Page 14 - October Sun Rays

CA NEWS

TECH FEATURE

Taking photos
with your
smartphone

By Don Simpson PHOTO BY DON SIMPSON

It’s often said “a camera is the save button The best camera is the one you have with you. Thanks to smartphone cameras, you
for the mind’s eye” (Roger Kingston). can now capture life’s great moments, no matter where you are!
But who carries a camera around with
them every moment just in case something For more energetic photographers, you can and instantly see on your phone the video
memorable occurs? Besides, traditional push the envelope still further. You can take that you created. Purchase an Apple TV
cameras and their accessories can be videos, combine them with photographs or an Amazon Fire TV Stick and watch
bulky and heavy, not to mention expensive. and music and play them right on your those videos come to life right on your TV,
If you’ve already justified the expense of TV or computer screens. No more CDs, all that from this simple little device you
a smartphone for making and receiving DVDs or USB drives. You don’t need them keep in your purse or pocket.
calls, text messaging, emails, etc. why not anymore as everything can be shared via
invest a little time in learning how to take cloud computing services. Or maybe you Smartphones can even be used to digitize
photographs and a whole lot more? want to create instructional and marketing your collection of old printed photos. This
videos. Did you know you can create videos will allow you to edit, organize, catalog and
Let’s quickly explore the many forms of as well as time-lapse videos right on your store them using this simple, yet powerful
photography you can accomplish with smartphone and then publish them using little device. Now you are ready to make
these powerful, yet simple devices. With free services such as YouTube? books, slide shows, etc. right from your
the right apps you can do things you never smartphone.
before imagined, and it becomes easier Some of our neighbors are having fun
with every passing day. You’re probably turning their photographs into pencil Do you want to learn more? Both the
already carrying your smartphone with sketches, watercolor paintings, old time Computer Club and the Photography Club
you, right? So take it out of your purse or black-and-white prints, sepia prints and present workshops on almost everything
pocket, compose your shot, touch to focus many other art form projects. Do you want mentioned above. There are several free
and tap the shutter. It really can be that to really impress your friends? Imagine or low-cost training videos right on the
easy. But did you know you can also crop, that you could print a picture from a video internet as well.
size, sharpen, adjust the lighting and color you shot, hang it on the wall and, using an
of the photo you just took on that very same App, point your smartphone at the picture Remember “we take photos as a return
device? You can print your photos directly ticket to a moment otherwise gone” (Katie
from your smartphone to your own printer Thurmes).
or many internet stores. We’re not just
talking about 4”x 6” snapshots but even ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
up to large sofa-type prints. But why stop
with a single print? You can make greeting
cards, collages, photo books, canvas prints,
elegant décor and more.

If printing isn’t your thing, you can simply
share your digital photos with family and
friends, using many popular services
such as Facebook, email, cloud services,
Instagram, text messaging, Messenger,
Twitter, webpages, FaceTime, Skype,
WhatsApp and more. You can open cloud
service accounts, many for free, which allow
you to organize your photos and take them
with you wherever you go.

12 | SUNRAYS OCTOBER 2017