Quote from: fred. on 14 April 2025, 09:08:31 PMI'm not sure I want to ask how, but feel worryingly compelled to?

Please don't... he might answer...

QuoteDon't drop your phone in the bath or the lens will fog (like mine).

I'm not sure I want to ask how, but feel worryingly compelled to?

Any recent phone will have a good camera, many have great cameras. 

I can't recall how many years ago I stopped using my DSLR for taking photos and just used my iPhone, buts is more likely 8-10 years ago, rather than 5-7 years ago. 

What problems are you having taking photos? Most of the ones I have seen from your battle reports look good. 

Steve and Will's tips about mixing up close-up and panoramic shots are good. I think I tend to have too many panoramic, which show the overall action, but probably don't get the detail of the figures or a specific combat. 

Good lighting.
Brace your phone, hand or elbow resting on table (or professional tripod etc).

Get a few panoramic shots that show the whole battle *
Also try some low angle "soldier's eye" views.
Walk around the table for different angles - you'll be amazed how different it looks from the other side.


 * I can't stress the value of the panoramic - full context shots enough.
    They remind you what was happening and provide your context for the close-ups.

Some of my most frustrating blog-reading is battle reports which neglect all context.
A series of head on close ups of units with captions like "The hussars charge", "The Grenadiers roll three sixes".
This fails to tell any story.

By contrast, some of the best have edited their panoramic shots to label units, colour code armies and apply arrows to show recent movement of units.
These are a delight to read.
Now I know from where the hussars charged, and at whom".
In a best case, I may even learn the significance of the three sixes that the Grenadiers rolled.

Depends on your camera.
.5 magnification is great for whole table shots.
You decent zoom helps for close ups.
You will also need photo processing software and a hosting site to post on here.plenty if good free ones out there.
Don't drop your phone in the bath or the lens will fog (like mine).
You'll take loads, and not use most.

Gentlemen, I seek to delve the collective wisdom of this fine community.

What is the best way to take in-game photos using a Samsung Galaxy phone? Any helpful* tips or suggestions gratefully accepted.

* I am expecting a contribution of unhelpful tips as well!

Well we are a varied bunch aren't we   

I've no idea what these numbers mean - other than bad news for Leon in that he has to keep producing more and more ranges of figures!

Hello,

If this helps, I tend to use 30mm X 20mm mdf bases with fridge magnet material glue to the bottom for units such as a fire squad of a platoon with four figures per base. I will also use 20mm X 20mm for special weapons teams like MG's, RPG's etc with usually two or three figs per base. A company of guys will be 3 platoons of 3-4 bases of squads.

I now have a new period of Pendraken coming in for American War of Independence where one 30X20mm mdf base will have 4-5 figs in-line to represent formed troops of about 50 men and a 30x20mm base with 3 figures spaced out representing skirmish troops like native warriors or Kentucky militia.

I tend to use water jet cutting sand for my 10mm figs as basing material but modeling paste works well too. Any foam turf I use is the "fine" size but I will use the off small piece of gravel as a "boulder" or course turf as a bush. 2mm static grass is a nice size that seems to represent weedy patches. Anything bigger starts to look out of scale in my opnion.

I like the fridge magnet material glued to my bases as I can then use a metal container such as a Altoids mint tin to story by units - a "company" as described above, with leader bases will fit in one Altoid tin which is great to hand to a player and say "Here are your troops".

I also tend to use a 5mm tall label on my bases that reflect who and what the figures are meant to be. As an example, "C1P2S3" would represent "Company 1", "Platoon 2", "Squad 3". This is helpful if using rules that allow for large-size unit movement or action and helps keeping things organized. The colour of the label is helpful as well to see from a distance what side is where.

Regards,

Kevin Jenkins

March count finally done!
71 games.
Will add full results to the spreadsheet, but...
C19th Europe 3
WWII 6
WWI 1
WWII air 2
WWI air 3
Cowboys 10
Sci-Fi 3
ACW 7
ECW 2
Nap Naval 2
Nap 6
AWI 7
C18th Europe 2
Fantasy 6
Boardgames 1
Classical/Dark Ages 8

I'll add the Q1 list from hammurabi70 to the running total too.

Hi Leon,

Going to order some stuff*, but want it delivered to my parents; is there anything special you need from me, as it's a different delivery address?

(*Hedges, rivers)