Sunday, March 21, 2021

New Challenge Shared Album

A new shared album has been created for those who want to participate in photo challenges. Invitations have been sent but might not arrive in your Apple ID email account or by iPhone phone number. Let me know to try again. Take care to post to the Imagine See Show shared album. 

The Spring 2021 seminar shared album will continue to be available until mid-October. The fall semester meet and greet is October 21st and the class start date is October 28th. 

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Looking for iPhone Video Basics

Looking for curious photographers who want to know more and are willing to share their learning journey with other Renaissance Society members. 

Ideal class would last 6 weeks and be lead by a team of 3 to 6 intermediate iPhone users interested in how video works on mobile devices. This team might begin practicing activities Fall 2021 and open the first seminar during the Spring 2022 semester. 

Explore the possibilities of iPhone videography over six meetings. This is an introductory seminar for iPhone and iPad owners interested in exploring the features video and audio communication. Agenda includes tips for shooting video, introduction to Apple iMovie and time to share your video projects. 

Topics for consideration by the team members 

Camera practice

  • Settings (Grid, Location, Available space) 
  • Modes (Video, SloMo, Time-lapse, Live, Burst,  etc) 
  • Stabilizing your camera (tripod or included lens stabilization) 
  • Wide, Medium and Close-up shots
  • iMovie Movie Trailers (scripted formulas) 

Photos practice 

  • Editing video clips in Photos app
  • Editing video clips in iMovie app 
  • Rotate video from portrait to horizontal
  • Crop - horizon-leveling 
  • Edit exposure 
  • Select frames
  • Import video files from other cameras
  • Share > email, messages, Shared Albums, AirDrop 
  • Share > Duplicate, Files, Copy iCloud link 

Additional topics 

  • Storytelling 
  • Add still photos and title cards 
  • Add a music sountrack 
  • Add audio narration 
  • Add media to Keynote, Pages 
  • Share > social media services 
  • Archive media assets and final project 

Looking for iPhone Photo Basics

Looking for curious photographers that want to know more and are willing to share their learning journey with other Renaissance Society members. 

Ideal class would last 6 weeks and be lead by a team of 3 to 6 intermediate iPhone photographers. Here are some suggestions: 

Explore the possibilities of iPhone photography and build muscle memory over six meetings. This is an introductory seminar for new iPhone and iPad owners interested in exploring the features of Apple Camera and Photos apps and the different ways photos are used on our iPhone and iPad. Free apps will be demonstrated and your Apple ID is required to download new apps. 

Topics for consideration

Camera practice

  • Settings (Grid, Location) 
  • Modes (Photo, Portrait, Pano, etc) 

Photos practice 

  • Editing 
  • Crop - horizon-leveling 
  • Edit > Revert (to original) 
  • Caption
  • Search
  • Faces 
  • Live and Burst 
  • Select (one or more, deselect) 
  • Favorites Album
  • My Albums (sequence photos) 
  • Share > email, messages, Shared Albums, AirDrop 
  • Share > Duplicate, Files, Copy iCloud link, Print 

Additional topics 

  • Add media to Keynote, Pages
  • Wallpaper > Home Screen, Lock Screen 
  • Contacts (add photo) 
  • Notes (scan document, add photo) 
  • Screenshots
  • Markup (Photos, Mail, Pages) 

Balancing on the Cutting Edge

Keeping up with the tech changes in our favorite camera is a challenge. Buying a new camera/storage device/computer every two years seems extreme - at least my grandmother would think so. A significant reason to upgrade every 4 years (or sooner) is to keep up with security. At some point, our old mobile devices will not update to current operating systems and be vulnerable to security breaches. 

In the palm of your hand is ... a computer, branch of your bank, library, calendar, telephone, photo albums and ... wait for it ... a great camera. 

Ways to upgrade your camera technology: 

  1. Buy a refurbished device from Apple at a slight discount. Add your veteran's discount or education discount when possible. 
  2. Use Apple Card to buy over time with 0% interest with option to upgrade after 12 months.
  3. Buy with a cellular carrier deal.
  4. Pay full price up front.
  5. Any of the above options with a trade-in of your current iPhone will lower the price. 
You're not ready to make the leap just now. But take 10 minutes to review your options. The paradigm for updating mobile technology has shifted to sooner, while there is trade-in value with your used device. Better yet, go ahead and chat with one of the online experts to get specifics about your needs and situation. But don't buy yet. Unless you are convinced this is the right time. 

Questions you want answered: 
  • Will the phone be "unlocked" and not exclusive to a specific cellular service? 
  • How will AppleCare be charged when using Apple Card to purchase over time? 
  • How will AppleCare be pro-rated if paid upfront and then trade-in at 1 year? 
  • ... 

Fall 2021 proposal

 iPhone Photography Experimental Studio (Pre-requisite needed)

For intermediate or advanced photographers; includes participant digital artwork demonstrations. Shared albums are our learning and critique platform. Visit public website for how-to videos, recent artwork galleries: https://rsiphonephotostudio.blogspot.com. New photo artists are comfortable with iOS basics and expect to purchase $25 in apps and prints. Requirements: iPhone 8 and up, Pro iPhone models; iOS 14, or 15 and AppleID. All enrollees go to WAITLIST until prerequisites checked by instructor. A computer is helpful to attend the Zoom meetings so your device is available for demonstrated activities. Zoom Meet & Greet on Oct 21 at 10 AM. 6 meetings, begin October 28th and end on December 9th. 


Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Safari and Privacy

Back in November of 2019 Apple released a white paper called Safari Privacy Overview: Learn how the Safari web browser protects your privacy. in PDF form. With iOS 14.4.1 and on the verge of 14.5 we can expect a fresh version of this report soon. Topics include cross-site tracking, data sharing, private browsing, history, secure payments and more. 

Friday, March 5, 2021

From Ordinary to Spectacular

iPhone Photography School has done it again. Emil Pakarklis reminds us that the camera does not see what our eyes see and every photograph could be improved with post production editing. Checkout his free video: How to Use Photo Editing Apps to Make Ordinary Photos Look Spectacular. I like that he suggests watching the video on a computer or tablet and then editing on your iPhone. Snapseed is part of his workflow. 

Checkout iPhone Photography School for free tutorials and videos or sign up for online classes.