Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Gorgeous pictures of Chinese New Year through the eyes of mobile photographers

As they say, the best camera is the one you have with you.

The Lunar New Year over the weekend was in full swing, and professional photographers were ready with their iPhones.

Here are some of the best sent in to Mashable.

Zhang Yu is a photographer from Chongqing.

Zhang Yu is a photographer from Chongqing.

Little Su is a photographer from Taiwan.

Little Su is a photographer from Taiwan.

Shoot in bright light, and try to put as much distance as possible between your subject or object and the background to create better bokeh, says Singapore photographer Aik Beng Chia.

He added: "If you see someone interesting on the street, go up to them."

Zhang Yu is a photographer from Chongqing.

Zhang Yu is a photographer from Chongqing.

Zhang Yu is a photographer from Chongqing.

Zhang Yu is a photographer from Chongqing.

He added that photographers should pay attention to the "golden hour" — the period shortly after sunrise, or before sunset.

"It is your choice of camera angle that creates a sense of depth, perspective and scale," says Chia.

Chen Xi is a photographer from China.

Chen Xi is a photographer from China.

And of course, what would Chinese New Year be without all the food?

Pay attention to how the light falls on your subject, says Chia.

The uniquely Singaporean lohei takes on a colourful composition in this image.

The uniquely Singaporean lohei takes on a colourful composition in this image.


Source: Gorgeous pictures of Chinese New Year through the eyes of mobile photographers

Monday, January 30, 2017

INSIGNIA Mobile Photography Kit

My assistant, Ryan, got this cool little INSIGNIA Mobile Photography kit for Christmas… let's see how it works!

*** Patrons like yourself will make PhotoJoseph's Photo Moments able to continue on. If you enjoyed this video, please visit http://patreon.com/PhotoJoseph and consider supporting the show! ***

PhotoJoseph had to brush the dust off of his iPhone6s to play with this INSIGNIA Mobile Photography Kit. It comes with a tripod, a bluetooth trigger, and three clip-on lenses: a Fish Eye, a Wide Angle, and Macro. It also has a microphone and a light that plug into a headphone jack (those, of course, can't be used with an iPhone7/plus). Either way, it allows for more diversity out of your iPhone's camera.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S PHOTO MOMENT:Insignia Mobile Photography Kit: [Amazon - http://amzn.to/2ktP1OZ]Evershop Telephoto lens for iphone 7/7 plus: [Amazon - http://amzn.to/2k072EG]

LET'S BE SOCIAL!Instagram: http://instagram.com/photojosephTwitter: http://twitter.com/photojosephFacebook: http://facebook.com/photojosephWeb: http://photojoseph.comMore web: http://joseph.info


Source: INSIGNIA Mobile Photography Kit

Sunday, January 29, 2017

A Guide to Editing RAW Photography — Get the Most out of Your Smartphone’s Camera

­­

After exploring the RAW capabilities of my OnePlus 3T and Sony NEX-5 cameras, an array of readers responded with questions and comments on RAW photography and their experiences. Many expressed the desire to better learn how to edit photography and particularly how to deal with RAW file formats on both mobile devices and desktop operating systems, and I was thrilled to see such a willingness to engage in something new like RAW photography. I was also deeply happy to have several readers relate to me that I had inspired them to explore photography in general once again or even for the first time –it can come as a surprise to many that the device in their pockets is often their best choice for exploring. In light of these discoveries, my hope is that some assistance for those struggling to begin will continue to encourage those interested in photography, RAW or not, to persevere.

Remembering back to my first forays into photography and editing, I was lucky enough to ease into the prospect bit by bit, beginning with something as simple as the built-in editor in my HTC Incredible 2's gallery app. If I am remembering correctly, I stumbled upon Adobe Lightroom as an app for my iPad 3, which became my go-to editing device until I built my first desktop PC. Over the course of a month or so, I essentially explored each slider and option until I was relatively familiar with the program. I can easily recommend this to anyone with a lot of patience and curiosity, as you will inevitably find your own preferences along the way while also learning to use a powerful editing suite independently.

Nevertheless, having someone to guide you through the very first steps of editing and break down the menacing façade that Lightroom and other editors can present the user is of course extremely useful. I will attempt to be that guide!

First Steps

As several curious and intrepid readers soon discovered, shooting in RAW is not necessarily the most intuitive experience, especially once one goes to find or edit the RAW format files they have produced. As RAW files, especially DNGs, are innately not images straight out of camera, nearly all gallery apps simply will not register that they exist, both on mobile and desktop operating systems. This is not a criticism of gallery apps, but rather an unavoidable reality of RAW formats. As such, you will want to either install one of a handful of free RAW file managers, or bite the bullet and pay for something like Photo Mate R3 (~$8). Adobe Lightroom for mobile devices is likely your absolute best option, being free and well-designed.

For those of you looking for something a bit different, Photo Mate R3 is a fully-fledged mobile editor with almost all of the granular controls that Lightroom and other desktop editors offer. It also provides a gallery function with an array of sorting options, allowing the viewer to, say, selectively view only RAW format images and preview their thumbnails. The only major downside I noted is a lack of granular noise reduction controls of the sort that Lightroom offers. RAW files express all the noise the camera generates (a lot) and can appear rather off-putting if one does not first consider that lossy formats like JPEGs include some often heavy-handed noise reduction that occurs as the RAW data is converted and compressed. RAW lets you decide how much noise reduction is needed, potentially preventing the overly-soft images that smartphone cameras are often infamous for.

If you have access to a computer, there are numerous free options for editing RAW photography like GIMP and Rawtherapee. Rawtherapee offers a genuinely impressive program that is solely dedicated to editing RAW format images and is easy to recommend. There is also Google's free Nik editing suite, which offers a dedicated program for noise reduction to assist those on a budget who can't stand noise but would prefer to keep their editing workflow as mobile as possible.

A brief glance at Rawtherapee 5.0's interface (Rawtherapee).

For those of you willing to fork over the cash, however, my one true photo editing love has always been Adobe Lightroom. It may be an irrational attachment to the program I am simply most familiar with, but I find that it offers a wonderful, intuitive interface and an almost invaluable organizational aspect that allows you to comfortably back up a database of around 40+ GB of edited photos while still retaining exact change histories and the original files. While next to nothing compared to professional photographers or very serious amateurs, I've taken and edited thousands of photos in the 5 years I've been active, and have a history of almost every single one in my Lightroom library.

A small snippet of my primary Lightroom catalog. My edited photos can be found at my Flickr and VSCO accounts.

While verifying that my understanding of Adobe Lightroom mobile was accurate, I discovered that free users can in fact edit RAW formats without a CC subscription! While the free version loses a number of features, it is still well-featured and includes several noise reduction filters, albeit without the ability to control it (aside from picking low, medium, and high reduction options). Like Photo Mate R3, the Lightroom app offers a useful gallery feature that lets you preview RAW thumbnails and filter out non-RAW images. This app is definitely my recommendation for those looking for a slick, user-friendly solution. While experienced users may find some improved utility in Photo Mate R3's broader range of options, Lightroom will be more than enough for most mobile editors. This article provides a great overview of the app and its RAW editing features.

General Tips and Suggestions for Editing Photography

While providing granular tutorials for each of the applications mentioned above is a bit beyond the scope of this article, what I can do is explain some of the more common options you will have at your disposal, regardless of which one you choose to adopt. I will be using the desktop version of Adobe Lightroom (5.4) to demonstrate these features. After the process of finding your RAW files (usually .DNGs for mobile devices) and importing them into your app of choice, you will be presented with several options. Generally speaking, these options will be intended to modify the tone (exposure/lighting), white balance, and color in your photos.

Some of the most useful and intuitive methods of editing in Lightroom are relatively unique to it and even then only in the desktop app. My favorite ways to modify a photo's tone are through the histogram (the graph at the top of the screenshot below), which allows you to click on one of five sections (blacks, shadows, exposure, whites, highlights) and drag them left or right to reduce or increase the prevalence of that specific light type. The tone curve, found below the Basic section, can also be dragged about in a similar fashion, but is generally only needed for slightly modifying a nearly-complete image or recovering detail in an image that was drastically over- or underexposed. This can all generally also be done with the sliders you can see on the right, but this takes somewhat longer and is also not nearly as fun! A great exploration of the utility of histograms and how to read them can be found here.

Two images and their related histograms.

Traveling down the options in the menu pictured below, we begin with 'WB' or white balance. This is used to improve accuracy of the color representation in photos, accomplished by modifying the temperature and tint in order to direct the picture towards your preferred outcome, which may include fixing imperfect white balancing in camera. In desktop and mobile Lightroom, you have the option of selecting the eye dropper, which effectively auto-corrects white balance once you direct it to a point on your photo that you know should be a neutral grey or white.

Tone settings come next, beginning with options for exposure and contrast. Exposure modifies the global brightness unselectively. Contrast further darkens darker areas of the image and brightens lighter areas. After these more heavy-handed options, there are more precise controls that can also be controlled through the histogram on top, as I previously explained. The highlights slider will modify only the brightest sections of the image, allowing you to tame overexposed images (you may have seen or heard the term "blown highlights"). Shadows, on the opposite hand, can help recover lost detail in dark areas of images. Lastly, Whites and Blacks intuitively allow pixels leaning towards white or black to be made brighter or darker. Attentive readers may notice a theme so far of combinations of controls that offer large changes (whites, blacks) with controls that offer more detailed modifications to smaller parts of the image (highlights, shadows).

Continuing this trend, Clarity is effectively a method of only adding contrast to mid-tones (mid meaning middle of the histogram). In doing so, the Clarity slider can give the benefit of added contrast while preventing the noise or grain (and often an uglier image) that can come overuse of the global Contrast slider. This option is generally unique to Lightroom, but it can be partially replicated by experimenting with white and black levels (increased contrast would mean darker blacks and brighter whites). This method won't add edge detail like Clarity, but it will more subtly add contrast.

Saturation and Vibrance are the last basic settings one may frequently want to use. Saturation is the color equivalent of Exposure, allowing the user to globally deepen or lighten all colors in an image. Vibrance helps to avoid the downfall of global saturation changes by only adjusting the least (+) or most (-) saturated colors.

Finally, there are several more complex and granular settings that can be found in Lightroom and other desktop editing suites. Something I often find myself using is detailed saturation, hue, and luminance control (on the right), giving me the ability to, say, recover oversaturated blues or greens, or better express the yellows and oranges in a sunset photo with subpar white balance. The Detail section (on the left) is where noise reduction and sharpening settings can be found, very useful options to have when editing RAW files. Lightroom helpfully provides a small window with a highly magnified view, which makes it considerably easier to avoid introducing ugly artifacts or obscuring detail when modifying sharpness and adding noise reduction.

                     

As a tried-and-true trope of many a guide, my best suggestion for those just beginning to stretch their photography-editing legs is to not give up and keep trying. Mistakes will be made and modifications will be overdone, but in time you will begin to develop a more instinctive understanding of editing and likely come into a style and workflow of your own. Mine has taken many years to develop and I clearly remember struggling at first, as well as taking a look at photos I'd edited years ago only to be aghast at the aesthetic decisions of past-me. I'm still learning more than 5 years in, and I even managed to learn a couple new things about editing photos in the process of writing this. In all its breadth, photography is essentially an activity with constant opportunity for learning, and rather than being daunting, it simply makes it that much more exciting and rewarding.

Amidst the humbling response my previous article received, multiple readers shared some of their own impressive smartphone photography and blew me away. If you have taken any photos with your phone that you are proud and would like to share, feel free to post them in the comments below this article, as well as on its corresponding Facebook posts or tweets. An upcoming article in this series will include a collection of user-submitted photography, so don't miss out!

Also ahead will be a brief tutorial on how to use the manual mode available on many modern smartphone cameras in order to best take advantage of their capabilities. 


Source: A Guide to Editing RAW Photography — Get the Most out of Your Smartphone's Camera

Saturday, January 28, 2017

INSIGNIA Mobile Photography Kit

My assistant, Ryan, got this cool little INSIGNIA Mobile Photography kit for Christmas… let's see how it works!

*** Patrons like yourself will make PhotoJoseph's Photo Moments able to continue on. If you enjoyed this video, please visit http://patreon.com/PhotoJoseph and consider supporting the show! ***

PhotoJoseph had to brush the dust off of his iPhone6s to play with this INSIGNIA Mobile Photography Kit. It comes with a tripod, a bluetooth trigger, and three clip-on lenses: a Fish Eye, a Wide Angle, and Macro. It also has a microphone and a light that plug into a headphone jack (those, of course, can't be used with an iPhone7/plus). Either way, it allows for more diversity out of your iPhone's camera.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S PHOTO MOMENT:Insignia Mobile Photography Kit: [Amazon - http://amzn.to/2ktP1OZ]Evershop Telephoto lens for iphone 7/7 plus: [Amazon - http://amzn.to/2k072EG]

LET'S BE SOCIAL!Instagram: http://instagram.com/photojosephTwitter: http://twitter.com/photojosephFacebook: http://facebook.com/photojosephWeb: http://photojoseph.comMore web: http://joseph.info


Source: INSIGNIA Mobile Photography Kit

Friday, January 27, 2017

This new-to-market smartphone tripod tops the competition

If you are tired of blurry handheld photos and shifty group shots, you'll need a tripod to keep your camera steady and safe from falls. Many tripods rely on device-specific mounts and bulky designs that hinder portability, but the Pocket Tripod PRO allows for sturdy shots, and still fits in your pocket.

This immensely clever design offers a stable footprint, with low-profile rotating device grips that can position your phone at any angle. To take balanced landscape shots, split the unit in two pieces to keep your phone supported. When not in use, this handy device flattens into a thin, credit-card shaped slab so you can carry it with you at all times.

From iPhones and popular Samsung handsets, to countless lesser-known brands, there is a compatible size available for most current smartphones. For a limited time, get the Pocket Tripod PRO for just $19.99 and save 20% off the regular price to upgrade your mobile photography skills.

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    Source: This new-to-market smartphone tripod tops the competition

    Thursday, January 26, 2017

    Artist Talk & Reception for Gina Costa: Ways of Seeing

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    http://www.wndu.com/content/events/410515185.html | 410515185

    Artist Talk & Reception for Gina Costa: Ways of Seeing Event Dates and Times 1/26/2017 - Starts: 5:30 PM - Ends: 7:30 PMNotre Dame Center for Arts & Culture, 1045 W. Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46601 The Crossroads Gallery for Contemporary Art will host an artist talk and an exhibition reception with artist Gina Costa on January 26. Gina Costa: Ways of Seeing features photography from three bodies of work by Costa, including her highly regarded Memory, Decay, Beauty series, as well as work from her award winning Street Photography series. In addition, a catalog available for the reception and remainder of the exhibition.

    Costa is an acclaimed photographer with accomplishments including multiple exhibitions and awards. In July 2016 she won first place for best photo essay in the Latin American Mobile Photography Awards & Exhibition in San Paolo, Brazil. Her work has been archived at the Fratelli Alinari Photo Archive in Firenze, Italia.

    Costa earned her graduate degree in Art History from the University of Chicago. She has worked at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; The Art Institute of Chicago; Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, New York; and has taught art history at a variety of universities. She is an award-winning, internationally-known, published photographer, who has exhibited in galleries in the United States and Europe.

    "[Setting] out photographing not just specific themes, but glimpses of life and places visited, as a minimalist urban diary" says Cary Benbow, photographer, writer, and publisher of www.wobnebmagazine.com. "[Costa's] work allows the viewer to reflect on their own past, their own history and memories, in order to give meaning to the everyday world."

    The exhibition will be open to the public beginning January 9, 2017 at 9:00 am. A public artist talk by Costa and a reception will be held on Thursday, January 26 at 5:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served.

    A 36-page catalogue titled Gina Costa: Ways of Seeing accompanies the exhibition and is published by the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture. The publication includes 26 full-color illustrations and essays by Costa and Benbow, amo ng others. It is available for the duration of the exhibition and by request afterwards.

    This exhibition is organized by the Crossroads Gallery for Contemporary Art, Notre Dame Center for Arts & Culture. The catalogue was generously supported by an anonymous donor. For further information on Costa's exhibitions, publications, and images see www.ginacosta.com.

    Alex Schaufele, 574.631.5224, aschaufe@nd.edu
    Source: Artist Talk & Reception for Gina Costa: Ways of Seeing

    Wednesday, January 25, 2017

    How to Remove Hidden Metadata from Photos in Windows

    How to Remove Hidden Metadata from Photos in Windows Follow Share

    Metadata is the hidden information which a camera is embedded in the photo and which cans stay embedded even when you share the same online. This can be very problematic as it can violate privacy issues.

    The data is known as EXIF data or Exchangeable Image File Format. EXIF data give you a detail of all the techniques used in a particular photograph such as exposure, metering, compression etc. But, what EXIF data also show the location where you have clicked the photograph, if your camera of smartphones has geotagging facilities, this can be seriously harmful if your location gets leaked into the hands of the wrong people. Another problem with EXIF data is that it can help anyone trace the photos back to your camera.

    This will also help them search for other pics that you have clicked and posted on the social media sites. While there are no profound evidences that the EXIF data is being used against you, NASA does use them for intelligence analysis. In a line, it is always better to remove the EXIF data before making the pictures public and here's how to do it.

    Using Windows File Explorer

    Using the File Explorer is probably the easiest way to remove the EXIF data from your photos before posting them online.

  • Go to File Explorer and click on the image whose data you need to remove from the properties of the same.
  • Go to image properties where you will get an option Remove Properties and Personal Information.
  • You can then select the data you want to remove by selecting options from the Camera as well as Advanced options and remove them permanently.
  • Windows 10 will not remove all the data which is why we have the following two methods. You can also batch remove EXIF data with the help of this method.

    Using GIMP Software

    GIMP is by far one of the best apps that I have seen which helps in the removal of EXIF data.

  • Launch GIMP on your Windows system and export the photograph which you need to edit. Make sure that you have changed the extension of the file to JPG.
  • Then click the Export As option. Once you have clicked it, you will be presented with a window which sets various export options.
  • Click the Advanced option and uncheck the Save EXIF data option present there. Then click Yes. The photograph will be exported without any EXIF data tagged to it.
  • Using Mobile Apps

    Google Play Store has loads of apps which help the removal of EXIF data from your photo before you can make them ready for posting them on social media sites. In case you are addicted to mobile photography, you can use any of these apps like EXIF Eraser and EZ UnEXIF Free (EXIF Remover) for Android, to remove the EXIF data of the photos taken on your phone.

    These are the three easiest methods of removing EXIF data or Metadata in Windows which you can use. While there are other methods present, they can be complicated and hard to use. We hope to have helped you in safeguarding your photographs privacy with these three methods.

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    Source: How to Remove Hidden Metadata from Photos in Windows

    Tuesday, January 24, 2017

    Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL: great 5.5-inch smartphone with Snapdragon 625 chipset, 4GB RAM, dual 12MP camera and 5000 mAh battery

    Let's see how far they have come since the introduction of Zenfone 3 back in August 2016 with the below throwback of the following specs:

    Even back then, it has everything that you could ask for from a flagship smartphone. An exquisite metal body with high-end hardware, great 23MP-8MP camera, great audio system and fast battery charging feature.

    With the tagline "Catch the Moment", you can see where Zenfone 3 Zoom is emphasising on – the dual camera. Its full specs can be found as per below:

  • 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 1080 x 1920 pixels or ~401 ppi pixel density
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • Gorilla Glass 5 protection
  • Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 chipset, Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processor, Adreno 506 graphics and 4GB RAM
  • Dual 12MP primary camera with (25mm, f/1.7, OIS (4-axis)& 59mm, f/2.8 aperture), laser/phase detection autofocus, 2.3x optical zoom factor and dual-LED (dual tone) flash
  • 13MP secondary camera with Sony IMX 214 sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 1/3" sensor size and 1.12 µm pixel size
  • 32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage + microSD expansion slot up to 256GB maximum
  • Non-removable Li-Ion 5000 mAh battery with Fast battery charging
  • DTS sound enhancement
  • Android Marshmallow 6.0
  • Dual-sim and 4G LTE
  • As you scrutinise further, you can see why Zenfone 3 Zoom is set to be one of the great camera smartphones for 2017. With a dual 12MP primary camera that is packed with lots of features and functions, it will set a new bar for mobile photography, combining two entirely new camera systems. A 12-megapixel ƒ/1.7 aperture, wide-angle lens with ASUS SuperPixel™ Technology is primed to capture everyday scenes, especially in dark environment; and a 12-megapixel 2.3x optical zoom for high-quality close-ups from farther away. Switching between its dual cameras takes just an instant, and the combination enables an all-new depth-of-field effect — for portraits that look like they were shot by a pro.

    Not content with having a great primary camera, Zenfone 3 Zoom will also feature a selfie superstar. The remarkable front-facing camera employs a 13 megapixel Sony IMX214 sensor for high-resolution selfies, and the ASUS SuperPixel™ Technology can further enhance the light sensitivity up to 2 times. Screen Flash feature turns the entire screen bright white for brilliant illumination in low-light environments. Combined with the ZenUI Camera app's unique Beautification and 140° Selfie Panorama modes, you'll shoot selfies with more detail than ever before, add instant glamour and ensure that every friend is in the frame.

    All that camera talk, and we have yet to cover everything else. With a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED screen, you can expect to view beautiful images popping out of the screen. Then there's the fingerprint sensor for your biometric purpose and Gorilla Glass 5 for protection.

    Under the hood of the Zenfone 3 Zoom will be the mid-range Snapdragon 625 chipset, a fast octa-core processor, decent graphics and 4GB RAM. This combination will ensure that you can run most of the apps and games out there with ease. 

    With a selection of 32GB, 64GB or 128GB; you won't be running out of space that soon. If you do, just put in a microSD card and go all the way up to 256GB. Go on ahead to snap all those high-res photos that you have been craving for.

    Don't worry about running low on battery with the Zenfone 3 Zoom while you are busy taking all those photos, as it is powered by a 5000 mAh battery. This should prove more than sufficient to have a day or two of battery life.

    Last but not least, this smartphone will feature DTS sound enhancement which will give you a boost in the audio department. Put on your headphone and enjoy the great music out of it.

    Conclusion:

    Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL is your definite choice if you are looking for a great camera smartphone. The industry's best smartphone-camera technologies, innovative dual-lens optics, huge 5000 mAh battery, mid-range performance are all you need to make this a great device. All you need to be able to Catch the Moment.

    Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL is said to be released in the next couple of months although there's no mention of the price yet. It will be available in Navy Black, Glacier Silver and Rose Gold.

    ...


    Source: Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL: great 5.5-inch smartphone with Snapdragon 625 chipset, 4GB RAM, dual 12MP camera and 5000 mAh battery

    Monday, January 23, 2017

    Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL: great 5.5-inch smartphone with Snapdragon 625 chipset, 4GB RAM, dual 12MP camera and 5000 mAh camera

    Let's see how far they have come since the introduction of Zenfone 3 back in August 2016 with the below throwback of the following specs:

    Even back then, it has everything that you could ask for from a flagship smartphone. An exquisite metal body with high-end hardware, great 23MP-8MP camera, great audio system and fast battery charging feature.

    With the tagline "Catch the Moment", you can see where Zenfone 3 Zoom is emphasising on – the dual camera. Its full specs can be found as per below:

  • 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 1080 x 1920 pixels or ~401 ppi pixel density
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • Gorilla Glass 5 protection
  • Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 chipset, Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processor, Adreno 506 graphics and 4GB RAM
  • Dual 12MP primary camera with (25mm, f/1.7, OIS (4-axis)& 59mm, f/2.8 aperture), laser/phase detection autofocus, 2.3x optical zoom factor and dual-LED (dual tone) flash
  • 13MP secondary camera with Sony IMX 214 sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 1/3" sensor size and 1.12 µm pixel size
  • 32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage + microSD expansion slot up to 256GB maximum
  • Non-removable Li-Ion 5000 mAh battery with Fast battery charging
  • DTS sound enhancement
  • Android Marshmallow 6.0
  • Dual-sim and 4G LTE
  • As you scrutinise further, you can see why Zenfone 3 Zoom is set to be one of the great camera smartphones for 2017. With a dual 12MP primary camera that is packed with lots of features and functions, it will set a new bar for mobile photography, combining two entirely new camera systems. A 12-megapixel ƒ/1.7 aperture, wide-angle lens with ASUS SuperPixel™ Technology is primed to capture everyday scenes, especially in dark environment; and a 12-megapixel 2.3x optical zoom for high-quality close-ups from farther away. Switching between its dual cameras takes just an instant, and the combination enables an all-new depth-of-field effect — for portraits that look like they were shot by a pro.

    Not content with having a great primary camera, Zenfone 3 Zoom will also feature a selfie superstar. The remarkable front-facing camera employs a 13 megapixel Sony IMX214 sensor for high-resolution selfies, and the ASUS SuperPixel™ Technology can further enhance the light sensitivity up to 2 times. Screen Flash feature turns the entire screen bright white for brilliant illumination in low-light environments. Combined with the ZenUI Camera app's unique Beautification and 140° Selfie Panorama modes, you'll shoot selfies with more detail than ever before, add instant glamour and ensure that every friend is in the frame.

    All that camera talk, and we have yet to cover everything else. With a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED screen, you can expect to view beautiful images popping out of the screen. Then there's the fingerprint sensor for your biometric purpose and Gorilla Glass 5 for protection.

    Under the hood of the Zenfone 3 Zoom will be the mid-range Snapdragon 625 chipset, a fast octa-core processor, decent graphics and 4GB RAM. This combination will ensure that you can run most of the apps and games out there with ease. 

    With a selection of 32GB, 64GB or 128GB; you won't be running out of space that soon. If you do, just put in a microSD card and go all the way up to 256GB. Go on ahead to snap all those high-res photos that you have been craving for.

    Don't worry about running low on battery with the Zenfone 3 Zoom while you are busy taking all those photos, as it is powered by a 5000 mAh battery. This should prove more than sufficient to have a day or two of battery life.

    Last but not least, this smartphone will feature DTS sound enhancement which will give you a boost in the audio department. Put on your headphone and enjoy the great music out of it.

    Conclusion:

    Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL is your definite choice if you are looking for a great camera smartphone. The industry's best smartphone-camera technologies, innovative dual-lens optics, huge 5000 mAh battery, mid-range performance are all you need to make this a great device. All you need to be able to Catch the Moment.

    Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL is said to be released in the next couple of months although there's no mention of the price yet. It will be available in Navy Black, Glacier Silver and Rose Gold.

    ...


    Source: Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom ZE553KL: great 5.5-inch smartphone with Snapdragon 625 chipset, 4GB RAM, dual 12MP camera and 5000 mAh camera

    Sunday, January 22, 2017

    Fashion Photography Using An IPhone

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  • Source: Fashion Photography Using An IPhone

    Saturday, January 21, 2017

    Mobile Photography Candid Shots of New Orleans, Louisiana by

    New on Ello, @darksidediaries shoots mobile photography of his recent trip to New Orleans documenting history, tradition and American culture through his own personal view. I was pleased to share some of my favorite shots from his trip here on Ello, check him out.

    @ellomobilephoto @ellophotography @ellotravel cc: @ellonew

    #mobilephotography #streetphotography #travel #neworleans #street #newonello


    Source: Mobile Photography Candid Shots of New Orleans, Louisiana by

    Friday, January 20, 2017

    Discover the most popular Image Trends in 2017

    Impress your clients with the latest on-trend imagery using our brand new Image Trends report for 2017! Read it now!

    Being up to date with the latest trends in the creative world is an absolute must – but a fast-paced industry like photography keeping on top of ever-changing trends can be a tricky task. That's where our January 2017 Image Trends report comes in…

    Our Image Trends report is back to bring you up to speed with the image themes that creative image buyers are looking for in 2017.

    Staying on top of the latest image trends will give you an advantage when it comes to wowing your clients, allowing you to introduce them to on-trend images that are going to engage and impact their target audience.

    So, what is Image Trends?

    In this report we delve into the growing trend of mobile photography, as well as exploring how trends in lifestyle and business imagery have changed over the last 6 months – we have created a lightbox for each trend packed full of exactly the types of images creative agencies and designers are looking for right now.

    The images bought by each of the UK and US markets showed notable differences in the trends we identified, so we've split out our report to detail the trends in each market.

    …based on data from creative image buyers 

    Our research team analysed thousands of images purchased by our creative customers over the last 3 months, and identified  the key themes. Design  professional Ned Selby then used his expert knowledge on the creative industry to talk us through each of the trends and how they will be relevant in the coming months.

    Images can make or break a pitch, ad campaign or even an email, so make sure you're in the know by downloading our report and sharing it with your friends and colleagues.

    Alamy Image Trends Jan 2017


    Source: Discover the most popular Image Trends in 2017

    Thursday, January 19, 2017

    Eat, pray, shoot: Our favorite gear and apps for travel photography

    Some photos turn out great, but most are merely okay. As anyone who has picked up a camera will tell you, everyone shoots both kinds. But let's be honest: the majority of the photos we capture on vacation fall into the just-okay category. Thumbs make their way into shots. People and objects show up that we failed to notice when composing the shot. The sun can wash your photos out or cast harsh shadows. Not enough sun can turn what should be a beautiful moment into a grainy mess.

    The good news is that, with the right hardware and software, most of these issues can either be improved upon or avoided altogether. To help you up your photographic game before your next adventure, I present a two-part travel photography special. In this first installment, I'll cover the best hardware and software to use, and next time, I'll focus on putting those tools to use.

    These photos are from my recent trip to Montana, which I can say without hesitation is one of the most stark, beautiful places in the United States that I've ever had the privilege of visiting. Over the course of five days, my partner and I traveled to Bozeman, Pray, Yellowstone National Park, Three Forks, Butte, Bannock National Park, and Belgrade, with a ton of amazing stops along the way. Along with giving the state my best photographic efforts, I also took some intentionally terrible photos to show you that some of the worst pictures of your next vacation could well turn out to be a few of the best you've ever taken.

    Let's get started!

    My favorite cameras and accessories travel bellamy moment lensSéamus Bellamy

    Yes, the best camera really is the one that you have with you. In my case, that's typically an iPhone. For my trip to Montana, I brought along my personal iPhone SE. If you're on a tight budget like I am, you'll appreciate its low purchase price—and for the money, you won't find a better smartphone camera. It comes with the same 12-megapixel rear sensor enjoyed by owners of the iPhone 6s. That means, in addition to being able to capture bright, colorful, true-to-life photos, you can also shoot Live Photos and 4K video.

    iphone7plus review adam 1Adam Patrick Murray

    Apple giveth and Apple taketh away—but I really appreciated the loan.

    While I'm pretty happy with my iPhone SE, I lust after the photographic capabilities baked into the iPhone 7 Plus. With the addition of an antiglare screen protector, its massive 5.5-inch display and wide viewing angles make framing shots a ridiculous joy in all but the brightest of lighting conditions. 2X optical zoom and intelligent flash ensure that more likely than not you'll end up with the shot you want, every time. And Portrait mode? Icing on the photographic cake. Happily, Apple was willing to loan me an iPhone 7 Plus for my week on the road—sending it back was painful.

    travel bellamy momentmacroSéamus Bellamy

    Moment's macro lens made capturing detailed photos of the flora as we trotted around the ghost town of Bannack, Montana a treat.

    While both phones are extremely capable cameras all on their own, my preference is to use them with accessory lenses made by Moment. Currently, their lineup includes a Macro lens, 2x telephoto lens, a fisheye and wide angle lens, all of which sell just south of $100.

    That sounds like a lot of money, because it is. But the quality of the glass Moment makes and what their lenses will do for your mobile photography cannot be overstated. What's more, your investment can be used across multiple iPhone models, because Moment's lenses attach to the handsets using model-specific mounting plates. When you get a new phone, you only need new plates.

    travel bellamy momentappPhoto: Séamus Bellamy

    The Moment App allows you to shoot RAW images and offers a wide range of photographic controls.

    This meant that my partner and I were able to use the lenses on my iPhone SE, her iPhone 5s, and even the iPhone 7 Plus. (That phone's 2x telephoto zoom, plus Moment's 2x telephoto lens makes for 4x zoom!) What's more, Moment offers a free iOS app designed to be used with their lenses, but it works just as well on its own. It can shoot RAW images and lets you adjust exposure, focus and image temperature on the fly, so it's quickly replaced iOS 10's stock Camera app for me.

    travel bellamy rx100Sony

    Sony's RX100 III is easily one of the smartest purchases I've ever made.

    Despite my love of mobile photography, there's still something to be said for an excellent old-school digital camera. My Sony RX100 MIII is one of my prized possessions: it's a 35mm equivalent that takes beautiful photos in most lighting conditions, comes with a 20.1-megapixel sensor, a built-in pop-up digital viewfinder and flash, a selfie mode (if you must), and very respectable level of built-in optical zoom. It's a few years old now, but can still be found online and in stores for around $700. The RX100 MIII is rugged, well built, and a joy to use.

    Edit on the go or when you get home

    These days, there's just as much art in how we edit the photos we take as there is in actually taking them.

    My primary photographic editing tool is my 9.7-inch iPad Pro, as it's lightweight, fits easily into a daypack, allows me to see my photos at a much larger size than the display on any smartphone or dedicated camera, and it can import photos from most cameras and smartphones, either wirelessly or with the right dongle. Plus, when paired with the right app, the Apple Pencil makes precision edits an absolute joy.

    There's a seemingly endless number of photo editing apps out there, but because I need to move and store the photos I take on my computer and in the cloud for work, I've settled on a couple that I use for most everything.

    travel bellamy pixelmatoriosPhoto: Séamus Bellamy

    Pixelmator is an inexpensive alternative to Photoshop that'll make your photos look pro.

    Pixelmator is a low-cost alternative to Photoshop that boasts versions for macOS and iOS. There's very little loss between the two different versions of the app. Both allow you to define and mask areas of your canvas and paint, heal, retouch, and otherwise alter images.

    With the desktop version, it's even possible to create basic vector images—a great asset if you're into watermarking your photos. That said, I find that I only turn to Pixelmator if something I've shot didn't quite turn out as I had intended—if I discover a photobombing local in one of my travel shots, for example. Most of the time, my workflow only requires that I play with color, lighting, and exposure before storing my images or shipping them off to an editor. For this, I use Adobe Lightroom.

    travel bellamy lightroommacosSéamus Bellamy

    Lightroom for MacOS is available to purchase a la carte or as part of an Adobe software subscription.

    Lightroom is available to buy for macOS or can be had for $10 a month along with Photoshop as part of an Adobe Photography Plan subscription. Buy it outright and you'll re receive regular updates from Adobe to make sure that your app is up to date with the latest features.

    Pay for the monthly subscription and you also gain access to Photoshop (which I think is overkill for most casual photographers), and the ability to sync your photos between your computer and your iOS devices using Adobe's excellent Lightroom app for iOS. Should you stop paying for the subscription, you'll lose the ability to sync your photos and won't be able to access any of the images that you've saved online.

    In my case, I bought a desktop license for Lightroom outright, so that I can continue to use it to process and catalog my photos, free of monthly fees. Should I need to hit the road and travel light, I'll like spring for a Photography plan so that I can edit RAW photos and sync images as a means of backing them up until I can dump them from my iPad to my MacBook once I get home. You can choose to edit photos in Lightroom's mobile app without a subscription. But important functionality, such as the ability to tinker with RAW images files will remain locked if you do.

    So, why bother with spending money on any of this stuff? Well, that's what part two of this column is all about. In a couple of weeks, I'll share the photos I took while in Montana with you and show you how a few pointers and excellent editing can take your images and turn them into masterpieces.

    To comment on this article and other Macworld content, visit our Facebook page or our Twitter feed.
    Source: Eat, pray, shoot: Our favorite gear and apps for travel photography

    Wednesday, January 18, 2017

    Get smart with your smart phone photography

    Get smart with your smart phone photography - Cyprus Mail Cyprus Mail

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    Source: Get smart with your smart phone photography

    Tuesday, January 17, 2017

    Eat, pray, shoot: Our favorite gear and apps for travel photography

    Some photos turn out great, but most are merely okay. As anyone who has picked up a camera will tell you, everyone shoots both kinds. But let's be honest: the majority of the photos we capture on vacation fall into the just-okay category. Thumbs make their way into shots. People and objects show up that we failed to notice when composing the shot. The sun can wash your photos out or cast harsh shadows. Not enough sun can turn what should be a beautiful moment into a grainy mess.

    The good news is that, with the right hardware and software, most of these issues can either be improved upon or avoided altogether. To help you up your photographic game before your next adventure, I present a two-part travel photography special. In this first installment, I'll cover the best hardware and software to use, and next time, I'll focus on putting those tools to use.

    These photos are from my recent trip to Montana, which I can say without hesitation is one of the most stark, beautiful places in the United States that I've ever had the privilege of visiting. Over the course of five days, my partner and I traveled to Bozeman, Pray, Yellowstone National Park, Three Forks, Butte, Bannock National Park, and Belgrade, with a ton of amazing stops along the way. Along with giving the state my best photographic efforts, I also took some intentionally terrible photos to show you that some of the worst pictures of your next vacation could well turn out to be a few of the best you've ever taken.

    Let's get started!

    My favorite cameras and accessories travel bellamy moment lensSéamus Bellamy

    Yes, the best camera really is the one that you have with you. In my case, that's typically an iPhone. For my trip to Montana, I brought along my personal iPhone SE. If you're on a tight budget like I am, you'll appreciate its low purchase price—and for the money, you won't find a better smartphone camera. It comes with the same 12-megapixel rear sensor enjoyed by owners of the iPhone 6s. That means, in addition to being able to capture bright, colorful, true-to-life photos, you can also shoot Live Photos and 4K video.

    iphone7plus review adam 1Adam Patrick Murray

    Apple giveth and Apple taketh away—but I really appreciated the loan.

    While I'm pretty happy with my iPhone SE, I lust after the photographic capabilities baked into the iPhone 7 Plus. With the addition of an antiglare screen protector, its massive 5.5-inch display and wide viewing angles make framing shots a ridiculous joy in all but the brightest of lighting conditions. 2X optical zoom and intelligent flash ensure that more likely than not you'll end up with the shot you want, every time. And Portrait mode? Icing on the photographic cake. Happily, Apple was willing to loan me an iPhone 7 Plus for my week on the road—sending it back was painful.

    travel bellamy momentmacroSéamus Bellamy

    Moment's macro lens made capturing detailed photos of the flora as we trotted around the ghost town of Bannack, Montana a treat.

    While both phones are extremely capable cameras all on their own, my preference is to use them with accessory lenses made by Moment. Currently, their lineup includes a Macro lens, 2x telephoto lens, a fisheye and wide angle lens, all of which sell just south of $100.

    That sounds like a lot of money, because it is. But the quality of the glass Moment makes and what their lenses will do for your mobile photography cannot be overstated. What's more, your investment can be used across multiple iPhone models, because Moment's lenses attach to the handsets using model-specific mounting plates. When you get a new phone, you only need new plates.

    travel bellamy momentappPhoto: Séamus Bellamy

    The Moment App allows you to shoot RAW images and offers a wide range of photographic controls.

    This meant that my partner and I were able to use the lenses on my iPhone SE, her iPhone 5s, and even the iPhone 7 Plus. (That phone's 2x telephoto zoom, plus Moment's 2x telephoto lens makes for 4x zoom!) What's more, Moment offers a free iOS app designed to be used with their lenses, but it works just as well on its own. It can shoot RAW images and lets you adjust exposure, focus and image temperature on the fly, so it's quickly replaced iOS 10's stock Camera app for me.

    travel bellamy rx100Sony

    Sony's RX100 III is easily one of the smartest purchases I've ever made.

    Despite my love of mobile photography, there's still something to be said for an excellent old-school digital camera. My Sony RX100 MIII is one of my prized possessions: it's a 35mm equivalent that takes beautiful photos in most lighting conditions, comes with a 20.1-megapixel sensor, a built-in pop-up digital viewfinder and flash, a selfie mode (if you must), and very respectable level of built-in optical zoom. It's a few years old now, but can still be found online and in stores for around $700. The RX100 MIII is rugged, well built, and a joy to use.

    Edit on the go or when you get home

    These days, there's just as much art in how we edit the photos we take as there is in actually taking them.

    My primary photographic editing tool is my 9.7-inch iPad Pro, as it's lightweight, fits easily into a daypack, allows me to see my photos at a much larger size than the display on any smartphone or dedicated camera, and it can import photos from most cameras and smartphones, either wirelessly or with the right dongle. Plus, when paired with the right app, the Apple Pencil makes precision edits an absolute joy.

    There's a seemingly endless number of photo editing apps out there, but because I need to move and store the photos I take on my computer and in the cloud for work, I've settled on a couple that I use for most everything.

    travel bellamy pixelmatoriosPhoto: Séamus Bellamy

    Pixelmator is an inexpensive alternative to Photoshop that'll make your photos look pro.

    Pixelmator is a low-cost alternative to Photoshop that boasts versions for macOS and iOS. There's very little loss between the two different versions of the app. Both allow you to define and mask areas of your canvas and paint, heal, retouch, and otherwise alter images.

    With the desktop version, it's even possible to create basic vector images—a great asset if you're into watermarking your photos. That said, I find that I only turn to Pixelmator if something I've shot didn't quite turn out as I had intended—if I discover a photobombing local in one of my travel shots, for example. Most of the time, my workflow only requires that I play with color, lighting, and exposure before storing my images or shipping them off to an editor. For this, I use Adobe Lightroom.

    travel bellamy lightroommacosSéamus Bellamy

    Lightroom for MacOS is available to purchase a la carte or as part of an Adobe software subscription.

    Lightroom is available to buy for macOS or can be had for $10 a month along with Photoshop as part of an Adobe Photography Plan subscription. Buy it outright and you'll re receive regular updates from Adobe to make sure that your app is up to date with the latest features.

    Pay for the monthly subscription and you also gain access to Photoshop (which I think is overkill for most casual photographers), and the ability to sync your photos between your computer and your iOS devices using Adobe's excellent Lightroom app for iOS. Should you stop paying for the subscription, you'll lose the ability to sync your photos and won't be able to access any of the images that you've saved online.

    In my case, I bought a desktop license for Lightroom outright, so that I can continue to use it to process and catalog my photos, free of monthly fees. Should I need to hit the road and travel light, I'll like spring for a Photography plan so that I can edit RAW photos and sync images as a means of backing them up until I can dump them from my iPad to my MacBook once I get home. You can choose to edit photos in Lightroom's mobile app without a subscription. But important functionality, such as the ability to tinker with RAW images files will remain locked if you do.

    So, why bother with spending money on any of this stuff? Well, that's what part two of this column is all about. In a couple of weeks, I'll share the photos I took while in Montana with you and show you how a few pointers and excellent editing can take your images and turn them into masterpieces.

    To comment on this article and other Macworld content, visit our Facebook page or our Twitter feed.
    Source: Eat, pray, shoot: Our favorite gear and apps for travel photography

    Monday, January 16, 2017

    Art, Entertainment, Photography Learn Photo Editing view mobile

    ShareLike this video? Share it! Submit it to Stumbleupon by Clicking here --> Posted in Photography (Videos).

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    Source: Art, Entertainment, Photography Learn Photo Editing view mobile

    Sunday, January 15, 2017

    The Camera You Have With You

    You're out celebrating a friend's birthday. What do you do? Take out your iPhone!

    You're rafting down the Colorado River or hiking in the Rockies. What do you do? Take out your iPhone!

    You're driving home from work and see a guy in an Elvis costume. What do you do? Take a "grab shot" with your iPhone!

    Each of these scenarios support that now familiar adage, The best camera is the one you have with you!

    But the iPhone is no longer just a grab-shot camera. It's become a serious tool worthy of your camera bag.

    With our iPhones, we can not only take a photo, but we can process it on the spot and, using an array of social media – Facebook, Instragram, Twitter – we can share it instantly with friends and family. This combination of social media and photography is not only fun, but it's also a great way to learn and be inspired by creative work from around the world.

    Photography in the pre-mobile era was often a very intentional endeavor that started with the commitment, Today I'm going out to shoot x,y,z.  Part of that commitment meant:

  • Blocking sufficient time to get to the shooting location,
  • Gathering gear,
  • Deciding which cameras to take, and
  • Choosing which lenses to pack,
  • Packing sufficient batteries and SD cards,
  • Stowing a tripod, and
  • Collecting filters, like a polarizer or neutral density. 
  • And all this gear went into a bag (or two!) that I had to lug around all day. Sound familiar? And that is what my day would be about; very intentionally getting out to shoot.

    Of course, I still plan intentional shooting experiences! But, when you compare that intentional scenario from yesterday, with what happens routinely today, well, things can be very different.

    Today, I get up and get on with my day, whether it's work or play, running errands, or just hanging around the house. As the day unfolds, I see things to photograph; the play of light across a clay sculpture my son made in 2nd grade, or a bowl of pears ripening on the kitchen counter. Things that in the past I would have either ignored altogether or just shrugged my shoulders at. (How many times have you said, Dang! I wish I had my camera!)

    Mug Pears

    But today, guess what? We do have our camera! Packed nicely into that ubiquitous device that doubles as our phone. So, today I shoot all the time. I photograph things that I might never photograph otherwise, and not always, but many times, the results are wonderful! Often I find the art in day-to-day life.

    Sisters Fork

    ,

    Succulent

    And, today, when I make a commitment to go out and shoot, you can be sure that my iPhone is one of the cameras I'll shoot with. Many photographers I know, including me, use the iPhone as a sketchpad or like a Polaroid, to experiment with compositions before taking a shot with the traditional camera. But the iPhone is no longer an ancillary piece of gear only to be used when we don't have our "big" cameras handy.

    Many of the images I choose to frame and hang on the wall are iPhone images. In fact, these represent the lion's share of the work I do. Here are a few images from my gallery.

    Cades Cove Cuban Dominos Fonthill Yellow Room Fonthill Annisquam Lighthouse Norman Rockwell-ish Snowy Irvington Bungalow

    Another important contribution of the iPhone is that it provides us with opportunities to practice photography. In the old scenario, how often did we set out to shoot intentionally? Four, maybe 5 times a month? Ask yourself this: How frequently do you need to shoot to get good at your craft? Musicians and athletes practice hours a day; some even sleep with their instrument or the ball! Just about anyone who's good at anything spends hours practicing and honing the fundamentals of their craft.

    The iPhone allows us to practice looking for subjects and really seeing, and envisioning possibilities. We can be constant students of composition and light, training our eyes to look for different ways to frame a scene. We can hone our craft and exercise our photographer's brain throughout a typical day. Practicing like this since I began shooting with my first iPhone in 2010 has helped me grow as a photographer.

    But, you say, the iPhone isn't serious photography. It's got a small sensor and can't take the kind of photos that I take with my "big boy" or "big girl" camera. Well, it's true; there are many things the iPhone can't do. You're not going to take it to do typical bird photography where a long lens usually is required, (unless you're photographer, Shirley Drevich, who creates award-winning bird photos with her iPhone).

    And the iPhone won't be the camera you choose for shooting a football game from the sidelines, (unless you're Shawn Hubbard, team photographer for the Baltimore Ravens).

    Each year as the technology advances, the iPhone camera's capabilities expand, and enhanced features allow us to do exciting new photography with this compact device.

    The iPhone contains a serious camera and is gaining respect as a tool worthy of any camera bag. Just ask these pros who have been traditional photographers for longer than most of them like to count!

  • John Barclay, veteran photography tour leader, teacher, and speaker. His work, and his presentation Photograph What Makes Your Heart Sing, has inspired photographers around the world. 
  • Dan Sniffin, Fresno, CA, photographer, and teacher, whose remarkable way of seeing has led him to create images that have received recognition from National Geographic and a place in private collections around the world. 
  • Tony Sweet, as a Nikon Legend Behind The Lens, and teacher of his long-running Visual Artistry Workshop Series has taught and inspired thousands of aspiring photographers in his more than 20-year career. 
  • Kevin Raber, adventure photographer and CEO of Luminous Landscape, whose life-long career in photography spans nearly every aspect of the industry. Kevin's one-man show featuring all iPhone photos taken with the Hipstamatic camera app will open in his studio in April. 
  • Karen Messick, photographer, teacher and photographic artist whose creative iPhone photography has encouraged many to take up the art form. 
  • Brenda Tharp, Landscape and Travel Workshop and Tour leader includes the iPhone in her teaching repertoire. 
  • Dan Burkholder, a photographer's photographer, one of the most experienced and respected in the industry, began making iPhone images with his iPhone 3 back in 2007! Since then, he has taught and inspired countless aspiring photographers to create using the iPhone. In addition to leading tours and teaching, Dan turns his iPhone photos into fine art, taking many of them back into the classic darkroom where he prints them as handmade platinum/palladium prints, often combined with gold leaf, palladium leaf and gesso. 
  • Dan Burkholder palladium print

    What do these photographers all have in common besides a lifetime of photography experience at the highest levels? They all embraced the iPhone early on, recognized its potential and how much fun it was, and they use it today as one more useful tool in their camera bag.So, the iPhone brings to us the capability to practice our craft of taking photos. But today, much of the craft or art of making a photo, of creating an image, includes what we do to it after taking it. That is, during (in photographer's lingo) post-processing. 

    The iPhone lets us not only capture a photograph but also create an image using extraordinary post-processing capability. It's like having Photoshop in the palm of our hand: a portable, compact, digital dark room literally at our fingertips.

    There's another aspect of iPhone photography that I want to shine a light on. The iPhone, relative to traditional cameras, is simple to operate and inexpensive to own. It won't break the bank, and one doesn't need to know the entire array of technical photography (f-stops, ISO, depth-of-field, white balance, etc., etc.) to be able to use the iPhone with surprisingly good results. Face it; the world of photography can be a daunting and intimidating place for someone new. Imagine showing up at a camera club meeting to learn, and hearing all this techno-speak. It can make one feel inadequate and incapable of learning photography. I know many people who have given up for this very reason. The iPhone, however, has made photography accessible to nearly everyone, and its relative ease of operation has seduced many into the practice of photography that may never have ventured in.

    Case in point, San Diego photographic artist Robin Robertis . Robin shied away from the big camera experience, but works magic with her iPhone.

    And I see people discovering or reconnecting with their creative potential all the time. People, like many of us, who've had the experience of being told by a teacher or parent at an early age that they couldn't do or weren't any good at (you fill in the blank; drawing, painting, coloring, etc.) They internalized the belief that they couldn't create and that they weren't creative. I believe that we all are creative beings and that each of us has inside us a creative core that yearns to be expressed. The iPhone has, for many, been the key to their creative source, providing a means of artistic expression.

    I think that the revolution and evolution of photography over the past 10 years is the best thing that has happened with the art and craft since photography was first introduced to the general public in 1839. Sure, we see loads of forgettable photographs, but in that heap, are many that are wonderful and might never have been made were it not for the iPhone. Even those "forgettable" photos are part of someone's learning process, so, in my way of thinking even these are still of value. I see photography as a form of therapy that is less for the viewers than it is an important process for the individual photographer.

    Over the next year, I'll publish a series of articles in Luminous Landscape on the iPhone and mobile photography that explore:

  • The potential of mobile photography as an art form
  • Apps for painting, blending, grunching, etc.
  • Slow shutter processes
  • Macro/Micro photography
  • New technology
  • Photographers and digital artists to follow
  • Accessories including attachable lenses, tripod brackets, batteries and underwater cases
  • How-To videos and tutorials
  • And a slew of other resources
  • Whether you are new to photography or are an experienced traditional photographer, I'll share with you ways that you can use your iPhone to create great work and grow as a photographer in the process.

    Next Month: Using Your iPhone to Take, Edit, and Stylize; an Overview.

    Publsihers Note: With the introduction of the iPhone 6 plus and now the 7 plus and based on industry reports there is no question that the iPhone is the most used camera in the world.  All of us have a mobile phone and all of us shoot with one.  It's a camera as Rad points out is always with you.  But, it's so much more.  With the available apps it allows a photographer on one device to extend their creativity from not only what is seen and recorded but to what as an artist they want to share and show.  So, we will be covering mobile photography on a regular basis moving forward and looking at how it not only compliments our photography but also allows us the chance to create something different that we wouldn't have done with our regular cameras.  I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Rad DrewJanuary 2017
    Source: The Camera You Have With You