How to take Pictures of your Corals with a Cellphone (Android or iPhone)

[Quartapound]

Hi guys, I'm posting this because most, if not all the coral shots taken by hobbyists with their cellphone cameras stock app leave a LOT to be desired.... While there's a few of us who take the time to use a REAL camera and set white balance properly, the majority of us simply pull the phone out of our pockets and snap away... there's one problem with this:

they're usually WAY too blue!!... the reason is simple : the camera app that comes with our phone has NO IDEA what to do with the blue light coming from our aquarium lighting.

Simple solution: Use a third party camera app that lets you set the white balance manually, and max it out (usually 10,000k is the upper limit...) you'll be amazed how much better your photos look.

Here's an example:

Stock Camera App:

Third Party Camera App(with custom white balance set to 10,000k):

...pretty amazing difference isn't it? The ONLY difference in those two pictures was the app used to take the photo.

SO!... No more excuse for all those BLUEEE pictures!

Wondering which app to get? here's a solution for you Android or iPhone users:

If you have an Android phone this is what I use... it's free
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hecorat.camera

If you have an iPhone this should do the same thing, I have no direct experience with it though... it costs a few bucks, I can't seem to find an app that does the same thing for free on the App Store lol
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/camera+/id329670577?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=4


I hope this is helpful to some!!

 

[favites]

thanks QP! I download the app for the iPhone and played with it some today, was an definitely an improvement over my old pictures. Don't know the photography lingo but the program can 'neutralize' 8000 kelvin if that makes sense.
Mark

 

[Triggreef]

Or just get a galaxy 6 and snap away

 

[Quartapound]

Or just get a galaxy 6 and snap away

IMO I don't think this is correct...Totally depends on your tanks lighting temperature.

I recently upgraded to the Nexus 6P which has an unbelievable camera which includes laser autofocus, 240fps video, etc... It's rated very closely to the S6. But this has nothing to do with hardware.

Simply put, its a software thing. I bet your S6 would take even better pictures if you used an app that gave you manual DSLR-like controls of individual settings.

Give it a shot... Nothing to lose.

PSA: People don't need to buy a new phone just to get pictures that aren't blue.

 

[Cherim7]

Is there an app for galaxy s4? First link says my phone is not compatible

 

[Quartapound]

Is there an app for galaxy s4? First link says my phone is not compatible

Try this one... There are quite a few manual camera apps out there though https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.lite

 

[Reefjunkie3]

iPhone 6

 

[Quartapound]

iPhone 6

...is this with the stock app or a custom one?

...As @favites mentioned he noticed a major improvement with his iPhone photos as well once he tried custom settings on a third party app.

I'd love to see more comparisons shots that show both stock and third party apps using white balance control... A single picture leaves us with nothing to compare to

 

[Triggreef]

IMO I don't think this is correct...Totally depends on your tanks lighting temperature.

I recently upgraded to the Nexus 6P which has an unbelievable camera which includes laser autofocus, 240fps video, etc... It's rated very closely to the S6. But this has nothing to do with hardware.

Simply put, its a software thing. I bet your S6 would take even better pictures if you used an app that gave you manual DSLR-like controls of individual settings.

Give it a shot... Nothing to lose.

PSA: People don't need to buy a new phone just to get pictures that aren't blue.

Just to clarify, those were taken under only led lighting, with blues at 100 percent, and whites at 70 percent. The galaxy 6 almost does better than my canon as long as the coral is not too far away.

 

[smh254]

This is something I have figured out with my iPhone 6. If I click on the app facing away from the tank I get one thing. If the phone is facing the tank when I click on the app I get a better picture.

 

[revhtree]

This is something I have figured out with my iPhone 6. If I click on the app facing away from the tank I get one thing. If the phone is facing the tank when I click on the app I get a better picture.

Great tank! Got a build here?

 

[smh254]

Great tank! Got a build here?

No I don't but I will start one here soon.

 

[cginter]

Gel filters... The orange ones I found to be the best taking pics under blue lights.

 

[Rob's Reef]

Omg what a difference! I can't thank you enough. I've been struggling with not just blue pictures and the sharpness aswell. For some reason my phone just wouldn't focus on the detail of my Zoa's / other corals and even fish for that matter.

Third party app is giving me great results! I spent the Whooping $4 for the full version and couldn't be happier!

Before

After

 

[Rob's Reef]

Here's another shot I couldn't get with my stock camera. I'm using a note 4 btw

Magician Poppin babies!

 

[AMEE]

I use the camera + app also and it makes a big difference. I've already edited all my pictures only have these at the moment.

After I take the picture I edit it with Snapseed

 

[Quartapound]

Glad to hear it's helping guys, great pics!

 

[NanaReefer]

iPhone 4s [emoji38]

 

[John Ostler]

Just throwing this into the mix: http://aquariumcameraapp.com.
Removes a ton of actinic light from shots. I'd love some feedback on it!

 

[Paulguns]

great shots