Apps for Photography

Weather Underground

You are carrying a mini computer with you all the time, why not put it to use? Check out some of our favorite smartphone apps to get your photography going.

Weather Underground (Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I like weather undergrounds info and display and they let you set up smart forecasts that can quickly give you an idea of optimal times for various activities including astrophotography.

WU Storm

STORM by Weather Underground (Free)

Apple App Store

Along with weather underground, I use STORM for real-time radar that can be helpful to know exactly when that rain is going to stop at your location. I find watching the radar and the movement of the precip is more accurate in the short term than any forecasts.

NOAA Weather International

NOAA Weather International (Free, $2.99 Ad Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

AND I sometimes want to know what the weather nerds are saying about the future and the NOAA app gives me a straightforward look at each day and provides an easy click to read the forecast discussion. You can also click to see the elevation of a location on the map. FREE or pay $2.99 to remove the adds.

Tide Charts Near Me

Tide Charts Near Me (Free, $1.99 Ad Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I live near the coast and we regularly run workshops on both coasts - knowing the tide is critical to knowing how much beach or rock will be exposed and if the tide is headed out giving you plenty of time to shoot or the tide is coming in when you need to be very careful about getting stranded, Tides- Charts near me is a simple representation of the tides near you - with automatic updating based on your location. FREE or $1.99 to remove the ads.

Photopills

PhotoPills ($9.99)

Google Play

Apple App Store

This is huge and I was pretty happy when they offered an Android app - First I love the widget - at a glance I know sunrise, sunset, moonrise and even the status of the galactic core for my location! Once you dive into the app your find tons of useful info from the planner to the AR that helps you line up for sunsets, sunrises and star trails. Additional calculators further help your planning- tons of useful info and well worth the $10 - you can find most of these items in other apps for free but I haven’t found any that bring them all together in one app.

Squarespace

Squarespace (Free)

Squarespace

The square space app makes it really easy to update your site with posts, photos and even video - The one way to get people to come back to your site again and again and that is to update the content and offer information behind the photos - Squarespace makes it incredibly easy to build a beautiful website and blog and the app makes it really easy to update on the go. Additional apps from Squarespace allow you to track your analytics, keep notes, update your store and more.

It’s fine to put your best work on Instagram but you should have a website where you control everything and display your work professional in a big beautiful way and Squarespace makes it easy to do that - with beautiful custom templates and 24/7 support along with easy custom domains- Get your own website today at

squarespace.com/photorectv

and save 10% off your purchase.

Snapseed

Snapseed (Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

Still my favorite editor for quick edits of photos captured with the phone or transferred via wifi

Lightroom CC

Lightroom - Full version (Adobe Creative Cloud Required)

Google Play

Apple App Store

If you are smart about syncing Lightroom mobile can be powerful and recent upgrades have seriously improved the capabilities and stability of the app - almost making it my pick over Snapseed for editing... but go watch my Snapseed secrets it is just so quick and powerful once you know a few tricks. Sound good?

Click here to sign up for Adobe Creative Cloud.

Later.com

Later (Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I continue to love

Later

for an easy way to get images and captions to your phone - I hate writing captions and hashtags on my mobile device and recent updates to the paid plan give you the best times to post and suggest hashtags making new posts easy.

Sign up today and get started!

Miops

Miops ($30 Dongle or $125 Remote Required)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I talked about this on my recent Yosemite trip - with a small dongle you can trigger your camera in several different ways - really useful - I will be posting a separate video about this system soon.

Pick up the Dongle or Remote on Amazon

TrackR

TrackR (Free, TrackR Required)

Google Play

Apple App Store

This little Bluetooth tracker lets me ping my camera bag and set an alert if it moves outside of Bluetooth range - I have only started using this - certainly not a full proof way to protect your camera bag but at least gives me a little more piece of mind.

Buy a TrackR Today!

Nexus 6P Camera Review (simple yet decent)

My Quick Thoughts on the Nexus 6PAs a professional photographer and Android user I want to comment mostly on the Nexus 6P camera and camera app.I am really happy we are at a place where flagship android phones offer some of the best image quality out there.The Nexus 6p offers a 12.3 MP camera with an f/2.0 lens and laser-assisted autofocus.   There is No Optical stabilization like we have from several of the other flagship android devices and the iPhone 6s plus.  Google says this lack of OIS is offset by their larger pixels allowing for better low light gathering.   The quick high ISO comparison I did between the Nexus 6P, Iphone 6S+ and the LG V10 shows the Nexus is a clear winner at the higher ISOs.The LGV10 produces the largest resolution file here and, as a result looks a bit noisier.  The detail in the LG V10 when you zoom is significantly greater than the other two.Back to the Nexus 6P- I have been shooting with the camera all weekend and have been impressed with the results, especially in low-light conditions; However, I am disappointed in the very basic camera controls and feel spoiled by the awesome manual camera interface provided by the LG G4 and LG v10.  With the Nexus you are limited to turning HDR on, off or automatic, flash on, off or automatic and setting a timer.   If you want greater control you will need to install a manual camera app.  (Click to Subscribe to be notified when I publish an upcoming video on the best manual photo app) You do have Photo Sphere, Panorama, and the gimmicky Lens Blur options.  Swipe across the screen in photo mode moves you to video - you have 120fps and 240fps for  slow mo (limited to 720p) and the camera is capable of 4k video.  Your standard 1080p is 30fps.  Digital stabilization of video is an option and in my limited testing works decently well. With regards to the High ISO test,  In some real world situations the optical image stabilization offered in the Iphone 6S+ and LG V10 can give those devices an advantage but overall I am really happy with the results from the Nexus 6P. 

I will be back with more sample videos and you can see additional full resolution photos.With the outdoor shots many of the Nexus 6P shots are more true to life than the LG v10 which often have a greenish cast when you compare the two. In the LG V10s defense, I often shoot manual mode and make quick adjustments to the White Balance and exposure compensation which gives me exactly the look I want. Not camera related but I want to mention- the fingerprint sensor in this phone is excellent and I love the back center placement for the sensor, it’s a natural location for my finger when I pick up and hold the phone and it reads my print quickly every time.  Overall This feels like a solid step forward for the Nexus line and anyone wanting excellent image quality would be very happy with this phone. However the photographers that like a bit of control and or those that plan to shoot often should consider something like the LG G4 or LG v10 both offering that microSD card slot for loads more room (missing on the Nexus 6p) replaceable batteries and that excellent manual control built-in.   

Nexus 6p Sample Images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lT_knRyi_QNexus 6P Sample Images - Scroll down for full resolution images.

 Full Resolution Images from Nexus 6P

LG V10 Vs LG G4 - Video Manual Control

I have been using the LG G4 for much of the travel footage shot in the Iceland and Greece vlogs – I love the quality and ease of use. I don’t love the lack of manual control in video. The LG G4 made headlines by providing native  and seamless manual control when shooting still photos (watch my review) but annoyingly you lose all manual control when you switch to video – this can make some backlit scenes and other tricky exposures very difficult to film.  The LGV10 solves that and throws in a few extra features including:

• Additional Stabilization mode -Optical and Electronic
• Quick Video editing
• Stainless steel frame design
• Customizable audio capture from three in body mics

This is on top of the MicroSD card slot that supports up to 2TB for storage of all those 4k files. - Very quick unboxing and brief tour of the manual video interface below the gallery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZq1Kn40qc&feature=youtu.be   Disclaimer- “I received a free device in exchange for my honest product evaluation.”

LG V10 -Full Manual Control for video

We live in exciting times.  I have been using the LG G4 for much of the travel footage shot in the Iceland and Greece vlogs - I love the quality and ease of use. I don't love the lack of manual control in video. The LG G4 made headlines w/ the full manual control when shooting still photos (watch my review) but annoyingly you lose all manual control when you switch to video - this can make some backlit scenes and other tricky exposures very difficult to film. The LG V10 looks to fix that- providing full manual control during video.

"The LG V10 offers users the ultimate in video capturing, editing and sharing. The V10 is the first smartphone to offer manual mode for video."

LG has added a few additional features that differentiate this phone from the lG G4, including:Two screens on the front of the device. There's the main, 5.7-inch display, and just above that is a smaller "always on" screen that can display different content. When the main screen is off, the second screen can display the weather, time and date, and battery level. When the main screen is on, the second screen can be used to for quick-launching apps, accessing favorite contacts, or changing camera settings.Two front facing cameras! Both are 5MP but each offers different fields of view- 120° and 80° The V10 will include software capable of stitching the shots together for a wider view? I am not exactly sure here.Customizable audio capture using the three microphones!Video editing software and the ability to use the Optical Image Stabilization or Electronic Image Stabilization.Available in only a 64GB storage variant and otherwise offering much of the same internals - including the 3,000 mAh battery (removable) and MicroSD card slot capable of supporting up to a 2TB Micro SD Card!! (largest I know of is this 200GB card from SanDisk)Body is a bit flatter with stainless steel and silicon construction and offers a fingerprint reader too.The promo video is. . well a bit cheesy, but doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for what could be a serious video tool.   Do you share my excitement? Let me know in the comments.https://youtu.be/ELD_6aeHGKQFull SpecsKey Specifications:*Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 ProcessorDisplay: Main) 5.7-inch QHD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 513ppi)Secondary) 2.1-inch IPS Quantum Display (160 x 1040 / 513ppi)Memory: 4GB LPDDR3 RAM / 64GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)Camera: Rear) 16MP with F1.8 Aperture / OIS 2.0Front) 5MP Dual Lens (80o Standard Angle / 120o Wide Angle)Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)OS: Android 5.1.1 LollipopSize: 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mmWeight: 192gNetwork: LTE-A Cat. 6Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFC / USB 2.0Colors: Space Black / Luxe White / Modern Beige / Ocean Blue / Opal BlueQuick video of stabilization in actionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykPrvAK7UIs

Triggertrap - Use your smart phone to smartly trigger your camera

 The video is long and only covers a few of the functions of the Triggertrap app/system - that's how cool this app is (or how much I like to hear myself talk?)I have one more Triggertrap to give away (given away 4 so far) Like my Facebook page and stay tuned for the last giveaway.Also seen in this video -Hotshoe Tripod Mount: http://goo.gl/FqLFbSmartphone Tripod Adapter: http://goo.gl/pcNcfI love making or creating time lapse movies and although I don’t get to do it nearly as often as  I like I am always on the lookout for gadgets that help. I have talked about the little Neweer intervalometer before, it is only $13 bucks and does a great job of telling your camera to take a picture every X seconds, it can also allow you to control bulb mode on your camera which allows you to set your shutter speed to longer than 30 second exposures.   The Neweer Intervalometer does its job well but doesn’t offer much in the way of options beyond the standard picture every x seconds.We have another option that is lots smarter and it only costs a bit more but does require a smartphone or tablet.  For the last few weeks I have been testing and app from a company called Triggertrap. They make apps for android and iOS and a small dongle that you plug into the headphone jack of your smartphone or tablet.   The benefit of a setup like this over the standard intervalometer is the sky is really the limit – your smartphone is a powerful computer and using that as the brains of the intervalometer allows dozens of creative ways for you to control the shutter of your camera.Some of the functions of the Triggertrap app include

• Bulb Ramping Timelapse enables seamless sunrise/sunset timelapses,
• HDR timelapse lets you combine the power of HDR and timelapses,
• TimeWarp, a feature unique to Triggertrap, uses algorithms developed for animation to create more dynamic and natural-looking timelapses.
• Sensor Controls: Leverages the smart device’s on-board sensors to release the shutter; Sound Sensor Mode uses the microphone to trigger at a set audio level, Seismic Mode fires based on vibrations, bumps or knocks, and Metal & Magnetism Sensor Mode can be used to fire the shutter in their presence
• Facial recognition: Takes a photo once Triggertrap detects the programmed number of faces in the frame
• Multiple HDR Capture Modes: Provides expanded control over bracketed exposures for Long Exposure HDR, or automates Long Exposure HDR Timelapse capture
• DistanceLapse: Unique to Triggertrap, this mode relies on the smart device’s on-board GPS chip to fire the shutter over pre-determined distances
• Motion detection mode: Triggers camera whenever motion is detected in the
• Star trail mode: Allows external cameras to automatically take a series of long exposures in sequence to reduce noise
• Wireless mode: Unique to Triggertrap, this new Wi-Fi triggering technology enables photographers to leverage the range and speed of a Wi-fi network to control the dynamic features of the Triggertrap Mobile app wirelessly

The Sensor controls are missing from the Android app, the devs tell me that they will be added soon, the Android app is also a bit laggy on my rezound, I also tested on the nexus and it was much smoother but still missing the sensor controls found on the iOS version.There are actually three parts to the set up – Your smartphone running the triggertrap app, the dongle and the camera specific cable.  Make sure you get the new v2 dongle (red wire) I bought the original dongle, with a black wire and although it works fine with my iPad refused to do anything when plugged into my android phone – I contacted support and Lucy was awesome, she walked me through a series of tests and even though it seemed it was more of my phone as the problem she sent me the newer red wire dongle free of charge, it arrived just a few days later and works perfectly.  I love working with people that take an extra step to make things right.My phone and my camera go everywhere with me and now I just throw these two little cables in my bag and I have a very smart and versatile trigger system for my camera.   I have added a little hot shoe tripod adapter that I use for some of my microphones and a generic cell phone tripod holder and now I can easily use the facial feature to snap photos.What am I most excited about –The wireless control is pretty niftyOn Black Friday 2011 I picked up a suction cup mount and have tried a few drivelapses (timelapse while driving) Now I can use the GPS to trigger over distance instead of time, this should give a different look and feel more true to the trip)Bulb Ramping Timelapse – Sunset and sunrise is very difficult to capture - you either lose light quickly or you use P mode and the light remains constant through the sunset totally ruining the idea of capturing a lovely sunset.  Did you know that as the sun sets you lose about a stop of light every 10 minutes.  Using the Bramping mode (for bulb ramping) you can pre-adjust for the light lost and really extend the length of time your timelapse will run while actually capturing the decreasing light.