Polarizing filters are great, they enhance skies, remove reflections and reduce glare from photos. On the other hand they are usually big and not something you’d haul around for a smartphone. Here is a quick little hack courtesy of the Koldunov Brothers that builds a small and portable polarizer filter for your smart phone.
DSLR compared with the iPhone 7 Plus
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I think for most people, no matter how many comparisons or examples come out, the whole “actual camera vs smartphone camera” debate will never end. Every other new phone seems to be hailed as a “DSLR Killer” by social media. It’s only lately we’ve seen these sorts of claims from manufacturers themselves, though. It was a key selling point of the Huawei P9 and Apple say the iPhone 7 Plus shoots “DSLR quality pictures”. But does it?
We showed you some samples of the iPhone 7 Plus “portrait mode” recently, and many weren’t convinced. This video from Lee Morris over at FStoppers looks a little more in depth at the iPhone 7 Plus’ camera. He pits it against a DSLR in a bunch of different situations. Of course, it’s difficult to fairly compare a DSLR to any phone, given the vast difference in specs of today’s models. So, Lee chose to compare it with the 7 year old Nikon D300s.
Can the new Portrait Mode on iPhone 7 Plus make you a better photographer?
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One of the primary lessons I teach in portraiture is how to control the viewer’s eye, and how depth of field is one of the key methods to do that. This is normally the preserve of expensive fast lenses, but soon anyone will be able achieve this with some new technology I’ve been trailing on the iPhone 7 plus.
This new IOS 10.1 software, currently in beta and available later this year uses the twin cameras built into the iPhone 7 plus. It basically provides you with a new and super simple ‘portrait’ camera mode which takes two image and uses software to artificially create a creamy depth of field….and it’s great!
[use the slider to see the regular/portrait version compared side by side]
Smartphone photographers are driving DSLR sales
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It’s no surprise that smartphone cameras haven’t become the “DSLR killers” that some suggested they might. Instead, the opposite seems to have happened. Smartphones are fuelling the sales of DSLRs, at least according to the Hindustan Times.
There’s little doubt that smartphones have usurped compact cameras as the “gateway drug” to photography. Many people I know, photographers or not, have completely ditched their compacts in favour of the phone they always have with them. But, many feel themselves wanting more than their phones can deliver.
Quick Tip: How to not lose all your photos if your phone dies
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Raise your hand if you ever lost/bricked/killed an iPhone or an Android*. Raise your other hand if that phone has lots of photos that you will never see again. That could be quite sad, and I have a friend who lost their iPhone today, so instead of going all “I told you so” on him, I am writing this post.
I mean, most of the apps, you will be able to download again, the lost of hardware is a good reason for an upgrade**, but the photos you had on the phone are now forever lost.
That is, unless you did this simple thing.
Why the 4’’ iPhone SE Will Revolutionize Photography
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One of the big things that inspires me in photography, life, and technology is the ability to “democratize”, to add “access”, and to make things “affordable” to the masses.
For a little bit of personal background; I grew up “lower-working class” (my mom was more or less a single mom, working 3-part time jobs, and could barely afford rent every month). I lived in anxiety as a kid (I remember being 11 years old, and my mom telling me that we might be homeless next month because my dad gambled away the rent money).
I grew up pretty scrappy— knowing how to make do with what I had. I didn’t have much money at all as a kid (I would sometimes take my lunch money, go hungry for lunch, and use my lunch money to eventually buy sneakers or clothes).
However my savior was technology (specifically my computer). My computer empowered me. Once I got the internet (AOL 3.0, with a dial-up 38.8k modem) I was able to play free games, download (illegally) early versions of Photoshop and Visual Basic, I self-taught myself web design, programming, had access to tons of “free” information online, and the ability to connect with people half-way around the world.
Vogue Magazine Says You Shouldn’t Hire Professional Wedding Photographers
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Announcing it is 2016 and that it’s time weddings change, Vogue released a list of 10 wedding “rules” to break.
Among the things that Vogue claims will “detract” from the “raw, essential celebration of true love” are rings, the first dance and professional wedding photographers.
Instead, the magazine recommends couples rely on their guests’ Facebook and Instagram photos, or give them disposable cameras.
White House Photographer’s Best iPhone Photos of 2015
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President Obama’s official photographer, Pete Souza, released his ‘Year on Instagram’ collection featuring only square format photos taken on his iPhone.
As you’d expect, the collection does not include formal photos with world leaders and such, instead it offers a behind-the-scenes look of daily events at the White House as well as on the president’s travels.
From the presidential dog to the president’s cup of tea, here are the best of Souza’s Instagram photos for 2015.
Incredible Surreal Images of Rural Mississippi Created Entirely on iPhone
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iPhones are a pretty consistent staple in the photography world anymore, from grabbing quick selfies and behind-the-scenes footage on set to shooting feature-length films and luxury car ads. The technology and available apps keep getting better and better, and those who laughed at the idea of smartphone photography are sheepishly slinking into the background.
Melissa Vincent is one of those jumped on the iPhone bandwagon and never looked back. With nearly a half million Instagram followers, she’s channeled her passion into creating surreal images of rural life near her home in Mississippi. Shot and edited on an iPhone, her photos have a stunning quality that we are beginning to associate more and more with smartphone photography.
DxO ONE Camera Boasts a 1” CMOS 20.2 MP Sensor and Attachs to Your iPhone; Coming Tomorrow
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For the past week DxO has been sharing mysterious teasers on its New Shape of Photography website, announcing its new vision of photography will launch on June 18th.
It didn’t take too long, however, before the secret was revealed and the full specs of the upcoming camera were made available prior to the official release.
The camera, claiming to include the world’s most advanced image processing, can be used as a standalone camera or connect to an iPhone/iPad to offer a large interactive viewfinder and ‘other powerful DSLR features’.
While DxO’s desire to pour its extensive knowledge into creating its own camera is understandable, how will this move affect the credibility of the company’s sensor and lens ratings?
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