From ordinary to special - photos with your phone

Google Maps contribution stories
,
1

00000IMG_00000_BURST20200227170634505_COVER.jpg
00000IMG_00000_BURST20200227170634505_COVER.jpg1288×966 344 KB

While we’re all stuck at home in self isolation, I recommend going out to look in your yard (or nearby if no-one is around!) and looking for something ordinary to photograph with your phone. Using some features like Portrait mode and using some interesting angles and lighting you can make that ordinary object look pretty special.

IMG_20200329_180839.jpg
IMG_20200329_180839.jpg724×966 144 KB

Exhibit A: A plain old dandelion. Photographed from above, in ordinary

camera mode without the benefits of a better angle for light. Dandelions

are pretty, but I’m not doing it any favours here.

00100lrPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20200329180808655_COVER.jpg
00100lrPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20200329180808655_COVER.jpg724×966 63.2 KB

Exhibit B: 30 seconds later, same ambient light available. Photo taken from

ground level - literally sit the phone on the ground. Face the direction of the sun,

preferably a setting or rising sun but full sun will lead to some pretty cool sun

flares in the photo if that’s your thing. If you like, put it in Portrait mode for the

bokeh effect and voila! Ordinary dandelion photo now looks like something worth

sharing.

All the best with finding your own ordinary objects to transform, and tag me in what you find!

[I use a Google Pixel phone for photos]

19 Likes
2

@Istillwannahavefun Incredible!

3 Likes
3

Hi @Istillwannahavefun

How did you shoot the macro in the first picture? It’s just gorgeous!

Kind regards,

Sébastien.

4 Likes
4

Thank you @OlgaKlimchik !

@Sebastien_5-1 I used my Google Pixel 3A phone on zoom and held it steady! Pretty simple really, but super effective. I can’t use a digital SLR camera anymore due to disability, so I’ve been experimenting more and more with my phone to try and get similar results.

3 Likes
5

Hey,

i never tried to do a macro, although with a Pixel 3 XL. But you nailed it!

Thanks, i need to experiment with it! :+1:

Cheers…

Sébastien.

3 Likes
6

Hi @Istillwannahavefun

Nice photos! Have you tried enhancing them with Snapseed for instance? I’ve given some cool easy tips how to adjust brightness and color and other features to make your photos stand out even more.

I like your close up photo. It’s quite interesting. Thanks for sharing!

2 Likes
7

Hi @DanniS I do use Snapseed from time to time, particularly to enhance saturation.

For these tips I’m focusing on improvements using angles and zooming alone (super quick, super simple improvements), but might wind some details on colour improvements later.

Thanks for the link, I’ll check out your post!

2 Likes