Phone Photos // LG G4 Sweeps via AT&T

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with AT&T 4K Seconds Blogger Program. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Summer means adventure. We’re often out hiking, biking, and otherwise running around outdoors. I don’t love lugging my bulky DSLR with us to, say, the beach on vacation because it’s a pain. At the same time, I am usually disappointed with the quality of the photos I take with my cell phone. LG’s G4 has definitely improved on this whole experience by including a manual mode (!!!) and a F/1.8 lens.

On a phone.
Seriously.

Here are three simple tips for snapping better summer photos with you phone while you’re out and about. Don’t miss the sweepstakes and contest info at the end of this post for your chance to win one of these guys to try for yourself.

Tip #1: Have Fun

I think the worst thing about my childhood family photos is that we all look so stale. We’re posing in at least 90 percent of the shots. With digital photography, you can really shoot as many photos as you want, so have fun with them. Get a good mix of posed and action shots to remember your moments by.

You want to capture what you were doing, the essence of the experience, versus just what you looked like, who was there, etc.

Tip #2: Look at the Whole Picture

When my friends ask me for suggestions on taking better photos, one of the first tips I give them is to look beyond your subject. For example, if I took this photo from the other direction, there’d be a bunch of piled toys in the background. The person or thing you’re photographing is -- of course -- the most important, but try to keep the focus on them by choosing visually neutral settings. (Unless, of course, the background is the focus, like with a mural.)

In this case, the trees/grass provide a nice green backdrop.

While we’re on background, I’ll mention that it is best to get nice, even lighting whenever possible. But, c’mon. Being outdoors and trying to capture moments, well, IN the moment can be hard sometimes. That’s where manual mode comes in. You can completely control the shutter speed, f-stops, and more. Once you get the hang, you’ll be shooting in all different lighting like a pro!

Tip #3: Get In Your Photos

Don’t pull out the album 20 years down the line and ask “where was I during all this?” I am usually the designated photographer wherever we go. So, I need to remember to hop into the photos so I don’t get cut out of all our memories.

The LG G4 also has this cool Selfie Mode that includes a skin smoother. I set it up pretty high so you can see the effect, but you can do as little or as much as you want. The other Selfie features are pretty neat too! For example, there are different voice commands you can use (like saying “CHEESE!” or “SMILE!” or even “WHISKEY!”) to take your photo without hitting anything. There are even gestures, like opening your hand and then making a fist, that start the photo timer.

In other words: The selfie just got a whole lot easier.

CHEESE!

PHONE INFO

As far as the phone goes, I’ve never owned an Android -- but it’s surprisingly intuitive! The body of the phone itself is large (5.5” display) and curved for better ergonomics. This also means that there’s more viewing area for web browsing and picture taking. I’ll admit it takes some getting used to, but there are more positives than negatives in that regard.


More:

• OS: Android 5.1 (Lollipop) OS Dimensions: 5.86 x 3.0 x 0.38” (min 0.25”) 
• Battery: removable 3,000 mAh that provides up to 21 hours of talk time 
• Camera: Rear: 16MP with F/1.8 lens; Front: 8 MP 
• Memory: Internal 32GB, 3 GB RAM; MicroSD up to 2TB capable (MicroSD card sold separately)
• Processor: 1.8 GHz 64 bit hexa-core processor 
• LG’s first IPS Quantum Display (5.5″ Quad HD) is brighter, more colorful and has excellent contrast 
• LG exclusive Color Spectrum Sensor uses white balance detection to determine accurate colors 
• Broadcast 4K content from P1 to an HDMI enabled TV using a 4K slim port adapter 

SWEEPS + CONTEST

Now’s your turn to see for yourself! The LG G4 4K Seconds Sweepstakes runs through June 20th. And in order to celebrate the awesome 4K capture capability and 2TB of storage, AT&T is giving away one LG G4 every 4K seconds (66 minutes) until June 20th, totaling to an incredible 500 phones!

For a chance to win, you need to:

1. Register at http://4kseconds.att.com/
2. Upload a picture you take on your phone. (This can be done from a mobile device, tablet or computer.) Images need to be .jpg or .png and less than 1 MB.

In addition, there’s a contest component to this program. All submitted photos (deemed eligible by the Official Rules) will also be housed on a gallery on the sweepstakes website. These will be open to public voting in order to determine a public appeal score. The photos will also be judged by a panel of judges. The photo with the highest combination score from the judges and public appeal will be deemed the Grand Prize Winner and will receive a 55” Class Smart Curved 4K OLED 3D TV with webOS 2.0 and a 3D-Blu-Ray Disc Home Theatre System with Smart TV and Wireless Speakers. The second and third highest ranked photos will be deemed the First and Second Prize Winner. These winners will receive a 65” Class IPS 4K UHD Smart LED TV with webOS 2.0 and 3D-Capable Blu-ray Disc Home Theatre System with Smart TV and Wireless Speakers. The winners will be announced upon completion of the Judging Period, which ends July 9th.

Thanks to AT&T for this amazing offer. And good luck!

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How to Photograph Food: Part II

In Part I of our food photography series, we covered styling food, paying attention to colors and textures, framing, and lighting. Today, I'd like to cover one of the often forgotten steps. Taking process photos -- from start to finish.

Though the end result (that prize-winning pie or sumptuous soup) often steals the show, but I really enjoy looking at the chopping, flipping, blending, measuring, etc. shots. In fact, those photos are my favorite.

Like these, for example:



Taking thoughtful process pictures involves paying attention to five specific aspects of cooking/baking. But sometimes it's difficult to stop and shoot when you're, for example, elbow deep into some pizza dough. So, the next time you find yourself in this situation, stop what you're doing. Wash your hands and pull out your camera.

Then think about the following things:


1.) Ingredients. What I find so fascinating about cooking and baking is how I can turn all different kinds of ingredients into a cohesive dish. Especially in summer, fresh produce is just pouring out of farmers markets -- and it's all gorgeous. Even the most imperfect looking tomatoes have their charm.


Give your fruits, veggies, and other ingredients the glamour shots they deserve. After all, they are what's IN that final meal that you spend so much time putting together. Let them shine on their own. And I'm thinking most of you who read this blog also appreciate knowing exactly what whole foods go into a soup, sandwich, or other recipe you see online.


2.) Tools. There are a multitude of items we use in our kitchens to make our lives easier. From knives, mixers, and juicers to spoons, spatulas, and whisks -- they're all important. And you guessed it! Taking photos of the tools you use makes for good food photography.


Sometimes I like to combine the ingredients and tools and take from-the-top shots. Yeah, it may take a little extra time to set everything up (and make sure your measurements are still correct) -- but some of my favorite photos are taken in this way.



3.) Methods. Here comes the good part. Just like I mentioned above, sometimes you're kneading dough or whisking ingredients in a specific way. Breads, like challah, call for braiding . . . cookies require rolling dough in sugar . . . cakes beg to be drizzled in icing. Whatever the process is, people like to see it. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing -- it's also helpful to newbie cooks learning the ropes.




Of course, some methods are more difficult and/or interesting than others. So, if your dish just requires a quick mix, you may want to skip the shutter-fever. But if you are performing a process that even has you scratching your head, your readers/viewers will more than likely want to see what's up.


If you don't have fancy software to create an animated GIF image (like this guacamole one), consider taking a brief video of what you're doing. Or go old school and group a couple photos in a series to show what you're doing.

4.) Before and After. I like to juxtapose my final product with its individual parts. There's no secret to doing this yourself -- just keep around some remnants (orange peels, leftover pepper chunks, surplus garlic cloves) and stick it next to your creation.


It's as simple as that!


5.) Mess. No one loves a good mess more than I do. Show the good, bad, and UGLY -- and you'll love what you end up with. Here are some of my favorite kitchen fail shots. Anything goes in this category -- including shots of your plate AFTER the meal is consumed by you.




If you missed Part I of our Foodie Photography Series, you can check it out here. And if you have any of your own tips to share -- don't be shy. We'd love to hear 'em. Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!!

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How to Photograph Food: Part I

I promised you all this post a long while ago. I started it, but then got distracted. Also somewhat overwhelmed, quite honestly. It's difficult for an (extremely) amateur photographer to explain technical tips/tricks for taking good photos. So, I decided to not make it technical, at least for this first installment. Below are the top five ways you can better your food photography -- today!

The best news of all is that you don't need a DSLR to take good food photos. Yes, it give you an extra edge. More flexibility. But these tips work with a point-and-shoot just as well as they do with a fancier camera.


1.) Take time to style your subject. A photo of a pile of lentils on a white plate isn't at all appealing. On the other hand, sometimes simplicity is key -- for instance, if you're taking a photo of a beautiful raspberry. Sites like Tastespotting and Foodgawker serve as great sources of inspiration for how to style your plate.

Would you rather look at this:


Or this?


This?


Or this?


Styling your food isn't just in the placement and framing. You get better results when you take the time to add extra embellishments -- coconut flakes and carob chips, as in the example above.

2.) Make good use of color and texture. This tip goes right along with #1 -- styling your plate involves attention to the placement of your food . . . but also the colors and textures. If you're shooting mashed potatoes, a white plate may not be your best choice. If you're snapping soup, you may want to throw a cracker on top to make it look extra tasty.


This photo plays the green of the plate against the red of the strawberries. I also piled the dish with bananas and cacao nibs for extra texture and height.


In this photo, I kept the salad bowl a simple white. But to bring out the orange in the dressing, I chose an aqua plate. Of course, this plate isn't necessary to catch any stray spinach leaves -- in fact, I put it back in the cupboard when I was done shooting -- but it adds something, right?

3.) Know when to get up close and personal with your dish. Sometimes I like to take what I call aerial shots of my food -- a nice overhead look at the whole meal. But those of you who frequent (never home)maker likely notice that I often take closer-up photos. My decision to go either way really depends on what I'm photographing. And just because I take a photo one way doesn't mean I can't take it another way. That's the beauty of digital cameras. You can take pretty much an unlimited number of shots . . . at all different angles.

Aerial shot:



Up close and personal:



4.) Avoid using flash whenever possible. Natural light is your friend. If your house or apartment is dark, go outside. If you're making cookies late at night, consider waiting until the morning to take photos.

After all, would you rather have a shot like this:


Or this?


The ingredients' true colors can pop without being washed out with a deluge of white light. Plus, it just makes the whole pic look more, well, natural.

5.) Don't go too crazy trying to get the right shot. Over time, you'll get better and faster at taking photos of your food. While you're learning, though, (and I'm still very much learning) it's tempting to spend a long time (and many, many shots) trying to get the best shots possible. In the process, however, your food will get cold. Your friends and significant others will grow frustrated and eat without you.

Exhibit A: Cold Pizza . . . that wasn't meant to be cold.


If you don't get a prize-winning picture, don't fret. It's just more reason to create another great dish. But you can't do that without a full stomach. So eat up, and know that you'll improve for the next session. I try to limit myself to around 20 shots per food item. If I end up going beyond those 20 shots, it isn't worth it for me. Plus, it makes me think more about how to apply the above tips and get the best results for my time.


Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!!

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