Lars Grimm
Chumono
Does anyone use an iPhone as their primary photography source? If so, are there any links to some tips or tricks. I would like to start taking better pictures of my trees and am debating buying an actual camera.
Bonsai photography with iPhone?
- Thread starter Lars Grimm
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twisted trees
Omono
An actual camera takes better low light pics than a phone camera. Use as much light as possible then when using the phone. Use a white or Neely white background in the brightest room in your house. I use the edit function on the phone with good results. I took this with my phone.
Lars Grimm
Chumono
Very helpful. I typically take my pictures outside with a white background. I think I have probably been suffering from not enough light in the area I am taking the photos.
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
My Galaxy has pro mode on the camera.
Let's you adjust everything that can be adjusted on a camera.
Let's you adjust everything that can be adjusted on a camera.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
I use both and select the best image once I bring them up on my computer. More often than not my iPhone takes a better picture when I just want to snap a quick image. When I use additional lighting and backgrounds the camera usually wins out.
twisted trees
Omono
Outdoor bonsai photography can be very tricky. Contrast is the biggest problem.
Lars Grimm
Chumono
I bought a couple plastic poster board sized sheets in white to give a white background, but they never come out quite right. I am thinking about spray painting them with a more matte finish.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
Gray is the best background to use per @barrosinc . He is a professional photographer and I trust everything he says about the subject.
twisted trees
Omono
It's some trial and error. I find indoors to be a more controllable situation and therefore more reproducible. A good sunny day helps. I use both daylight and cool white bulbs to even out the white balance. Sometimes a few table lamps strategically placed help with spot lighting but the simpler the setup the better.
GSCarlson
Shohin
Avoid white or black backgrounds. A middle tone background will give you good highlights and shadows on your subject.
For example:
For example:
Paradox
Imperial Masterpiece
My Samsung Android phone has a 14 megapixel camera in it and adjusts for low light. It takes way better pictures than my old 10 MP Canon sure shot with zoom lens.
The only thing that probably takes better pics than my phone is a full SLR camera which costs several hundred dollars.
White is too harsh for a background and tends to overwhelm the camera's light sensor with too much light reflecting off it so it closes the aperture and/or reduces the exposure resulting in a picture like the one in the first post.
I try to take my pictures against a uniform background. I use a black felt background if I really want to get fancy. A black background works fine if you have enough light. The picture posted above lacks enough light for it to work. The light is also distant and side directional cresting the dark shadows on one side.
If I am lazy, the redwood stained siding of the house works fine. I try to get bright shaded light or a bright cloudy day rather than direct sunlight which tends to be too harsh.
This picture was taken with my phone and the black felt background in bright shade outside. The tree was also placed well in front of the background so the camera focused on the tree more than the background.
The only thing that probably takes better pics than my phone is a full SLR camera which costs several hundred dollars.
White is too harsh for a background and tends to overwhelm the camera's light sensor with too much light reflecting off it so it closes the aperture and/or reduces the exposure resulting in a picture like the one in the first post.
I try to take my pictures against a uniform background. I use a black felt background if I really want to get fancy. A black background works fine if you have enough light. The picture posted above lacks enough light for it to work. The light is also distant and side directional cresting the dark shadows on one side.
If I am lazy, the redwood stained siding of the house works fine. I try to get bright shaded light or a bright cloudy day rather than direct sunlight which tends to be too harsh.
This picture was taken with my phone and the black felt background in bright shade outside. The tree was also placed well in front of the background so the camera focused on the tree more than the background.
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Giga
Masterpiece
my V10 still takes great pictures, and i solely use it for all my bonsai stuff
Use the zoom feature to fill the frame. It's better to step back a little, than zoom in. It's gives a greater depth.
If you have the iphone 7 Plus, it comes with two lens. One is wide angle, and the other is a telephoto. Switch to the telephoto lens, it acts like the zoom feature, but it's done with optics rather than digitally.
If you have the iphone 7 Plus, it comes with two lens. One is wide angle, and the other is a telephoto. Switch to the telephoto lens, it acts like the zoom feature, but it's done with optics rather than digitally.
milehigh_7
Mister 500,000
All I have ever used is my phone. If you really get fancy you can buy a tripod attachment off ebay for under $10 and use a regular camcorder tripod. That's what I do. Don't know about iPhone but android I can take pictures with voice commands so I don't even have to touch it.
They are even selling clip on lenses for phones. I have not used them but they are apparently pretty good.
They are even selling clip on lenses for phones. I have not used them but they are apparently pretty good.
twisted trees
Omono
The more megapixels the better for getting great detail in lower light. You may go to darker backgrounds as well with much greater definition. You may want to decide what quality of pictures you desire. If you are after a clear simple pic to document your trees development a cell does fine. You can do the dramatic lighting thing rather well. For higher quality magazine like portraits a good camera is better.
twisted trees
Omono
Wow, camera adds pop up with this thread. Go figure.
I take everything on my iPhone 7. Sometimes I use HDR, mostly not. I'm never really satisfied with the pics it takes but all I got.
I looked at spending a bit on a good camera but was advised, without going in to DSLR range and spending 400-500, might as well use iPhone..
These pics I did recently, I really like.
I looked at spending a bit on a good camera but was advised, without going in to DSLR range and spending 400-500, might as well use iPhone..
These pics I did recently, I really like.
Chopsie
Shohin
I would suggest otherwise
Using your legs to move towards or away from the subject will give better results imo
Chopsie
Shohin
ISO is the option you need in lower light mega pixels just allows for larger images when printing. I'm sure I read the eye cannot tell the difference after 5mp
