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Gorillamobile

Instameet Winners for #crescentbay_meet

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, Instameet, iPhone | No Comments

Last weekend, our friends @brianmichael_ and @laughing_octopus hosted an Instameet in Orange County. Over 40 Instagrammers showed up to hang out and make awesome photos.  We chose three of our favorite photos taken during the Instameet to win a GripTight tripod for their phone. Now, without further ado, our winners from #crescentbay_meet!

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Photo by @its_pending

 

How Photog Jordana Wright uses her GripTight Phone Tripod

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, GripTight, How To, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

We sent our new GripTight phone tripod to a few of our favorite photographers, asked them to give it a whirl and then share their photos and experience here on the blog.  Jordana Wright is a photographer and teacher based in Chicago, Illinois. We first met Jordana when she embarked on a photography trip across the entire USA by train, taking photos, meeting people and teaching along the way.  Thanks Jordana for sharing your experience and photos! 

Jordana Wright
Chicago, Illinois | @jordanawright on Instagram
What is your favorite thing about the GripTight?  

The GripTight is super helpful, wonderfully compact, and totally versatile. I can really punch up my mobile photography by positioning my phone literally anywhere. Google hangouts and video chats are so much easier to do on-the-go, now that they can be TOTALLY hands free. When I’m shooting with my DSLR, the GripTight lets me pull up a shot list or other important information that I can easily display without fumbling with my phone.

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What is your best tip for getting great photos from a smartphone? 

My best tip is that it’s not always about the app! The angle, lighting, and subject matter can make or break a cellphone photo—just like every other type of photography. Play around because you never know what sorts of AWESOME you may capture. One of my favorite tricks is putting a piece of colored gel in front of my phone’s camera for a moody, colorized photo.

What are your favorite apps?  

My favorite apps are Instagram and Pudding Camera. Sometimes I shoot in one camera app, then open the photo and process it with another. In airplane mode, you can process photos through Instagram as many times as you want to get a unique look.

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Have you found any alternative uses for your GripTight?

I’ve used the GripTight to keep my phone safe and in sight on my desk and on the kitchen counter. It makes my cell phone into a lovely bedside alarm clock, and it even came in handy for my husband who works in theatre. He borrowed it to more easily film actors auditioning for a show. In a pinch, you can even use your cellphone (when the screen is dark) to touch up your hair or make-up. The GripTight lets you angle it however you may need!

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Can you tell us about a time the GripTight really saved the day? 

I was driving using Google Maps on my phone, and the phone kept falling over in the car. At a red light, I realized I could use the GripTight Micro Stand to keep the phone exactly where I needed it on the dashboard for easier navigation. Fewer fumbles + knowing where I’m going = the happiest photographer.

 

How to take Better Phone Photos & Videos with Jay and Varina Patel

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

We sent our new GripTight phone tripod to a few of our favorite photographers, asked them to give it a whirl and then share their photos and experience here on the blog.  Jay and Varina Patel are landscape photographers who teach photography workshops all over the globe. They also have a series of E-Books and tutorials to help aspiring photographers improve their shooting and post-processing technique.  Thanks Jay and Varina for sharing your experience and photos! 

Jay and Varina Patel
Twinsburg, Ohio 

What is the best part about using the GripTight? 

We’ve been really happy with the tiny combination of the Grip Tight Mount with the Micro. They fold up small enough to stick in a pocket or attach to a keychain, so I don’t have to carry around bulky gear. When I want to get some video of my kids when we go swimming in the river or hang out at the park, I can set up my phone quickly and grab a fun video of the kids having fun.

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When have you found the GripTight particularly useful? 

As landscape photographers, we often produce short, on-location educational videos with our mobile phones. The GripTight Mount and GripTight GorillaPod Stand provide a perfect lightweight solution that we can use to produce smooth videos with our mobile phones. We secure the GorillaPod stand on a tripod or stand it up on a rock, and we are good to go!

The Making of an Instructional Tutorial with Photographer Varina Patel from JOBY Inc on Vimeo.

Can you share a time when the GripTight really saved the shoot?

We planned to do a quick series of videos in a beautiful park several miles from our home, but we forgot our Grip Tight Mount. All our attempts to stabilize the mobile phone using our tripods or hands were unsuccessful. We shot a video anyway—but it’s completely unusable. The camera shake is pretty annoying! The following week, we took our cameras to the soccer fields to shoot another video. This time, we used a tripod topped with the GripTight GorillaPod Stand and the finished video is smooth and steady.

What are your favorite apps? 

We use SmugMug’s Camera Awesome app. Camera Awesome allows for independent control of focus point and exposure. It’s great for macro shots and producing on-location videos. We edit our movies with iMovie, which allows us to put clips together quickly, add audio and music, and create a decent finished product. We love Snapseed for processing photos. This app has “U-Point” technology that allows us to make selective adjustment to our photographs.

 

How to Take Better Phone Photos with Halley Roberts

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

We sent our new GripTight phone tripod to a few of our favorite Instagrammers, asked them to give it a whirl and then share their photos and experience here on the blog. Portland-based photographer Halley Roberts creates beautiful images of everyday life, capturing beauty in the natural and man-made world around her. Thanks Halley for sharing your thoughts and photos with us! 

Halley Roberts
Portland, Oregon | @halleyroberts 

What is your best tip for using the GripTight? 
The first time I used the GripTight was when I set up a shot of me preparing and eating breakfast and I attached it to a spider plant I have hanging over my kitchen table. It worked great! With the lifestyle-type photography that I shoot, attaching the GripTight to objects above me is perfect. Attach the GripTight to something directly above you, use the self-timer and voila, you’ve got a beautiful top-down shot.

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What do you like best about phone photography? 

I use my iPhone mostly for snaps of my life, but I also use it to test out compositions that I think will look good when I shoot with medium format film. It’s great when I’m outside, which I am a lot, exploring and hiking. I’ve also found that I use it often for self-portraits when I don’t have a model or someone else to place in the photo.

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What are your favorite apps for shooting? For editing? 

Finding the right editing apps is crucial. My number one photo editing app is VSCO. I also use Camera+ for doing self-timed shots and Squaready to bypass Instagram’s square format. Also, try to be selective about what you’re shooting. I often see people simply stabbing at their iPhone screens taking hundreds of snaps. The more discerning you are, the better your photos will be and you’ll save memory!

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Have you found any non-photography uses for your GripTight? 

I also like to use the GripTight GorillaPod stand to prop my iPhone up while I’m working on my computer or listening to a podcast. That way I can look down and easily check my phone.

 

 

How to Take Better Phone Photos with Matej Smucr

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

We sent our new GripTight phone tripod to a few of our favorite Instagrammers, asked them to give it a whirl and then share their photos and experience here on the blog.  Matej Smucr is a iPhone photographer based in the Czech Republic. He captures beautiful images of the world around him, natural and man made. His curiosity and desire to discover and share his world through photographs is inspiring.  Thanks Matej for sharing your experience and photos! 
Matej Smucr
Czech Republic | @matescho 

How did you begin as a photographer?

I wasn’t interested in photography before I got an iPhone 3GS in 2010. Because there are so many apps for editing photos, I began to enjoy photography. In the beginning it was hard because I knew nothing about photography. I found some basics online, but the best way to really improve is just to shoot. I take photos everyday, everywhere and of everything. I also recommend looking at other photographers’ work. I have friends on Instagram who inspire me everyday.

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What do you like best about the GripTight?

From the first time I used the GripTight Micro, I fell in love with this amazing gadget. If I’m walking through the city and find an amazing spot, I just take my GripTight from my pocket and take a photo. I set it up with my iPhone, set a self-timer, focus on the spot where I plan to be when the timer goes off, press the shutter button and run, run, run. GripTight is really perfect for self-portraits (and also for people with shaky hands)!

Before I got the GripTight Micro, I used a GorillaPod SLR-Zoom for my iPhoneography. But it is a little big and I wanted something smaller that I could carry in my pocket the entire day. GripTight Micro is light, small and I can attach it to my keys. It’s a universal holder so I can use it with my iPhone with or without cases or lenses. Plus, it has rubber legs so it can’t slide down from any surface.

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Photographer Matej Smucr & his JOBY GripTight from JOBY Inc on Vimeo.

 

What are your favorite apps for shooting? For editing? 

I like retro and vintage photos so I edit my photos in this style. My favorite app is VSCO Cam, which I use almost for every edit. I like filters 02 and 05 the best. I also use PicFX, which has so many filters that can be combined. Photoforge2 is good for layering. Camera+, EasyTitler and Gorillacam from Joby are also favorites.

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Have you discovered any other uses for your GripTight?

When I’m not taking photos, I also use the GripTight Micro to surf the Internet, watch movies or just as holder for my phone.

 

How to Take Better Phone Photos with Colby Brown

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

We sent our new GripTight phone tripod to a few of our favorite photographers, asked them to give it a whirl and then share their photos and experience here on the blog. Colorado-based photographer Colby Brown is as phenomenal a teacher and humanitarian as he is a photographer. On his Instagram feed, he shares behind the scenes glimpses into his work all over the globe.  Thanks Colby for sharing your thoughts and photos with us! 

Colby Brown
Denver, Colorado | @colbybrownphotography on Instagram 

As a professional photographer, how does smartphone photography fit into your work?

As a travel photographer, part of the fun of my job is sharing my experiences around the globe with others. With digital mobile camera technology continuing to grow by leaps and bounds, my Android phone has become more of an integral part of my gear setup. Using my phone to capture quick snapshots and behind the scenes images while on my adventures allows me to easily bring others along with me.

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What is your best tip for using the GripTight? 

My best piece of advice for utilizing the GripTight is to take your time. Too many photographers think mobile photography is a breeze, when in reality it takes just as much forethought and preparation as professional work to accurately capture a scene. The camera sensors in mobile phones are so small that you have to be careful when shooting in low light. A GripTight allows you to have much more creative freedom.

When was a time that the GripTight proved particularly useful? 

While working in Angkor Wat, Cambodia I was forced to have to capture scenes in incredibly dark situations. By utilizing my GripTight, I was still able to capture some great behind the scenes images.

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What are your favorite apps for shooting? For editing? 

As a photographer that mostly uses Android technology, there are a handle of apps that I find myself using on a regular basis. My favorite apps for shooting are the stock camera app, Camera360, HDR Camera+, and Camera FV-5.  My favorite Android apps for editing are PicsPlay Pro, Perfectly Clear and KD Collage.

 

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Get GripTight GorillaPod & GripTight Micro in Your Favorite Color!

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, GripTight, iPhone, New Product Launch, Photography | No Comments

We’re happy to announce that our GripTight GorillaPod Stand and GripTight Micro Stand are now available in a rainbow of colors! You’ll be able to choose your favorite color to match your  your personality, your outfit or your phone case!

Our GripTight GorillaPod is our signature flexible tripod for your smartphone. It fits most bestselling smartphones, with or without a case, and you can position it just about anywhere making it the best phone tripod out there!  Plus you can detach the GripTight Mount from the GorillaPod Original and use the GorillaPod with your point and shoot camera or use the mount with any other tripod. Two products in one—pretty neat!

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Check out our GripTight GorillaPod rainbow and choose your favorite color today!

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GripTight Micro Stand is the smallest phone tripod available! It folds down into a super tiny package that will easily fit in your pocket. You’ll never be caught without a tripod ever again! While it is awesome for photos, it is also great for video chats, watching YouTube, playing music, using your GPS, or following recipes in the kitchen. The uses are endless for GripTight!

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Check out our new GripTight Micro rainbow and pick out your favorite today!

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Want to share a photo that you shot using a GripTight GorillaPod with us? Tag it with #griptight #gorillapod on Instagram or share with us on Facebook.

How to Transform your iPhoneography with *safesolvent

By | Friends of Joby, Gorillamobile, GripTight, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

We sent our new GripTight GorillaPod Magnetic smartphone tripod to a few of our favorite Instagrammers, asked them to give it a whirl and then share their photos and experience here on the blog. First up, JOBY Pro Martin Reisch. Martin has been shooting with a GorillaPod for years and his long distance self-portrait photos have become iconic on Instagram. We’re pretty sure he started an entirely new genre of self-portraiture, and boy are we glad he did! 

Martin Reisch
Montreal, Canada | @safesolvent

What is your favorite thing about shooting with GripTight?  

The GorillaPod essentially removes the “I have to be holding it” part of the photo equation and also adds this “ceilings and fences can be surfaces too” element. It opens up a lot of opportunity for uniqueness in my photography. Usually, I’m putting equal amounts of effort into finding interesting places to shoot and finding a place to put my GorillaPod. Often, I’ll see a potential spot that I can hang or grip my GorillaPod onto and THEN see what it gives through the camera.

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What is your best tip for using GripTight? 

My best tip for using the GorillaPod is that you only need to use two legs to grip, and then you can use the third one to provide stability for your phone by bending it into an angle and having it rest or push off the surface to counter-stabilize your phone.

Joby GripTight Demo from *safe solvent™ on Vimeo.

 

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What are your favorite apps for shooting? For editing?  

I’m a huge fan of Camera+. It’s essentially the first thing I open when I’m shooting and also often the only app I use to edit. I have started to play with the Slow Shutter app for nighttime shooting and I’m very impressed by Photoforge 2 app for masking and heavy duty, complex edits. But for the most part, I like a clean image with a bit of contrast boost and a little cross process filter—both of which can be done in Camera+.

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Joby GripTight Demo 4 from *safe solvent™ on Vimeo.

What is your best advice for folks who are new to self-portraiture?

I often pretend like nobody is around when I’m taking my self-portraits because I know how being self-consciousness affects the final shot. You can tell, even on a small iPhone screen, if someone is not in the moment. Pretend like nobody is looking and you’ll get better self-portrait shots.

 

What inspires you? 

I’m inspired by a combination of the music on my iPhone while I’m wandering around, and the light and architecture of a place. If I’m in a rush, I’ll usually be late because I can’t help but capture things like lens flare from the sun hitting a building and reflecting onto the ground. People have started to comment that “*safe solvent time” is 15-20 minutes behind reality.

 

Get your own GripTight GorillaPod Magnetic here! And be share your #gorillapod photos with us on Instagram or Facebook!

 

Introducing … GripTight GorillaPod Magnetic!

By | Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, iPhone, New Product Launch, Photography | No Comments

GripTight GorillaPod Magnetic is your iPhone or Android’s new BFF. Even more versatile than our GorillaPod Stand because of the addition of super strong magnets in the feet, you’ll be hard pressed to find something you can’t postion it on! Plus, the innovative design of our GripTight Mount means that GripTight Magnetic fits most smartphones and you don’t even need to remove your case!

 

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And it gets even better!  The GripTight GorillaPod Magnetic is modular, meaning you can detach the GripTight Mount and use the GorillaPod Magnetic with your  point and shoot camera OR you can attach the GripTight Mount to just about any other tripod, if you need a tripod with a little more height or even something more pocketable like our Micro tripod.

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GripTight Magnetic is a favorite of JOBY Pro *safesolventTM. He shares his best tips for using the GripTight Magnetic at the bottom of the product page and also in the awesome video below.

Joby GripTight Demo 4 from *safe solvent™ on Vimeo.

Want to share a photo that you shot using a GripTight GorillaPod with us? Tag it with #griptight #gorillapod on Instagram or share with us on Facebook.

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12 Days of Giveaways! Day 10!

By | Contests, Gorillamobile, Gorillapod, Holiday, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

GorillaPods love to party and we think there is no better way to ring in the holiday season than with lots of awesome giveaways! For twelve days starting December 3rd, we’re giving away a different prize every day! Prizes include all of our new products like the GripTight iPhone & Android tripods and Camera Straps,  plus some great gear from Cinetics and Olloclip and GorillaPod and GorillaTorch favorites. Enter for your chance to win a GripTight GorillaPod Stand, UltraFit Sling Strap, GorillaPod SLR-Zoom and more!

Today’s prize …

GripTight Micro Stand for iPhones and Androids and a GorillaPod Original in the color of your choice! Because it’s the  smallest smartphone stand ever, you’ll never leave home without your GripTight Micro! Take the GripTight Mount off the GripTight Micro Stand and put it on your handy GorillaPod for even more positioning possibilities! GorillaPod Original is also perfect for point & shoots! Enter to win one today!

 

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