Mobile Photography

"The Nexus 5does not have the best camera among its peers, even with the presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology. But that’s not stopping Google from trying to convince you that it’s more than good enough, mostly thanks to software features. Now the company has come out with three short video ads that show how even a decent quality camera can be fun."

Since the technique was first pioneered around 200 years ago, photography has developed to a state where it is almost unrecognizable.

People Panoramas:

If you're out with a grup of friends or at a social gathering, a panorama is an interesting way of capturing a group portrait. Whether it be at a picnic, or just a get together at someone's house, a panorama is a unique way to include everyone in a photo with ease. Try using different poses and expressions to create a shot with is nore dynamic and fun.

Vertical Panoramas:

Vertical panoramas can be used to give vertical objects more presence. They are great for when you're capturing tall trees and buildings, as they give you a real sense of height and grandeur. It is also ideal for capturing waterfalls, wind turbines and windmills.

360 Degree Panoramas:

For something more quirky, try shooting a 360 degree panorama. You can but gadgets that do this or some cameras, such as the Nikon Coolpix P520, have 360/180 panorama modes built in. Don't worry if your camera doesn't have a 360 degree panorama setting, as you can stitch several panoramas together to create a similar look.

Nokia set the bar pretty high with its 41MP pro Lumia phone camera, but now a new detachable lens makes it possible for other smartphone users to take professional-looking pictures with their humble handset.

The Olloclip attachment comes with four lenses that create a range of photo effects including fisheye and wide-angle, plus 10x and 15x macro zoom.

Each lens can be used interchangeably, simply by screwing them on and off, and the whole system costs £69.99.

Click London A new mobile photography group launches today, called Click London. Founded by some of London’s most active and prominent mobile photographers. The group is built around photo walks on its Meetup page, which already has over 70 members. The group plans to organize a range of photo-related activities such as walks, workshops, talks, exhibitions and competitions. It started out as a mainly mobile photo group, but photographers will all sorts of cameras are welcome. The group is also independent of any photo-sharing platform.

Taking a non-commercial approach, the group’s events will be chosen mainly for their photographic and enjoyment value for its members. It is a not-for-profit organisation and any money generated will be put back into member activities or donated to good causes. The group will be run democratically, have transparent financial information, treat members fairly, irrespective of follower numbers or photographic experience, and encourage them to contribute to the group’s life.

The founding members are very excited about the group’s launch and as mobile photography finds ever more maturity and is increasingly accepted in the wider photography community, the group hopes to play a part in that ongoing process and contribute to the genre’s growing success. The group welcomes everyone to join the Click London Meetup Page and follow on Instagram @click_london, Flickr (Click London), Twitter @click_london and Facebook.

No matter how many likes you get on Instagram, no matter how many filters or apps you put your photos through: if you took the shot on a smartphone, it sucks. Meet the saviour of mobile photography; the Song Q lens series. A portable Franken-lens that clips onto any smartphone and immediately turns you into the Ken Duncan of mobile photos.

The QX10 is packing a 20x optical zoom, a 1/2.3-inch image sensor and a slot for a microSD card. It takes standard Sony Cybershot camera batteries and it’s able to be charged up via the microUSB slot on the back. It lasts for 110 minutes on still shots and 55 minutes on continuous video recording. It’s set to hit the market soon and it’ll cost you $279.

The shots it takes look pretty awesome, but the zoom function is where it really shines. That’s what the QX10 lens is meant to be great at: zoom. Low-light functionality suffers somewhat, but that’s where the next model up comes in.

The QX100 is designed to produce the same image quality as the gorgeous Sony RX-100 Mark II that was announced at IFA in Berlin. It’s packing all the same features, but under the hood lurks a 1-inch Exmor R sensor for low-light shooting. That one’s still on its way and will cost $599 when it gets here.

We have just finished curating this weeks’ Flickr Group Showcase, our 32nd of the year and once again, it is outstanding and full of incredible mobile photography and art. It is a joy to curate and a pleasure to view. If you would like to be considered for our weekly Flickr Group Showcase, please upload your images to our dedicated Flickr group, for thise section, here. ...

A look at 5 ways in which you can improve your mobile photography by looking for different photo opportunites. 

Look for Shape in Things:

 Shape is another useful way to bring added focus and interest into a photograph. You can use the curves of paths of steps in the same way as with straight lines and perspectives to draw the viewer into your compostion.

Consider going abstract and closely cropping into the smooth curves of contemporary buildings. Stephen Davis makes good use of this technique in his photograph ‘”We watched the sky move sideways…” Steven Wilson’. The dark background of the sky contrasts nicely with the smooth curves of the building which also features the reflections of light.

After a number of years harnessing the power of photography in a way that has improved my entire outlook on life, I have wanted nothing more than to encourage other people to do the same. It doesn’t take much, just a little shift of perspective to get you seeing and in turn, shooting the world around you in a whole new light. And I can think of no better time of the year than this month to begin. Here are a few simple ideas to get you focusing on gratitude, one picture at a time.

From cameraphones to full-frame sensors, we saw a lot of features come into fashion this year. Here are our picks of the most interesting trends of 2013

Nokia has announced that this Sunday, 20th October, will be the first ‘International Mobile Photography Day’ and is asking anyone with a cameraphone – not just a Nokia Lumia 1020 – to take a stunning photo and post it to Twitter using the #1020MobilePhotoDay hashtag.

How many photographs do you take with your cameraphone? We’re guessing it’s a lot more than you did with a bog-standard camera? With hundreds of thousands of photos taken world-wide every minute, there has never been a time in history more documented than right now.

From the stunning morning sunrise, to the mundane morning coffee shot, to the once in a lifetime moment, it’s all being recorded and shared. That’s why International Mobile Photography Day has been designed as a celebration of how cameraphones have changed photography, and our lives, forever.

Since the very start of my interest in photography, roughly three years ago, I was immediately attracted to street photography; it is a genre that allows me to do what I love most; that is, to capture specific moments in the lives of perfect strangers with one click of the shutter. In order to be able to move around freely and take photographs more discreetly, I use my smartphone. These days, there are smartphones with 8, 13 megapixel; more than enough to take clear, non-grainy photos that print out well – I print them 20×20 or 25×25. The latest Nokia, which I plan to try out soon, has more than 30 megapixel. When I go out, I usually leave the camera open on my phone, ready to use, to avoid having to waste time in preparation. I normally use the phone’s original camera, which has good image brightness, but sometimes I use ProCamera (faster and more precise) or Hipstamatic (for black and white images, or special effects), which are both available from the iTunes Store.

Once I’ve identified the subject for my shot (it could be something that is happening or someone in particular), I move closer (I NEVER use the zoom), switch the ring tone to silent and, pretending to look at my phone, I take the picture. I try to keep the phone in a horizontal position and as straight as possible, to avoid weird perspective effects (elongated faces and buildings with unrealistic proportions); I use the grid screen to help me by lining it up with points of reference. If I want to take a picture from below the subject, I pretend to tie my laces: I kneel down, touch my shoe and then look at my phone as if in surprise and take the picture. Then I get up and I’m ready for the next shot.

Mobile photography accessories are ultra-important in photography. Here, we take a look at the most essential ones. There are thousands of ways to shoot a time lapse, but there is one fact you can’t deny–more motion brings more drama. This is why it can be a great idea to pan, dolly or truck a camera when shooting. Camalape does the job.

The iPhone Shutter Grip, lets you have a camera when you don't have one, just attach to your phone. Tapping the surface of the phone is not something a genuine photographer would enjoy. Now with this you have a shutter release button.

Polarizing Clip-on Filter, now you can bring your mobile photos to the next level with this clip-on polarizing filter–it will suit almost any mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet PC. Just check out the product page to see if it is compatible with your device. The skies and clouds become more crisp, and the unwanted glare no longer distorts the image.