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Review: EyeEm Photography Sharing App for iOS

by Hannah Gal on January 13, 2012 · 13 comments

At the heart of the EyeEm photo app is a vibrant community spirit. From the very first time you upload a photo, you feel part of a worldwide, active photo-sharing group.

Besides providing a platform for your own photos, this intuitive app offers insight into fellow snappers’ work, with thousands of uploaded photos. Photos are grouped into albums in various categories including Friends, Nature, Self-Portraits, My Desk, Smile, Subway, and On the Road, among others. There is up-to-date info about the number of photos in each category and the number of photographers who contributed them.

On the main screen, you can click on Popular to view the most-liked photos of the moment or “Around You” for images taken in your area. Here you can also conduct a Search, open Albums to browse through generously-sized thumbnails, and click on any image to enlarge.

Next to the full-size image is a heart icon through which you inform the photographer you liked his/her creation. There is also an option to leave a comment about the photo and get a conversation started.

A click on the camera icon opens EyeEm’s own camera. Not as elaborate as some dedicated photo-taking apps out there, this camera’s controls are limited to Flash and the handy ability to reverse the camera for shooting self portraits.

Along the bottom of the clutter-free camera screen are twelve real-time filters to apply to the preview image before committing. These are highly effective filters that seem to instantly beautify even the simplest of images. You then tag your freshly taken photo using the colourful Activity and Location bubbles that appear on the screen. The first lists a range of preset activities such as eating, having fun, and working, while the location bubble suggests a list of nearby locations. I like that you can leave both location and type of activity blank if you so wish. Before you hit the Upload button, you get the choice of sharing your photo via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare, or email.

When you choose to upload an existing image, EyeEm opens up your personal collection, where you simply select the image you wish to add and share it via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare or email.

EyeEm lets you share a permanent link of your account to Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr or Foursquare, as well as create a unique profile with a few words about yourself. You can claim your own EyeEm URL that displays all of your uploaded pics, as well as your blog, information on users who liked your images with a link to their page, and more.

This is a fast, confusion-free, intuitive app. A testimony to its user friendliness is the fact I soon found myself using it to add new work to Flickr.

EyeEm on iTunes
EyeEm website

“London Sessions with Brett Florens” Wedding Photography iPad App

by Hannah Gal on November 14, 2011 · 9 comments

London Sessions with Brett Florens - iPad App
The “London Sessions with Brett Florens” app for iPad is your ticket to an exclusive wedding photography course with renowned photographer Brett Florens. Through the app’s three-day workshop, this skilled professional delivers priceless advice as well as practical photo sessions, geared to elevate your wedding photography business and help you appeal to a higher level clientele.

You get Brett’s tried and tested view on business sustainability, dealing with clients, advertising, nailing a job, costings, maintaining a healthy relationship with fellow suppliers (videographer, florist, jeweller, dress designer), attending bridal shows, pre-wedding meeting, viewing your portfolio, and much more. Just hearing a professional of Brett’s calibre describe his personal kit is illuminating, from his reasoning for choosing the Nikon 70-200 2.8 lens to why a collapsable reflector is the single most important addition to your kit.

The first day includes an excellent photo demonstration in which Brett shows specially created exposure problems and then presents fast and effective solutions for each. This clear insight into how he tackles common exposure issues would be of benefit to any photographer—whatever their level of expertise—and should be taught at every photography school.

His quick and effective remedies go beyond the elimination of unsightly shadows, or overly shiny skin, to achieve an altogether classier shot. Importantly, this constructive guidance can be applied to a multitude of situations with tips for life on controlling depth of field, shooting in aperture priority mode, reading your histogram on the fly, or refining the exposure settings to ensure the client gets exactly what she asked for. A great example here is a beach shot that delivers flattering exposure of the bride but fails to show the beautiful beach behind her. Brett explains how this specific bridal shot can be adjusted to bring in detail of the beach in the background, thus fulfilling her (well-paid for) wish of stunning beach bridal shots.

London Sessions with Brett Florens - App for iPad

At the end of the first day, there are practical sessions where Brett takes a group of photographers on a comprehensive wedding day shoot with a model couple. There is a casual engagement session in a fetching London coffee shop as well as a fashion-oriented street scene. Brett’s experience shines throughout with clear instructions on engaging with the couple, exposure, using available light with a reflector, and more.

Practical sessions continue on the second day when the group photographs the bride’s preparations (including an informative interview with the makeup artist and shooting the dress), the ceremony and exchanging rings, reception and first dance, bridal portraits, couple leaving the church, and countless memorable moments in-between. The second day ends with a night shoot against the backdrop of London’s striking night lights with an enormous amount of photographic details throughout.

The third day is dedicated to the post production process, from choosing images and touch-ups to printing and maintaining a healthy relationship with a pro lab. The post-wedding shoot is expanded upon, including some particularly striking images. Brett shows the Grey Card in Post Production, speaks of Raw vs. Jpeg, Nik Software, printing your images, relationship with your pro-lab, post-wedding shoot, reprints, parent’s albums, and more.

This app is the ultimate guide to wedding photography, from running and sustaining a successful business to delivering simply classic images. While every photographer of any skill level would benefit from this Nikon-credited photographer’s advice, the app would be of enormous interest to practicing practitioners wanting to elevate their business, take more striking shots, and attract a classier clientele. Brett’s expertise is admirable, while his thoroughly professional delivery is charmingly clear and informative throughout.

Grab the app in the iTunes Store.

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Go “Behind The Lens” with Brett Florens’ Photography iPad App

by Hannah Gal on November 7, 2011 · 13 comments

BehindtheLens AppNetframes’ “Behind the Lens with Brett Florens” app for iPad and iPhone takes us on an engaging wedding day shoot with top photographer Brett Florens. We follow this skilled professional as he guides us through the entire day, from arrival at the groom’s house and the couple’s preparation, to bridal and outdoor portraits, the church, reception, first dance, cake cutting, and more.

The app’s greatest strength is the comprehensive insight it provides into the hectic day. As we follow the admirably calm Brett from one setting to another, he shares his expert choices of equipment, exposure, wedding day proceedings, photographer’s conduct on the day, subject lighting, and pose. There are countless tips for every aspect of wedding photography, including constructive use of time on the day, building rapport with the couple, and tackling lighting challenges that arise. Coupled with the gorgeous resulting images, this information amounts to a priceless and highly-effective photography lesson.

Behind Brett’s masterful presentation hides an astounding amount of useful photographic detail. For a single outdoor shot of the groom riding a bike, for example, Brett explains how he uses pocket wizards—wireless transceivers—so that the flash can be triggered from 20-30 meters away. He attaches one to the camera and the other to the flash before bringing in a portable strobe unit to freeze the action. On this overcast day, Brett sets the camera to 400 ISO with a 200 shutter speed. The ambient light is around 200 at F11 and, as Brett explains, he is shooting at F14 to slightly underexpose the background and separate it from the subject.

Brett’s clear delivery is enhanced by the app’s superb editing. The overall emphasis is on elevating your photography—whatever your level of expertise—and creating classy images.

BehindTheLensBride

Some of the many tips I jotted down were shooting in pairs so you have images for both sides of the wedding album, getting at least one good shot of all bridesmaids and groomsmen, getting a shot of the groom as he listens to the bride’s reception speech, using an extension chord for the flash to get directional lighting, getting ambient light into a dancing shot (set to tenth of a second on F4), and checking image histogram on the fly. Brett chooses one histogram to show lack of highlights in the 1/125, F4, 400 ISO shot. On this occasion, he tackles the problem by slowing the shutter down to a tenth of a second, allowing ambient light in and adding atmosphere.

His ultimate control over his equipment is evident throughout. In one outdoor shoot, Brett makes a daylight shot look like it was taken at night, and in another reprints-generating shot, uses a wide-angle lens on a raised monopod for a photo outside the church that includes the couple’s entire guest party.

Brett’s professionalism provides a worthy lesson in fast thinking and thorough understanding of both ambient light and your equipment. When the light drops dramatically, Brett takes atmospheric shots of the couple before bringing the Ranger power pack into action. He swiftly adjusts his equipment for the reception, which is shot in a photojournalistic style with many emotive and candid images. After taking several detail shots around the room, Brett backs up onto the Epson P5000, where we get a glimpse of the many images taken so far. Using a 12-24mm lens and a slow shutter speed, he captures the couple’s arrival with lively images that have a sweeping effect, a fetching touch of drag, and sense of motion.

BehindTheLensReception

For the speeches, he uses a 600watt Elinchrome head with a white umbrella, a lighting set up which, as Brett explains, is suitable throughout as it covers both guests and speakers. For the first dance, Brett’s assistant shines a 2 million power flash light to illuminate the bride’s veil, allowing Brett to shoot romantic, warm images without a flash.

This is a superbly put together app that is guaranteed to elevate your wedding photography to a higher level and help you produce classier ‘winning shots’. It is a comprehensive and friendly guide to wedding photography, bursting with priceless photography tips for life. If you are curious about wedding photography or a practicing professional wishing to significantly improve your output and clientele, this app is for you.

Pick it up in the iTunes Store.

The Kingdom of Animal Photography: Q&A with Photographer Tim Flach

by Hannah Gal on September 30, 2011 · 6 comments

[Editor’s Note: The following is the third in a series of posts on animal photography]

With his trademark immaculate lighting and clear artistic vision, photographer Tim Flach has created an iconic style unlike any other. His unique blend of clean composition, distinctive style and a quietly philosophical outlook come together to transcend accepted photographic boundaries and achieve a certain timelessness.

Photograph by Tim Flach

Where others simply portray an animal’s character, Flach ventures further to inject intrigue and wonderment into his images. Flach’s quietly powerful photographs go beyond evoking feelings towards an animal, to examining the essence of our relationship with it. His books Dogs: Gods and Equus both feature images that, while stylized, avoid obvious compositions. They bring to light Flach’s rare ability to challenge traditional depictions and attain commercial success at the same time.

From his spacious London studio, the multi-award-winning photographer, shares his craft and distinguished career.

Hannah Gal: Can you tell us about your journey as a photographer? [click to continue…]

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Review: Fuji X100

by Hannah Gal on August 2, 2011 · 7 comments

Often described as a pro compact, Fuji’s X100 marks a new direction in the evolving camera market. Released in early 2011 after Fuji recognized “a space in the market for a premium grade fixed lens compact camera,” the X100 has proved popular with pros and amateurs alike, in spite of the $1,700.00 price tag. [click to continue…]

The Kingdom of Animal Photography: Wildlife

by Hannah Gal on July 18, 2011 · 9 comments

You might need a Digiscope or a camera trap to take these kinds of images. Photo by Beverly Joubert

[Editor’s Note: The following is the second in a series of posts on animal photography]

Wildlife photography is one of the most competitive photographic fields. It demands uncompromising skill and the utmost dedication. [click to continue…]

The Kingdom of Animal Photography: Pets

by Hannah Gal on July 8, 2011 · 8 comments

Photo by Tim Flach

Animal photography encompasses a wide spectrum of practices, from pet portraits to advertising and wildlife. In the first part of this series, I’m going to take a look at the kind that most of us have the opportunity to practice: pet photography. [click to continue…]

The Rise of the Camera Phone, Part One: An Introduction

by Hannah Gal on June 29, 2011 · 1 comment

Say hello to the world's most popular consumer camera.

The camera market is evolving rapidly. At the heart of these changing dynamics is the phenomenally popular camera phone, a gadget that’s come a long way from its humble, tiny, grainy image file beginnings. [click to continue…]

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