So, you own a DSLR camera. A lot of people I know do. What's funny, though, is almost all of them use it in Auto mode anyway. Same as I do. Cause we're all stupid when it comes to this photography stuff.
That doesn't mean we're incapable of learning. It's just that it's going to have to be some pretty dumbed down lessons to teach us how to work all those concepts like ISO, apertures and f-stops, since we're not as "passionate" about this as many people seem to be. Everyone in the same boat as I am should go out and get Nikon Learn & Explore, a free iPhone app designed for novice and intermediate photographers.
As you would expect, the app comes with tutorials on fundamentals of the art, apart from teaching ideal shooting techniques for most common situations. It's a nice reference to bring up when you're in an outdoor sporting event and suddenly decide to shoot some stuff - launch the app and get tips right on the spot. Apart from the basics and shooting techniques, there are also plenty of tutorials about image editing, a lot of sample shots and a good list of how-to videos.
Two extra features round out the app. First is a library of images, each with an accompanying discussion of shot composition, equipment used, lighting employed and other factors that you may want to brush up on. Second is a Nikon World section, which provides articles and features from the popular photography magazine.
Simply put, Nikon Learn & Explore is a very useful app for unskilled photographers. Even better, it's something even pros can probably enjoy. There's no point in not getting it, either, since the whole thing is free.
[Photo Credit: Nikon]
Nikon Learn & Explore For iPhone Is A Perfect Mobile Companion For Novice Photographersunratednoel2009-11-02 11:41:42
App Reviews,iPhone AppsNikon Learn & Explore For iPhone Is A Perfect Mobile Companion For Novice Photographers
If you're shooting self-portraits, kids or various events, having a remote shutter trigger would prove immensely useful. The DSLR Camera Remote for the iPhone, currently on version 1.1, offers the functionality for your Canon EOS and Nikon DSLRs, allowing you to control your camera from afar for both personal and semi-professional uses.
First off, it doesn't interface directly with your camera. As such, you'll need a PC for the whole thing to work - a cumbersome proposition if you're planning to shoot outdoor events with a remote trigger. If you can get past that extra requirement, though, the app gets the job done - albeit, with a few caveats.
There are two versions of DSLR Camera Remote currently available - a Lite version, whose sole function is tripping the shutter, and a Premium one with a few more talents thrown in. In both cases, you'll need to connect your camera to a computer (either Windows or Mac) that's running the DSLR Camera Remote Server, a desktop companion to the iPhone software.
Once that is set up, you can simply launch the app on your handset, which starts you off directly at the main screen. From there, you can immediately see the scene in the camera's viewing range by simply switching on Live View. You can change various settings directly from the app, including the picture format, white balance, exposure, ISO settings, shutter speed and aperture, among others. You can tap the image feed to trigger the focus, but you can't set which particular item to focus on (it will use the default camera settings).
Everything is very responsive, with the time between hitting the trigger and the photo appearing on your handset taking a mere few seconds. You can zoom in on the image, but can't drag it while in this mode, and there aren't all that many things you can do at that point.
Overall, DSLR Camera Remote for the iPhone seems like a useful app. It's not completely polished and there are many features we'd still like to see, but if you absolutely need one, it could prove a good purchase even at the $19.99 price point ($2 for the Lite version). Probably not for professionals, as developer On One Software claims, though.
Photo Credit: On One Software
DSLR Camera Remote For iPhone Is A Good Remote Trigger Appunratednoel2009-08-28 11:06:43
App Reviews,iPhone AppsDSLR Camera Remote For iPhone Is A Good Remote Trigger App
Even though iPhone comes with some amount of photo filtering, it is decidedly inadequate, especially for those of us who enjoy dressing our images in interesting manners. For the most part, I don't find it that much of an issue since I can fashion photos in a myriad of ways once I put them on my PC. However, I sure would appreciate being able to do fancy modifications right on the phone as well.
The 99-cent app 101 PhotoFilters fits the requirement nicely, offering 102 (yes, missed the mark by one) different alterations to images stored on your phone. It comes with a nice set of options that include traditional filters (like grayscale and overburn), creative new modifications and some inanities. Quite a few of the filters do border on the frivolous, though I count at least 30 or so that I'll probably be using regularly.
Using the app is not the most intuitive process, though it's usable enough once you get the hang of the controls. The opening sequence is particularly dumbfounding, basically going against your natural navigation instincts.
Filtering is pretty fast, with a progress bar showing you the status of the update. Changes are not automatically committed so you can easily try a different filter or revert to the original photo in case you choose one that's not to your liking. You can also layer multiple filters on a single photo, which can lead to pretty impressive results.
With 102 filter options, 101 PhotoFilters is a pretty good use of your app dollar. It's a very worthwhile tool that I wouldn't mind keeping on my iPhone for the long haul.
101 PhotoFilters: Worthwhile Photo Editing Toolunratednoel2009-07-06 09:22:38
App Reviews,iPhone Apps101 PhotoFilters: Worthwhile Photo Editing Tool
