DIY trick to improve camera photos...maybe?

[jcardona1]

One of the things I really dislike about cell phone cameras is the LED flash. It ruins the white balance most of the time, making pictures look too cool. The only phones that I've seen nail the white balance pretty good is the Rezound and the iPhone. Motorolas are notorious for making skin tones look blue/green when using the flash. So I got to thinking and started going through my box of camera junk. I found the flash gels that came with my Nikon speedlight and wondered how it would work over the phone's LED flash.

This is what the flash gel looks like:

I placed the flash gel underneath my case like so:

And then proceeded to snap pics around the house. These were all taken under regular incandescent lighting, I've yet to see how it looks under fluorescent lighting. The only thing I did was sharpen the pics a bit using the built-in editing software. Aside from that, they're straight out of the camera.

With:

Without:

With:

Without:

With:

Without:

With:

Without (think I prefer without for this shot):

With:

Without:

With:

Without:

With:

Without:

With:

Without:

So what do you guys think? I'm still not sure how I feel about the results, but I do tend to like warmer-looking pics, as opposed to cool photos that look like they were taken in a laboratory. It all comes down to personal preference really. There's no 'right' or 'wrong' final result, just depends what looks good to your eye. The gel can easily be slid up and down if it's too warm, or I can edit it afterwards.

These gels come in several different colors to match the flash with the ambient lighting. Orange for incandescent, green for fluorescent, etc. They cost only a few bucks, and if anybody is interested in giving it a try, here's a cheap set:

Amazon.com: Photogels Color Correction Gels Kit #1, 9 Gels Precut to 2" x 5" for 1 Flash: Electronics

 

[wil318466]

Without a doubt the ones with the flash gel look better, and it's not even close.

Now, where do I get one of those?

Edit : saw your link. Thanks.

 

[jcardona1]

Check out the link at the very bottom

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[Creed]

Wow, huge difference! Thanks a lot. I think I will be buying one. So a green one for fluorescent? As it is, the photos seem cool indoors so I am not sure green is the answer but I do have fluorescent lighting.

 

[jcardona1]

Wow, huge difference! Thanks a lot. I think I will be buying one. So a green one for fluorescent? As it is, the photos seem cool indoors so I am not sure green is the answer but I do have fluorescent lighting.

Yeah green is the color that balances nicely with fluorescents, at least it is when using a normal camera flash strobe. Flash strobes are usually around 5500°K, not sure what the color temp is on a LED flash though.

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[wicked]

wow, thanks for taking the time to do this and posting it!

a little off topic, what case is that you're using? Otterbox?

 

[jcardona1]

wow, thanks for taking the time to do this and posting it!

a little off topic, what case is that you're using? Otterbox?

No problem! The case is the Incipio Silicrylic...

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[GenieAngel]

Wow, the pictures WITHOUT that filter look much better... Why do you want your photos to look yellowish?

 

[jcardona1]

Wow, the pictures WITHOUT that filter look much better... Why do you want your photos to look yellowish?

Well the same can be said for the way the flash makes everything look blue/violet. If you really think about it, the pictures with the gel are the most accurate because i was under incandescent lighting, and that's how it looked to my eye, not blue/purple. The LED flash is very blue.

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[vthokies1996]

Wow, the pictures WITHOUT that filter look much better... Why do you want your photos to look yellowish?

I have to agree. I prefer the look of all the photos taken without the filter. To each his own I guess.

 

[northendtrooper]

What I think the op failed to mention is how well the gel eliminates the hard flashes. With it on the pictures shows more contrast with some spots not over shinning others. To me that is the most important feature to have. I hate taking picture with some shiney object out doing its surroundings. Will be purchasing for sure, thank you!

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[jcardona1]

Ok check this out, i think we can reach a happy medium I agree that the orange filter may be too orange for some, so i tried another one. This one is very light orange, almost too light, so i folded it in half. Much better, what do you guys think? I think I'm sold! Nice thing if these gel kid come with lots if colors do you could experiment.

The filters:

Without:

Light orange:

Dark orange:

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[vthokies1996]

Still like the picture without any filter. Even the light orange is too orange.

 

[islander90]

i still like the WITHOUTs. but like you said; to each his own. interesting find for those people who like the WITHs

 

[jcardona1]

Still like the picture without any filter. Even the light orange is too orange.

i still like the WITHOUTs. but like you said; to each his own. interesting find for those people who like the WITHs

Yeah it comes down to personal preference. Every picture I take with a cell phone I find myself editing the pic to make it a little warmer. For me, the LED flash just looks unnatural, sometime even violet, and there is nothing we use in our everyday lives that makes things look blue/violet. With the orange filter, the photos actually look like what they do in real life, because most household lighting is incandescent, and warmer in color temp.