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!
Photo by @known0thing
Photo by @chercapo
Photo by @its_pending
With Independence Day upon us, I thought it only proper to give a quick tutorial about the how to best capture the fireworks displays that will be shooting up all over the USA. You don’t want to miss the shot because you’re fumbling with your iPhone or Galaxy SIV, right?
So here we go …
1. Don’t forget a tripod!!! Bust out your iPhone or Android smartphone + GripTight phone tripod and position it appropriately to capture the action. Watch out for trees, buildings and other spectators who might block your shot.
2. Turn off the flash!
3. If you have an iPhone, use out our iPhone camera app GorillaCamPro. If you have an Android, check out Lapse It. Set yourself up for success, which means lots and lots of shots. Set up the apps to take photos at a 1, 5, 10 or 30 second intervals, sit back, enjoy the show and let your phone do all the work for you!
4. Use a self-timer to avoid camera shake when you hit the shutter button.
5. Test out long exposures. An app like SlowShutter or Dr. Light will do the trick.
What are your fireworks photo tips? Have a favorite fireworks photo? Share it with us on Instagram. We’re @jobyinc! Happy 4th!
Our second annual JOBY Phone Photo Contest was a huge success! We were blown away by the number of entries (763!) and the amazing photographs submitted! You guys sure are a phenomenally talented group! Now without further ado, our winners!
First Place: Mt. Fuji by Masakazu Ejiri
Second Place: Lines by Altaf Aiali
Third Place: Spring Blossom by Steven Sandner
Honorable Mentions
A Boy, a Cave, Some Wires by Fernando Prats
Vanishing Trees by Robert Paul Jansen
Waiting for you…by Andini Patricia
Taking a Break by Jacob Santiago
Dandelion on Fire by Linda Owens
Different is Okay by Glen Coyle
And because we got so many awesome animal shots for this contests, we’ve added an Cool Canines category! These Cool Canine photos win a GripTight GorillaPod Stand.
Waiting by Art Lim
Courage by Richard Lawson
Pugcycle by Mary McGuire
There were so many wonderful photos it was almost impossible to narrow it down to just this group. Check out this gallery to see more beautiful and inspiring phone photos.
Thanks to everyone who participated and a special thanks to our judges, Martin Reisch, Amanda Jasnowski and Colby Brown!
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.
![IMG_20121001_111254[1]](https://blog.joby.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_20121001_1112541.jpg)
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.
![IMG_20121006_170623[1]](https://blog.joby.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_20121006_1706231.jpg)
![IMG_20120930_124154[1]](https://blog.joby.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IMG_20120930_1241541.jpg)
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!
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.
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. Eric Wood is a New York-based photographer who first inspired us with his HDR photography. He’s shared his HDR technique for DSLR photography on the JOBY Blog last year and now he’s back to share his thoughts on smartphone photography.
Eric Wood
Hoosick, NY | @snaplove on Instagram
What is your best advice for using the GripTight?
The GripTight is awesome for holding my Galaxy SIII nice and still while I fire off a couple shots. One of the most valuable tips for succeeding with the GripTight has to do with your phone. Set your phone’s camera to fire using a timer. That way you can trigger the timer and wait for the shutter to fire without actually touching the phone. The result: super sharp photos!
Can you share a time when the GripTight came in handy recently?
Last weekend, I was walking around a New England church and there was the first red leaf of fall on the ground. I didn’t have my DSLR with me but I had my phone and GripTight. I set it up on the ground and got a great shot of the leaf.
What is your best advice for new photographers?
My best tip is to just shoot. I think lots of people have a belief that you need a big, bulky DSLR to take amazing photos. Any photographer will tell you the best camera you could have is the camera you have with you! In lots of cases that is going to be your phone. Don’t hesitate to use it.
What are your favorite apps for shooting? For editing?
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop, Instagram is awesome. It’s quality, fun and social. If you prefer to break it up a little, grab Adobe Photoshop Express and use the sharing platform within. I love it! The new mobile Flickr app has some potential too.
Have you found any fun or unique uses for the GripTight?
When I am on the road, I usually wrap my GorillaPod around my rearview mirror and put my phone in the GripTight so I can see the navigation in my view. Works awesome!
Enter your best phone photo for a chance to win awesome prizes from JOBY and Olloclip! We’ve got a star panel of judges to help us choose the best photos. See details and enter your photo today!
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.
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.
Enter ViewBug’s Sky Photo Contest with your best photo of the sky and win awesome JOBY gear, like GorillaPod Focus, UltraFit Sling Strap and GripTight GorillaPod Magnetic.
Enter today! Ends July 15th.
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.
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.
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.
We sent our new GripTight 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. Lodon-based photographer Allan Hinton does wonders with an iPhone. His photographs first caught our eye a year ago because of his knack for capturing the atmosphere and emotion of a scene. He also has an amazing eye for color. Thanks Allan for sharing your thoughts and photos with us!
Allan Hinton
London, England | @chaiwalla
What is your best tip for using the GripTight?
My biggest tip is to always have the GripTight in your possession, in your bag or chained to your key ring. It is portable enough to not take up too much room in your pocket. Most of my photographs are spontaneous while I am on the go and I’m often inspired by moments in time that I cannot plan for.
Tell us about a time that you really stretched yourself creatively because of the GripTight?
I haven’t done this yet but I was thinking the GripTight would be perfect for taking photographs at my local swimming pool. I have a bulky waterproof case for my phone and the GripTight would have no problem in gripping around my iPhone and its case. I could then place the phone steadily at the edge of the pool and get creative with multiple exposure shots!
What are your favorite apps for shooting? For editing?
My favorite app to edit photos are Snapseed, PicFx and Blender. Blender this is a great way to blend two of the same image together if you can’t pick which edit you prefer – sometimes a slight blend of the two can result in a perfect finish.
What is your advice for someone just starting out as as photographer?
Be brave enough to try something new and enjoy being a beginner and making early mistakes. You will feel proud when looking back at early photos and seeing how far you’ve come. It’s very easy to feel insecure when comparing your photos to someone with many followers on Instagram. It’s likely that they’ve been photographing for years and have had their own time to grow.
