRetouch, Enlight. There are many, many more. Find the ones that are right for you!
The Camera Shop of Muskegon
2634 Henry St
Muskegon, MI 49441
231.733.1286