photography - page 18

Level Up The Look Of Your Photos With The Mac Photo Bundle [Deals]

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CoM - Photo Bundle

We’re at the time of year where we’re shooting tons of photos. Whether it’s at a family gathering, capturing wintry landscapes, or admiring decorations adorning houses in your neighbourhood, taking photos is definitely on the agenda. But taking photos isn’t enough – you want to make them look as appealing as possible, and Cult of Mac Deals has assembled The Mac Photo Bundle to help you get more out of every photo you take.

And it can be yours for a limited time – all 5 apps – for just $25!

Manfrotto Makes Good Carbon Fiber Affordable With Their New 290-Series Tripod [Review]

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Carbon fiber tripods are great, aren’t they? They’re slim on weight, and if they’re built well, are steady as an oak. Problem is, good ones can cost $600-$800 dollars, and unless you’re regularly shooting for cash, it’s hard to justify spending that kind of cheese.

So when Manfrotto asked me to check out their 290-series MT294C3 carbon fiber tripod ($250 legs only, $319 with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head as I reviewed it) I pointed at them, stroked my mustache, and said, absolutely. Manfrotto’s a known name in the photo world, but would their new series of affordable carbon-hewn tripods be worthy of their pedigree? I set out to see.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Three Months After Firing Much of Its Staff, Hipstamatic Releases Gangster-Themed FreePak

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The jury’s still out on what effect the firing in August of some key players at Hipstamatic will have on the app itself — but the toy-camera simulator is still pumping out the FreePaks, those cute virtual lens-and-film pairings that often tie in with some pop-culture reference. This time it’s based off the star-stuffed Gangster Squad flick, set to be released early next year. Oh, and they’re giving away a Canon 5D Mk III in a contest, if you’re interested.

Repurpose A Filthy Plughole Protector For Lo-Fi Photography

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What’s in a name? If you’re Nick Cool, then it’s THE TRUTH. And Nick’s cool photo hack totally proves it.

One day, it seems that Nick was staring at his sink, perhaps in a fuzzy daze as he waited for his coffee to brew. His eyes presumably were drawn, like all kitchen detritus, towards the filthy plughole.

Most of us would see a future chore, to be added to the long list of other things we’ll put off until somebody more conscientious takes care of them. Nick, however, saw an opportunity. A Photo Op, if you like.

5 Tips For Publishing Your iPhone Photos As A Book [Interview]

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A shot from Jensen's latest book
An iPhone shot from Jensen's latest book "Wish You Were Here."

Travis Jensen is a self-taught photographer with a day job who has just published his fifth book of street snaps.

Shot with an iPhone 4 plus Hipstamatic’s John S. Lens and Blackeys Supergrain Film, “Wish You Were Here – San Francisco Street Snaps,” was published in collaboration with the Franklin Street Whole Foods store with proceeds to benefit Larkin Street Youth Services. (If you’re in San Francisco, you can meet Jensen and pick up a signed copy at the launch party at Hipstamatic headquarters on Thursday, November 29.)

Jensen offered Cult of Mac these tips on how he turned his weekend obsession of iPhone photo forays into supermarket checkout fare.

Photos To Art Turns Instagram Images into Real Art

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My self-portrait with a Soho Black frame, and right, virtually superimposed alongside a print at the local Starbucks.

C’mon, who among us hasn’t snapped a photo on Instagram and thought “wow, that’d look great on my wall” — I know I have. So Art.com came up with Photos to Art, a slick app that painlessly, almost magically transform your digital snapshot into a piece of art — all you need to provide is some money and a bit of imagination (and they’ll even help you with that last one).

Olloclip Now Selling iPhone 5 Kit With Fish Eye, Wide Angle, Macro Lenses

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If you’re into iPhoneography, chances are you’ve heard of Olloclip. The company sells one of the best lens kits there is for the iPhone. Apple gives you the ability to digitally zoom in the Camera app, but Olloclip takes photography to the next level with fisheye, wide angle, and macro lenses.

Olloclip is now offering its 3-in-1 lens kit for the iPhone 5.

Overgram Brings Beautiful Typography To Your iPhone Pictures

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Today a free version of popular photography iPhone app “Over” launched in the App Store called “Overgram.” With Overgram, it’s easy to add beautiful typography to pictures taken on your iPhone. As the name implies, you can easily share your creations on social networks like Instagram.

Check out Overgram, and if you like it, the full version of Over is on sale in the App Store for a limited time. Your Instagram feed will never be the same.

Hurricane Sandy Gave Navigation, News, Finance Apps A Massive Boost… But Not Weather?

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Use of weather apps actually decreased during Hurricane Sandy.

When Hurricane Sandy left millions of people across the East Coast of the United States without electricity, portable, battery-powered devices like smartphones and tablets were all they had to rely on. Not only did they provide a means of entertainment, but they also allowed those affected by the storm to follow the latest news and weather information.

With that being the case, Sandy had some interesting effects on app statistics. Compared with the preceding week in New York City, use of navigation apps more than doubled, while those in the finance category saw a 74% boost. Photography and news apps also became more popular, while, surprisingly, weather apps remained closed.

How To Master Your DSLR Camera And Digital Photography Skills [Deals]

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The iPhone is fast becoming one of the most – if not the most – used cameras on the planet. But serious photographers know that nothing really beats a DSLR in terms of quality – and any serious hobbyist knows that as well. So if you’re looking to get some superior shooting, then learning how to use a DSLR camera is a must. And for those who already have a DSLR camera, I’m betting that you’r probably not using it to its full potential.

You’re not alone…I’m in the same boat. That’s why this latest Cult of Mac Deals offer is so huge. You’ll get two online courses that will help you achieve DSLR mastery and take your digital photography skills to new heights – and all for just $39!

Mosaic Lets You Make Gorgeous, Stress-Free Photobooks From Your iPhone

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With the holidays coming, maybe there’s no such thing as “too many photobook makers.” At least, that’s probably what Mixbook is banking on with their new Mosaic app, which lets you quickly create a hard-cover photobook for $20.

This one’s a little different though: Not only can you create and order your photobook with your iPhone, but the books are created with an unusual effect where photo thumbnails peek through windows in the book’s cover. Definitely  attention-grabbing.

Stunning Canvas Prints Of Your Pictures For $49 [Deals]

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Do you take great pictures? Or maybe you know someone who does? How about getting some of those pictures printed on canvas to display like the art the are? And this doesn’t even have to cost an arm and a leg…only $49. Sounds like a great present—Turn Any Photo Into Art With CanvasPop (16“x20”): Create a Custom High-Quality Canvas Print And Get $30 for Your Next Purchase

On Trains, Planes, Or Automobiles, Airport International Keeps Your Camera Gear Safe [Review]

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The Think Tank International is ready for stow in a carry-on compartment near you.

A mere 6 months ago, I moved my glut of photography gear into a new, portable home: the Think Tank AirPort International Rolling Camera Bag ($350). Since then, I’ve been able to tote my equipment around easily, in style, but most importantly, packed snugly in a vault of total security.

I immediately loved it.

But as with most reviews, time tells how a piece of gear will really work. And now, with six months of carting the Airport International to and fro, I’m ready to report how it has performed over the long haul.

Snapfish App Now Lets You Have Prints From Your iPhone in About an Hour

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I’ve seen some amazing photos shot with the increasingly advanced photo hardware (and software) packed into the iPhone, and now the iPad. And while swiping through the images is fun, sometimes you want physical prints. An update to the free Snapfish app lets you have those prints by letting you send images from your iPhone to the closest Walmart, Walgreens, or if you’re in New York, Duane Reade — and they’ll be printed in about an hour.

How An Apple Fanatic Turns DIY Nude iPhone Photos Into Art

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A work by Igor Capibaribe made with iPhone self-portraits.
A work by Igor Capibaribe made with iPhone self-portraits.

The iPhone camera has sparked a revolution in self-portraits – both above and below the belt. One Apple fanatic in San Francisco has turned the habit of iPhone users to say cheese into inspiration for a new kind of portrait.

Igor Capibaribe takes the nude iPhone photos people send him and turns them into one-of-a-kind art works.

The final effect is so far away from DIY nudie shots that the photos here don’t really do them justice. If you’re in San Francisco, you can check them out on this weekend at his studio. (October 26th from 6-9 pm, October 27 and 28 from 11 am – 6pm, Studio 3A 2150 Folsom Street. You can also see more on his site.)

From You To The Web, Instantly: Photoset Does One Thing Very Well [Review]

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Grab some photos, hit upload. That's it.
Grab some photos, hit upload. That's it.

Quick, answer this one: what’s the quickest, easiest, no-sign-ups required way to get a bunch of photos from your iPhone to the internet, right now?

Instagram? Nope. You’re kind of right, but Instagram has its limitations. And you need to sign up to use it. Apple’s Photo Stream? Closer, but you still need to be using iCloud.

The quickest, easiest and no-sign-uppiest service I’ve yet seen has to be Photoset, a new thing from the people who make Tumblr.

Instagram Will Now Magically Translate Instagram Mentions Into Twitter Mentions

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One of the biggest annoyances of using Instagram is when I have a friend who also uses Twitter and I want to mention them in a photo that I’m about to post to Twitter, except their Instagram and Twitter usernames are completely different.

It’s not a huge inconvenience, but it’d just be easier if everything was the same. Instagram says they just solved that problem and now Instagram names will magically be translated to their proper Twitter handle when posted on Twitter.

Apple Sued Over Distinctive “Eye Closeup” Photograph Used To Promote Retina MacBook Pro

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When Apple first unveiled the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro back in July of this year, they used two images to specifically highlight the incredible resolution of the new display. The first was a shot of a herd of zebras running through the grass captured by photographer Steve Bloom. And the second? A photograph of an eye in full Ziggy Stardust make-up, taken by Swiss photographe Sabine Liewald.

The only problem with that latter photograph? According to the photographer, Apple never properly licensed it to be used in Retina MacBook Pro marketing materials. And she’s now suing over it.