GeekSugar

5 Fun Lenses to Add to Your Camera Arsenal

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:30:38 PST

Having fun with your photos should be a requirement in 2012. If you're looking to up your fun quotient (and potentially come up with some seriously amazing images in the process) when it comes to photography this year, check out these lenses that can be swapped out for your regular DSLR lens.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Valentine's Day Camera Phone Tips

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:02:10 PST

Amore is in the air, and if you plan on spending Feb. 14 with your current flame, you'll of course want to capture all the best moments as they happen. The good news is, with camera phones being as handy (and powerful) as they are, you probably don't need to tote around a full-featured digital in order to post an album's worth of mushy kissy-face pics on your various social networks.

Keep up your high photo standards no matter what the situation with these camera phone tips straight from professional photographer Perry Reichanadter. Have any of your own to add? Leave them in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Get close to your subject - Your camera phone probably won't have a macro setting, so be sure to get up close and personal with your beloved so he isn't drowned out by the surrounding action.
Clear the background - There's nothing worse than snapping a great pic of your BF, only to have something in the background distracting from his face. Make sure you steer clear of any street signs, bright lights, or "loud" objects, and keep your honey in focus.

See the rest of the tips after the jump.

Shutterbug: How to Photograph Your Family at Home

Rebecca M Gruber — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:48:14 PST

Grab your camera and get ready to shoot! After baby's born, many mamas fashion themselves into the family photographer, but how much do you really know about capturing the perfect shot? With DSLR cameras on the top of many moms' wish lists, I turned to an expert to get a crash course in recording a family's daily activities - and doing it well! Fort Collins, CO-based Jennifer Little started Sugar Photography (no relation) with the goal of capturing the connection between people and their moments. Keep reading to see her tips for doing the same on your own, as well as beautiful examples of her work!

All photos courtesy of: Jennifer Little | Sugar Photography

Dress Your iPhone in a Rangefinder For Hot Shots on the Go

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:36:37 PST

Your iPhone aspires to be a DSLR, so make the dream a (pseudo) reality with the iPhone Rangefinder ($65). We've talked about similar cases before, but Photojojo is offering up a complete iPhoneography system - the Rangefinder and three lenses (macro/wide, fisheye, and telephoto) - for just $99. Unbelievable!

The Rangefinder isn't just a case though. It comes with extra bells and whistles like a shutter button, viewfinder, aperture numbers, two loops for a camera strap, and a tripod mount so you can take still photos and videos without blur. And the faux front lens? Well, that acts as a mirror so you can take perfectly centered (or off-center - remember the rule of thirds!) self-portraits every time.

Like what you see? Get a closer look at the Rangefinder in the gallery.

11 Fun and Useful Photoshop Tips and Effects to Try

GeekSugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:01:38 PST

Now that you've polished up your photography skills, it's time to take your photos to the next level by having some fun with Photoshop. Editing and tweaking your pics isn't considered cheating - it helps bring out the beauty in your images, and keeps things interesting. Here, I'll cover ten fun and useful Photoshop tips and effects that you can use every day, or when you want to add some pizzaz to your pics.

Get Photoshop for free - Don't have Photoshop? No prob! Get Photoshop Express for free!
Take in some free tutorials - Get the low down on Photoshop basics free of charge.
Get rid of blemishes - Who doesn't want clear skin? Make it a reality with this tip that ditches the zits.

See the rest of the tips, and learn about some sweet and simple effects you can add to your images after the break.

6 Geeky Valentine's Date Ideas For Photographers

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:12:51 PST

Don't settle for dinner and a movie this Valentine's Day! As photographers, you're both stimulated by the visual elements around you - why not incorporate your favorite pastime (or profession) into your next date? Check out these ideas for a very photo-friendly evening out.

Create a photo scavenger hunt. Each of you write down a random clue, rhyme, or abstract fact about three locations, then exchange clues and have the other person take photos based on the clues received.
Honor your shared love of photography by baking some camera cookies.
Do a bar crawl to hit up the city's best photo booths. Take a set of pics and have a different cocktail at each.
Make funny gifs of your favorite memories together.
Grab your cameras and spend the day snapping photos of your hood.
Say cheese and challenge yourself by posing for self-portraits together using every filter in Instagram or every film style in Hipstamatic in different locations.
Act like a visitor and snap pics at every tourist attraction in your city.
Stay up late to capture light trails on a city street or highway.
Spend some time after dinner perfecting your bokeh skills around town.
Give each other a list of images to capture throughout the day and compare your shots over drinks.

Source: Flickr user BlueGoaॐ☮

61 Photo Tips, Tools, Apps, and Insights For Better Mobile Photos

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:12:47 PST

We carry our camera-equipped smartphones around everywhere and have become obsessed with mobile photography. If you've hopped on the iPhoneography train for the long haul, check out these 61 tips, tricks, apps, and tools that will help you take your mobile photos to the next level.

Have any tips of your own to share? Leave them in the comments, tweet them at us, or share them on Facebook!

Playing Around With the Photojojo Wide/Macro Phone Lens

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:23:31 PST

For me, iPhoneography is becoming an obsession, so of course, I'd want to load up on apps and tools to help me take better pics. First up, the Wide/Macro Phone Lens ($20) from Photojojo.

The lens is easy to install onto any phone - just apply the included metal sticker ring around your phone lens (there are several that fit just about any phone, including those with flash), and your macro lens will grip with ease, thanks to a strong magnetic pull. The lens works like a charm and really does improve the look of your close-ups. One note - your pics may turn out darker than normal in low light, so be sure to compensate with a light source.

Want to see some sample images before you buy? Check out the gallery!

Creative Craft Idea: Kid's Polaroid Wall

LilSugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:52:48 PST

Create a miniphotographer in the family! If you're looking for a fresh arts and crafts idea, encourage your kids to get creative by making their own Polaroid wall. Not only will they get the chance to dabble in photography, but they'll also have a hand in decorating their own bedroom. The project can be as simple or as complicated as they'd like, depending on how many pictures they choose to take. Here are a few tips and suggestions to make sure things go smoothly:

Brainstorm special subjects. If your child isn't sure what to photograph, ask them about their favorite places, people, or objects. You'll gain insight into what they care about and at the end of the project, they'll have a collage of the things that mean most to them.
Organize a game plan to make it easier. To keep things simple, encourage your kids to take pictures of different colors, then help them create a color-coordinated masterpiece. Another idea? Pick a theme, like flowers, and go from there.
Think about display options. The Polaroids don't need to cover an entire wall. Instead, suggest that your kids display the pictures in a unique shape, like a heart or the first letter of their name.
Go the gift route. A personalized photo collage could make a great gift - maybe for grandma or a best friend? - so encourage your child to think outside the box for different possibilities.

Don't own a Polaroid camera? Not a problem. Use any printed photographs for the craft, even those printed at home on special photo paper. For a small, affordable Polaroid option, try the 300 Instant Camera ($90) and 300 Instant Film ($13).

Photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy

9 Quick Tips For Better iPhoneongraphy

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:20:39 PST

After sitting in on the photography session at Macworld, I'm even more committed to following through on my New Year's resolution to take better photos. This includes iPhoneography. If you've become obsessed with capturing images on your mobile phone, here are nine quick tips from Stephanie Roberts to maximize your shooting style, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Discover your go-to shooting app and keep it within thumb reach on your home screen.
Get comfortable shooting with one hand.
Play with lighting and exposure effects by tapping on different areas of the screen.
If the image is well composed, don't delete it! You can work wonders with apps!
Capture different patterns and textures and consider using them as layers in various apps.
Few apps meet all your creative needs. Use multiple apps to create your own personal style.
Back up your photos often and keep your apps up to date!
Go to "Settings" to adjust photo app settings for maximum image quality on capture and save.
Keep a charger or battery pack handy. Taking photos and editing in multiple apps is taxing on the battery.

Source: Instagram user KristyKorcz