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Phone Photo Contest 2013 Winners & Gallery

By | Contests, GripTight, iPhone, Photography | 3 Comments

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

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Second Place: Lines by Altaf Aiali

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Third Place: Spring Blossom by Steven Sandner

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Honorable Mentions

A Boy, a Cave, Some Wires by Fernando Prats

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Vanishing Trees by Robert Paul Jansen

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Waiting for you…by Andini Patricia

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Taking a Break by Jacob Santiago

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Dandelion on Fire by Linda Owens

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Different is Okay  by Glen Coyle

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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

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Courage by Richard Lawson

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Pugcycle by Mary McGuire

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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!

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 photographer Eric Wood uses his GripTight

By | Gorillapod, GripTight, 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. 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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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 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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How to take Better Phone Photos with Allan Hinton

By | Gorillapod, iPhone, Photography | No Comments

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 

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

 

 

How to Shoot Better iPhone Photos with Simon Dark

By | Gorillapod, GripTight, iPhone, Photography | One Comment

We sent our new GripTight GorillaPod 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. We fell in love with Simon Dark‘s photography last year when we found him on Instagram. He captures beautiful landscapes and has a great sense of color. There is levity to his work that’s always a breath of fresh air. Thanks Simon for sharing your experience and photos! 

Simon Dark
Wales, United Kingdom | @simondark 

How did your GorillaPod change your photography? 

I’d been taking photos for years in the woods where I walk with some old mobile phones and a point and shoot. When I finally got an iPhone and a GorillaPod, things started to change really quickly. I started thinking about how I could shoot differently, take more interesting photos and also get a few shots of myself, maybe with a prop or two to make things more fun. It’s been an interesting process for myself as a photographer—I’m having fun.

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What makes the GripTight most useful for you?

That little GripTight has really helped with my creative process. When I’m out walking in the woods or down by the beach, I don’t want to spend a long time trying to find somewhere to balance my phone or prop it up against something. I have taken a lot of shots around or above water and I can trust the GripTight to keep my phone safe and shoot the angle I want. I also take a lot of shots from the ground or on uneven surfaces and I haven’t found a place yet where I haven’t been able to use the tripod.

The GripTight GorillaPod is handy and it’s simple to use, I don’t want to spend loads of time taking photos and setting up a shot. I just want to take a quick shot and keep on walking. The GripTight makes life so much easier. There are so many more possibilities of where I can quickly set up the GorillaPod and take a shot, on a rock or tree or branch, and I have learned so much in such a short period of time from using it.

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What have you been shooting lately?

Lately, I have been getting some nice portraits at a local beach using a waterproof case and setting up the GorillaPod in some rock pools so the lens is half in half out of the water. I’ve been really happy with the results. Also skating through puddles has given some great results using the Gorillacam app.

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Photographer Simon Dark & his JOBY GripTight from JOBY Inc on Vimeo.

What is your best advice for new photographers?  

My best advice for new photographers is to look at other people’s shots and think ‘how did they do that, what angle did they use?’. Don’t be afraid to try something different and really have fun. Lighting is also always important to keep in mind. I would recommend pairing a small GorillaPod with a wide angle phone lens—it’s really fun combo to use.

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What are your favorite apps for shooting? For editing?

My favorite apps for shooting are Camera+ and also JOBY Gorillacam. I will crop and edit my shots a little using Snapseed. I mostly share my iPhone shots on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

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