6 tips to improve your mobile photography
Photography’s evolution has dramatically sped up since the inception of quality smartphone cameras. Handsets have effectively replaced point-and-shoot cameras, something we never expected to happen only a generation ago. This opens plenty of new doors for creating memories, but it also means there are millions of other users taking a sea of photos every single day. How can you make your own pictures stand out?
It’s hard to teach anyone photography, as it’s a skill that usually takes a long time to polish. There’s a plethora of factors to take into account every single time you release that shutter. Not to mention, every user has a personal style. Regardless, there are some simple ways to dramatically improve your shots, without investing too much time and resources into this art.
LG is giving us some tips and tricks you can apply to your daily snaps and share even more awesome images to your social networks. Of course, this is mostly marketing content and mentions LG products quite often, but these tricks can be applied with any camera, and it’s definitely useful information. Let’s dig into the nitty gritty, shall we?
1 – Shooting from above
As LG mentions, shooting from above (camera pointing down) can make people look more flattering, as it tends to get rid of “double chin action and awkward lines”. Of course, there are ways to do this without having to use these angles, it just so happens that looking up stretches parts of your neck and face, making them look smoother.
Alternatively, you can try to lower your shoulders and stick out your chin. You know, just in case you really want to show something that is behind you and you can only catch by lowering the camera.
2 – Play with the shutter speed
This is something most people don’t pay too much attention to, but messing around with the shutter speed can make a huge difference in your photos. It all depends on the amount of light you have available and the effect you are looking for. Let’s start by telling you how the shutter speed affects the image.
The shutter speed determines how long your camera sensor is exposed. A faster shutter speed will capture action clearer and freeze all the details, but it will also mean having to raise the ISO (more on this later), which can make the image more grainy.
On the other hand, lowering the shutter speed will capture smoother moving objects and you can get less noisy images, but you have to be more careful. Slow shutter speeds make your photos more prone to motion blur. Just make sure you have very steady hands, use a tripod or make sure the device is stable.
3 – The rule of thirds!
Composition, composition, composition! All other factors are important for making a great image, but ask any photographer and he will tell you composition is the most important part. There is plenty of advanced composition methods, but the most basic one that works almost every single time is the rule of thirds.
The concept is simple. Just visualize the frame divided in three, both horizontally and vertically. There will be a virtual set of rectangles. See the middle one? Try to place your main subject in one of its corners (where the lines intersect). This usually creates a very interesting effect, but be careful, as sometimes images can have too much dead space in other areas.
4 – Try to get a basic idea of ISO
What the hell is ISO? It seems like some convoluted professional photography term, but it’s really quite an easy concept. The ISO simply determines the sensitivity of your sensor (or film). The lower the ISO, the less light your camera can capture. This usually means you have to elongate exposure (unless you are looking for a specific effect), but shots will be less noisy.
As you start increasing the ISO, your images will become more grainy, but you will be able to use a faster shutter speed and/or make images brighter.
Many smartphones now have manual mode built in, but those who don’t enjoy such features can simply look for another camera app with a manual mode. There’s plenty in the Google Play Store!
5 – Sometimes panorama is the only good way to go
Are you trying to take a picture of something that is too large? You don’t need to run miles back just to fit it all in the frame. Pretty much all modern smartphones can now take panorama shots. These images are essentially multiple images stitched together. This used to be a more complicated process before, but smartphone software now does it all for you.
6 – HDR
When I learnt to do HDR, we had to take multiple identical shots at different shutter speeds, put them together using specialized software and manually adjust all the lighting. The ultimate purpose? To have more dynamic range and create images that are more uniformly lit. Modern smartphones can now take care of all this work on their own, so look for the option in the camera settings.
This is good for situations in which there is a large contrast in light. For example, try to take a picture of yourself indoors, standing in front of a window that points outside. Either you will be very dark or the light outside will be completely overblown.
Wrapping up
So there you have it, guys! These are definitely some helpful tips, but there is so much more you can do with your mobile photos. Do you have any other tips for us? Share them with your fellow mobile enthusiasts in the comments below.
Add-on promises to stabilize video from nearly any camera
It’s possible to stabilize your phone videos through Hyperlapse, and dedicated video editors can smooth out other shaky clips with enough time and effort. But what if you want a simple way to eliminate jitters no matter which camera you’re using? SteadXP believes it can help. It’s crowdfunding a namesake device that brings three-axis video stabilization to virtually any camera, whether it’s an action cam, a DSLR or a pro-grade cinema cam. While many of these shooters have some kind of stabilization, SteadXP’s device uses motion tracking with after-the-fact software analysis to deliver the kind of graceful, movie-like stabilization that would normally require a gimbal or steadicam.
And importantly, you don’t have to settle for one take on your footage. While SteadXP doesn’t play nicely with zooms and takes some time to compute the final results, you can reframe your subject to get the intended look. It’ll even suggest different trajectories (such as one that keeps the horizon level) to achieve particular effects.
If you like the concept, you might want to act quickly and score a discount. SteadXP is promising a GoPro-compatible model with a €140 pledge ($159) or a DSLR/mirrorless version with a €230 ($261) pledge, but you’ll have to pay €30 more if you miss out on these early bird offerings. You won’t have to wait too long to give the stabilizer a shot, at least. Regular shipments will start in March if all goes well, and those willing to pony up additional cash (at least €200, or $227) can participate in a beta test beginning this January. If you frequently record your outdoor adventures and would rather not make viewers feel queasy, this gadget is likely worth a closer look.
Filed under:
Cameras, Peripherals
Via:
The Verge
Source:
Kickstarter
Tags: actioncamera, crowdfunding, dslr, gopro, ImageStabilization, kickstarter, mirrorless, photography, stabilization, steadxp, video
The second ‘StarCraft II’ expansion arrives November 10th
It’s been a long time coming, but the second StarCraft II expansion is nearly here: Blizzard has announced that Legacy of the Void will arrive on November 10th. As with both the original game (Wings of Liberty) and Heart of the Swarm, this latest title will focus primarily on one species. In this case, you’re reuniting the mysterious Protoss so that they can confront a dire threat and reclaim their homeworld. You’ll also get new units for all factions, and there are fresh multiplayer modes that include shared bases and objective-based co-op. It’s not really a revolution, then. However, this also represents the end of the StarCraft II story line — if you’re determined to see the conclusion to Blizzard’s five-year sci-fi saga, you’ll want to check this out.
Filed under:
Gaming
Via:
Kotaku
Source:
Battle.net, BusinessWire
Tags: activision, blizzard, gaming, legacyofthevoid, starcraft, starcraft2, starcraftii, starcraftiilegacyofthevoid, video
Sphero BB-8 Android app updated with voice command capabilities
Did you get yourself a nifty Sphero BB-8 Star Wars droid? The app-controlled spherical robot is about the coolest tech toy we have seen hit the market in a long time. And using your phone to move the android around is only the basic feature; this thing is smarter than one would imagine. One of its perks is the ability to recognize your voice and react to it. There was only one issue – though this was a very widely advertised feature, it wasn’t a capability that was available to Android users at launch.
Sphero is ready to give us voice commands with the latest update to the official BB-8 application. This upgrade brings the application up to version 1.0.1, and it also offers UI tweaks, connection fixes and compatibility for more devices.
Those who want to start ordering their Sphero BB-8 robots around can now go to the official app’s settings and turn the “Voice Commands” option on. After this, you can tell the Sphero BB-8 to go into patrol mode, move forward or backward, and one can even yell out “it’s a trap” to have the robot go away speedily.
This little toy is every Star Wars geek’s dream. It packs so many features, which is why it’s no surprise to see it priced at $149. I say it’s worth every penny, though!
Have you guys been able to test voice commands yet? Hit the comments to let us know how it works.
Download the BB-8 app from the Google Play Store!
Flickr wants you to explore photos in VR
Some day you could be flipping through your vacation photos while wearing a VR headset. At the XOXO Festival taking place in Portland, Oregon this weekend, Flickr is showing off an early preview of a virtual reality experience that it hopes to integrate with its photo service. The demo at the festival was with an Oculus DK 2 hooked up to a PC and the idea is that you’ll be able to use the headset specifically with 360-degree panoramic photos. I tried it on and indeed I was able to look all around me in 360 degrees to view an entire scene. To flip through the slides, I looked down at a pair of pink and blue balls for a couple of seconds, which triggers the next photo to load.
Of course, this is still very early days, and a lot of this could change. Bertrand Fan, the front-end architect for Flickr who was heading up the project (and whose contact info you can see in the image above, which he said was fine for me to post on the internet), says he’s only been working on it for the past couple of weeks. The plan right now is to add a VR headset link or button at every page with a 360-degree photo, so if you happen to have a VR headset lying around, you can try the VR experience out. The Flickr VR demo currently only works with the Oculus, but Fan hopes to have it integrated with the Gear VR and other VR headsets as well.
As for whether there are a ton of 360-degree photos out there, he tells me that it’s actually a fairly burgeoning community. You can take these photos with your phone in some instances (through Google photosphere stitching) or with cameras like the Ricoh Theta. He says that there’ll eventually be an Explore Section on Flickr devoted to 360-degree panoramic photos.
But Fan’s ambitions for Flickr VR extends beyond just slideshows. He tells me that some day he wants it to be possible for you to browse through your library and even organize your photos into albums just by waving your hands, Minority Report-style. He hopes to roll out the initial stages of Flickr VR to the general public by early next year.
[Image credit: 360-degree pano of Sydney Opera House by mugley/Flickr]
Tags: flickr, virtualreality, vr, xoxofest
‘Metal Gear Solid V’ was supposed to have a third chapter
Many will tell you that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain comes across as rushed at times. While there’s a lot to do, it’s light on story — a sharp contrast with earlier Metal Gear games, which are notorious for their epic-length cutscenes. However, there’s now evidence suggesting that the original plan was for a much larger, more substantial game. Players on the Facepunch forums have discovered files in the PC version of MGSV which show that the title was supposed to have not only more prominent characters (such as The Boss), but an entire third chapter. It’s not clear exactly how much is missing, but the released game’s abrupt end hints that the third section was going to bring the story to a proper conclusion.
It’s not shocking that there’s missing content — studios frequently cut material from games, whether it’s to make looming ship dates or simply to scrap elements that didn’t pan out. However, the sheer scope of what was cut, combined with Konami’s attempt to divest itself of Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, doesn’t exactly paint a pretty picture. It hints that the publisher wanted to get MGSV (and its relationship with Kojima) finished as quickly as possible, even if it involved making some big sacrifices. The overall warm response to the shipping game shows that you didn’t lose too much of the core experience, but it’s all too tempting to wonder what might have emerged if Konami had more patience.
Filed under:
Gaming
Via:
GamingBolt, Windows Central
Source:
Facepunch
Tags: gaming, HideoKojima, KojimaProductions, konami, metalgearsolid, metalgearsolid5, metalgearsolidv, MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain, ThePhantomPain, videogames
Microsoft secretly purchased a popular Android lockscreen app
Microsoft have purchased Double Labs, the makers of Echo Notification Lockscreen for Android. The lockscreen app lets you customize your lockscreen to show you custom notifications so you don’t have to unlock your phone as much.
Microsoft have already made their own Android lockscreen app last year called Next Lock Screen. It does basically the same thing as Echo Lockscreen. Why do they need two nearly identical lockscreen apps you might be asking? Well, Microsoft Chief Experience Officer Julie Larson-Green says it’s about “taking productivity to the next level.” She also says the current problem with Apple, Android, or even Windows Phone is that they are just alerts of random apps, and not actually personalized to the user.
“It’s a list of what apps want you to know, not necessarily what’s important to you,”
Larson-Green’s main job is to think of new ways for users to receive their information, contextual and personal. Android is a perfect testing ground as it has many users for experimentation. Basically, Microsoft are creating Android apps for testing purposes only and will use the data to make better Windows Phone, Windows 10, Office, and other Microsoft products that send notifications in the future.
Newly purchased Echo Lockscreen has over 50,000 reviews in the Play Store currently, which gives Microsoft a ton of new data to work with.
Larson-Green says that by having standalone apps they can edit and refine them before making them a permeant part of their own operating systems.
“You buy Microsoft for your business, you want to feel good about the products we’ve been building,”
Source: Business Insider
Come comment on this article: Microsoft secretly purchased a popular Android lockscreen app
Mentions of ‘Nexus Protect’ show on hardware listings in the Google Store
People have reported that listings on the Google Store show something called “Nexus Protect”. You can’t see it actually written on the page, but it can be seen if you look into the page source.
If you look into it, the following phrase can be seen as a pop-up.
You can’t add this phone unless it has the same Nexus Protect choice as other phones in your cart. You can update your choice or purchase this phone in your next order.
Judging by this text, it is looking like Nexus Protect will be an extended warranty, similar to Apple Care and other store or manufacture extended warranties. The Google Store however, looks like they are doing things a little different. Based on the text, it seems like you can either add the plan to everything you purchase or not add it at all. Meaning, you can’t buy 10 devices and add the plan to only two of them. It’s either all or nothing. We could also be totally wrong on that, but it is our best guess based on the text provided. Feel free to share your guesses in the comments.
The text will also pop-up on virtually everything in the Google Store. Doesn’t matter if you are looking for Chromebooks, Android TV, or Android Wear devices that aren’t made by Google, the text will show for everything. Since the text isn’t technically able to be seen by all, it could just be this way for the time being and not actually on everything when it goes live in the future.
Source: Google Store
Via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Mentions of ‘Nexus Protect’ show on hardware listings in the Google Store
Apple will shut down HopStop’s mass transit services in October
Apple kept HopStop’s mass transit directions and guides running (with notable exceptions) long after it bought the company back in 2013, but you won’t get to rely on them for much longer: Cupertino has revealed that it’s shutting down HopStop come October. There’s no explanation, but it doesn’t take much effort to understand what’s up. Apple had already discontinued all but the iOS and web versions of HopStop’s apps, and you’ll find much of HopStop’s technology in iOS 9’s mass transit directions. Simply put, there’s not much incentive to keep the older tech running. This won’t make you very happy if you still lean on HopStop to get around town, but you have at least a few alternatives if Apple Maps isn’t your cup of tea.
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
Filed under:
Cellphones, Transportation, Internet, Mobile, Apple
Via:
Fortune
Source:
HopStop
Tags: apple, hopstop, internet, ios, ios9, masstransit, mobilepostcross, publictransit, transportation
Xcode Confirms 2GB of RAM in iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, 4GB of RAM in iPad Pro
Apple development tool Xcode seemingly confirms the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus each have 2GB of RAM, while the iPad Pro has 4GB of RAM, as discovered by iOS developer Hamza Sood.
Sood claims the image assets shown below are “chosen based on the memoryClass key in the simdevicetype’s capabilities.plist.”
Not much of a surprise but Xcode confirms 2GB of RAM for the 6s (and 6s plus), and 4GB for the iPad Pro pic.twitter.com/X8Ym4DtamS
— Hamza Sood (@hamzasood) September 13, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAdobe issued a Creative Cloud press release earlier this week that claimed the iPad Pro had 4GB of RAM, but soon after it updated the release to remove any mention of the tablet’s memory.
Apple itself did not mention how much RAM the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus or iPad Pro have during its “Hey Siri” media event, nor does it include RAM on the Tech Specs page for any of the devices.
AIVAnet 