Q&A with Lee, JBS Associate in Bristol

Lee recently joined Jet Black Sqaures to offer smartphone photography sessions in the Bristol area. This provides him the perfect opportunity to combine two of his passions—walking and photography. Lee is keen to share his love of walking and smartphone photography with people of all ages and abilities and show them how to be creative through the process of taking and editing photos.

We chatted with Lee about his approach to smartphone photography.

WHAT FIRST INTERESTED YOU ABOUT SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY?

I first got into smartphone photography in 2019. My wife and I are keen walkers, and with our daughter moving to university at that time, we were able to get back into walking in the countryside and by the coast. Having just upgraded my phone at the same time, it was a perfect opportunity to try out the camera. I've been hooked ever since.

What phone do you use, and what are your favourite features?

My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G. Although quite old, the camera is still good. I like the 'Portrait' mode and also the x3 telephoto lens which is good for landscape photos.

What’s your favourite location for photography?

Besides Bristol harbourside, my other favourite locations further afield for photography are the mountains and coastline of mid-Wales and the North Devon coastline.

WHY DO YOU LOVE THIS PARTICULAR IMAGE?

This photo was taken earlier this year at Porlock Weir on the North Devon coast. It's one of my favourites because I enjoy taking seascapes and black and white photos, so this combined those two interests perfectly. I also love the composition and the balance between the boats and the house, and the black and white look makes the sky look moody and interesting. Porlock Weir is an amazing place to take photos, and I could spend hours there doing so!

If you would like to find out more about Lee and the smartphone safaris he offers, please click the link below.

Creating engaging photography for your business’s social media

Jet Black Squares Associate Paul, who runs smartphone photography sessions in and around Sligo, was asked by the Radisson Blu if he could run a photography session for staff for their social media promotions. Radisson Blu offers a selection of drinks and cocktails made by professional mixologists in their beautiful setting. The aim of this session was to demonstrate the best use of a smartphone camera to capture the event and drinks photography on the go, which could then be posted to their social media.

Capturing the setting

This session was about capturing not just the eye-catching cocktails but also the atmosphere and setting of the Radisson Blu bar. The aim was to show how smartphone photography could be used to demonstrate the desirability of the venue and its offerings by creating active shots alongside more stylised drinks photography.

Active shots

The active shots focused on the cocktail making, showing off the mixologists' skills as they prepared the drinks. Part of the draw of any good cocktail bar is the performance of the bar staff, which Paul was able to demonstrate through different angles to create a dynamic set of shots.

Focusing of freshness

Freshness was another key feature of the session. Using natural light, Paul captured the vivid colours of the fresh mint and lemon in the drink’s preparation. The polished shine of the glass, alongside the airy atmosphere of the bar, created an inviting feel in the shots.

Stylised shots

Lastly were the cocktails themselves. Paul took several stylised shots of the cocktails in situ, which gave a clear flavour of the experience and comfort a visitor would receive at the Radisson Blu.

Mixing these shots together on the bar’s social media feed would create a rich and inviting narrative about the bar, its staff and their offering to customers.

Find out more

If you would like to learn more about using smartphone photography for your business’s social media promotion, please contact us. We can arrange a tailored session with one of our local Associates.