UPPER YARRA VALLEY GARDEN CLUB
2020 On line Photographic Spring Flower Show
Basic Photography Tips using your phone camera
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When you are taking your photo this square is what the camera will focus on and set the exposure for (how light or dark the image will be). If the square is not on the subject just touch the screen to move the square. |
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Ideally, move the camera closer to the flower rather than using the zoom function of the phone. The quality of the image will not be as good if you use the zoom feature, if you can not move closer you are better to crop the image later. |
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Here I have moved closer with the phone but the focus square was not on the flower, so the background is in focus and not the flower. This is easy to change the focus setting but it is often hard to tell if the image is in focus when you are looking at it in the sun outside. So remembering to tap the screen helps to keep the image subject in focus. |
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Try and think about the natural light on your plant/flower. Sunlight is normally best but sometimes you may not get the best details if the sun is too bright. A bright overcast day with no shadows may give you the best results. |
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Using some contrasting fabric or cardboard can help make your flower stand out. However, with strong contrast, you may need to do a little bit of editing to have your flower look its best. Here the colours of the flower look washed out. However, it is easily fixed on your phone. |
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Here is what it would look like on your phone. Just click on edit in the top right-hand corner. There are a number of apps for editing photos on your phone but all phones with reasonable cameras come with basic to fairly advanced editing tools. Do not feel you need to pay for any apps or programs. |
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This is the editing program on the iPhone. By clicking on the clock looking icon you can change the contrast, brightness, exposure, shadows, colour saturation etc. However, doing too much editing will make your flower look fack and no amount of editing will make a bad photo look really good. |
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By clicking on the square type icon (seem here with the little yellow dot under it) you can crop your image. |
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When you have your image how you want it click done and save your image to photos. |
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Here is an example of a photo using the natural background. |
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Here is the same image as above just with some black paper behind the flower and the phone a little closer. This is with no editing, but a little extra effort when taking the photo will give you much better results. |
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When you want to send your photo go to the photo you want to send and click on the little box with the arrow, seen here in the bottom left-hand corner. |
 
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If you want to send multiple images you can also click on the additional images. Then click on the mail icon. |
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Then just put in the email address and subject. Then make sure you add YOUR INFORMATION, your name and the class you are entering. |
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Then the phone will ask you how big you want the image. Ideally, you want your image around 1 mb (1000 kb). On this exable you would pick Actual size as being a BIT bigger is better than smaller. However, if large was about 900 kb and Actual Size was 2.6 mb I would pick large. Remember if you are sending multiple images this figure needs to be divided by the number of images you are sending. If anyone need help or photography advice just send me an email; Julie Wilson [email protected] |
© Julie Wilson Equestrian Photography