2018: New Year, New Photography Resolutions

Hello and welcome to 2018! It’s safe to say the festive season is officially over. No more frantic trips to the shops, the number of family gatherings has dwindled, everyone’s disappeared back into the woodwork until next time.

For some, this time of year is a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Getting back to the familiar routine of your daily grind can almost feel calm in comparison...almost.

That said, a new year means a fresh start. A chance to really jump on the goals we shoved to the backburner in all the hectic celebrating. New Year, new me, am I right?

Come January 1^st, resolutions are being made with reckless abandon as most of us are itching to do something new, something different. This could be anything from DIY projects, to hitting the gym, to learning how to make a cracking Pavlova. 

But for those of us that love taking photos, why not tackle a project more relevant to our interests?

Something like a 52-week photo challenge, perhaps?

Snapping 52 photos in one year doesn’t sound like a lot, right? Challenge accepted!

The 52-week challenge is exactly what it sounds like; one new photo every week for a whole year. No big deal, right? Didn’t think so.

Let’s face it, we could always take more photos. For some of us, it’s a hobby, for others it’s something more, but when it comes to shooting for fun, we all find ways to just… miss out.

Taking on a challenge can seem daunting, but it can also be revealing and very fulfilling. All you need is your camera and a little accountability.

There are so many challenges readily available on the internet, even 365-day ones, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You want to ease back into this ‘taking photos for fun’ thing nice and gently and a 52-week challenge should do exactly that.

This exercise is primarily about learning and enjoyment. It’s a great opportunity for novice photographers to push their skills, as well as a chance for veterans to brush up on the simple stuff.

The idea is to just get out there. Take photos for yourself or just for the sake of taking them at all.

Doing your homework always pays off. Spend a little time looking for themes and ideas online before starting.

You might be wondering how to get started right about now. Well, there are a few things you can do, but first things first; dust off your camera, mate.

Next, start thinking about what you can shoot. Taking one photo per week doesn’t sound like a lot, in theory, but it can be challenging to keep coming up with new and creative looking images as the months stretch on.

That’s where themes come into play.

A little research and preparation can save you from becoming demotivated down the line. Before pressing the shutter, try finding some themes you can use as inspiration, rather than just hoping you’ll find something new and interesting to shoot each week.

There’s plenty of existing photo-based challenges, theme sets, and mood boards online already, so be take the time to check them out for ideas.

If you’re going to come up with your own themes, try and aim for at least 10 at a time. That gives you a good buffer to work with and also makes the amount a little more manageable.

When borrowing existing themes and challenges, have a look through the whole thing beforehand to make sure they’re achievable with the gear you currently own. 

This is important for those just starting out as you don’t want to take the wind out of your sails by picking a theme set that involves very specific or advanced techniques.

At the same time, you don’t want to make things too easy. It is a challenge, after all, and pushing yourself to try new things is kind of the whole point.

Staying motivated isn’t exactly the easiest, but with a bit of help and preparation, you’ll nail this challenge!

Just like any other resolution, you might find yourself getting a little less enthusiastic about this whole endeavour as the weeks wear on. Sure, when you first started, everything was fine, you were gung-ho, all guns blazing.

But now you’re busy with work and the weather’s been garbage lately anyway…

No dramas, we’ve all been there so here are a few little tips to keep you motivated!

First off, don’t let yourself make excuses. They’re a lot like a packet of chips; you often can’t stop at just one. If you do have to miss one week, don’t skip the theme, just do two next time.

Battle temptation by making sure you celebrate the little wins. Completing a whole month deserves a little celebration. Maybe buy yourself that new camera strap you’ve been eyeing for a while. 

Acknowledging your achievements will go a long way in helping you get all the way to week 52.

Think about why you decided to do this in the first place. Was it to hone your skills, or just relax and do something fun? Maybe you’re doing this to ‘earn’ your next big piece of gear.

Having an end goal in mind when you start can help keep you focused along the way. Sharing your work on social media sites like Instagram is an excellent and easy way to track your progress. Not to mention, your followers will also be around to nag you if you’re late with your weekly update.

Speaking of other people, make it a group effort! Everything is more fun with a friend and this challenge is no exception. Whether you’ve got a photo-loving pal or significant other, get them involved. It’s a great way to boost your creativity while also giving you the bonus of a second set of eyes to critique your shots. 

Armed with some handy tips and inspiration, what else is left but to get started on this year-long adventure?

We all have different reasons for picking up a camera and snapping a photo. We have different styles, viewpoints, and imaginations. The best part of taking pictures is that there are no real rules. You capture the memory or feeling you envision and it’s not supposed to be the same as anyone else’s.

The same applies when embarking on photo challenges. Even though you may be taking on the same topics as several other people, it’s your individual perspective that makes each photo unique. Different interpretations of a common theme are part of what makes these challenges so exciting.

It gives us the opportunity to grow and change and see things in a new light. And really, that’s what makes a challenge worth doing. 

At DCW, we’re hosting our own 52-week challenge to get our friends, and ourselves, back on track.

If you’re interested in watching the story unfold, check out and follow our Instagram @dcwarehouse for cool photos and a few little surprises.

Want to participate in the DCW 52 Week Photo Challenge? Of course you do! Be sure to follow us because we’ll be dropping new themes every Wednesday.

Just use #dcw52 to tag your photos so we can find you and give your pics some love! 

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Get Out Of Town

It’s that magical time of year again. No, I’m not talking Christmas, I’m talking aftermath. The rush is over, the presents are unwrapped, and you’ve made it through the questionable parties and family dinners. Still working your way through the leftovers, but hey, there’s still time.

No, my friends, I’m referring to annual leave. Post-festive season is a popular time to get out of town for most people. Work’s end of year rush has slowed and you’re no longer bombarded by a million holiday induced stressors.

Your dream destination is set, accommodations are booked, and you’ve requested the time off, but you’re faced with one last thing; how to capture it all?

I mean, where do you even start? Your phone has a camera, right? That’s fine, right? But what about all the amazing stuff you’ll see? Will a phone really do it justice? The last camera you owned was a Polaroid, help?!

No worries, mate! We’ve got you covered, but there are a couple of things you need to think about.

First things first, what kind of holiday are you planning? This may seem like a strange thing to consider, but it’s definitely not, we promise.

Think about where you’re going and what you’ll be doing for most of the trip. Are you going to be watching lakeshore sunrises from a big wooden deck chair with a hot cup of tea? (Please take me with you if so.) Or maybe you’re going surfing in Hawaii or zip-lining across a foggy mountain top.

The point here is that there can be a different camera for every type of adventure and it really helps to have the right gear with you when the perfect photo opportunity presents itself.

As a first camera, or just a first new camera in a long time, point-and-shoot/compact cameras are an excellent combination of great image quality and the convenience of a small form factor that fits easily in your day pack or carry-on luggage. They’re super easy to have at the ready so you can snap a few shots nice and quick, plus they also fit well in small hands making them kid-friendly too.

If your vacation is all about the R & R and taking family photos, then a compact camera might be your best bet. Nowadays, these cameras come in a range of different options from super basic to advanced manual controls so there’s really something for everyone.

Some great examples: Canon Powershot SX620 HS, Panasonic Lumix TZ90, or the Sony RX100 series (Mark II, Mark III, Mark IV, and Mark V)

For others, though, a holiday might be about cramming in as much action and as many new experiences as possible. If you’re going backpacking around Europe or headed anywhere with a beach or resort, there’s bound to be a plethora of activities on offer. From hiking rainforests to snorkelling to even just hanging out on a boat, this is where your needs might change.

At this stage, it might be better to think about an action camera or another waterproof offering. Gone are the days when choosing a ‘tough camera’ meant sacrificing performance and features. No, no, that’s well and truly behind us now, as evidenced by the GoPro action cam. Bring one of these with you and you’ll never have to worry about keeping your camera dry or out of the sand again.

A lot of these cameras also have various photo sharing options, whether it’s Wi-Fi or App based. You can send video and images to your friends and family right away which can honestly be quite comforting especially when you’re on an extended trip so far from home. 

If action is your game, check out the GoPro HERO selection, the Panasonic Lumix FT30, Olympus TG-Tracker, or the Garmin VIRB 360.

Of course, there’s more yet. A lot of times, we go away for the simple feeling of escape. To get out of the cities we know, to break free of our routines, to go off and see something different and breath taking. These are the moments you just want to keep forever and, never fear, there’s a camera for that too. There’s a lot of stuff for that, actually, but we’ll stick to the basics.

If you’re hoping this kind trip will help turn photography into a new hobby, you might want to go for something a little more involved from the start, like an advanced compact or mirrorless camera. This will give you a chance to get familiar with manual controls and really grow into your camera or even change lenses as you gain more confidence.

The real benefit of choosing the mirrorless option is the ability to swap lenses to suit the different scenarios you might face which gives you a lot more creative freedom. Compact DSLRs work too, but I lean a little more towards mirrorless for travel as they do tend to be smaller and more discreet. This also makes them easier to pack and conceal if you’re not keen on having people check out your gear.

Another advantage is a more advanced feature set and the ability to get experimental with things like long exposures, time lapse, and even 4K video. When going down this road, you might also want to take a good look at the accessories you’ll be taking with you.

Do you have enough memory? What about power options? Can you spare the space for a compact tripod? With this style of camera it’s worth going a little overboard on the extras, especially if you’re planning to pursue this hobby once you get back home.

Perfect beginner cameras to grow into include the popular Sony a6000, the Olympus E-M 10, the Canon EOS M6, or the Fuji X-A10.

Each camera has its own set of benefits you might find useful or convenient, but what matters most is that you’re confident using the gear you’ve got. It’s well worth spending the time to get familiar with your camera because, at the end of the day, you don’t want to miss out on capturing something really special.

Of course, where you go with your photography (pun intended) is up to you. That’s the beauty of photography, really; the fun doesn’t have to stay on vacation even though you might want to.  

If you’re struggling with all the options out there, don’t be afraid to reach out! Our in-store and contact centre teams would love to hear about your holiday and help you pick the right gear to get you sorted before departure day. 

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Gift Shopping for Photographers: A Cheat Sheet

Photographers are a picky bunch, that much is true and I don’t think any of us can deny it. As such, we tend to buy a lot of our own gadgets as we realise a sudden need for them. Of course, every photographer does have that epic wish list of items they’d love to own one day, but those things can be a little on the pricey side. Well, mostly a lot on the pricey side.

All these factors combined can make it pretty tough for our loved ones to shop for us, be it for birthdays or the holiday season. (Sorry, fam!)

To most people, it can seem like we’ve literally got everything, but there’s a bit of a trick to shopping for the fully armed photographer, it just takes a bit of sleuthing to come up with a few ideas.

For example, if they’re a working professional, think about what type of photography they specialise in. Do they shoot weddings, products, models? This could be a good indicator of the type of accessories they might be using, or might even appreciate having some spares of.

Avid hobby photographers are a whole other beast as you’re never quite sure which bits and pieces they do and don’t have at this stage in their evolutions. Finding out what their favourite subject matter is or what style they’re hoping to master can be a good place to start looking for ideas. 

Lucky on the left, Peak Design on the right. Both come in different colours to suit #mood and #aesthetic.

I like to think you can’t really go wrong with a quality camera strap of some kind. Sure, most pros and enthusiasts already have one, or they’re using the one that came with their camera, but a nice strap is always appreciated. Plus, we might like to switch things up a bit, depending on the occasion. Variety is the spice of life, as they say.

Brands like Lucky or Peak Design are a good starting point. Lucky offers Australian made classic-looking genuine leather straps in a range of colours to suit almost anyone. Peak Design’s straps are more on the modern side with a modular aspect for easy removal or swapping from one strap to another.

Both are very appealing with a premium look and feel, but are different enough in style and features to give you some options.

Finding memory cards floating around the bottom of your bag is cringe-worthy. Storage is the answer!

Memory card storage is a great option for shooters at enthusiast level or beyond, since we’ve all got several cards in rotation at any given time. Most camera bags have pockets for memory cards, but they often don’t provide much in the way of security and are sometimes a bit of a tight fit which makes it hard to access the cards.

At this point, a memory card wallet or case might be a great choice. Photographers won’t mind having multiples of these in their arsenal because they’re always incredibly useful. There’s soft, wallet-style options as well as waterproof hard shell cases, so it won’t be hard to find something that works for your friend and your budget.

We all need a little help keeping our gear neat and tidy. A cleaning kit top-up would be deeply appreciated, thanks.

It may sound boring or strange, but for avid photographers, a cleaning kit is like gold. A lot of these kits contain consumable odds and ends that need to be replaced over time, like lens pens, cleaning wipes, and tissues. This is something that kind of falls by the wayside as we tend to forget about these items until we desperately need them.

A good cleaning kit with a quality air-blower and lens cleaning fluid would be a welcome gift for any photographer at any stage of their journey.

Nothing beats having some pretty prints to dress up your desk, office, home, etc, etc, etc.

If you’re aiming to get something a little on the bigger, more epic side, you might want to think about a dedicated photo printer. These things aren’t your typical home or office printers, no, no. They’re designed and specialised to deliver high-quality prints with some even offering up to A2 print size options.

If you know your special someone loves or just wants to get their photos printed, this could be the perfect gift. Being able to print your photos offers a very satisfying sense of completion, like you’ve finally seen your work through from start to finish with something tangible to hang onto in the end.

These printers do require proper photo paper, so even if your photographer friend already has a printer, some good quality paper could be an excellent stocking stuffer. 

ONA on the left, with a soft leather shoulder bag. Peak Design on the right with a sweet sling.

Going with some kind of storage solution can be tricky, but it can also make you a hero gifter. Bags or backpacks are pretty personal and most photographers will have very different wants and needs from any bag they deem worthy of their gear.

If you’re planning to go down this path, consider something like a premium quality bag or even a hard storage case.

For bags, check out ONA, Peak Design, and Think Tank for some ideas. They all have some great options, some of which don’t even look like typical camera bags.

For hard cases, look at HPRC and Pelican. Both have foam inserts for easy customisation. These things are also airtight and can handle a fair bit of punishment which makes them perfect for travel.

You might be thinking “Yeah, great, but my bestie already has, like, two camera bags.”

That may be true, however, ask yourself how nice those bags really are. Fancy bags are things we tend to want, but not buy in favour of more practical options that can fit everything we own.

If you’re going to be buying a ‘secondary bag’ for someone, go with something on the smaller side, like a messenger bag or sling. These are perfect for day trips and encourage a more minimalist kit. As an added bonus, they tend to be a little more budget-friendly, too.

When photography is life and all you want to do is take pictures forever.

If you’re feeling uncertain about buying actual photo gear, you could always go with something that will fit easily into everyday life, but is still no less clever a gift idea.

Things like photography-themed T-shirts or coffee mugs are fun and subtle little nods to your friend or family member’s awesome hobby or profession.

Let’s also not forget that a coffee cup shaped like a camera lens is a truly excellent office prank and ice breaker, so you’d basically be doing your pal a favour.

The holidays are a tricky time to shop for anyone, let alone someone with very specific interests and, while the internet is extremely helpful, sometimes it’s best to take what you know and ask some camera-nerds for advice. Like the staff at DCW. We’d love to tell you what we… I mean, what your friend… might like for Christmas.

Come see us in-store or give our contact centre a buzz, we’d love to talk you through some gift ideas this silly season.

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Top 5 Christmas Gift Wishlist - as voted by DCW Staff

Top Five Christmas Gift Wishlist

Surprising absolutely no one, the DCW team is chock full of talented, gear loving photographers so we decided to get nosy and find out what’s on everyone’s wish list this holiday season.

Since everyone’s got their finger on the pulse in here, there was some overlap. This is also not surprising, but it is pretty interesting, so we’ve turned the results into a list of our top five hottest picks of the season.

It’s also a great list of gift ideas for last minute shoppers, hint hint.

5. DJI Spark

A post shared by Digital Camera Warehouse (@dcwarehouse) on Dec 9, 2017 at 5:35pm PST

Starting us off is the adorable DJI Spark. This hot little UAV is very portable and easy to use. There is a videogame style remote controller available, similar to DJI’s other offerings, but it can also be conveniently operated by using your smartphone, which is great when you’re trying to pack light. It has a range of tool-free accessories to complement its impressive feature list, like tracking and gesture control and, with a built-in 2-axis gimbal, your footage will be steady and easy to watch. Did I mention it comes in five different colours?

4. Zhiyun Smooth Q

A post shared by Digital Camera Warehouse (@dcwarehouse) on Dec 10, 2017 at 1:56pm PST

The next item on our list is the Smooth Q gimbal from Zhiyun which offers 3-axis stabilisation and a host of easy-to-use controls and settings. It’s designed for smartphones and has an easy balancing mode so you can set-up and start shooting pretty quickly. With 12 hours of run time, the Smooth Q can be used to charge your device which is great because we all know what video does to our phone’s battery. The gimbal is also compact and good looking making it a perfect companion for vloggers, bloggers, and anyone out to document a day trip in the city.

3. DJI Mavic Pro

A post shared by Digital Camera Warehouse (@dcwarehouse) on Dec 11, 2017 at 2:12pm PST

How cool are drones, though? Really, the DJI Mavic is an awesome one; it’s light, it’s small, it folds up even smaller, the controls are easy to use, the list goes on. The Mavic is great for photographers that travel a fair bit, or spend a lot of time outdoors searching for unique perspectives on their surroundings. Of course, it has a huge range of flight modes, settings, and a 3-axis gimbal, so you’ll be able to capture high-quality stabilised footage almost anywhere. (And let’s face it; you’ll be taking cool drone-selfies, too.) With easy to replace spare parts, great battery life, and a host of cool accessories, it’s hard to pass this one up.

2. NiSi Filters Starter Kit

A post shared by Digital Camera Warehouse (@dcwarehouse) on Dec 12, 2017 at 3:33pm PST

Perhaps the biggest surprise on our list was the epic NiSiStarter Kit. It’s perfect for enhancing your landscape photography and comes with everything you need to get familiar with using square filters, something that a lot of people shy away from at first. The three Neutral Density filters, two solid and one gradual, each provide different stops so you can adjust your image. The holder features three different adapters to accommodate a range of lens sizes while the filters themselves are 100 x 100mm, offering good coverage as well. For photographers that are serious about improving their landscapes or just getting more creative with them, this is a great solution.

1. Sigma 85mm f1.4 ART Series Lens

A post shared by Digital Camera Warehouse (@dcwarehouse) on Dec 14, 2017 at 2:21am PST

And finally, here we are at number one. Taking the top spot is Sigma’s 85mm f1.4 Art series lens. The Art series is well known for its image quality and sharpness and this lens is no exception. It works a real treat for portrait photography with its super wide aperture allowing you to get creative with depth of field. Capture softly blurred backgrounds with smooth bokeh all while your subject remains in crystal clear focus. This lens isn’t a one-trick pony, of course. That f1.4 aperture also performs incredibly well in lowlight, so you can easily explore other photographic styles as the mood strikes.

1. Zhiyun Crane 2

A post shared by Digital Camera Warehouse (@dcwarehouse) on Dec 15, 2017 at 6:47am PST

But wait, there’s more! In a shocking twist, we had a tie for the number 1 product and it’s a real goodie! If you’re looking for ways to improve your video then look no further because the new Zhiyun Crane 2 is here to deliver. A much awaited update to the popular Crane, this new gimbal has managed to really pack in the features, from its Real-Time Follow Focus, to its OLED display and intuitive controls. It can also support a hefty 3.2kg payload, so it’ll work well with DSLR cameras, and it has a whopping 18 hour run time with the ability to charge your camera at the same time! This 3-axis gimbal superstar is seriously a videographers dream.

That’s officially our list concluded! It’s fun, it’s exciting, it includes a good mix of gear that suits different styles of photography as well as the many different kinds of shooters out there.

Are any of these items on your wish lists? Reach out and let us know if so, we’d love to hear from you on any of our social platforms!

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Top Mobile Photo Editing Apps: How to Get Started

It’s incredible when you stop to think about it, but almost every mobile phone these days has a built-in camera and almost everyone has a mobile phone. 

That means more people have the capacity to take photographs than ever before in human history.

Not only that but most modern DSLR and mirrorless cameras  have built-in Wi-fi that means you can quickly transfer shots between cameras and mobile devices.

This supercharged workflow means that modern photographers are able to capture images with a variety of different devices and upload them directly to social media sites like Instagram, Facebook or even send direct to clients on the way home from the shoot.

But what if you want to boost the shadows a little, add a watermark to stop image theft, or get creative with your images before you share them with the world?

Luckily, the processing power of our mobile phones and tablets has skyrocketed over the years. Our trusty pocket devices can now help us do advanced photo editing on-the-fly.

Features like spot removal, image overlay, curve adjustments as well as HDR-style rendering that previously was reserved for desktop applications have made their way into mobile image editing apps.

So where do you start if you want to learn how to edit your images on your portable device?

We’ve compiled a list of the most popular and powerful photo editing applications for your mobile device to point you in the right direction.

Snapseed

Available for: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

Snapseed is a well-thought-out editing app with some easy to use functions as well as some more advanced photo editing features like a handy lens blur effect, that lets you choose a circular or a star shaped aperture for a customisable bokeh. It also includes a curves adjustment panel with a histogram as well as a set of brushes that can be used to dodge, burn, change the temperature and saturation of particular sections of your shots.

The app also has advanced pixel cloning software that works in a similar way to Photoshop’s content-aware fill mode. It’s not perfect but when your image has a consistent background you can use it to radically change the perspective of image or to recreate missing pixel information.

The "Perspective" feature allows you to change the angle of your shot.

The“Expand” feature can be used to help centre a shot if it was framed incorrectly.

Snapseed also boasts sophisticated selfie software that gives you the power to “re-pose” your face after you’ve taken the shot. If used in moderation it can make a subtle change to a portrait but try and restrain yourself from over-using it.

Here’s is a hot tip regarding Snapseed’s “Re-Pose” function. 

Moderation is key, overuse can create truly horrific results.

VSCO

Available for: Android, iOS
Cost: Free but VSCO X costs 19.99 USD a year.

VSCO is more than just hard to pronounce word (most people say it like VIS-CO), it is also a highly-regarded photo editing app born from the founding members love for analogue film. Terrified that film stock was disappearing they decided to try and immortalise the qualities of different films by creating preset filters to emulate the warmth and character of film.

Originally designed for desktop applications it wasn’t long before they decided to bring their celebration of classic film looks to an easy-to-use mobile platform and it’s only got more popular from there.

Although VSCO is free to use and allows users to edit settings like exposure, saturation, highlights and shadows as well as being able to add film filters, to really get the most out of VSCO it is recommended to upgrade to the paid VSCO X plan. This gives you access to over 100 classic mobile presets, and exclusive Film X presets that are modelled on popular films like Kodak Portra, Ektar, Ilford HP5 Plus, Fuji Pro and many more, carefully designed to create an authentic film look and feel to your shots.

An example of some of the camera stock filters that are included with a VSCO X membership plan.

Images edited with VSCO are often shared with the tag #VSCO or #VSCOCAM and the app tends to attract users with a healthy respect for film and dark room processing.

It is a generally a hub for creatives to share their work and a lot of professional photographers prefer the simple design and layout of the platform.

Pixlr

Available for: iOS, Android
Cost: Free

Pixlr is an easy-to-use mobile app with impressive photo editing features. The “double exposure” mode gives you the ability to blend two images together with control over the scale, rotation, opacity, and blending mode of the second image.

The best part of the double exposure function is that the eraser tool operates like a layer mask in Photoshop. You can set the size and feather of the eraser to remove what you don’t want in the shot but if you do accidentally erase something you need, you can easily switch tools and paint the pixels back in.

The“Double Exposure” mode in Pixlr gives you the ability to control how two images are merged together.

Instagram

Available for: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

Instagram is one of the world’s most popular social networks. As of April 2017, Instagram has a whopping 700 million active users. Australia is estimated to have a population of 24.6 million so to put it in perspective, Instagram has about 28 times the entire population of Australia as active users.

It’s safe to say Instagram is THE mobile app for sharing images as well as videos. It offers a simple editing interface that lets you add filters, and tweak settings like brightness and contrast, warmth, saturation, as well as more advanced settings like highlight and shadow adjustments.

You can sharpen images, add a dark vignette or even process your images with a tilt-shift-style focus blur as well as tinting either the shadows or highlights with a colour.

For any local Sydneysiders yet to visit here is a quick walk through of our NEW store at 422 Kent Street in the city centre. It is more than just a retail store with a load of photographic gear. It is also a place of learning, whether through conversations with our team, a touch and try experience, organised group workshops, talks, seminars, photo walks as well as personalised one on one learning sessions. Also residing at 422 Kent Street is our fine art printing solution @kentstreetstudio where they provide a full fine art printing service as well as the ability to process, scan and print film. Drop in and say hello the next time you are in the area. #dcwcreative #camerastore #newshoppingexperience #likemindedpeople #sydneyphotographer #kentstreetstudio #photology

A post shared by Digital Camera Warehouse (@dcwarehouse) on Sep 14, 2017 at 6:59pm PDT

Instagram’s main strength is its massive community and the fact that once you post an image other people can love it, send it to their friends, and comment on the image.

The comment and like function is hands down the most popular part of Instagram because it puts photographers in direct contact with their fans and followers and this makes Instagram the social media platform with the absolute highest level of engagement.

Adobe Photoshop Express

Available for: Android, iOS, Windows Phone
Cost: Free but some features are limited without an Adobe creative cloud membership.

The photo editing juggernaut that is Photoshop is no longer limited to desktops, Adobe has released an express version that is designed for mobile devices like mobiles and tablets.

The app has more than 60 filters, a defog tool, noise reduction slider, and can even edit some RAW camera files too. With adjustments for clarity, sharpening, contrast, highlights and shadows, as well as vibrancy, saturation and temperature controls the app delivers comprehensive imaging control.

Photoshop express also has a setting that allows you to add a watermark on your final image. This can be text, or an image like a signature and you can choose from 10 different locations for your watermark as well as control the level of opacity so it doesn't ruin your shot.

Photoshop Express provides several different options for adding watermarks to your images.

Photoshop Express also comes with a red-eye removal tool and a retouch function that performs in much the same way as the heal brush in the desktop version of Photoshop.

The "Retouch" function can be used to clean up images with sensor dust spots.

So hopefully that gives you an idea about some of the things your phone or tablet is capable of, it's amazing what these little pocket computers can do in a pinch.

Mobile apps are fantastic for the quick sharing and fast delivery of content for social media use and can be a fantastic way of whetting the appetite of your clients after a particularly photogenic shoot. Just remember 

Ultimately, impressive as modern mobile apps and portable devices are, I would still recommend a desktop setup and a nicely calibrated high resolution monitor to give your images the attention they deserve, but it's nice to know we now have the option to do on-the-fly editing with a mobile device.

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