What is Mobile Photography?
Mobile Photography is exactly what the name says. It is photographs taken by any mobile device; for example a mobile phone, tablet or iPad. Because of all the apps available now-a-days for mobile phones, mobile photography is a growing method of photography and the more popular it has become. Because by using these apps it is simple to make a picture look much better than it originally did.
The Brief we were given was to research mobile photography concentrating on architecture and documentary photography because that is what we would be doing in our unit. Then to also, edit these pictures on apps of our own choice to make them effectively better than they originally were.
Research:
Mobile Photography is exactly what the name says. It is photographs taken by any mobile device; for example a mobile phone, tablet or iPad. Because of all the apps available now-a-days for mobile phones, mobile photography is a growing method of photography and the more popular it has become. Because by using these apps it is simple to make a picture look much better than it originally did.
The Brief we were given was to research mobile photography concentrating on architecture and documentary photography because that is what we would be doing in our unit. Then to also, edit these pictures on apps of our own choice to make them effectively better than they originally were.
Research:
Steve Mayes
The only photographer I researched in this unit was Steve Mayes, this was because he has done documentary, architecture and also mobile photographer. Effectively he was the full package for me to get my research and my planning completed.
Steve Mayes is a photographer originally from the midlands, however he moved to Newcastle. He moved a couple of years before forming 'Steve Mayes Photography' in 2002. He had an interest in photography from his trips to Europe and North America, however when he moved to Newcastle and was surrounded by a mixture of old and new buildings he developed a deep passion for photography.
I personally really like the feel you get from this picture. I like how it captures the beauty of the place, but also the busyness of peoples day to day lives. I also like how he has captured so much in such a little picture.
This picture happens to be one of my favourite pictures, because he has taken a picture of an old styled building and used an old fashioned effect. I just think this picture is really effective and nice. It is a good example of an architectural photograph.
Planning:
My main plan was to go out to Manchester City Center and take pictures of:
My main plan was to go out to Manchester City Center and take pictures of:
- The Cathedral
- Buildings - Old and New
- The big wheel
- The fountains
- Shops
- Interesting things around the city
- Urbis
- Trees etc
- Our teacher also gave us a color; we had to photograph things that were this colour - I got given the colour blue.
My first attempts
The pictures above were all taken actually on the big wheel. I think this was an effective way to capture as much of Manchester as possible in one picture. This is the original picture and hasn't been edited or had effects added on. Although they are my first attempts I do like the pictures, but I think the exposure/lighting could have been better. However when these pictures were taken, it was going into evening so it was getting dull dark. On the other hand I think the fact it was going dark has given an effect of its own, as the lights on the buildings, cars, buses and trams stand out a lot more, which I think looks good.
This is my favourite out of the pictures I have taken on the wheel, because whilst it captures a large amount of Manchester. I like how this picture has captured the busyness of the city centre and people going about their days. This is shown in the moving buses and trams in the picture, I think this shows an effect of its own.
These pictures (again above) are taken just of the fountains. These pictures are also the original ones and haven't been edited in the slightest. However I personally think that because these pictures have been taken in the dark and the fountains are lighten up it creates a nice effect of its own. Although I do think these pictures would have been better taken on a digital camera opposed to a mobile.
The photo's above are my first attempt at pictures of the big wheel, and also the fountains. I like these because although the wheel is a still picture, you can see the movement of the rushing water in the fountains. I do like these pictures, however I preferred them after I had edited them.
In my opinion this is my best picture of the fountains/big wheel, because I really like how vibrant the colours of the fountains are. I also like the lighting of the picture, because it is going dark in the background the lights on the fountains stand out and also make the wheel stand out, I believe this leaves a really good effect.
Final Edited Pictures - And the App/s used
The app i have used to edit my photographs on my mobile phone (apple I phone 5) is insta editor. This is a very good app and I have used it to edit all of my pictures. It varies a wide range of effects and there are loads of useful techniques to use on it. There are also loads of other apps on the app store for free that have effective results. So don't just stick to one app look around for many different and effective results.
Before edit And After edit.
All I have done to the above picture to edit it is make the houses black and white, and then have the sky showing with its true colours. I believe this effect has made a nice picture.
The above photo, I have rotated the photo and also edited the colours and chosen a effect from the app itself. I have also added a cloudy effect ontop of
A little bit extra.
The app I have used above (InstaEdit) is available on pretty much all smart phones. There are also a wide range of different FREE photo edit apps on the different types of smartphone. There are also a large amount of photo edit apps that cost money, undoubtedly these would have a larger amount of better editing techniques.