Dates for Spring 2020

The Rancho Cordova Library has approved our seminar for the following dates:
Feb 6, 20, Mar 5, 19th

Photo Walk Field Trip dates:
Feb 13, 27th (rain date Mar 12)

The Rancho Cordova Library is off Hwy 50 at 9845 Folsom Blvd., between Bradshaw and Mather Field Road.

Plant Foundry photos

Oak Park Photo Walk participants: please post your favorite photos from the Plant Foundry part of our experience to our Shared Album. Include a stylized image and the original if you have been inspired. I'd like to combine the photos into some acknowledgment of our visit.

If you return to do any shopping there, you might remember their hospitality and thank them again.

Thinking ahead to spring semester

There is a false equivalency to beginning "spring semester" in February - when it is still winter.

Look at the photos on your device to see what to expect. Practice the skills that Niel taught us about the Search tab and drilling down into our camera rolls. (See the sidebar of links, Discoveries: Search Techniques in Photos.) What subjects show seasonal changes? Go to your favorite locations and explore how weather changes the mood.

What skills and apps do you want to perfect?

Want .. “that new car smell?”

Sometime having the new device is a thing. Sometimes it is an extravagance. But there are times when I want the look of something new. Here’s how to get yours ...

Find a fun image you have created recently and make it your iPhone or iPad Wallpaper for either the Lock or Home Screens. Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper ...

On the Lock Screen, the time and date are in the top 1/5th of the screen, so you want a dark color or graduated color there.

I’ve also seen some Wallpapers include a phone number and name on the picture. This might be a great idea when traveling.

The Reality of Age

iOS Basics is the other seminar I co-lead with Carol Dabrowiak. It is hard to not over share with people just learning about their iPhone or iPad and it helps to have the iOS Basics website to share notes that folks might come back to after more practice. It is also a place where I can add after-thoughts without sending tons of emails.

At our last meeting this semester we will talk about iCloud - photos, files and history. I'm recommending that the participants take a proactive stance in tracking their digital lives and think about how they designate powers of attorney for health care, finances and digital assets. In updating my personal trust last year the attorney asked this question: "Who will review your online accounts, archive the important content and close the accounts?"  

One of the new photographers sent my way, Numeric Citizen Blog, shared Managing The Elderly's Numeric Life. Maybe your parents have already thought this through and are a model for the next generations ... 

You are a photographer, an artist. How are you organizing and prioritizing your work? What do you want shared, saved, discarded? Have you had this conversation with family and friends? How might you approach tracking your digital life so you can hand it off to the right person? Providing a roadmap is easier on them than forcing them to be a digital archeologist. 

Photographers for Inspiration

Travel Photography - Austin Mann
http://austinmann.com/ checkout his new iPhone 11 Pro photographs as he traveled with YoYou Ma to exotic places. This blog post offers a deep dive into technology - worth a re-read from time to time.

Note: I realize some of this may feel too technical, but it matters. We MUST understand our tools in order to successfully move through the creative process. If we don’t know about our cameras’ strengths and weaknesses and why they’re there, it’s really hard to solve problems and achieve our vision.

New Discoveries page added to our website, Discoveries: Galleries to Explore. Check it out. Let me know if you have something to add. Find this page and others in the sidebar of this site. Best viewed from an iPad or computer.

Reading up on RAW image capture

Our iPhone cameras have improved hardware and software. It is interesting to read about machine-learning and image processing. "The world has turned upside down..."

I'm sharing links to these articles so we can read them once, twice, many times to gradually absorb the underlying magic of realizing our creative vision. 

Articles on RAW photography: 

What the Heck is a RAW Image by Apple (Apps: Halide & Darkroom)
Apple's Photos and RAW Image Handling by Numeric Citizen Blog 

The Power of RAW on iPhone, Part 1: Shooting RAW by Sebastian de With, Halide

The Power of RAW on iPhone, Part 2: Editing RAW by Sebastian de With, Halide 

iPhone 11 Pro Preview: The Camera Hardware Changes by Sebastian de With, Halide
RAW Power 2.0 for iOS by Gentlemen Coders

JF Martin of Numeric Citizen Blog suggests NOT using Photos Extensions to edit RAW photos. Instead find an app that "natively understands RAW images and also keeps editing instructions separately." In my Nikon experience this means keeping the original .NEF file and let Lightroom create the .XMP as a sidecar file.

Apps on our list that handle RAW images include RAW Power, Darkroom, Camera+ 2 ...

Field Trip on 9/10

The Libraries around Sacramento are closed on Thursday, September 10th.

If you are available, let’s do a photo walk in Sacramento, location TBA in email. I’m targeting Oak Park area for the location and lunch. Usual class time, 10 am to noon followed by local eats.

UPDATE - Photo Walk in Oak Park is on Wednesday morning, 10 am. Info sent in email. 

Spring 2020 Seminar Description

The RenSoc Seminar Committee is asking for leaders to prepare the description to be included in the catalog and online. Below is the proposed description - slightly modified from our current activities, current iOS and adding the latest iPhone models.

This seminar includes participant-led demonstrations where experienced photographers use iPhone apps to create print-ready artwork. In-class demonstrations and online shared albums are our critique and learning platforms. This semester we research apps for computer migration and reporting exposure metadata. Visit our website for demonstration videos and artwork examples at https://rsiphonephotostudio.blogspot.com. New photo studio artists should expect to purchase $25 in apps. Requirements: iPhone 7, 8, X, XR, XS, 11, 11Pro; iOS 12 or 13, AppleID. An iPad is helpful for editing. This is NOT a beginner photography seminar. We continue socializing at lunch after session.

There is a 100 word limit on seminar descriptions. So let me add ... What does that mean? We will continue taking/editing photos using iOS 13 apps. We will continue to stylize some photos, make/post collages and photographs to the seminar Shared Album.

It is great to take TIFF or RAW photos on our iPhones, but those images are destined to be processed and archived. What photos will you keep on mobile devices and what will you move to an archive? What is your filing system for DSLR photos? Have you incorporated your mobile images as well? In addition to iCloud, other online services include Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, and more. 

Enter State Fair Competition

Wrapped in a demonstration of iOS 13 and the Apple Files app, we looked at the 2019 guidelines and dates for submitting photographs for display during the State Fair. It is a two-step process, first set up an account, fill-out the online form and upload a photo/image and pay the fee. If your work is accepted, then frame your print and deliver it to Cal Expo.

Cynthia mentioned that photographs can be be entered in either the Photography or Fine Arts competitions. The time frame for 2020 will be similar to what is published for current year. Any submission should be no more than two-years old.

Sac State Union Gallery

New show called If Color Was a Language: A story of color and the relationship between street art and abstract expressionism - artwork by Drew Ochwat is up until October 17th. The gallery is in the second floor of the University Union, open M-F 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. The promotional post card reminded me of the graffiti we saw in the tunnels.

Uncovering Metadata

This page will be edited as discoveries are made. The iOS is updated and apps are updated so new info and views are at our fingertips.

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First change to make in ProCamera - add your name in the copyright metadata field. Go to the Grid Squares button > Settings > Advanced Settings > Copyright (EXIF) > Copyright .. type your full name.

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Apps that show file size:

• PhotoSync
• PhotoInfo NG 
• ProCamera in edit mode

Apps that show camera used (if camera app set value):

• ProCamera 

Apps that let you edit metadata:

• PhotIno NG ? 
• MetaPho (by Zininworks Inc. new app $4 unlocks all features)

Odd things about metadata details:

• VividHDR in ProCamera sets location to Bohai Sea, off the coast of China, about 5, 700 miles off target.

iOS 13.1 - rolled out

The latest iPhone operating system is out and stable. Update at your leisure after making a backup. The iPad OS has also been released. After friends reported successful updates, I've taken the plunge.

In both instances, the Photos app has the biggest changes. When editing a photo there are many more controls including: Black Point, Vibrance, Warmth, Tint, Sharpness, Definition, Noise Reduction and Vignette. Accessing Extensions is still (...) but moved to the top right corner on iPhone screen. The Share Sheet also looks different. The pinch to zoom in or out is cool, in thumbnail view. At Photos tab (left side at the bottom of the screen) and All Photos (at the center top of top of the screen) > Touch index finger and thumb on screen to pinch to zoom out and spread fingers to zoom in. Another option at this view is to see cropped square thumbnails or to see aspect ratio thumbnails. An odd happening is that some of my photo thumbnails show up as light gray squares. Were these deleted? Are they stuck in the cloud? I look forward to comparing to your experience/results. I updated six days ago on iPhone and expected some delays in iCloud resolving to my devices. Ahh. RAW image appeared when editing a thumbnail.

TEB Touch Every Button! Just discovered new Options in the Share Sheet for iCloud Link and the On/Off switch to include all metadata with high resolution images via Airdrop.

Get a preview of the iPhone iOS 13 and iPad OS 13 from Apple Support.

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Hold off on updating your Macintosh computers to Catalina when it is first released in the next few weeks according to Ken Spencer at MacNexus Apple User Group on 9/25/2019.

Day 3 Update

Change of direction for Day 3
Bring a print of your work to share. Could be 5x7 up to 12x18, printed at home or by a service bureau. An iPhone/iPad image, scanned image or digital camera image.

Quick review & camera shoot demos by class members

• Camera+ 2 camera operations and Lightbox for editing using Clarity feature.
• ProCamera with VividHDR and LowLight+ in-app purchases.

Check in for carpooling / travel arrangements for Field Trip on 9/26. Field trips add a challenge to our photography. Do you have a mobile USB charging/recharging brick? How do you conserve power for extended camera use?

Open Studio Events:
Linda Nunes, 9/21-22, 10 am to 5 pm. Encaustic and mixed media
Placerville Arts Association 9/21-22 & 9/28/29

Read about iOS 13 - it is due out 9/19/19. Don't be in a rush to update, there will be many adventurers ahead and the download might be slow due to server traffic. Read about how to get ready for the download and install. The Photos app has a new look and we will begin adapting to new search and editing options.

Mastering Photos Search

On Day 2 Niel will demonstrate the search options for Photos on iOS. He will walk us through searching on our own devices. (... sounds sinister, but it is not ;-D).

Niel provided a handout and we have it online.

Shared Album - View Only

This semester our seminar is taking a new direction in creating our personal Visual Effects Catalog. For two weeks the shared album will be view only to give you a chance to gather images for collages. Then I will open the shared album for posting.

Yes, the delay will be frustrating. This change is also a demonstration of the power behind Apple's Shared Photo Albums. The creator of the album is the "owner" and the options are to invite viewers or contributors. To keep the album to members only or to create a random URL to share with non-Apple devices.

The reason I've removed members from past shared albums is to reduce the confusion of posting to the wrong album.

User Guides for iPhone & iPad

Just in case you have missed getting these free Apple Books, and thinking you might not update to iOS 13 immediately, here are links for the User Guides.

• iPhone User Guide for iOS 12.3 
• iPad User Guide for iOS 12.3 
• Apple Watch User Guide 

Other sites of interest include

• Get help using iCloud Photo Sharing and shared albums ...
• iCloud Photo Sharing 

• How to see which apps are wasting your iPhone battery 

Coming Soon! Return to Apple Books to download the User Guides for iOS 13 after it is released. Read about the new iPadOS features and enhancements - especially about Photos.

ArtVentures - expand your creative vision

You might wonder where to connect to the various art related seminars offered at Renaissance. Wonder no longer! Ivy Hendy has created the artventures.blog as a one-stop website for links to the local Sacramento Arts Scene.

The Heart in Art for Lifelong Learners. Visit often!

Maybe we can suggest events that catch our attention and share with others in RS.

Fall 2019 class is full

Hello, glad you found this space. Why don't you wander around and follow a few links here. You could be surprised and delighted.

The bad news is that this seminar registration has closed. We are full. Sorry about that.

Let me tell you a little secret, this seminar is based on my interest in all things photographic in the Apple ecosystem. I proposed this seminar to the committee and they agreed to list it. Yea! Other folks were interested too. So you want to know more. You want to find outlets to express your creativity, Why not propose a seminar? A good seminar leader is curious, enthusiastic and encourages those qualities in others. Notice I did not say a leader is an "expert" - and I know, I'm no artist!

Multiple Apps - Many Developers

As I am refreshing content for this semester I see so many apps that do similar things but in one way stand out from each other. That is what excites me about supporting a vibrant creative app community in the Apple ecosystem.

The Cheatsheet page on our site is edited often to note the latest discovery about an app or how apps fit into our workflow. I can't keep up with the changes on this page by creating a new PDF. Just keep visiting the Cheatsheet and I hope you will help make it better by adding your own discoveries.

Lynda.com is going away

Well Lynda.com is not going away at all. The company was bought by LinkedIn in 2015 and Microsoft bought LinkedIn in 2016. 

What is really changing is how the parent companies are digging into user's personal data. Libraries don't like to expose patron's data. So other online training sources will be researched, reviewed and offered on the Tech Skill Development page for Sacramento Public Library. 

Our Galleries

I've selected a few collages for the Spring 2019 Gallery. I was looking for presentations showing a before and after or a workflow of images but here were surprises. There is no audio soundtrack.

Other recent work was posted at Spring 2018 Sample Gallery and 2017 Gallery iPhone Photography Seminar.

You inspire me! 

Seminar Description

Current details for apps are based on iOS 12.4 and expecting iOS 13 to be released mid-September, just after our class begins.

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This seminar is still evolving. This was submitted for Fall 2019:

This seminar includes participant-led demonstrations where experienced photographers use multiple iPhone apps to create print-ready artwork. In-class demonstrations and online shared albums are our critique and learning platforms. This semester we will stylize collages of existing images. Visit our website for activities, demonstration videos, and examples of our artwork at https://rsiphonephotostudio.blogspot.com. New photo artists should expect to purchase $25 in apps. Requirements: iPhone 7, 8, X, XR, XS; iOS 11 or 12, AppleID. An iPad is helpful for editing photos. This is NOT a beginner photography seminar. We continue socializing at lunch after session.

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Possible assignments include making collages from your library: 1) shapes, 2) textures, 3) flat colors, 4) color graduations, 5) faces, etc.

These collages will be processed by many apps to see how filters and effects 

change the images. For example:

To improve this image workflow we will want to add app and effect names. Easy to do using PicCollage or Apple Markup Extension. 

These effect studies will help as we apply styles to existing images.

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While on vacation (hey, I'm retired - does vacation ever end?) I picked up some new ideas for printing and projects to share with your friends and family. Exploration, discovery and fun ahead! 

Wacky Fall Schedule

My how the time flies. It is time to submit the seminar descriptions for the fall semester. First step is to request the library community rooms. Meeting schedule has been confirmed. Sept 5, 12, 19 and Oct 3, 17, 24.

You will notice some gaps in our six-session pattern. We can discuss how to fill the blanks with possible field trips or just stay with classroom dates.

Day 1 Notes

Another app to find on your iPad or download when you are home is Apple Support. Log in with your Apple ID and password. Along the bottom of the screen are three tabs: Discover, Get Support and Account. Touch Get Support.

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After sharing the time-lapse video on my big poster project, several of you asked for details. (I'm known for over-documentating a project...) I've added details on large prints at the bottom of Day 1. But I want to add the same info here so it will be found when searching through the diary of posts.

New info reported on Discoveries: Large Prints page detailing the 4'x3' poster. A related page is Discoveries: Available Space. But don't take my word on big prints, read LifeInLoFi - iPhone photo prints: How big can you go? 

Now go out and experiment on your photos. Let your spontaneity flow. Save versions of your image as you go. Later, take notes on your steps and choices, apps and file sizes, final print details.

Let's keep in mind that this is a journey, not a race. We will not "finish" in one semester of six meetings. So much to explore in the digital world of "instant gratification." I'm glad you are traveling up this road.

Links for exploration

Good Morning! Good Day! Good .... time to browse articles.

Niel reminded me that the Picture Correct site offers many free articles to explore. Two caught his attention recently:

• HDR With a Point and Shoot Camera 
• 5 Steps to Better Smartphone Photography

Are you a Netflix subscriber? You might appreciate this article: I KonMari-ed My Phone Apps and I'm Never Going Back

We begin ... February 7th

“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” 

― Maya Angelou

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Bring your iPhone and iPad fully charged with apps from Day 1 and Day 2 downloaded. Do you know how to make Screen Snapshots? This is a handy feature to know. Not just using camera and editing apps, ask Marilyn why she uses screenshots.

We will use many camera apps and many editing apps. There will be cross-over features. Some single-purpose apps are elegant in their simplicity vs a behemoth kitchen-sink app that brings an iPhone 6 to a crawl. We will process photos through several steps (apps) saving work back to the Camera Roll as we go. We will learn more about iPhone and iPad features because Cameras and Photos features leap across barriers.

Two good references, and free, are the iPhone and iPad User Guides found in the Apple Books Book Store. I find it easiest to go to the Book Store Search tab and type "user guide" to see the current offerings. Then touch See All and the full titles with iOS references appear. As of Spring 2019, we are at iOS 12. Please share if you have discovered other ebooks on photography.

Class begins on February 7th at the Community Room of Fair Oaks Library, 10 am to noon.
Fair Oaks Avenue at Madison Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA
11601 Fair Oaks Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
[Starbucks on the corner ;-D]

Keep our website handy - https://rsiphonephotostudio.blogspot.com

Next week I will send you an email invitation to join the Studio Spring 2019 Shared Album. This semester I'd like you to practice with PicCollage and Diptic apps showing your workflow to achieve the final image. Sharing the work you do on photographs using iPhone and iPad apps is an important part of this class - and sharing our creativity!

Spring Semester begins soon

Hello everybody! Our seminar begins on Thursday, February 7th and we just meet six times. B.U.T. we still have fun creating and sharing through the wonder of Apple Photos Shared Albums for six months.

I've just collected a recent set of our work into the Collage Gallery posted to YouTube. This semester I will emphasize using PicCollage, Diptic and other apps that let us show multiple images as a workflow or as the finished photo/art piece before posting. That means I'll be recording new demo videos ASAP.

Review our past work in Spring 2018 Sample Gallery and 2017 Gallery iPhone Photography Seminar.