Amazing iPhone 5s shots by a National Geographic Photographer

In general, there are few people more skeptical of smartphone photography than professional photographers. According to many people who make their living with photography, mobile photography is weakening their artform, and sometimes putting them out of work. Other professionals, like Jim Richardson, see their smartphone as just another tool in their camera bag. Richardson left his Nikon DLSR at home and instead took his iPhone 5S on a trip to the Scottish Highlands.
Lauren Crabbe

Here are some of the amazing photos taken by Richardson on his iPhone 5s.

Great Tips For Amateur Photographers

Becoming a photographer seems like a long and complicated process, however in reality, anyone can become one if they have enough passion. Like any other skill or hobby, photography is something that's going to take time to master, but the reward can be infinitely more valuable than the time it took to learn. If you're an amateur photographer who is just starting, here are some great and helpful tips you can use in your journey.

1. Watch Your Budget And Don't Buy Expensive Equipment

One of the biggest mistakes amateur photographers make is to spend a lot of money on equipment they don't need. The only thing an amateur photographer needs when first starting out is a digital camera, and processing software that can be found free online.

Image by LifeListChase.com

Eventually, as you gain greater confidence in your photography skills, you might find you want to buy some new equipment. Still, that is a decision best made when you've gained more experience.

2. Balance Learning With Action

Anywhere, you read about photography tips you're always going to find recommendations that you spend some time online reading about photography, or that you need to focus on taking pictures.

Both things are true if you want to take your photography skills to another level it's important that you take the time to study some of the standard practices of professional photographers. On the other hand, though taking photos is what it's all about; you should do your best to split the difference between both.

3. Start Outside First

Natural light is always going to offer the best conditions for taking photographs; this means that when you first start taking photographs you should try to do so in a natural setting.

One of the easiest ways to do this is simply go for a walk every day with your camera. This not only gives you chance to get outside it gives you a chance to take photos in a natural light setting.

4. Learn To Steady Your Hand

Learning to steady your hand is one of the most important photography tips around. Simple as it sounds it's still going to take some time to master. This is one of those things that can only be mastered after taking a lot of photographs, so if you find your first few pictures come out blurry than don't be that surprised. Given enough time you will find it easier to steady the camera and your pictures will begin to reflect that.

5. Even The Simplest Items Can Produce Great Photos

Everyone has seen famous pictures and admired the photographers who took them; this can give amateur photographers a false impression of what they should be aiming to photograph. In actuality, some of the most common items around your house could produce a great photograph. It might all depend on what time of the day you catch the light, or in what context you take the photo.

Becoming a photographer means embracing a new way of looking at the world, this skill that takes years to master. In the end though by following a few basic photography tips you'll find a path is little easier.

How to Photograph Fireworks with Awesome Examples

With New Year 2013 just days away, I decided to put up an article on some simple tips on how to capture beautiful fireworks photographs using your DSLR's this upcoming New Year's Eve. A lot of skies all around the world will be lighten up with these very colorful and stunning fireworks displays which most of us wants watch and capture in our cameras. Here are some simple and easy tips you can learn to capture some beautiful fireworks photographs.

Fireworks Photography Camera Settings

In shooting Fireworks Display, I recommend shooting in Manual Mode since you are going to change several settings(ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture) which you can only do in this mode. You can get best results when shooting in manual exposure and manual focus modes.

Set your Aperture between f8 - f16 to have larger depth of field.

Set your Shutter Speed to ‘BULB’ mode. This is a mode that allows you to keep the shutter open for as long as you hold down the shutter button.Fireworks move and the best way in capturing this movement like shooting light trails is using long exposure.

Set your ISO to 100. I recommend shooting at a low ISO to ensure the cleanest shots possible.

Switch your flash OFF. Shooting with a flash has no effect since your camera’s flash will only have a reach of a few meter.

USE TRIPOD . Since you are shooting with longer shutter, you must ensure that your camera doesn't move during the taking of your shots. No matter how steady your hand is, it's not steady enough.

Fireworks Photography Tip Composition Tips

This is the very crucial and difficult part on capturing stunning Fireworks photographs. Aiming where to frame your shot is one of the challenges you will going to face, Anticipation is the KEY. One way in overcoming this challenge is taking some test shots before the fireworks display and look for the best angle and framing on your location. After finding the best one, mount your camera in the tripod and face it to that angle.

Think about what is in the foreground and background of your shots and make sure you won’t have people’s heads ruining your shots. Keeping horizons straight. This is very important if you’re going to shoot with a wide focal length and will get other background elements in your shot.

Some Amazing Fireworks Photographs

Note: I do not own these images. All the photographs are linked back to their respective owners.

Disney - Remember... Dreams Come True (2) (Explored)

Free Photography Tips: Action Photography

In general, the term action photography refers to shooting at sports events. It is really undeniable that capturing participants in sporting events is challenging, but action photography requires more than that. Any situation where people or objects are in motion(e.g spending time with a child, traveling with a car or train) is a potential exploit for this technique. In the next lines you will be presented with some useful tips that will help you improve your action photography skills.

*** Note: I do not own these images. All the photographs are linked back to their respective owners. ***

Action Photography Tip #1: Exposure time

The action can be immortalized in the photo in two ways: the first version implies a lower shutter speed and the second is represented by a time of exposure that creates a blur effect and a feeling of movement. Moving the camera in the desired direction is relatively easy if you want to "freeze" the moving object, which can be captured even with lower values of exposure time, generally between 1/250 sec and 1/500 sec. In the event that the subject is moving at an angle of 45 degrees from the camera, freezing it at the above mentioned values is more difficult.

Thus, to be sure that the picture is successful, it is recommended to choose a value between 1/500 sec and 1/1000 sec. But the worst situation is when the subject is located at an angle of 90 degrees from the camera. In these conditions exposure should be reduced to values close to 1/1000 sec most of the times and if you are shooting subjects moving at high speed, such as cars, motorcycle, running athletes and even wakeboarding, you are required to choose values of approximately 1/2000 sec.

Nick van Ingen | november storm Nick_van_Ingen-2012-11-25KSP_4155

Action Photography Tip #2: Synchronization

One of the most important aspects in action photography is synchronization, which is anticipating the right moment for the photo. If the start was made too early, the camera will not capture anything spectacular and if it was made too late, that time is of the utmost importance was missed. For these reasons this type of photography is important to know how to anticipate moments of maximum intensity. However, you will often not have to wait for a special event to practice your skills because movement can be found everywhere around us.

Action Photography Tip #3: The necessary equipment

Freezing a subject in a photograph can be achieved by triggering the flash. In terms of objectives used for everyday actions you can use just about any kind of objective, but when it comes to shooting sports activities telephoto lenses are mandatory. If the action takes place near the camera, lenses with focal lengths between 200 mm and 300 mm are sufficient. But for the action that takes place on a runway, stage or stadium, which implies a rather large distance between the camera and the subject you need lenses with a focal length of 400 mm, 500 mm or even 600 mm in certain situations.

Action Photography Tip 4: Positioning

Besides the use of devices that will help capture the subject and setting a proper exposure time, camera positioning is another important factor contributing to the success of action photography. Its location must coincide with the person who will view the picture. If you manage to transpose the viewer into the atmosphere and set the scene your picture will be even more spectacular.

Top 3 Free Android Apps for Photography

It’s obvious that you cannot have Adobe Photoshop with you all the time to edit your pictures professionally. However, if you own an Android device, things are much easier for you. If you don’t want to edit your pictures by transferring it to your computer and then using photoshop or other photo editing software, an android app will be the perfect choice you. If you are a passionate photographer and always busy in uploading your images with different cross-color effects and other photography effects, here are top 3 free android apps which are useful in easy editing of your photographs:

1. Instagram

The name itself is very popular since Instagram is one of the best social photography apps available. Edit your photos and apply various filtered effects in just one click. Add different kinds of blur effects and frames/borders to give a decent touch to your photos. Share your photos on Twitter, Facebook and other social places.

2. Pixlr-o-matic

An app developed by popular company Autodesk. Pixlr-o-matic is one of those apps which provide you more than 100 effects and various frames and shades. You can edit your image in seconds and can generate 1000s of various effects from the combinations. Personally, this app is a must for every photographer and most of the casual photographers prefer this app over Instagram due to its variety in different types of effects and a very simple UI.

3. Fx-Camera

An app with a very simple UI which will help you to transform your image into a fantastic picture in seconds. This app allows you to take pictures in different styles such as FishEye, ToyCam, Comics, Manga style etc. If you are a casual photographer, this app can be very useful for you.

Honorable Mentions: Apart from these three apps there are few other good apps which deserve a try such as PicsArt Photo Studio, Insta Effects, Lomo Camera and easyFocus.

The Rise of iPhoneography

Mobile Phone Photography specifically iPhone Photography(iPhoneography) has advanced rapidly in a few short years. The iPhone is good enough to replace a point-and-shoot camera commonly used by the society. Equipped with a with a big 5 MP sensor, an impressive f/2.4 aperture, an IR filter and lots of software to make pictures as bright and beautiful as possible, from candid snapshots, ad campaigns and everywhere in between.

Why Do People Loving iPhoneography?

With over 50 million combined uploads to Flickr alone, Apple’s iPhone is fast becoming one of the most popular digital cameras in the world. One of the reasons for the popularity of the iPhone as a camera, is its mobility. As a phone, it’s a device you always carry with you. When people say this about Mobile Phone Photography or iPhoneography, they're usually talking about snapping those unexpected moments: a man in a banana suit on his way to work; a celebrity involved in a punch-up; or maybe just a beautiful sunset. The rise of mobile applications taking advantage of the rise in mobile phone photography specifically iPhoneography. Most mobile phone cameras take very dull photos. But it doesn't matter, because there are hundreds of apps to help you turn them into something amazing. Applications like Best Camera, Hipstamatic, Instagram, CameraBag, Vignette (Android), offer users the ability to quickly edit the images they have just taken.

iPhoneography sample shots

While iPhoneography won’t replace DSLRs and medium format cameras for studio and other professional work any time soon, they are fast approaching the level of dedicated compact cameras, poised to become in fact, an equipment for genres like street and event photography.

Note: I do not own these images. Images are linked back to their respective owners.

iPhoneography Apps

The App Store contains thousands of apps for shooting, editing, and sharing your photos directly from your iPhone. Because there are so many options, finding the iPhone photography apps that work best for you will completely depend on what you’re looking for. Here are some few of the best apps which are usually used in iPhoneography.

Camera+: This is my go-to app when it comes to shooting photos with my iPhone. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or someone who’s barely touched a camera, Camera+ will make you love taking photos. Camera+ is what the stock Camera app should be.

Snapseed: Snapseed makes any photograph extraordinary with a fun, high-quality photo experience right at your fingertips. Anyone can enhance, transform, and share their photos with ease using incredibly advanced features. If you don’t have Snapseed yet, make sure to download it now.

Pro HDR: Bringing automatic high dynamic range photography to your iPhone, Pro HDR captures an image exposed for the highlights and another exposed for the shadows. It then aligns and merges the images, giving you a gorgeous HDR image at native resolution.

Slow Shutter Cam: Slow Shutter Cam brings new life into your device’s photo toolbox by letting you capture a variety of amazing slow shutter speed effects that you only thought you could get with a DSLR. It’s the perfect app to shoot light trail photographs.

Camera Awesome: Camera Awesome takes your photos to the next level by shooting fast and taking sharper, better-exposed shots. I mostly use it for its “Awesomize” feature which instantly makes any picture a better one. It also comes with various controls, filters, and much more. Give it a try.

Instagram: Do we even need to introduce Instagram? It is one of the most, if not the most popular app for sharing your best iPhoneography.

Featured Blogger:
Rahul Garewal is a content writer and a Professional Blogger. He is certified with E20-002 test which is very popular these days and have a great scope in the field of IT Certification. He always like to take certification exams and now he have planned to pass E20-005 test. These kinds of exams could secure your future as well as your job.

5 Simple Steps to Improve Your Photography Skills

Usually whenever new and aspiring photographers think of professional photographs, a studio with a lot of expensive photography equipment is the first thing that comes into their minds. Even though some of these expensive equipment are helpful, they are not necessarily needed. Anyone can capture a head turning photo if you have the patience to take the time to compose a shot can make a huge difference in the result. Here are some simple ways to improve your photography skills.

1. Get in Close - Don't be in a big hurry to take the picture. Always check if there is enough of the subject; if necessary, zoom in. This will also help cut out any distractions around the subject. If you are trying to shoot a landscape then shoot the landscape. If you are trying to take a portrait with a landscape background, remember that the subject is still the person and not the landscape. Zoom in until the subject is dominant.

2. Don't Shoot Randomly - Take pictures of subjects that excite you. You may have to take quite a few pictures to discover what type of photography and subjects interests you. When you finally find your niche in photography, your excitement will reflect in your photos. Professional photographers have spent years photographing different aspects of the same subject. There is an endless supply of landscapes, sunsets, people and flowers. Again, don't waste your time shooting things that do not interest you unless searching for something that does.

3. Composition is the Key - Composition is always the key to have a great photograph. As what the quotes says, “A Picture is worth a Thousand Words”. When you are just beginning, try to keep the horizons straight. Use the viewfinder to crop out distractions. Change the position of the subject to your perspective. Shoot the subject from different angles and viewfinder location; an off-center shot often creates more interest.Don't lose track of what the subject is. If the subject's surroundings are busy and contrasting, use a narrow depth of field to blur the surroundings. This will make the subject really seem to pop out of the picture.

4. Get out from Auto - An interesting way to control the outcome of a photo is using the Manual Mode of your camera. With these, you have the full control of your camera. You can easily change the ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture. Manually controlling the shutter allows you to freeze time or let it go on to reflect motion. This is what allows for a freeze frame shot. A time lapse moment can be captured using a slower shutter speed. My favorite is freezing time at a sporting event and capturing what spectators often do not notice. The point is to experiment with different aperture settings.

5. Know Your Camera - Stick with basic camera settings and functions when you first get started. If you're planning to use the completely automatic settings, you may as well be using a point and shoot camera. Getting frustrated when first learning camera settings is common, but it does get easier with practice. After learning the camera settings thoroughly, it is okay to use one of the semi-automatic settings (auto aperture or auto shutter) and adjust the other manually. To obtain complete power over the outcome of the picture, shoot in manual. Remember, don't be in a hurry; learning how to correctly use a camera takes practice.