Photos - Metadata, Caption & Look Up

iOS 15 has added capability to the Apple Photos app in two important ways. Look at any photo and then swipe up to see Caption, exposure metadata, Map, file type and file name. We can also Adjust the date/time or location of our photos. At the bottom of the screen the ( i ) button is either plain or *( i ) enhanced - where Look Up is offered by Artificial Intelligence. Tap "Look Up" to see what Siri Knowledge reports. 

The most important feature on this swipe-up screen is the field Add a caption. This becomes searchable information. Using the Search feature in Photos will find ... dog, cat, horse, rabbit, bird, umbrella, flower and more. So we do not have to mark every photo a Favorite and then lose it in that bit bucket, or make albums on albums (been there, done that). You will soon discover that some of our editing and stylizing apps write info to the Caption field - very helpful reminders of our workflow! 

We walked through the Settings app for Camera and Photos today. Refer back to the Cheatsheet for the same tweaks. If you see a message with a warning (Cheryl > iCloud Photos) make a note and we will talk about it later, one-on-one. 

We will not have time to dig deep into all these features during class. You will have to become a self-study ninja. You will want to download the Apple User Guide for iPhone and iPad into the Books app and also link to the online versions of the guides. It is best to read the Guides on a tablet or computer if available so you can manipulate the features on your iPhone. 

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Use the Books version of the guides for deep reading and personal note taking. The online versions are for quick reference. Read the Camera, Photos, Files, Notes, Mail, Messages .. and other chapters that catch your imagination. 

Get the free Apple User Guide in Books for iPhone iOS 15.1 or iPad OS 15.1

iPhone User Guide online version  

iPad User Guide online version 

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Build muscle memory by playing with the many views in Photos. Use Search in Photos and at the Home Screen. 

Photos curates our images automatically. I'm old-school and would like to make my own (convoluted) image management layout like years ago. But, it failed me in the log run so now I'm bending to the Apple-Way of managing photos. Urggh. 

The Library is the timeline of my photos. But often in other apps accessing the Albums > Recents is the easiest way to find an image. Unless, of course, Search is an option in the media browser feature. CONFUSED? Stay tuned, we'll work through this. 

Favorite Apps

Favorite apps is a moment-by-moment thought. Your grasp of the features in any app will expand during this seminar. Our mantra is "Touch Every Button" and when we get comfortable with an app it is time to dig into it's features on a deeper level. Snapseed is one example in my world. This app hasn't changed much over the last 4 years - in terms of user interface and features. But, like a ride at the State Fair, sometimes you want to jump back in line and ride it again and again. This is "app stacking" and until August 2021 this meant different apps. Recently I've discovered that an app can be used twice. Three or more times. An exported version can be reimported and pushed further. 

Look over your App Catalog handout and write names beside the apps listed below. Over the next few weeks, conversations will happen. 

Favorite Apps   more names to follow 

Cheryl - Retouch, Snapseed

JoEllen - Retouch, TuneCam, Waterlogue

Guy - Snapseed

Karen - Retouch, Painnt, PicCollage

Jim - Retouch, Camera+ 2

Diana - Image Blender, Waterlogue

Roe - Paint, Brushstroke, Tangled FX, ProCamera

Carolyn - Photos app edit features, Retouch

Debra - Camera+2, ProCam, Prisma 

John - Apple Camera, ProCamera 

Chad - ProCamera w HDR, Slow Shutter 

Irene - Camera+ 2, Slow Shutter, Waterlogue

Collene - Camera+ 2 macros, Circular, Retouch 

Linda - Camera+2 Waterlogue, Painnt 

Cynthia - Brushstroke, Pixelmator Photo, Carbon

Melissa - apps with layers and in app gallery 

Retouch is the short name for TouchRetouch. 

Printing. Print. Show. Again.

While it is wonderful to carry your gallery around in your pocket, there is nothing quite like seeing your photos on the wall or in a photo book on the coffee table. 

JoEllen shared an article by David duChemin - Print Your Work without Printing Your Work from his website davidduchemin.com. Where he offers "Handing my printing over to someone who can do a much, much better job with it means I will have more time to engage with the parts of my craft that I do love." And, in the long run, at a cheaper price too. 

On YouTube there are other Printing Sages offering, a few ... 

• Ming Cai How Many Pixels Do You Need? I made a 30"x40" print from a 20 MP photo  
• Sean Tucker Advice on Printing your Images 
• Nigel Danson I Tried PRINTING a PHONE PHOTO really BIG (phone camera AI) 
• Tony & Chelsea Print Services Comparison: Which Website Makes the Best Prints?  
• Mpix Capturing & Cropping Photos sensors size, shape and paper aspect ratios (mute music) 
• Karl Taylor 7 FACTS For Better Image Quality- Megapixels, Resolution, Image Sensor Size, Photosites???  (dense content, watch again later) 

Vocabulary Terms: Lens choice & quality, Low light sensitivity, Noise, File type, Sensor size, Photosites, Dynamic Range, Crop, Megapixels, Resolution, Chromatic Aberration, Viewing distance, Paper finish ... 

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Are you inspired to make single photo pages with a calendar? I've got a convoluted process using calendar blocks created in Apple Numbers and placed on slides in Apple Keynote. Are you game? Read the Calendar Project - Single Pages article and download the 8x10 Keynote template. 

Talking Gear

Karen pointed to an odd quirk - the clip-on lenses used in past semesters are not working in iOS15! Especially the macro lens. Testing is needed - try the clip-on lens and various camera applications. Dig into app settings to see if a feature needs to be enabled or disabled. Watch for comments on websites, blogs and in YouTube channels. 

UPDATE: Use an app that uses Manual mode and add the clip-lens to the 1X lens. Get close, very close! Example apps are Camera+ 2, ProCamera, Obscura, Hydra, Halide, Moment, ProCam, Slow Shutter, Lenka. On the 13 Pro macro will auto focus at close range. The clip-on macro on 1X lens did work for me as well. 

Protect your iPhone with a case. Consider adding a lanyard from Blackrapid - Wander Bundle (recommended by Cynthia) or Youowo Adjustable Lanyard (recommended by Diana).

High-end lens systems are available from Sandmarc (Mike and Charlene) and Moment (Diana, Roe, Cynthia and Melissa). 

Dig around your old camera gear for a tripod. Any tripod. Consider visiting the Dollar Tree (sic) and look for a selfie-stick with a screw-on phone clip. Remove the clip and attach to your tripod. 

Guy asked about specs for a new iPad. Several spoke in favor for the iPad Pro model, and they are happy with the large screen and mid-range on-board storage option. Consider taking your time and watching for refurbished M1 models to appear at the Apple website - as products to appear daily and act fast if you are ready to buy. It is best to visit a store and handle both Pro sizes to be sure of the purchase. An Apple Pencil will help with many photo editing processes. A cover with keyboard is helpful when you're not editing and stylizing photos. 

Set ...

Time to review the status of your iPhone and iPad. To help you dig through the settings, use the detailed handout that tracks your current settings and options to help you decide what to jettison if additional storage space is needed. The iOS Device Status (in Dropbox) has been updated for iOS 15 and some of the rows are different than previous semesters. Apple moves features around and adds more controls. 

Ready ...

Meet and Greet on Thursday, October 21st - 10 am to noon. First class on October 28 - 10 am to noon. 

iOS 15.0.2 is working and I’ve not discovered any problems with recommended photo and editing apps. If you have not already updated your iPhone and iPad, go for it. Using all the usual precautions: backup to iCloud, backup critical data from apps, etc. (Do not update Snapseed if already installed. But this might not be an issue - I'm waiting for your reports.)

Cynthia, my Tech Host & Muse, shared Payette Forward, a YouTube channel with three important videos. Watch the videos and consider how you use your devices before taking their recommendations. Tips extending battery life and conserving cellular data are important to photographers. Maybe 5% of these tips are not right for me - at this time. 

iOS 15 Settings You Need To Turn Off Now  - 13:12
https://youtu.be/LxdoC2sG1i4 

iOS 15 Settings You Need To Turn On Now - 12:34
https://youtu.be/JJ8DpQIA35I 

iOS 15 Battery Tips - 10:11
https://youtu.be/a3VG6CEkqo8 

YouTube is a wonderland for couch potatoes surfing for ideas. Luke Edwin is a new resource for me, and his MACRO Photography With iPhone 13 Pro is full of ideas. Check it out at 

https://youtu.be/pIwK4sFZdBs  - No pressure to upgrade your device! Wait for the 14 or 15 models with even more capability. See next item ... 

We encourage each other to print photos. Derrick Story, north bay area photographer / Apple device user / educator, recently posted How I Made a Large Wall Print from an iPhone 6S https://www.dropbox.com/s/8585qh9da07zli2/large_print_iphone6s_derrick.pdf?dl=0 and his Linked In Mobile Photography: Image Management class is available through the Sac Public Library - https://www.saclibrary.org/Education/Online-Learning/Classes-Tutorials 

RS - Introduction to iPhone Photography

You can help other RenSoc members take control of their photography by becoming a “Photography Coach” in the Spring of 2022. Here is a draft of the RS activity - more details to follow. 

Activity Title: Introduction to iPhone Photography

Meetings: 3 Zoom meetings + 1 photo walk in a park setting

Day & Time: Wednesday afternoons

DRAFT Description: Attend Zoom class to learn about Apple Camera features and Settings. Enroll in a small group Photo Walk with iPhone Photography Coaches at a park near your home. Attend Zoom class to learn about editing features in the Apple Photos app. Attend Zoom class to learn about how to organize, share and print your photos. Attend Zoom meetings on a computer/Chromebook/tablet so you can use/practice with your iPhone. 

This activity is directed at basic Apple Camera and Photos features and using iPhone 5 and up. 

After people enroll in the activity, I will ask them to choose a Park Photo Walk location determined by our Coaches. My goal is to have 4+ park locations that will all meet on the same Wednesday afternoon. Anticipating COVID restrictions, Photo Walks will be limited to 10 participants and have at least 2 coaches per site. 

✌Consider sharing your iPhone photography joy. 😍

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15

Well, the iPhone 13’s come with iOS 15 installed and it has been a fun ride to explore the new features and check for apps that did not make the cut. So far, no problems. Do NOT update Snapseed if you have it installed. (If you have updated, try editing in the app and let me know how it responds. Most Recent Reviews in the App Store are not reporting success with edits!) 

iPad Pro circa January 2020 has also been updated to iPadOS 15 so I can check apps and features and update our Cheatsheet. This is slow going, too many distractions. 

On my devices the Settings > App Updates is OFF so I can review app changes/updates/compatibility before taping the Update button. More and more apps on our list are showing up as “optimized for 15” and  optimized for the new screen sizes of 13 Pro Max.