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taking photos with iPhone

By JimInTexas, 14 July, 2022

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

I need to take several photos using my iPhone and I have not done much picture taking. I'd appreciate any help for how to do this as a totally blind user. Is it best to hold the phone in portrait or landscape mode? Any pointers would be appreciated.
Jim

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Comments

couple of Things

By OldBear

8 months 2 weeks ago

I frequently take photographs, and am totally blind, though had some experience with photography when I could see. First, I tend to use tripods and a bluetooth switch, so as to not be jostling the camera/phone.
Portrait or landscape will almost entirely be determined by the content of the photo; ie will it fit the frame. That's where you might need to take some measurements, and look up a bunch of stuff on photography web sites to figure out the distance and height to place the camera, so for example, the top of someone's head is near the top of the picture, instead of in the middle.
With an iPhone, everything else, like focus and flash can be automatic. I often turn off the flash and use my own lighting, and have a sort of studio with a backdrop set up in one of my rooms for pictures of large objects or people, as well as Facetime.
For smaller objects, I use a few different sized boxes with portholes for the camera, and my own lighting. Ideally, that situation would use two lights shining at a ninety degree angle from each other down on the subject to reduce any shadows, unless shadows are needed for depth or something like that. Having one light at an angle with white, reflective surfaces on the inside of a picture box can also do a pretty good job of this too. And one last thing, I have an 8/10 inch, 18% gray card to put small objects on, or use as a backdrop. This helps the digital camera adjust the color better.

!

By JimInTexas

8 months 2 weeks ago

I have 3 or 4 things I want to sell and that's what I need to take pics of. Your info was helpful but probably more than I need. :)

use aira

By Siobhan

8 months 2 weeks ago

You can use Aira, it's a free five minute call. they can take all four pics, send yout he email, labeling them so thisis my jeans, or this is my couch I'm selling.

That used to work really well

By JimInTexas

8 months 2 weeks ago

I've done that in the past but it is so hard to get in there for a free 5 minute call these days. I think they've just gotten too big but I haven't forgotten about them. Thanks for the reminder.
Jim

here's another thought

By Siobhan

8 months 2 weeks ago

You can always hang out with a friend, or just outright ask them, hey I need to take pics of, whatever, will you help? Chances are, they'll do it in two seconds what may take you quite a bit longer, even on your own. You can also use seeing a.i. to take a photo yourself, then have it described, so you can know, ok it's on the left, I want it centered.

Difference Between Seeing AI and Native Camera App?

By Ekaj

8 months 2 weeks ago

Hello. I, too, would very much like to take photos and these responses help. I'm currently reading Judy Dixon's latest book from National Braille Press on the subject. Well actually not exactly, as I've only looked through the beginning of the book. But it seems like it'll be a good read. One thing I've been wondering about is the difference between the built-in iOS camera app and Seeing AI. I've used Seeing AI a little bit and like it, and I think once I upgrade to a newer iPhone I'm going to get Envision AI now that it is or will be free for all users. But this whole subject honestly seems rather daunting to me, since photography has by nature been a visual thing up until recently. The native photos app is of course good with VoiceOver, but rather confusing.

inVision AI

By JimInTexas

8 months 2 weeks ago

I just looked at InVision AI in the App Store and it seems that there is a subscription for that. Is it going to be free eventually?

Best advice is trial and error

By Siobhan

8 months 2 weeks ago

I just take pics and send them to trusted friends or boyfriend. He's forever, honey move it to the left, get your finger out of the shot. That boy loves my attempts and shockingly puts up with them. Not sure about envision, but the camera app will say if it's centered or if it's level. Pro tip: if it's off kilter it will vibrate just the slightest amount and make a noice when it's level. I still screw it up all the time.

I only have about five pictures to taket

By JimInTexas

8 months 2 weeks ago

I probably have only about five pictures to take so when that's finished it won't matter much anymore.

Tap the view finder

By wiljames

8 months 2 weeks ago

The view finder will tell you what the camera sees. For example, I took a picture of my grill with a pork butt on it. I tapped once on the view finder and it told me this was a grill with a piece of meat on it. I shared the photo and a lot of people loved that sexy smoked pork butt!

A lot of Variables...

By OldBear

8 months 2 weeks ago

The size of the items are going to make a difference in how you photograph them. If we had an idea of what you are selling, it might help.
Also, I usually aim my face/eyes at people or things I'm focusing on, like when I was sighted, some blind people do not. I have held the phone up to my eye, exactly as if it had a camera view finder to take certain pictures, like aiming at a sound, and I've also done the same when adjusting a tripod.
It's interesting, I actually don't know how common it is for all non-visual sound and tactile information to be translated into visual brain stuff, but that's how it works for me. Some of it is similar to synesthesia, from talking to people with that, and it was absolutely not that way for me when I could see.

Volume buttons

By JLove

8 months 2 weeks ago

There is a setting on the camera part of the Settings.
You can use the volume buttons to take the picture.

Never did get the view finder to work right

By Siobhan

8 months 2 weeks ago

I'll have to try that view finder, I just never got it to work, or ever heard the focus locked it used too.. Also, sexy smoked pork butt, made me smile. Yummy. Jim, you might find you enjoy taking pics after you finish doing whatever you are. I mean, it all comes down to how "sighted" you want to be. Me? I love taking sunset pics, moon pics, new dress pics, etc. some blind people just don't want to be that visual whereas I am all to willing to do that. Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

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