Camera+
Again 1/2 year since my last post here :S
I could spend some time writing down the reasons, but you don't wanna know... cause I assume if you are here you want to read about photography or anything related, right? :) So...
I've been using this Camera+ app in the last 3 months, which is a collaboration between Canadian photographer Lisa Bettany and Taptaptap, and is now celebrating 4 million downloads.
The camera part of Camera+ is pretty straightforward, you simply point and shoot, as if you were using the iPhone’s native camera app. However, Camera+ has distinct features that really help improve the quality of your photos.
Camera+ features a grid that makes sure you’re photos are straight and helps you using the rule of thirds. As of iOS 5, iPhone's native camera app also has this feature.
Touch Exposure & Focus. Set exposure separately from focus for the ultimate control of your shots… simply touch with a 2nd finger while focusing to adjust exposure until your shot is perfect.
Image stabilizer. Basically, you turn it on, and then press the shutter. Making use of the iPhone’s built in accelerometer, the shutter button blinks red, yellow or green, depending on how still you’re holding the iPhone. Green means still, and as soon as it flashes green, Camera+ will automatically take the picture. This eliminates those blurry pictures that occur when you are unable to hold the camera still.
Lastly, Camera+ offers a bunch of features for editing and sharing your images. This is where the app really shines. The photos you take with the app are stored in the lightbox, and once you open a photo, you can apply a number of preset exposure adjustments and special effect filters. You can also crop your photos as you want and add a border. Once you’ve edited the photo to your liking, you can then save it to your iPhone camera roll, email or share it to Facebook, Flickr or Twitter, right from the app. AND, you can also import and edit photos from your camera roll into Camera+.
I think that the auto exposure did a good job adding contrast and vibrancy to my photos, certainly as well as any basic level adjustment you can do on the computer, but then you would have to import the photo, open it up in the software, and blablabla… To be able to do that right within the app is incredibly handy.
Only features I'm missing is the volume button shutter (as of iOS 5) and a noise reductor. Sometimes Camera+ (and also iPhone's native camera app) will produce images that are grainy and full of little speckles, called “noise”. A noise reduction feature that could smooth out these imperfections would be certainly welcome. #tipfordevs
Well, even being used to use DSLRs and Photoshop to create and edit my photos, I found Camera+ to be an awesome and well designed camera app to have in your iPhone/pocket. Very easy to use, great features and I'm convinced it inpires a world of creative images.
It turns out to be also a nice gift for friends and family. I bought it for my girlfriend today, let's see if she will enjoy. :)
Rule of Thirds
I used to have a terrible habit of placing the subject in the exact center of the frame, not realizing that it doesn't produce a very interesting image, until I discover the concept of the rule of thirds.
The principle of the rule of thirds is very easy to understand and apply, it is one of the more important aspects of photography composition, as it can make or ruin a photo. It works well for photography in general, but especially for landscape photography.
The concept states that the rule of thirds itself divides the photography image in nine equally spaced segments, produced by two horizontal lines and two vertical lines at an equal distance going across the image. The cross of these lines will result in four intersection points, which are the fundamentals we work within the rule of thirds.
The major point of interest of any given photography should be positioned on an intersection of the thirds.
Rule of Thirds
Although the rule of thirds is not really a rule at all, and that nice results can be produced breaking the rule as well, it's probably best to use it until you are really comfortable with it before start trying to break it ;-)
Long time I've created the blog but a lot of things happened since, including me moving to another country.
Hopefully I'll be able to update it regularly from now on :-)
Well, today I wanted to talk about an iPhone app that I discovered couple months ago: Instagram. It is an amazing app that combines Photo Sharing & Social Networking.
The coolest thing in the app is that it not only helps users to take awesome photos, but it also makes it simple for users to edit and upload those photos to social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and others.
After the user takes a photo with his iPhone, filters can be applied to the photo.
Normal
X-PRO II
Earlybird
Hefe
Inkwell
Lomo
Then, the photo can be uploaded to the chosen sites at once.
Then, the photo can be uploaded to the chosen sites at once.
Instagram is compatible with all iPhone generations, and is available free from iTunes.
Fine Art Photography
What is Fine Art Photography and what kind of photography can be considered as Fine Art? Many friends and/or people I get to know ask me these questions. Well, good subject for a first post :)
Bad news. There is not a standard and universally accepted definition of Fine Art Photography.
The photograph is considered Fine Art when the photographer creates a picture that matches his creative vision, successfully telling the story the artist needed told. Fine art photographs are often one of a kind.
As the years progressed, photographers and technology changed the way pictures are taken. So too has society’s perception changed regarding what is considered fine art. Thus photography that is fine art is now decided upon by each individual and what that person considers to be beautiful. It is the photographer and the beholder of the picture that decide if the photo is treasure or trash.
(image credits:The Ansel Adams Gallery)
The photographer Ansel Adams is often referenced as a pioneer in Fine Art Photography. His photographs are legends and some of his classics include Mt. McKinley, Wonder Lake (top left), Half Dome, Merced River, Winter (top right), Rose and Driftwood (middle left), Jeffery Pine Sentinel Dome (bottom left) and Moon and Half Dome (bottom right.) He was a huge activist for the environment and the wilderness.