<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>DIY Craft Photography</title> <atom:link href="/tag/camera/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link></link> <description>Product photography for handmade goods</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2014 04:53:57 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5</generator> <image> <url>/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-DIYC-site-icon-32x32.png</url> <title>DIY Craft Photography</title> <link></link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Fixing Photo Distortion with Zoom</title> <link>/fixing-photo-distortion-with-zoom/</link> <comments>/fixing-photo-distortion-with-zoom/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[M. Johnson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 07:00:24 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Composition & Techniques]]></category> <category><![CDATA[camera]]></category> <category><![CDATA[zoom]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=763</guid> <description><![CDATA[Photo distortion, noun – “Aw, it looked so much better in real life.” Do your craft products look great in real life but turn out warped, stretched, or distorted in photos? Good news: your photo distortion might be easily fixed by zooming your camera in and taking a step back. Compare these two shots, one...</p><p><a class="more-link" href="/fixing-photo-distortion-with-zoom/">Read More</a></p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_774" style="width: 319px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/pinterest_how_to_fix_photo_distortion_zoom.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-774" class="wp-image-774 " alt="Click to share me on Pinterest!" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/pinterest_how_to_fix_photo_distortion_zoom.jpg" width="309" height="255" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/pinterest_how_to_fix_photo_distortion_zoom.jpg 441w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/pinterest_how_to_fix_photo_distortion_zoom-300x247.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 309px) 100vw, 309px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-774" class="wp-caption-text">Click to share me on Pinterest!</p></div> <p><strong>Photo distortion</strong>, noun –</p> <p><em>“Aw, it looked so much better in real life.”</em></p> <p>Do your craft products look great in real life but turn out warped, stretched, or distorted in photos? Good news: your photo distortion might be easily fixed by zooming your camera in and taking a step back.</p> <p>Compare these two shots, one taken with the <strong>camera at its default zoom</strong>:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_1.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-764" alt="fix photo distortion with camera zoom" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_1.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_1.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_1-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>And this one was taken with the <strong>camera zoomed in (lens out)</strong>. I had to stand further back to get the same looking shot, but the zoomed lens flattened the image. See how much more square the plate looks?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_2.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-765" alt="fix photo distortion with camera zoom" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_2.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_2.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_2-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>If you’re using a point and shoot camera or a DSLR, push your lens out by using the zoom feature. On my camera, it’s a switch near the power button (I push it away from myself to push the lens 0ut).</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-766" alt="fix photo distortion with camera zoom" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_3.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_3.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/09/zoom_distortion_3-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <h1><strong>Finding the Zoom “Sweet Spot”</strong></h1> <p>Some point and shoots <strong>have two zoom modes</strong>: “optical”, which involves moving the lens itself, and “digital”, which is the camera enlarging the image digitally once the lens can’t be zoomed in any more. You need to zoom<em> just far enough</em> to flatten the image<strong> with optical zoom</strong>, but <strong>not so far that “digital zoom” kicks in</strong>.</p> <p>If your camera has digitally enhanced zoom, it will probably let you know when it makes the switch. The “digital zoom” is kind of like taking a tiny image and blowing it up in Photoshop. It’s going to look garbled and compressed – not a great look for showing off crafts.</p> <h1>One More Example</h1> <p>See the difference between these two shots? The second photo is <em>much</em> more accurate to real life.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_before.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-770" alt="zoom_distortion_before" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_before.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_before.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_before-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Look how much shorter Chilly’s feet become with the lens pushed out! Her body gets plumper, too.</p> <p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_after.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-771" alt="zoom_distortion_after" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_after.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_after.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/zoom_distortion_after-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p> <p>Simple change, huge difference! Push your camera lens out to minimize photo distortion and make your products look much more accurate!</p> <p>PS: The <a href="http://www.closetcooking.com/2012/10/rolo-cheesecake-bars.html">Rolo Cheesecake Bars were made using this recipe from closetcooking.com</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/fixing-photo-distortion-with-zoom/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>All About the iPhone 5S Camera</title> <link>/all-about-the-iphone-5s-camera/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[M. Johnson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2013 18:15:14 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cameras & Equipment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[camera]]></category> <category><![CDATA[iphone]]></category> <category><![CDATA[smartphone]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=656</guid> <description><![CDATA[The iPhone 5S is OFFICIAL!! Apple is back in the smartphone camera game with numerous improvements to automatic image adjustments, stabilization, and an amazing hardware innovation called “dual LED flash”. Last week, we posted our reviews of 2013’s best smartphone cameras, which favored the Nokia Lumia 1020 and HTC One over the iPhone 5’s camera. ...</p><p><a class="more-link" href="/all-about-the-iphone-5s-camera/">Read More</a></p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/featured_iphone5s.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-659" alt="iPhone 5S camera review" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/featured_iphone5s.jpg" width="200" height="200" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/featured_iphone5s.jpg 200w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/featured_iphone5s-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" /></a>The iPhone 5S is OFFICIAL!! Apple is back in the smartphone camera game with numerous improvements to automatic image adjustments, stabilization, and an amazing hardware innovation called “dual LED flash”.</p> <p>Last week, we posted <a href="/simple-guide-b…rtphone-camera/">our reviews of 2013’s best smartphone cameras</a>, which favored the <strong>Nokia Lumia 1020</strong> and<strong> HTC One</strong> over the iPhone 5’s camera. As smartphone cameras become increasingly more capable, the convenience of combining a phone with point and shoot capabilities is very appealing – one less device to carry, potential money savings, and all the benefits of wireless data transfer.</p> <p>So how does the new iPhone 5s’s camera compare to the market’s current best smartphone cameras? Read on for our thoughts on the new iPhone 5S camera.</p> <h1>iPhone 5S Camera Hardware</h1> <p>The iPhone 5S camera hardware is remarkable for its <strong>first-in-the-world dual LED flash hardware feature</strong>.</p> <p>One flash handles warming (orange balance), the other does cooling (blue balance), and together they contribute to a properly-colored image, no post-processing required. Are <a href="/photoshop-tutorial-remove-the-orange-tint-from-photos/">orange-tinted images</a> a thing of the past? We hope so!</p> <p>This is a first for <strong>cameras</strong>, not just smartphones. Normally we’d say don’t use flash, but this flash is designed to balance color. The two LEDs can create over 1000 combinations to get the color balance just right in your photos.</p> <p>Other hardware additions include:</p> <ul> <li>Five-element Apple-designed lens</li> <li><strong>Larger f/2.2 aperture</strong></li> <li><strong>New sensor with a 15% larger active area</strong></li> <li><strong>Sensor pixels are 1.5 microns in size</strong>, larger than last year’s iPhone 5’s (more light = better picture, less grain and sharper)</li> </ul> <h1>iPhone 5S Camera Software</h1> <p>Numerous software innovations have made the iPhone 5S <strong>the best</strong> at “just point and shoot a great photo” photography. Apple is constantly improving their automatic built-in camera software, and the 5S offers improvements to:</p> <ul> <li><strong>auto white balance</strong></li> <li><strong>auto color</strong></li> <li><strong>image stabilization</strong> – ties into the phone’s sophisticated built-in motion detection system to counteract blurring</li> <li><strong>dynamic local tone mapping</strong> – the camera reads the environment you’re in to improve shadows/highlights</li> <li><strong>auto focusing</strong></li> </ul> <p>Behind the scenes, the iPhone 5S<strong> actually takes multiple photos and analyzes them to figure out which one is sharpest</strong>, and only shows you that one.</p> <p>The iPhone 5S also offers the cool<strong> “burst mode”</strong> that has been available on Samsung, HTC, and Nokia hardware for the better part of the last year. The camera takes 20 shots of action and helps you choose the best one.</p> <p>Also new to the iPhone 5S are <strong>built-in photo filters</strong> (an Apple first), so you may not need as many (or any) third-party apps to make your photos look brighter (or grungy). Like its predecessors, the iPhone 5S includes only a few on-device photo filters or editing capabilities There’s no manual aperture or white balance, but the built-in stuff is so good you may not need it.</p> <p>Best of all, the iPhone 5S is still backed by the world’s largest app market, which offers many useful free and paid photo editing apps.</p> <h1>Is it a game changer?</h1> <p>Yes. If you wanted an iPhone but were considering an Android instead to get a better camera, the improvements to the new iPhone’s camera ought to be enough to bring you back.</p> <p>The iPhone 5S has caught Apple up to its competitors Samsung, HTC, and Nokia. It’s a fantastic camera attached to an amazing phone (did you hear about the fingerprint scanner?!).</p> <p>The new iPhone is expected to be available on September 20, 2013 (just over a week away). Keep in mind that the newest iPhone model usually suffers from supply issues that may delay the shipping of your new phone.</p> <h1>Wait, what about the iPhone 5C?</h1> <p>In terms of hardware and camera capabilities, the<strong> iPhone 5C is virtually identical to the iPhone 5 of last year</strong>. If you’re wondering how the iPhone 5 or iPhone 5C stack up against the competition, check out our <a href="/simple-guide-best-smartphone-camera/">comparison chart of the iPhone 5 vs. competitors right here</a>.</p> <p>Getting an <strong>iPhone 5C won’t give you the cool new dual LED flash color balance feature</strong>. The iPhone 5C’s camera is If you really want a next-gen smartphone camera that’s going to last you a couple years or more, consider springing for the iPhone 5S.</p> <p><strong>Read More</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone-5s/camera/">http://www.apple.com/iphone-5s/camera/</a></p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Simple Guide to the Best Smartphone Camera</title> <link>/simple-guide-best-smartphone-camera/</link> <comments>/simple-guide-best-smartphone-camera/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[M. Johnson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Sep 2013 07:00:43 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Cameras & Equipment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[camera]]></category> <category><![CDATA[smartphone]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=597</guid> <description><![CDATA[Updated fall 2013. Not a techie? That’s okay – here’s our updated, plain English look at who’s making the best smartphone camera in fall 2013. Just a few years ago, a camera on a phone was a novelty, a way to take a small, rather grainy snapshot of whatever you pointed at. But every product cycle,...</p><p><a class="more-link" href="/simple-guide-best-smartphone-camera/">Read More</a></p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Updated fall 2013.</em> </strong> Not a techie? That’s okay – here’s our updated, plain English look at who’s making the <strong>best smartphone camera </strong>in fall 2013.</p> <div id="attachment_631" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/smartphone_camera_comparisons.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-631" class="size-full wp-image-631" alt="Top smartphone camera picks: Nokia Lumia 1020, iPhone 5, HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/smartphone_camera_comparisons.jpg" width="150" height="300" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-631" class="wp-caption-text"><b>Top smartphone camera picks:</b> <a href="http://www.nokia.com/us-en/phones/phone/lumia1020/">Nokia Lumia 1020</a>, iPhone 5, HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4</p></div> <p>Just a few years ago, a camera on a phone was a novelty, a way to take a small, rather grainy snapshot of whatever you pointed at. But every product cycle, smartphone cameras get better at white balance, reducing grain, and taking photos in low light.</p> <p>Virtually <strong>any</strong> smartphone camera you buy today will be better than what was on the market just a couple years ago. <strong>Which smartphone cameras are good enough to rival a point and shoot camera?</strong></p> <h1>Comparison Chart</h1> <p>Our choices for the best smartphone cameras of late 2013, based on user reviews found around the web.</p> <table id="tablepress-3" class="tablepress tablepress-id-3"> <thead> <tr class="row-1 odd"> <th class="column-1">Product</th><th class="column-2">Our Score</th><th class="column-3">Photo Software</th><th class="column-4">Manual Controls & Shooting Modes</th><th class="column-5">Weaknesses?</th><th class="column-6">Best For</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody class="row-hover"> <tr class="row-2 even"> <td class="column-1"><b><a href="http://www.nokia.com/us-en/phones/phone/lumia1020/">Nokia Lumia 1020</a></b> <br /> <a href="http://www.nokia.com/us-en/phones/phone/lumia1020/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://diycraftphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lumia1020.png" alt="" width="86" height="150" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-620" /></a><br /> (Windows)</td><td class="column-2"><b>Camera:</b> 5/5<br /> <b>Phone:</b> 3/5</td><td class="column-3">The Nokia Lumia's built-in photo software is the best of this generation, including filters and sequences of shots from which the user chooses the best pic. </td><td class="column-4">Manual ISO, white balance, shutter speed, exposure, manual focus</td><td class="column-5">The camera is superb, but the smartphone aspects are behind the competition thanks to the much smaller Windows app store.</td><td class="column-6">Photography enthusiasts, low light, making animated gifs<br /> </td> </tr> <tr class="row-3 odd"> <td class="column-1"><b><a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">iPhone 5C</a></b> <br /> <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://diycraftphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/iphone54.png" alt="" width="86" height="150" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-639" /></a><br /> (iOS)</td><td class="column-2"><b>Camera:</b> 3/5<br /> <b>Phone:</b> 5/5</td><td class="column-3">None in-camera. <br /> Apple has the world's biggest app store and with it, tons of photo manipulation apps. </td><td class="column-4">HDR toggle on/off, panorama option</td><td class="column-5">No built-in photo editing software, camera is a little weak in low light.</td><td class="column-6">Beginners wanting simplicity</td> </tr> <tr class="row-4 even"> <td class="column-1"><b>iPhone 5S</b>Announced 9/10/13 (iOS)</td><td class="column-2"><b>Camera:</b> 4/5<br /> <b>Phone:</b> 5/5</td><td class="column-3">Built-in auto white balance, auto exposure, user-chosen filters.<br /> First in world "dual LED" flash system for hardware-based color balance</td><td class="column-4">HDR toggle on/off, panorama option</td><td class="column-5">A little light on manual controls for power users</td><td class="column-6">Dual LEDs for point and shoot simplicity</td> </tr> <tr class="row-5 odd"> <td class="column-1"><b><a href="http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one/0">HTC One</a></b> <br /> <a href="http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one/0"><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one/0"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://diycraftphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/HTCOne2.png" alt="" width="86" height="150" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-641" /></a><br /> (Android)</td><td class="column-2"><b>Camera:</b> 4/5<br /> <b>Phone:</b> 4/5</td><td class="column-3">Built-in filters, retouching options, and gallery management. Zoe lets you choose the best of a 20-shot sequence and discard the rest. </td><td class="column-4">Manual ISO, white balance</td><td class="column-5">Some users complain of grainy, overly sharp images. </td><td class="column-6">Filter fans, tinkerers</td> </tr> <tr class="row-6 even"> <td class="column-1"><a href="http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxys4/"><b>Samsung Galaxy S4</a></b> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxys4/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://diycraftphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/samsungGalaxyS42.png" alt="" width="86" height="150" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-642" /></a><br /> (Android)</td><td class="column-2"><b>Camera:</b> 4/5<br /> <b>Phone:</b> 4/5</td><td class="column-3">Loads of built-in shooting modes, including gif animation, and filter effects. </td><td class="column-4">Manual ISO, manual white balance, multi-exposure, HDR,</td><td class="column-5">Some users complain of overly sharp (hard-edged) images.</td><td class="column-6">Filter fans, making animated gifs</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!-- #tablepress-3 from cache --> <h1>Which is the Best Smartphone Camera for YOU?</h1> <p>Well, that’s going to depend on a lot of things, but our pick for the <strong>best camera is the <a href="http://www.nokia.com/us-en/phones/phone/lumia1020/">Nokia Lumia 1020</a></strong> (which comes with our lowest-rated phone) and our <strong>pick for the best smartphone is the <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">Apple iPhone 5</a></strong> (which has our lowest-rated camera). In between with the<strong> second best cameras and the second best smartphone features</strong> are the <a href="http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one/"><strong>HTC One</strong></a> and the<strong> <a href="http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxys4/">Samsung Galaxy S4</a></strong>.</p> <p>Read on for a more detailed analysis of these smartphones and their cameras to decide which is best for you.</p> <h2>Nokia Lumia 1020</h2> <p><a href="http://www.nokia.com/us-en/phones/phone/lumia1020/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-620" alt="Lumia1020" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lumia1020.png" width="172" height="300" /></a>The best smartphone camera belongs to the <strong>Nokia Lumia 1020 </strong>right now. In fact, the Nokia’s camera is its <strong>main selling point</strong>.</p> <p>The Nokia Lumia 1020 boasts of a “41 megapixel sensor”, which confused me at first because I thought it meant it was taking HUGE 41-megapixel photos, but no, it’s just a technology that allows for greater clarity in the same amount of image size as other cameras. Other useful features include optical image stabilization (to reduce blur) and manual controls for focus, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and exposure. The Nokia Lumia 1020 even comes with pre-installed photography tutorials to give you lessons in all these features!</p> <p><strong>But here’s the catch:</strong> the Nokia is a Windows phone, which <strong>doesn’t have nearly the variety of apps that iOS or Android phones do</strong>. For example, Instagram isn’t available for a Windows phone as of this writing (September 2013).</p> <p>If all you want is a <strong>great camera</strong> with a cell phone attached, <em>go for it- </em>the camera and its controls are awesome. But if you also want all the apps your iPhone-toting friends are playing with (like Temple Run) , you might be disappointed in the Lumia 1020’s abilities as a smartphone.</p> <p><strong>Best at:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Camera-like experience</strong></li> <li><strong>Low light</strong></li> <li><strong>Tiny details</strong></li> </ul> <p><strong>Bad at: </strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Other smartphone features</strong>, like a huge app store</li> </ul> <p><strong>More info: </strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://readwrite.com/2013/07/23/nokia-lumia-1020-review#awesm=~ogjGY8YpmPBzCy">Readwrite’s review of the Nokia Lumia 1020</a></li> <li><a href="http://connect.dpreview.com/post/5234892048/nokia-lumia-1020-camera-review">DPreview’s in-depth review of the Nokia Lumia 1020</a></li> <li><a href="http://technabob.com/blog/2013/08/11/nokia-lumia-1020-review/">Technabob’s Nokia Lumia 1020 review with pictures</a></li> </ul> <h2>iPhone 5</h2> <p><a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-628" alt="iphone5" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/iphone51.png" width="172" height="300" /></a>Speaking of iPhone, the <strong>iPhone 5</strong> offers <strong>virtually no manual controls</strong> over things like white balance, but it makes up for it by being a <strong>decent camera all on its own</strong>. For well-lit situations, the iPhone 5’s camera is just fine. (The other cameras reviewed in this post all do better at detail and low light situations, though.)</p> <p>The iPhone 5 is also the best at being a smartphone, with the world’s leading app store behind it.</p> <p><strong>But what’s up with the iPhone 5S?</strong> This could be the game-changer. Apple’s about to announce an update to the iPhone on Tuesday, September 10th (<em>less than a week from now</em>). Apple is no slouch when it comes to outshining the competition. You can probably bet on Apple improving the 5’s camera capabilities, perhaps offering more user-controlled features, and catching up to the Nokia and HTC One. Stay tuned for our September 10th update.</p> <p>The new phones will likely be on shelves before the end of September, but sometimes there’s a longer wait than that. If you can hold off until October or November, you might want to see if Apple surprises us with anything next week.</p> <p><strong>Best at:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Simplicity –</strong> just point and shoot</li> <li><strong>Being a smartphone – </strong>lots of apps</li> </ul> <p><strong>Bad at: </strong></p> <ul> <li><b>Probably the weakest camera of this collection</b>, but the next iPhone (announced next week) could change everything</li> <li><strong>No shooting modes</strong> (check out the Samsung S4 below to learn more about what shooting modes offer)</li> </ul> <p><strong>More info: </strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/iphone-5-1096004/review/7">TechRadar’s iPhone 5 Camera Review</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.imore.com/iphone-5-camera-review">iMore’s review of the iPhone 5 Camera</a></li> </ul> <h2>HTC One</h2> <p><a href="http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-one/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-627" alt="HTCOne" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/HTCOne.png" width="172" height="300" /></a>So what about Android phones? While only Apple makes iOS phones, lots of manufacturers make Android phones. The HTC One is an Android phone.</p> <p>The <strong>HTC One</strong>‘s camera stands out for two reasons: <strong>UltraPixel technology</strong> and<strong> Zoe.</strong> Explained simply, UltraPixel is a “larger pixel” technology that helps create better clarity without adding megapixels (and image size). Zoe is a shooting mode that captures 20 photos in the span of 3 seconds so you can choose the best one later.</p> <p>The HTC One has a 4 megapixel camera, which is lower than the 8 offered by the iPhone 5 and Nokia Lumia. But megapixels are tricky – more doesn’t mean better, and past a certain point, it’s ridiculous to add more. (Where that point <em>is</em>, though, is a matter of debate.)</p> <p>There is much more to good photos than megapixels: <strong>white balance</strong> and capabilities in <strong>low-light situations</strong>, and the <strong>HTC One excels at both</strong>. Other neat features of the HTC One include the ability to apply filters and shooting modes after the photo is taken.</p> <p><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5990360/htc-one-ultrapixel-camera-how-does-it-stack-up">Read more about HTC One’s UltraPixel technology on Gizmodo</a>, complete with comparison shots and a more technical analysis.</p> <p><strong>Best at:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Low light</strong></li> <li><strong>Capturing tiny details clearly</strong></li> </ul> <p><strong>More info</strong>:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/htc-one/">Cnet.com reviews the HTC One</a></li> <li><a href="http://connect.dpreview.com/post/8068966118/htc-one-camera-review">DPReview’s multi-part review of the HTC One</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/120573-htc-one-camera-review">Pocket-Lint’s review of the HTC One</a></li> </ul> <h2>Samsung Galaxy S4</h2> <p><a href="http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxys4/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-full wp-image-626" alt="samsungGalaxyS4" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/samsungGalaxyS4.png" width="172" height="300" /></a>The <strong>Samsung Galaxy S4</strong> is the second Android entry into our best smartphone camera list. The Samsung Galaxy S4 offers a huge variety of shooting modes. The Samsung Galaxy S4’s camera has 13 megapixels, more than any other camera featured in this list of best smartphone cameras, but more isn’t always better. (And can in fact become a liability in lower-light situations.)</p> <p>The Samsung Galaxy S4’s software is where it really shines. The buttons and options are laid out intuitively (moreso than the HTC One’s in-camera software) and are fairly beginner-friendly. It’s the only camera that lets you photograph from the front and the back cameras simultaneously, and it also includes modes that let you remove moving objects from the background (assuming you photographed a sequence). These features are really cool for “out and about” photography, but if you’re just looking to photograph your craft products, you’re not going to get much use out of some of these features.</p> <p>Fortunately, the Galaxy also includes numerous presets and manual settings that will likely be of use to product photographers.</p> <p><strong>Best at:</strong></p> <ul> <li><b>Shooting mode options</b></li> <li><b>Vivid colors</b></li> </ul> <p><strong>Bad at:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Loads of features might be “too much” </strong>for users without the time or patience to invest in learning them all</li> </ul> <p><strong>More info:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/">Cnet.com review of the Samsung Galaxy S4</a></li> </ul> <h1>Smartphone Camera vs. Point and Shoot Camera</h1> <p>The point and shoot category is taking a beating as buyers opt to combine cameras and phones into one pocket-sized device. Smartphones offer the added bonus of<strong> transferring your photos to your computer over wifi</strong> (either via a program built into the phone’s operating system or via an app like Dropbox). Most point and shoot cameras <em>still cannot transfer photos over wifi!</em></p> <p>As someone who carried both a camera and a phone for over a decade, I was <em>delighted</em> to discover my iPhone 4S’s camera was as good as my $220 Canon point-and-shoot in many situations.</p> <p>My smartphone (iPhone 4s) is<strong> better than</strong> my Canon when it comes to:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Color accuracy indoors </strong></li> <li><strong>Low light situations</strong></li> <li><strong>Transferring photos</strong> (they go quickly over wifi)</li> </ul> <p>My smartphone (iPhone 4s) is<strong> not as good</strong> <strong>as</strong> my Canon at:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Macro mode</strong> (getting a sharp foreground and a blurry background)</li> <li><strong>Taking tons and tons of photos</strong> (at some point, it does become faster to copy them off the camera’s memory via the cable)</li> </ul> <h1>A Few More Resources</h1> <p><strong>Added 10/7/2013:</strong> Check out the results of this awesome <a href="http://www.phonearena.com/news/Blind-camera-comparison-Vote-for-the-unidentified-cameraphone-you-like-best_id47934#6-Phone-5">Blind Cameraphone Comparison by phonearena.com</a></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57581522-85/samsung-galaxy-s4-shootout-versus-htc-one-iphone-5/">Cnet.com compares images taken with the Galaxy S4, HTC One, and iPhone 5</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Camera-Comparison-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-Zoom-vs-Galaxy-S4-HTC-One-iPhone-5_id3358">Photoarena’s comparison of the Galaxy S4, HTC One, and iPhone 5</a></li> </ul> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/simple-guide-best-smartphone-camera/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Product Photography Lighting Tips for Absolute Beginners</title> <link>/product-photography-lighting-tips/</link> <comments>/product-photography-lighting-tips/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[M. Johnson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 14 Aug 2013 13:00:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Composition & Techniques]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lighting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[camera]]></category> <category><![CDATA[flash]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lighting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photography]]></category> <category><![CDATA[white backgrounds]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=313</guid> <description><![CDATA[Let’s take better photos! It’s all in the lighting. Follow these four product photography lighting tips and get ready for amazing photos that encourage clicks and beg for Pinterest repins! Tip 1: Take photos without flash This is Rule #1 when it comes to taking nice-looking product photos. You’ve probably faced this problem: leaving flash...</p><p><a class="more-link" href="/product-photography-lighting-tips/">Read More</a></p>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_875" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_photography_lighting_for_beginners_pinterest.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-875" class="size-full wp-image-875 " alt="product photography lighting tips for beginners" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_photography_lighting_for_beginners_pinterest.jpg" width="441" height="364" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_photography_lighting_for_beginners_pinterest.jpg 441w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_photography_lighting_for_beginners_pinterest-300x247.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-875" class="wp-caption-text">Sushi the plush betta fish looks great in natural daylight!</p></div> <p>Let’s take better photos! It’s all in the lighting. Follow these four product photography lighting tips and get ready for amazing photos that encourage clicks and beg for Pinterest repins!</p> <h1 dir="ltr">Tip 1: Take photos without flash</h1> <p dir="ltr">This is Rule #1 when it comes to taking nice-looking product photos.<strong> You’ve probably faced this problem:</strong> leaving flash <strong>ON makes your products look blown out </strong>– but turning the flash <strong>OFF makes your photos dark and grainy!</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Compare these two photos to see what I mean:</p> <div id="attachment_878" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/diycraft_flash_on_flash_off_comparison1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-878" class="size-full wp-image-878 " alt="product photography lighting tips no flash" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/diycraft_flash_on_flash_off_comparison1.jpg" width="500" height="810" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/diycraft_flash_on_flash_off_comparison1.jpg 500w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/diycraft_flash_on_flash_off_comparison1-185x300.jpg 185w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-878" class="wp-caption-text">Christmas plushies look rounder, softer in my dining room’s ambient light from the Christmas tree and the chandelier over the table to the right.</p></div> <p>So turn that flash off and rely instead on the lighting around you. Read on for easy product photography lighting tips that’ll make you wonder why you ever used the flash in the first place.</p> <h1 dir="ltr">Tip 2: Head outdoors, but stay in the shade</h1> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Cool mid-day shade is perfect for many products</strong>. The shade gives your object soft shadows and smooth highlights. For the background, try a white sheet of posterboard.</p> <p dir="ltr">I created this posterboard setup on my back deck: so easy, and it looks great in the photo!</p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_lighting_work_in_shade.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-877 aligncenter" alt="product photography lighting tips work in the shade" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_lighting_work_in_shade.jpg" width="441" height="364" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_lighting_work_in_shade.jpg 441w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/product_lighting_work_in_shade-300x247.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px" /></a></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Watch out for:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Uneven or dappled shade</strong></li> <li><strong>Greyish-ness</strong> or blue tints (but it’s easy to color-correct in an image editor)</li> <li><strong>Rain!</strong></li> </ul> <p>Read more about <a href="/how-to-take-white-background-photos/">taking photos with solid white backgrounds</a>.</p> <h1 dir="ltr">Tip 3: Photograph Next to a Window</h1> <p dir="ltr">Can’t go outside? No big deal – set up your crafts and backgrounds on a small table or chair near a window during daylight hours. Even here in cloudy Seattle, this window offered a nice ambient light perfect for my Rolo bars photo shoot.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip3_use_a_window_product_photography_tips.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-879 aligncenter" alt="product photography lighting tips use a window" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip3_use_a_window_product_photography_tips.jpg" width="441" height="364" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip3_use_a_window_product_photography_tips.jpg 441w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip3_use_a_window_product_photography_tips-300x247.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px" /></a></p> <p dir="ltr">You don’t even need direct, summertime light: <strong>this rolled-up quilt was photographed about an hour before sunset in the autumn.</strong></p> <div id="attachment_328" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/no_flash_next_to_window.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-328" class="size-full wp-image-328 " alt="taking great photos without flash tip number 2: photograph next to a window" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/no_flash_next_to_window.jpg" width="512" height="384" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/no_flash_next_to_window.jpg 512w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/09/no_flash_next_to_window-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-328" class="wp-caption-text">This lovely quilt was a wedding gift and it’s become one of DIYCraft’s unofficial mascots.</p></div> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Watch out for:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Awkward shadows</strong> (the kind that give your plushies double chins or extra feet)</li> <li><strong>“Interesting” backgrounds</strong> – beware of what’s behind your photo! You probably don’t want your messy kitchen filling the background. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f642.png" alt="🙂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /></li> </ul> <h1 dir="ltr">Tip 4: Set up a small in-home “Photo Studio”</h1> <p dir="ltr">For many folks living in climates where days are short, cold, and rainy, shooting indoors with lightbulbs as your light source can a worthwhile convenience. Below is my DIY photo studio, but if you’re starting from scratch you should consider an <a href="/table-top-photo-studio-kit-reviews/">all-in-one photo studio tabletop kit</a>.</p> <div id="attachment_880" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip4_product_photography_lighting_tips_photo_studio_kit.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-880" class="size-full wp-image-880 " alt="product photography lighting tips use a photo studio" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip4_product_photography_lighting_tips_photo_studio_kit.jpg" width="441" height="364" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip4_product_photography_lighting_tips_photo_studio_kit.jpg 441w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/tip4_product_photography_lighting_tips_photo_studio_kit-300x247.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-880" class="wp-caption-text">Read more <a href="/anatomy-of-a-diy-home-photo-studio/">about my DIY photo studio</a>.</p></div> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Watch out for:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Multiple shadows</strong>. Diffuse your light sources with a semi-transparent sheet, and try to hit your light from just a few angles equally.</li> <li><strong>Orange tint</strong>, but we have <a href="/photoshop-tutorial-remove-the-orange-tint-from-photos/">a beginner-friendly tutorial on removing orange tints from your photos right here</a>.</li> </ul> <h1 dir="ltr">Even More Tips</h1> <p><strong>Don’t worry <em>too much</em> about your camera</strong><br /> You can totally get started using what you have, even if it’s a camera phone or a point-and-shoot. Half the photos in this article were taken using a very humble iPhone 4S, the rest a three-year-old Canon point and shoot. I don’t have a fancy DSLR, and if you’re just starting out, you can get by without one.</p> <p><strong>Use a tripod<br /> </strong>I adore my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HY4U4Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HY4U4Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20" rel="nofollow">Joby GorillaPod</a> (affiliate link). The Joby tripod is flexible, short enough to be “craft-level”, and easy to manipulate. If you’re shooting indoors or in the early evening, a tripod will help reduce blur. A tripod is also great for keeping shots consistent, and putting your camera into a position you like means there’s just one less thing to fuss with setting up your shot.</p> <div id="attachment_881" style="width: 288px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HY4U4Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HY4U4Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20" rel="nofollow"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-881" class=" wp-image-881 " alt="joby_gorilla_pod_canon_power_shot" src="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/joby_gorilla_pod_canon_power_shot.jpg" width="278" height="437" srcset="/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/joby_gorilla_pod_canon_power_shot.jpg 464w, /wp-content/uploads/2013/08/joby_gorilla_pod_canon_power_shot-191x300.jpg 191w" sizes="(max-width: 278px) 100vw, 278px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-881" class="wp-caption-text">My <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HY4U4Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005HY4U4Q&linkCode=as2&tag=diy07a-20">Joby GorillaPod</a> and Canon PowerShot point-and-shoot.</p></div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>/product-photography-lighting-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss> <!-- Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. 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