Monday, December 18, 2017

Google’s new photography apps give your photos and videos a quirky touch

App Attack is a weekly series where we search the App Store and Google Play Store for the best apps of the week. Check out App Attack every Sunday for the latest.

We can never have too many photos and videos on our camera roll, which also means we can never have too many camera apps. This week, we have a few different options that will help push those memories you capture even further.

As part of its "Appsperiments" research project series, Google released three new apps built specifically for mobile photography. We decided to give each one a test run to find out if they're worth using.

Selfissimo

Taking selfies can be hard, and that's where Selfissimo steps in to help. Currently available on iOS and Android, it takes photos of you whenever you stop moving, so that you don't need to awkwardly reach for the shutter button. At first I thought Selfissimo sounded like a strange concept for an app, but it's so easy to use that it almost becomes addicting. The only downside is that it only allows you to take the photos in black and white.

Once you open the app, the photos will begin as soon as you tap "Start." As each photo is taken, a compliment will flash across the screen for that extra boost of confidence. If you aren't a fan of these, you can easily toggle off the setting within the app. If you're satisfied with your photo reel, simply tap the screen to end the photo session and you'll be brought to all the selfies you took.

The photos don't automatically save to your phone — you'll have to individually choose from among them or else they'll disappear. I felt like this feature was a little annoying, only because it's possible that you'd forget to go back in and save the ones you liked before starting another photo session. But those who are trying to save up storage will be grateful that it lets them control exactly what saves to the camera roll.

When first trying out the feature, you might find yourself feeling a bit weird as you become accustomed to the motions of it. I couldn't help but compare it to earlier seasons of America's Next Top Model, where the models can't seem to get the hang of posing on the right counts, but you'll eventually get used to it. It's also great for when you're taking those group photo selfies and can't quite extend your arm far enough while also pressing the shutter button — we've all been there.

Scrubbies

Scrubbies is a bit of a different take on boomerangs and loop videos, and it's only available for iOS. After taking a video through the app, you're then able to manipulate the speed and direction of video playback. This allows you to go back and capture specific moments you want to highlight.

It's simple to use and only takes a few seconds to complete. Open the app and tap on the camera button in the left-hand corner. Once you press the record button, capture the exact footage you'd like. If you need to stop the video but don't want to lose what you've already recorded, you can also press the pause button on the right side and then pick back up when you're ready.

Once you're satisfied with your footage, the fun part comes in. Scrubbing with one finger plays back the video, while scrubbing with two fingers records the playback. The act of scrubbing the video back is actually extremely amusing. You start to notice minor details of the video that you didn't notice before.

When you're done manipulating the video, you can scrub with two fingers to finalize it. Once app records the playback you've created, it'll turn it into a video that you can save and share. The gallery located in the right-hand corner of the app also saves your original footage, so you can go back in and start scrubbing from scratch.

Storyboard

With Storyboard, you can make your videos look like comics. While it's only available for Android, the app gave me serious MacBook photo booth vibes. Using Google's research technology, it selects different frames of your video and then arranges them to create a comic book-style layout.

It's also extremely simple to use and has a friendly user interface. All you need to do is access your videos, choose your preferred one, and then tap to load load into the app. After processing your video, it will then give you a variety of layouts one by one. To see all of the different options, all you need to do is slide the page down. This will give you all the different styles available for your video that you can choose from.

Once you're done searching through the options, you can then tap on the finished product and share it. While the app definitely gives your videos a more old-school style, it was fun to see which specific frames the app would choose. It was also interesting to swipe down each time and see all of the different layouts that would appear at random. While I'm not sure if I would use it often, it's definitely a great app to use if your video is filled with photo-worthy frames.

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Source: Google's new photography apps give your photos and videos a quirky touch

Friday, December 15, 2017

Google launches 3 new photography apps to test experimental technologies

The new photography applications are "Storyboard" (available on Android only), "Selfissimo!" (available on iOS and Android) and "Scrubbies" (available on iOS only).The new photography applications are "Storyboard" (available on Android only), "Selfissimo!" (available on iOS and Android) and "Scrubbies" (available on iOS only).Google has introduced three photography apps which are part of a new series that it has dubbed as photography "appsperiments".

"We're launching the first installment of a series of photography appsperiments: Usable and useful mobile photography experiences built on experimental technology. Our 'appsperimental' approach was inspired in part by 'Motion Stills'," the company wrote in a research blog late on Monday.

"'Motion Stills' is an app developed by researchers that converts short videos into cinemagraphs and time lapses using experimental stabilisation and rendering technologies," Google added.

The new photography applications are "Storyboard" (available on Android only), "Selfissimo!" (available on iOS and Android) and "Scrubbies" (available on iOS only).

The "Storyboard" app takes video clips and automatically pulls out six frames that it lays out in a comic book-style template while "Selfissimo!" is an automated selfie photographer that snaps a black and white photograph each time the user poses.

"Scrubbies" lets the user easily manipulate the speed and direction of video playback to produce video loops that highlight actions, capture funny faces and replay moments. The tech giant has also urged users to try out the new apps and provide feedback via the in-app feedback links.


Source: Google launches 3 new photography apps to test experimental technologies

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Google launches three photography apps

Google has done a superb job with the camera capabilities of its Pixel smartphones. The company is now extending its expertise to everyone by launching three new photography apps. The Storyboard for Android, Selfissimo! for iOS and Android and Scrubbies for iOS only, these three new apps are a part of Google's "appsperiments" program. Google claims it to be a usable and useful mobile photography experiences built on experimental technology.

The blog post on 'Research at Google' explains 'our "appsperimental" approach was inspired in part by Motion Stills, an app developed by researchers at Google that converts short videos into cinemagraphs and time lapses using experimental stabilization and rendering technologies. Our appsperiments replicate this approach by building on other technologies in development at Google.' These new apps reply on object recognition, person segmentation, stylization algorithms, efficient image encoding and decoding technologies.Storyboard (Android)

Developed only for Android platform, Storyboard as the name suggests transforms videos into single-page comic layouts. A user needs to shoot a video and load it in Storyboard and the app automatically does the job. It automatically selects interesting video frames, lays them out, and applies one of six visual styles. It seems to be a fun app which you won't really get bored of as it has approximately 1.6 trillion different possibilities. Selfissimo! (iOS and Android)

In the sea of selfie apps, Google has come up with an app that will automatically capture an image as you pose. Available for both iOS and Android platform, Selfissimo! only captures black and white images. A user can simply tap on the screen to start the automated session that clicks an image with every pose change. Tapping again on the screen ends the session and the results are saved as individual images. The 'Research at Google' blog states that the app encourages you to pose and captures a photo whenever you stop moving.

Scrubbies (iOS)

This is the third app designed only for iOS platform. The idea behind the app is to manipulate the speed and direction of video playback to produce delightful video loops that highlight actions, capture funny faces, and replay moments. Google claims it is easy to use by simply shooting a video in the app and then remixing it by scratching it like a DJ. Google further explains that scrubbing with one finger plays the video and scrubbing with two fingers captures the playback so that the user can save and share it.


Source: Google launches three photography apps

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Mobile Photography/Art Pic of the Day (704) via Instagram

Here's day seven hundred and four of our mobile photography/art Pic of the Day section via Instagram. Each day we will be selecting one image a day for our Pic of the Day section on Instagram with this hashtag #theappwhisperer.

To ensure your image receives our attention, please upload it to Instagram with this hashtag #theappwhisperer

Today, we congratulate a very talented photographer and mobile artist Lisa Waddell – @lisa_marie_waddell – with this breathtaking image entitled 'Disheveled'.

View more of her body of work here.

[Please visit our Artist Directory and find out how we can add you too!]

While You're Here…

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Source: Mobile Photography/Art Pic of the Day (704) via Instagram

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Storyboard, Selfissimo! and Scrubbies: Google’s new photography apps with experimental technology

Google introduced on Monday three new photography-focused applications - Storyboard, Selfissimo! and Scrubbies.

While applications that allow you to add a filter or interesting effects are a dime and a dozen, Google's apps use high-end technologies such as "object recognition, person segmentation, stylization algorithms, efficient image encoding and decoding technologies."

Storyboard, Selfissimo! and Scrubbies are part of Google's first batch of a series of photography 'appsperiments', which the company describes as "usable and useful mobile photography experiences built on experimental technology."

"Until recently, those cameras behaved mostly as optical sensors, capturing light and operating on the resulting image's pixels. The next generation of cameras, however, will have the capability to blend hardware and computer vision algorithms that operate as well on an image's semantic content, enabling radically new creative mobile photo and video applications," Alex Kauffmann, Interaction Researcher, Google Research wrote in a blog post.

Storyboard

As the name implies, Storyboard changes your videos into a comic layouts. The processing of the videos happens on the device. Available for Android, the application automatically selects video frames, layouts and gives them a comic book-like visual. Google claims that users can always refresh the style and format by swiping down on the screen.

Selfissimo!

The application is clearly aimed at selfie-enthusiasts but leverages a timer sorts to get your right photo. You can use the application to take monochrome portraits of yourself by just posing. The app can detect when you have stopped moving and takes the photo. Selfissimo! is available for both iOS and Android.

Scrubbies

This app takes GIFs and Boomerang-like photos to a new level. It lets you control and tweak the speed and direction of video playback to create interesting video loops. "Shoot a video in the app and then remix it by scratching it like a DJ. Scrubbing with one finger plays the video. Scrubbing with two fingers captures the playback so you can save or share it," Google explains on its blog. The app is currently available for iOS.


Source: Storyboard, Selfissimo! and Scrubbies: Google's new photography apps with experimental technology

Monday, December 11, 2017

Mobile Photography: Lens Flare can be Good too!

Photography is basically all about light. Those are not my words but those of a number of master photographers. Which is perhaps why so much attention is paid to the performance of cameras – especially phone cameras these days – in different light conditions, especially in low light and very bright light conditions. And one of the biggest challenges that a number of camera lenses have in these conditions is handling glare, which comes from very bright sources of light (such as a lamp, the afternoon sun). This often leads to what people call "lens flare", which Wikipedia defines as "a phenomenon wherein light is scattered or flared in a lens system, often in response to a bright light, producing an undesirable effect on the image".

Simple Inglese? You get an image with washed out color because of too much light or the light seems to cover too much of the image, blurring out everything else in what seems like an explosion of light. A lot of people use a lens hood on cameras to dodge lens flare. And as per most photographers, lens flare is something that one should try to avoid, as it interferes with the image quality, blurring it. So much so that "does not handle glare well" is a minus point or a con that is listed in many phone camera reviews.

Well, it is not always a con.For, this photographic thorn can have its rose.

As I discovered today, lens flare can actually give almost a different look to your photograph. I was out taking pictures on the street with the iPhone X (yes, the review is coming up shortly) when I saw this gentleman sitting on the sidewalk with his bag, the traffic moving behind him. It was a striking image, but the problem was that it was close to noon and the sun was directly overhead, which meant: lens flare. That kind of sunlight could mess up the shot. I tried a bit of the 2x optical zoom but ended up losing a lot of the traffic behind him.

lens-flare-iphone-x

So, I decided to risk the flare and go for a snap from a distance. And was astonished. Yes, there was a bit of lens flare, with the sunlight mucking up the upper portion in the middle of the shot. But far from ruining the shot, it actually improved it. The person seemed to be sitting with sun rays (actually the flare) shining down on him.

A bit of editing, mainly blurring the background with Snapseed and killing the color using Aviary (yes, we have a tutorial on that too coming up) and we had a snap that somehow captured it all. And it would not have been possible without that con – of being unable to handle glare.

lens-flare-edited

No, this won't always work. Lens flare is by and large an irritant, but perhaps – perhaps – we need to be more patient with it. And try to even do more with it.

Photography is after all, basically all about light.


Source: Mobile Photography: Lens Flare can be Good too!

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Low light mobile photography – tips and tricks

It was still dark when I got up and left my warm and cozy hotel room in Copenhagen to hunt for some early morning light to capture through my lens. But there was a difference, I was out without a backpack, or a tripod but with just a shiny little device in my pocket – my brand new Apple iPhone 8 Plus.

The idea was to take great shots, yet also enjoy the city without the extra burden of my DSLR bag which was enjoying the warmth of my room. The morning went perfectly and despite the cold, I was fairly satisfied as I sipped dark Danish coffee and flipped through my duck shots on the phone.

Now I have been an early adopter of mobile photography, from the time I was a student in US, and iPhone 4 was launched. Ever since I have grappled with loads of devices, across countries with different light and weather conditions, and am truly amazed by the limitless possibilities with the small camera that can easily travel with you in your pocket.

Let me share a few tips on low-light mobile photography that I have tried and tested myself over the past few years. Mobile photography is fairly simple, yet if you want to take your game up a few notches, there is some more work needed.

Get control over your settings: Most native cameras don't allow manual adjustments to the camera settings, and in most cases it works just fine. However, if you can control these settings, the possibilities are limitless – think long exposure shots, light streaks and so on. The app I recommend is ProCamera – it's not free, but worth the investment.

Shoot in RAW: This goes hand in hand with the first tip. Many cameras, including all the latest iPhones, allow you to shoot in RAW now though you may have to use other apps for the same. A RAW image is fairly large in size, but also captures far more data which can be accessed later on.

Edit with a professional software: There are many excellent mobile apps (yes you don't need to edit mobile shots on your laptop) which allow you do edit RAW, images and give excellent results. Some are free like Snapseed, while other like Enlight are paid.

Invest in some simple equipment: Actually the only equipment you need is a mobile tripod. With the best mobile device, it's a good idea to buy the best tripod as well and I recommend the one from Manfrotto – these are often available in all Apple stores.

Pick the right time to shoot: This is probably the most important tip. Shoot when there is some light in the sky, not only will it make your subject glow, the sky will also show beautiful patterns which are often gone within minutes. I would recommend reaching your location just before sunrise, and before sunset to get the prefect low light. All the pictures shared here are simply hand-held and with the aid of an excellent low light sensor in my device, they come perfect.

Catching the reflections of the rising sun in Copenhagen

Catching the reflections of the rising sun in Copenhagen

At Nyhavn - the most popular part of Copenhagen

At Nyhavn – the most popular part of Copenhagen

Looking up at the sky at the iconic modern building… Copenhagen

Looking up at the sky at the iconic modern building… Copenhagen

A seagull looking for early morning breakfast

A seagull looking for early morning breakfast

Sunset at Rani Mahal in Tijara Fort, Rajasthan

Sunset at Rani Mahal in Tijara Fort, Rajasthan

Mumbai meri jaan

Mumbai meri jaan

Watching the sun do down at Bandra Fort

Watching the sun go down at Bandra Fort

These are some really simple tips that I use for improving the quality of my pictures, and I can promise it will do wonders to your work too. As always with photography, the most important thing is to get out there and shoot – great results will certainly follow. You have the best possible opportunity coming your way with the upcoming festival of lights – 'Diwali'.

Siddhartha Joshi is one of India's leading travel blogger and photographer, and loves to share tips and tricks on photography. He blogs regularly at The Wanderer, and you can see his daily photo-gallery on Instagram.

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Source: Low light mobile photography – tips and tricks