Tag: photography Page 2 of 6

Images don’t always come perfect from the camera. They usually need tools to stand out. And with mobile camera technology getting better every day, everyone has the potential to take stunning pictures. However, a great camera can only take you so far.

This is where the dozens of photo apps in the market step in. They greatly help in capturing and editing your photos, ensuring you’ll always have images worthy of a double-take (or a double-tap). But not all apps are created equal. The question is, which ones are worthy of the precious space they’ll take up on your phone?

Luckily, one-stop online portfolio website Pixpa already researched some of the best apps for you so you don’t have to waste your researching about each one. This list includes iOS and Android apps, as well as free and paid ones. Here are their top picks:

Snapseed

Snapseed is a great photo editor developed by Google. The app can process both JPG and RAW images in a precise manner, and your customized processes can be saved and applied to the photos later. There are 29 tools and filters for your perusal, including curves, lens blur, HDR Scape, double exposure, and more. The best part? It’s totally free.

Yr.no

Outdoor photographers need a reliable app that can tell current and upcoming weather conditions. This is where Yr.no comes in. Yr.no has animated effects for the 48- hour forecast period, with information on wind, temperature, and bad weather warnings. This app was built by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, meaning you can really trust it when it comes to all things weather.

Adobe Photoshop Express

Photoshop Express is a photo editing and collage-making app used by creative individuals around the world. It has a broad range of photo effects and editing tools–you can add borders and text to photos, enhance their color, add blend effects, remove atmospheric fog, and de-haze pictures to add clarity and sharpness. Photoshop Express is the go-to app for quick fixes and effects, and it’s a must-have in every smartphone photographer’s arsenal.

PhotoScan by Google Photos

Google PhotoScan comes in handy when you don’t have a scanner and want a quick digital version of a printed photo. This app can correct perspective distortion in an image, and automatically fix its edges. PhotoScan’s response time is astounding, allowing it to automatically enhance scanned photos with ease.

TouchRetouch

The TouchRetouch app is focused on the healing and cloning functionalities. This app can remove almost anything that’s bothering you in your photos. Telephone wires, dust marks, pimples–name it, TouchRetouch can erase it. With just a few taps of your fingertips, the app will analyze the picture and remove blemishes correctly.

Instagram

Who hasn’t heard of (or installed) Instagram? Probably the most popular photo-sharing app in the world, this is a great tool to get closer to the people and things you love. Though Instagram has some cool filters, which can be used to add effects to your photos and selfies, and basic editing tools for photo enhancement, its real strength lies in the ways it allows users to share their content. On IG, photographers can share their images with a broad community, directly engaging with their followers and keeping them updated with their latest works. There’s also the app’s Story feature, which lets users upload images and videos that only last for 24 hours, and IGTV, which is perfect for sharing longer videos.

Releases

This app comes in handy when photographers need legal permission from a model or property owner to stage a photo shoot and use the photos. With Releases, you can get the signature of your client on the screen and save the release form in PDF. The app has various templates by the American Society of Media Photographers, Getty Images, and Shutterstock, among other photography resources, which can be edited and used according to your needs. The app is only available for iOS users.

Skylights

If you are a photographer who regularly uses artificial lighting, then you will love this app! With Skylights, you can record the light placement and settings from your previous shoot. Diagrams can be created in this app with just a few taps; there are more than ten categories which you can drag and add. You can easily go back to previous diagrams and edit or add components as required, and you can zoom in and save them to your camera roll. The app is only available for iOS devices.

Hyperfocal DOF

Hyperfocal DOF can be used to calculate the distance closest to the lens where the objects can be focused. This app has more than 1600 camera models to choose from–you just have to set the focal length and aperture used, along with the camera model, and the app will calculate the hyperfocal distance. Hyperfocal DOF is available for both iOS and Android.

WiFi Photo Transfer

This app was developed for iOS users who find it difficult to transfer photos from their mobile phones to their computer. The app creates a Wi-Fi connection to your computer and makes the process of transferring pictures easy.

Geotag Photos Pro 2

Geotag Photos Pro 2 can record your position while you take photos. Even if your DSLR takes the images in RAW format, the app would also be able to record your position. The GPX file downloaded from the app works perfectly with Adobe Lightroom, letting you geotag your photos while editing. The app can also transfer the GPX files automatically to the cloud services of your choice. There’s a dedicated Geotag app for smartwatches like the Apple Watch, along with iOS and Android devices.

Mextures

Mextures is a paid iOS-only app which you can use to easily apply textures, filters, and effects, such as film grain, light leaks, and gradients, to your photos. Like Adobe Photoshop, the app lets you work on layers, which can be edited anytime you want. Mextures also has more than 150 textures, which can be applied using the 12 blending modes, as well as 30 film presets to give your photos the look of popular film footage.

Don’t forget to display your images on a Nixplay Frame! Take advantage of our Back To School Sale to get 25% off selected frames, only until August 25!

How To Improve Your Selfie Game This 2019

By Nixplay Team

On February 18, 2019

In Photography

We’re almost two months into 2019—time just flies, huh? That said, have you changed your profile pictures already? While it’s far from being a necessity, it’s a nice way to edit and reevaluate your social media presence. The easiest way to do this is to take a selfie and get on with your day, but it has to be a really good selfie to be considered profile picture-worthy.

So, how exactly can you take a selfie that’s majestic enough to be featured prominently online? Read on for some easy tips. Don’t forget to display your best selfies on your Nixplay frame!

Use the rear camera.

While the front camera lets you examine how you look while you’re taking your pictures, the lens’ resolution is admittedly less clear. The rear camera has a higher resolution compared to the front camera, resulting in clearer, more defined images. Using the rear camera also forces you to look at the lens instead of your phone’s screen, letting you engage with your selfies’ viewers in a better way.

Find your light.

The key to looking great in all your photos is to look for the most flattering light source and face it. But choose your light carefully. Harsh, fluorescent white light can be extremely unflattering, so opt for natural light as often as possible. Take your selfies outdoors or near windows, when the sun isn’t so high up in the sky. The few hours after sunrise and before sunset, in particular, can bathe you in a beautiful golden glow. If there’s no source of natural light, opt for warm yellow indoor light instead.

Mind your background.

Look for pretty wallpaper, vibrantly hued walls, colorful tiles, or picturesque sweeping views. These seemingly small details will go a long way in making your selfies more interesting and more worthy to be a replacement for your current profile picture. But before you take that photo, don’t forget to check your background first. Look for wires, mess, or trash that you can take out of the frame. And if you’re taking a selfie at a particularly beautiful bathroom—for the love of all that is photogenic, please keep the toilet bowl out of the frame!

Don’t over-edit!

It’s okay to do minimal edits to your selfies: minimize eyebags, neutralize red spots, and adjust the lighting to achieve a great glow. But don’t go overboard and start resizing your nose and shaving your jawline! Too much editing will make you scarcely recognizable, turning you into a completely different person. You want to still be recognizable in your selfies, not to look like a cartoon version of yourself.

Angle away.

You probably have at least one friend who always looks good in all her photos. Either your friend is just really good-looking, or maybe he or she just knows all the most flattering angles. Practice your poses in front of the mirror, and try different angles and smiles until you find the perfect angle: One that elongates your neck, conceals your eye bags, and just makes you look like a better version of yourself.

How To Make Your Valentine’s Day Photos More Interesting

By Nixplay Team

On February 13, 2019

In Photography

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us! We’re sure you already have most of the day’s essentials: A great dining destination, a gift, and loved ones to spend the day with.

But wait—you might be forgetting something. Whatever your plans for Valentine’s Day involve, you shouldn’t forget to take pictures! Make sure to have lots of space on your camera or phone, for you’ll surely be capturing so many photos.

But this year, you should strive to make your Valentine’s Day photos more interesting. Here are some easy ways to do so.

Make your flatlays more romantic.

You’ll probably be taking photos of your Valentine’s Day dinner—as you should, on such a special day. Make sure your special meal reflects the romantic air of the holiday by adding heart-shaped elements to your place setting. Consider heart-shaped coasters or placemats, maybe even a heart-shaped plate! You can also sprinkle rose petals or paper heart cutouts on the table.

Capture the tender moments.

Valentine’s Day is all about romance, so take this chance to capture all the precious moments you’ll share with your loved ones. Each stolen gaze, every tender embrace—they all mean so much more on Valentine’s Day. Even the simplest and silliest moments hold more significance on this special day. Go out, be happy, silly, and be yourself with the one you love.

Use props.

Planning a photo shoot? Don’t forget to stash some cute props! Get a bunch of red heart balloons, have a bag of candy hearts on hand, and play around with flowers. It’s easier to relax and act more natural in front of the camera when there are things you can play around with. These add a fun touch to your photos, too!

Use rose-tinted glasses…or rather, filters!

Your photos should evoke the thrilling romance of Valentine’s Day, and an easy way to go achieve this is to stick to a soft pastel-colored palette. Don’t be afraid to be a bit heavy-handed when color-grading your photos, and bathe your images in a rosy glow. If you’re posting on social media, it’s a good time to add filters to your images.

Make heart-shaped bokeh

Feeling a little creative? If you have a DSLR camera, a wide-aperture lens with a lens cap, and a string of lights, you can add cute heart-shaped bokeh to the images you capture. Get dark paper, a cutter or a pair of scissors, and some tape. Lay your lens cap on the paper, draw a circle around it, then cut the circle out. Next, cut out a heart in the middle of the paper, then tape it to the end of the lens. Now, use your camera’s manual mode, and set its aperture to its widest opening. Set your shutter speed to 1/60th, and set your ISO to 400. String up your lights in a darkened room, and focus—every light should produce a heart shape.

Don’t forget to display your images on a Nixplay Frame! Nixplay is having a Valentine’s Day sale, and take our word for this: It’s the best time to get a frame. Take this chance to get the Nixplay Iris at up to 25% off, only until February 14!

Moments by Facebook Is Shutting Down–Here Are Other Apps You Can Use

By Nixplay Team

On February 8, 2019

In Photography

In case you missed it, Moments, Facebook’s proprietary photo-sharing tool, will be shut down for good on February 25, 2019. Moments was created in 2015 as a means for Facebook users to privately share photos outside the social media website.

“Syncing photos with the Moments app is a private way to give photos to friends and get the photos you didn’t take,” reads the app’s press release. “Moments groups the photos on your phone based on when they were taken and, using facial recognition technology, which friends are in them. You can then privately sync those photos quickly and easily with the specific friends, and they can choose to sync their photos with you as well.”

Moments by Facebook

If you don’t know what the app is all about, don’t worry—we’re not very familiar with it either. In fact, Facebook is pulling the plug because of low download numbers. From a high of 10.7 million downloads in June 2016, the app’s adoption rate plummeted to around 150,000 in December 2018—an unacceptable rate for the social media conglomerate.

If you’re an avid user of Moments, there are other apps you can use to store and share your favorite photos in a secure manner. Here are three of them.

Google Photos

Google Photos is a photo-sharing service developed by—you guessed it—Google in 2015. It gives Google users 30 GB of free storage, with the option to pay extra for up to 30 TB of space (that’s a LOT of pictures). Google Photos uses facial recognition and machine learning to identify the subjects in your images and automatically sort them into smart albums, letting you navigate your collection of memories with greater ease.

Nixplay

If you’re here, chances are you have a Nixplay frame. And while our smart frames are amazing, did you know that our app is pretty neat, too?

The Nixplay app works with Google Photos, Instagram, Dropbox, Facebook, Amazon Alexa, and Flickr, letting you display your images wherever they may be. Nixplay Frames have 8 GB internal storage, which you can fill up with hundreds of your favorite pictures. Display your chosen photos on your frame by creating playlists, and share them with your loved ones with a few clicks. Easy, right?

SmugMug

SmugMug was born from its photographer founders’ dream of having a suitable channel for their work. “Photographers needed a place online that was tailor-made for them—a place where they could stand out, shine, and share,” says our website. This cloud-based photo storage system lets you keep your treasure trove of memories—everything from scanned photos of your grandparents to your dog’s pictures–easily accessible online, without compromising security and image quality. The catch? It’s not a free service—plans start at $47.88 per year. If you’re a hardcore photographer, this is perfect for you.

4 Netflix Shows You Should Watch If You’re Into Photography

By Nixplay Team

On January 31, 2019

In Photography

It’s easy to dismiss photography as an easy art. Unlike more traditional art forms like painting or sculpture, you can see photos in seconds, with seemingly minimal effort. Anyone can take pictures—you just have to pick up a camera, fiddle with it a bit, point it at a subject, and start clicking away. Right?

That may be technically true, but it takes more than the possession of a fancy gadget to be called a photographer. There’s an art to taking frame-worthy photos, and it takes an enormous amount of passion and grit to be among the best. If you’d like to be a better photographer, take inspiration from these Netflix shows. Grab some popcorn and start binge-watching!

Harry Benson: Shoot First

Harry Benson is the acclaimed photographer behind some of the most iconic images of The Beatles. That photo of the Fab Four having a pillow fight in their room at the George V Hotel? That’s Benson’s genius at work. His repertoire is not confined to celebrities: His impressive portfolio includes images of every U.S. president since Dwight Eisenhower, magazine covers for Time, Life, and Vanity Fair, and photos of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1968. Harry Benson: Shoot First is a brilliant documentary of Benson’s storied career, sprinkled with interviews and insights into the elements that make his pictures breathtaking.

Abstract: The Art of Design

Abstract is a Netflix original documentary series that deftly picks the brains of some of the most brilliant creatives in the modern world. For shutterbugs, episode 7 (Platon: Photography) is a must-watch, letting you follow the journey of renowned British lensman Platon, who has shot portraits of some of the world’s most notable leaders, including Vladimir Putin. In the show, he photographs former U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell. As you watch, you’ll be able to pick up crucial lessons in preparing for shoots, establishing rapport with subjects, and communicating the right story to viewers.

Hondros

Whoever thinks photojournalism is a walk in the park obviously has no clue about the struggles and immense pressure involved when covering major events. This is especially true for photojournalists covering war zones—in order to take the perfect shot, you have no choice but to come close to the action despite the perils. And yet, for 13 years, American photojournalist Chris Hondros took photos of major conflict zones, from the 1999 war in Kosovo to the 2011 Libyan Civil War, where he was fatally wounded in a mortar attack. Hondros, directed by his childhood friend Greg Campbell, narrates the late photographer’s life and career milestones, telling the stories behind his most iconic photos and his influence on people around the world.

Tales By Light

Tales By Light, a joint venture between Canon and National Geographic, follows several photographers as they capture their adventures around the world. This Australian documentary series will take you from the jungles of Kenya to the seas of Indonesia, to the unexplored terrain of Antarctica, inspiring viewers to step up and protect our children, our seas, and our aboriginal culture. If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming an outdoor photographer, this series should inspire you to go out and start shooting.