This Guy Used A McDonald’s Box And iPhone To Take These Portraits, And The Results Will Surprise You
Philippe Echaroux is a famous French celebrity photographer who took this challenge in order to show people that you don’t always need the high-end gear to create something cool.
He, however, had the luck to use high-end gear but sometimes the good thing to do is try something far from your comfort zone and see what would happen.
Philippe claims that the hardest part during this project was not to feel stupid in front of all the people he shot with his funny lighting set up. With this video, his main goal was not to show his skills but to push people to try to do what they have in mind with no excuse for waiting.
Oh, and before someone screams “Photoshop,” yes, he used VSCO, Photoshop FIX, and Lightroom Mobile apps to enhance the final result but everything was done on his phone. Without the proper lighting, however, it would be nearly impossible to reach the result that he got.
More info: philippe-echaroux.com | Facebook | Instagram
Philippe used a flashlight, a drinking straw and a Big Mac box to make this lighting rig
Here’s how it looked completely assembled
He then began to photograph people
Below you can see the portraits that Philippe made using this handmade “gear”
Watch the video below to see the whole process
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Guy uses unorthodox method of lightning people to get media attention/exposure by bringing a flashlight/hamburger box which is nowhere near as good as a proper flash but still better than default phone lighting. Then heavily post processes it in lightroom to pretend it's just a point and click magical portrait maker with a phone, flashlight and a hamburger box.
I mean, I still like the pictures, but otherwise I'm with Adam Warren here, the experiment is a bit pointless then...
Load More Replies...
They're really good but kinda sad he felt the need to photoshop them/touch them up considerably before posting them. Kinda makes the whole experiment pointless :/
The point of the story is that these photos can be done with a phone. The depth of field is the Iphone 7+ portrait mode and to be honest I always thought that people who are bothered by editing are amateurs. Photoshop is not separate from photography. At the time when people shot film I was working in a lab and we did a hell of a lot of post production. Whether by copying negatives to "unsharp mask" (Something you can find in photoshop today and the inspiration for Layers) or by "pushing" the iso when we were processing and when we corrected (sometimes heavily) the colours on the enlarger. We even removed pimples with brushes. Photoshop is just the digital Darkroom. It has as much part in the creation of the photo as the release button. Stop complaining
Actually the point of the story is that he was trying to show that anyone could take good photos with low end gear. The problem is the 7+ costs more than my DSLR did 10 years ago (and the DSLR would still outperform the iPhone), and if you really want to show what you can do with low end gear, you would do it without post and with _actual_ low end gear. Using a McDonald's wrapper as a flash bounce doesn't actually make it low end, that's just a cheap gimmick that makes this article more clickbait than informational. If the photographer really wanted to make a point he would show the process without any post so people get a sense of what they can actually accomplish with the gear they use. Your average Joe isn't going to take that setup and magically get amazing photos. Almost _all_ of the actual work here was in photoshop, which makes it completely unsurprising that he got good results. If your skill lies in photoshop, you can make almost any photograph look infinitely better.
Load More Replies...
Title is misleading: Some idiot uses trash for pictures to get attention and then Photoshops all the said pictures even though they were fine the first time.
It's funny that you comment on someone saying essentially the same thing, then come back eight hours later and make your own comment to repeat what that person said.
Load More Replies... These are great but sad he felt the need to also photoshop them :/ Kinda makes the experiment pointless.
I've never seen depth of field like that on an iPhone - very misleading
That's because you can't create that kind of depth of field with phone cameras. This is either secretly made with a DSLR or post processed/blurred in photoshop. You need a large aperture to create depth of field. Even cheap dedicated cameras have difficulty creating somewhat of a proper depth of field effect. This is also the reason why phones usually make great photos during the day. But not so great at night. You need big apertures/good lenses for that. :) Which phones don't have so far.
Load More Replies...
Also that surefire costs about 3x more than a bounce flash, how is that inexpensive :)
"you don’t always need the high-end gear to create something cool." Iphone7+ cost twice the price of a decent DSRL + 50 1.4
For the price of that iPhone 7, anyone can go out & get a brand new entry level DSLR, a flash/softbox bundle & a prime lens for cheaper. You can make out even better if you don't mind going with a body that is used. Might even have some change left over to get a quarter pounder with cheese lol!
If you watch this video carefully you will see that he did not take photos while filming this promo video so for me it is hard to believe this is true, and if you are a pro using Photoshop tools than those photos can be redone even if they are captured with a potato.... :/
It actually says that in the article.... "Oh, and before someone screams “Photoshop,” yes, he used VSCO, Photoshop FIX, and Lightroom Mobile apps to enhance the final result but everything was done on his phone. Without the proper lighting, however, it would be nearly impossible to reach the result that he got."
Load More Replies...
Unlike many people here in the comments, I think his intention was to prove there's potential in unorthodox HARDWARE to be able to create good portraits. I don't think he's saying these are equal or better than a traditional and more professional photography gear, but that it's rather possible to upscale your everyday smartphone photography game. Last but not least, I don't think it's fair to criticize the use of post-production editing to make them look better. Photographers around the world use Lightroom and Photoshop whether they use an iPhone or a Leica. I don't think he's trying to pass these pictures (which are very good imo) as "natural" or as the final product of just pointing and shooting, but rather to show how far you can go with a phone. It's no science, and pointless criticism doesn't make you guys look like appropriate critics.
Why all the hate? I for one was excited to see this. I have an interest in photography but zero training and little experience. I do know that lighting is a huge factor in photography but I have no budget to go out and buy proper equipment. I get frustrated whenever I try and take a photo of a person because I can never get the lighting right. This experiment has given me hope (and ideas) of how to improvise without proper equipment.
Awesome! Like a mini homemade shadow box that gives perfect lighting to the face for only the price of lunch! WIn!!! ❤️👍
Want to see a lot of people running around with a flashlight and a bigmac box. Funny... And yes.. 95% PS, not more
One thing I noticed on every picture was how much it made the wrinkles stand out 📷 💝 🤣🤣🤣
Simply, not true. Most of those portraits are shot in open air, or in front of a huge window. Although there was a little artificial light, that would not be visible. I am also skeptic about the shallow depth of field.
I used to do it with a flashlight and an inflated condom. With different color "rubbers" you get different effects. Using a McDonald's box is not as effective as a bent paper plate or piece of shirt cardboard which may no longer even exist. Of course for just a very few dollars you can buy a professional yet very effective device. But then if your goal is to make people think you're somehow doing more than just diffusing light I suppose these little boxes will work reasonably well. But you have to be wary of "hot spots" and the focusing effect of a diffuser with such sharply angled side panels.
Whoa his lighting rig is super innovative. You can't deny that editing played a large role in this though. Don't get me wrong — it's exceptionally well done — but you just can't assume all the artistry can be recreated with a quick trip to a drive-thru ;)
As a student of photography, i can say he is quite amazing. Many people think editing can make terrible photos look good. Lemme tell you, bad photos with bad lighting and with low quality camera is a huge pain in the a*s. Processing can only help so much. You cant post process a black image to a beautiful portrait which is why taking the photo as best as you can is key of being a photographer. If editing is all, then no need for photographers then
Y'know this isn't so much about the phone or the burger box. Its about his skill. Clearly he knew the bounced light would be better, portrait mode would reduce depth of field and that standing with his back to a bright but interesting window would produce terrific eyes and the subjects back to a dark room would isolate them. Its called experience.
"Clearly"? It takes all of a day and 10 YouTube videos to figure out that you should bounce light on a white surface and use a high DoF for portraits. That's not photography skill OR experience. It's photoshop skill, because without photoshop these photos look like trash. You can see it in the video screenshots.
Load More Replies...
2004 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214481578491901&set=a.10208859685588092.1073741839.1192909690&type=3&theater
celebrity photographer uses a paper box - creativity celebrity photographer uses a big mac box - viral marketing campaign...
I respect the reuse and easy of creating a light source, showing how any one can do it! however you think as a professional experienced photographer he would double check to ensure the photo of the man in glasses was sharp to begin with...I know a phone is a potato, but my eyes get sore looking at that one. its one of the first things i check before continuing..
I agree that it altered. If it's photo shop that skill is massive. The end result is some hauntingly beautiful pictures.
I am about to make a macro lens from the toilet paper roll and make a tutorial lol
And massive amounts of photoshopping... you forgot to mention that.
the article literally says he used Photoshop (he just did it all from his phone).... "Oh, and before someone screams “Photoshop,” yes, he used VSCO, Photoshop FIX, and Lightroom Mobile apps to enhance the final result but everything was done on his phone. Without the proper lighting, however, it would be nearly impossible to reach the result that he got."
Load More Replies...
I don't think that is just with a box. Filter are being used for above mentioned photos..
I'd be more impressed if it wasn't a pro photog doing it and just a normal guy or girl off the street he should be able to do this and we r not expected to
I guess we are all supposed to ignore the giant window lighting clearly visible in the catch lights of their eyes. The only portrait that looks like it might have been just the box is the guy with the white beard.
Is this another iPhone advertisement (ft. McDonalds) looking for becoming viral?
Haters gonna hate sentence is just an excuse to try and sabotage any legitimate feedback/discussion. :p That sentence has zero value nowadays with all the people using it to try and defend pretty much.. wel anything. I think it could fit the description of what the "white knighting"phenomenon is. :)
Load More Replies... Too close(-up) for comfort... (Does 'portrait' means it must be in your face?)
The miracle is in the phone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvvXIt7XwXE&app=desktop game-59a6f...52bb51.png 
Ummm i heard about them using condoms but I must've missed the movement where they tried using d***s...
Load More Replies... Guy uses unorthodox method of lightning people to get media attention/exposure by bringing a flashlight/hamburger box which is nowhere near as good as a proper flash but still better than default phone lighting. Then heavily post processes it in lightroom to pretend it's just a point and click magical portrait maker with a phone, flashlight and a hamburger box.
I mean, I still like the pictures, but otherwise I'm with Adam Warren here, the experiment is a bit pointless then...
Load More Replies... They're really good but kinda sad he felt the need to photoshop them/touch them up considerably before posting them. Kinda makes the whole experiment pointless :/
The point of the story is that these photos can be done with a phone. The depth of field is the Iphone 7+ portrait mode and to be honest I always thought that people who are bothered by editing are amateurs. Photoshop is not separate from photography. At the time when people shot film I was working in a lab and we did a hell of a lot of post production. Whether by copying negatives to "unsharp mask" (Something you can find in photoshop today and the inspiration for Layers) or by "pushing" the iso when we were processing and when we corrected (sometimes heavily) the colours on the enlarger. We even removed pimples with brushes. Photoshop is just the digital Darkroom. It has as much part in the creation of the photo as the release button. Stop complaining
Actually the point of the story is that he was trying to show that anyone could take good photos with low end gear. The problem is the 7+ costs more than my DSLR did 10 years ago (and the DSLR would still outperform the iPhone), and if you really want to show what you can do with low end gear, you would do it without post and with _actual_ low end gear. Using a McDonald's wrapper as a flash bounce doesn't actually make it low end, that's just a cheap gimmick that makes this article more clickbait than informational. If the photographer really wanted to make a point he would show the process without any post so people get a sense of what they can actually accomplish with the gear they use. Your average Joe isn't going to take that setup and magically get amazing photos. Almost _all_ of the actual work here was in photoshop, which makes it completely unsurprising that he got good results. If your skill lies in photoshop, you can make almost any photograph look infinitely better.
Load More Replies... Title is misleading: Some idiot uses trash for pictures to get attention and then Photoshops all the said pictures even though they were fine the first time.
It's funny that you comment on someone saying essentially the same thing, then come back eight hours later and make your own comment to repeat what that person said.
Load More Replies... These are great but sad he felt the need to also photoshop them :/ Kinda makes the experiment pointless.
I've never seen depth of field like that on an iPhone - very misleading
That's because you can't create that kind of depth of field with phone cameras. This is either secretly made with a DSLR or post processed/blurred in photoshop. You need a large aperture to create depth of field. Even cheap dedicated cameras have difficulty creating somewhat of a proper depth of field effect. This is also the reason why phones usually make great photos during the day. But not so great at night. You need big apertures/good lenses for that. :) Which phones don't have so far.
Load More Replies... Also that surefire costs about 3x more than a bounce flash, how is that inexpensive :)
"you don’t always need the high-end gear to create something cool." Iphone7+ cost twice the price of a decent DSRL + 50 1.4
For the price of that iPhone 7, anyone can go out & get a brand new entry level DSLR, a flash/softbox bundle & a prime lens for cheaper. You can make out even better if you don't mind going with a body that is used. Might even have some change left over to get a quarter pounder with cheese lol!
If you watch this video carefully you will see that he did not take photos while filming this promo video so for me it is hard to believe this is true, and if you are a pro using Photoshop tools than those photos can be redone even if they are captured with a potato.... :/
It actually says that in the article.... "Oh, and before someone screams “Photoshop,” yes, he used VSCO, Photoshop FIX, and Lightroom Mobile apps to enhance the final result but everything was done on his phone. Without the proper lighting, however, it would be nearly impossible to reach the result that he got."
Load More Replies... Unlike many people here in the comments, I think his intention was to prove there's potential in unorthodox HARDWARE to be able to create good portraits. I don't think he's saying these are equal or better than a traditional and more professional photography gear, but that it's rather possible to upscale your everyday smartphone photography game. Last but not least, I don't think it's fair to criticize the use of post-production editing to make them look better. Photographers around the world use Lightroom and Photoshop whether they use an iPhone or a Leica. I don't think he's trying to pass these pictures (which are very good imo) as "natural" or as the final product of just pointing and shooting, but rather to show how far you can go with a phone. It's no science, and pointless criticism doesn't make you guys look like appropriate critics.
Why all the hate? I for one was excited to see this. I have an interest in photography but zero training and little experience. I do know that lighting is a huge factor in photography but I have no budget to go out and buy proper equipment. I get frustrated whenever I try and take a photo of a person because I can never get the lighting right. This experiment has given me hope (and ideas) of how to improvise without proper equipment.
Awesome! Like a mini homemade shadow box that gives perfect lighting to the face for only the price of lunch! WIn!!! ❤️👍
Want to see a lot of people running around with a flashlight and a bigmac box. Funny... And yes.. 95% PS, not more
One thing I noticed on every picture was how much it made the wrinkles stand out 📷 💝 🤣🤣🤣
Simply, not true. Most of those portraits are shot in open air, or in front of a huge window. Although there was a little artificial light, that would not be visible. I am also skeptic about the shallow depth of field.
I used to do it with a flashlight and an inflated condom. With different color "rubbers" you get different effects. Using a McDonald's box is not as effective as a bent paper plate or piece of shirt cardboard which may no longer even exist. Of course for just a very few dollars you can buy a professional yet very effective device. But then if your goal is to make people think you're somehow doing more than just diffusing light I suppose these little boxes will work reasonably well. But you have to be wary of "hot spots" and the focusing effect of a diffuser with such sharply angled side panels.
Whoa his lighting rig is super innovative. You can't deny that editing played a large role in this though. Don't get me wrong — it's exceptionally well done — but you just can't assume all the artistry can be recreated with a quick trip to a drive-thru ;)
As a student of photography, i can say he is quite amazing. Many people think editing can make terrible photos look good. Lemme tell you, bad photos with bad lighting and with low quality camera is a huge pain in the a*s. Processing can only help so much. You cant post process a black image to a beautiful portrait which is why taking the photo as best as you can is key of being a photographer. If editing is all, then no need for photographers then
Y'know this isn't so much about the phone or the burger box. Its about his skill. Clearly he knew the bounced light would be better, portrait mode would reduce depth of field and that standing with his back to a bright but interesting window would produce terrific eyes and the subjects back to a dark room would isolate them. Its called experience.
"Clearly"? It takes all of a day and 10 YouTube videos to figure out that you should bounce light on a white surface and use a high DoF for portraits. That's not photography skill OR experience. It's photoshop skill, because without photoshop these photos look like trash. You can see it in the video screenshots.
Load More Replies... 2004 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214481578491901&set=a.10208859685588092.1073741839.1192909690&type=3&theater
celebrity photographer uses a paper box - creativity celebrity photographer uses a big mac box - viral marketing campaign...
I respect the reuse and easy of creating a light source, showing how any one can do it! however you think as a professional experienced photographer he would double check to ensure the photo of the man in glasses was sharp to begin with...I know a phone is a potato, but my eyes get sore looking at that one. its one of the first things i check before continuing..
I agree that it altered. If it's photo shop that skill is massive. The end result is some hauntingly beautiful pictures.
I am about to make a macro lens from the toilet paper roll and make a tutorial lol
And massive amounts of photoshopping... you forgot to mention that.
the article literally says he used Photoshop (he just did it all from his phone).... "Oh, and before someone screams “Photoshop,” yes, he used VSCO, Photoshop FIX, and Lightroom Mobile apps to enhance the final result but everything was done on his phone. Without the proper lighting, however, it would be nearly impossible to reach the result that he got."
Load More Replies... I don't think that is just with a box. Filter are being used for above mentioned photos..
I'd be more impressed if it wasn't a pro photog doing it and just a normal guy or girl off the street he should be able to do this and we r not expected to
I guess we are all supposed to ignore the giant window lighting clearly visible in the catch lights of their eyes. The only portrait that looks like it might have been just the box is the guy with the white beard.
Is this another iPhone advertisement (ft. McDonalds) looking for becoming viral?
Haters gonna hate sentence is just an excuse to try and sabotage any legitimate feedback/discussion. :p That sentence has zero value nowadays with all the people using it to try and defend pretty much.. wel anything. I think it could fit the description of what the "white knighting"phenomenon is. :)
Load More Replies... Too close(-up) for comfort... (Does 'portrait' means it must be in your face?)
The miracle is in the phone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvvXIt7XwXE&app=desktop game-59a6f...52bb51.png
Ummm i heard about them using condoms but I must've missed the movement where they tried using d***s...
Load More Replies...
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