Envision the End Result

Yesterday on Google+ I posted the picture above asking folks, "Any guesses?"

I few folks got it right. Below is the original photograph.

The oil stain on the road reminded me of a comet, so I played with the image in Photoshop to create a comet-like image.

The messages here:
- Always have a camera with you.
- Take pictures every day.
- Envision the end result in Lightroom or Photoshop.

I too the picture with my iPhone. If you have an iPhone or iPad check out my apps. While you are on that page, check out the lens system I use. It's very cool!

Explore the light,
Rick

Fisheye Fun on the Santa Monica Pier - and HDR Fun After

I had some fisheye fun on the Santa Monica Pier this morning - and HDR fun after.

Canon 15mm lens; Canon 5D Mark II.

A few tips:
• The name of the game is to fill the frame. Notice how the entire frame is filled with something.
• To get max depth of field, focus 1/3 into the scene, use a wide-angle lens and set a small aperture.
• Use foreground elements to frame a subject and to add a sense of depth to a scene.
• Compose for color.
• Use HDR to see into the shadows and preserve highlights.
• Learn about HDR with my iPad app: iHDR.

Explore the light,
Rick

Appy New Year!

Hey! If you know a photographer who got an iPad or iPhone for Christmas, he or she may be interested in one of my how-to photography apps!

Appy New Year!

Rick

Here is a list of my best-selling apps:

My flagship comprehensive how-to app: Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet - iPhone and iPad.

Click here to see a serious review of the app. Click here to see a fun movie about the app.

• • • • •

Light It! and Light It Light!: My basic lighting apps – iPhone and iPad.

Click here to see the into movie to Light It! 

• • • • •

Butterfly Wonders: Beautiful butterflies and section on close-up photography –  iPad only.

• • • • • 

 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Mother Nature: My favorite images with inspirational quotes – iPad only.

The Making of An App - Behind the Scenes with Light It!

Just a quick (and big) "thank you" to all those who attended yesterday's "The Making of An App" preso at B&H in NYC. The two-hour preso focused on how my Light It! app was conceived, shot, edited and finally ended up on the iTunes store and on the iPad and iPhone.

I talked about different lighting techniques, as well as some of my personal philosophies for photographing people.

Emmy-award winner David Leveen, who shot all the videos for the info-packed and interactive app, talked about shooting and editing the HD videos, as well as what's needed to create a cool app.

Our app developer, Craig Ellis of Great Oak Software, could not make the event. He was at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, CA. In his absence, David gave Craig's insightful preso.

So here is a question: Would you be interested in seeing an app on the making of an app? Hey, if the coffee-table book on coffee tables worked for Kramer, we figure this idea just may fly. Let us know by posting a comment here on my blog so we can track.

To learn more about the app, click here to see our intro movie.

Our next app - which will also be available as a DVD? Fashion, Beauty and Glamour - Light it, shoot it, process it. Interested?


Click here to see all my apps.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Here is a quick lighting tip: Watch for reflections - on shiny surfaces and on glasses. They may add to or detract from a photograph. Photographs by Vered Koshlano.

Live at the B&H Event Space: The Light It! Team

I hope you can join the app fun at the B&H Event Space on December 13 for a look at the making of my Light It! app - for both the iPhone and iPad.

Craig Ellis, the app developer, and David Leven, who shot the videos for the app, will join for for this informative session.

Seating is limited. So sign up soon.

See all my apps.

Explore the light,
Rick

24/7 Photo Buffet App Sale! One Week Only.

Just about a year ago, I met Dr. Dave Wilson in a helicopter during the Maui Photo Festival. We were both taking pictures while flying high over beautiful Maui.

When we landed, I asked Dave, "What do you do in real life?" He replied, "I'm an app developer."

I said, "How cool is that! Do you think we could develop an app together?"

Within four months, we had our first iPhone app: Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet.

A few months later we launched Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet for the iPad.

I supplied the content, Dave did all the cool programming.

You can read about, and order, the apps here.

To celebrate our first year of working on apps, and to celebrate the Maui Photo Festival, we are offering a sale on both the iPhone and iPad versionsof 24/7 Photo Buffet – from August 22 to August 29.

The $4.99 iPhone version is on sale for $1.99.
The $8.99 iPad version is on sale for $3.99.

Again, this sale ends August 29th.

Explore the light,
Rick

8.1.10: Five More Free Redeem Codes for 24/7 Photo Buffet/iPad Version

Back in January 2010, Dr. Dave Wilson developed my first iPhone app, Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet. The interactive app – new & improved & of course up sized for great image quality – is now available for the iPad.

The how-to app has been completely redesigned, so the content – the best of my photography and Photoshop tips, tricks and techniques – looks bigger and better than ever. What's more, the app is easier to navigate, more fun to use, and of course lets you see the pictures horizontally and vertically. How cool is that!

Speaking of cool, the original 24/7 Photo Buffet for the iPhone was a Staff Pick on the App store for a few weeks. :-)

For more info on the app, as well as info on my other apps, click here.

To celebrate the release and success of the app, Dr. Dave and I are giving away five more free redeem codes for this specific version. (We gave away five yesterday.). Here are the redeem codes for today. I hope you can grab one. They go fast.

LJK6F6YY34HH
P7AJM363XR3L
3HAPK9WHHKY6
R9Y9R96JNXWK
TWHE77ENEJJR

Note: To redeem a code, go to the home screen of the App Store and click "Redeem" in the upper right hand corner. Enter your redemption code and sync your iPad (in this case). Make sure to do so immediately as promo codes do expire and cannot be replaced if this occurs. Sorry friends around the globe, but the codes only work in the US App Store. Also note that the process for redeeming a code is Apple's standard process, not ours.

Explore the light – and have fun exploring the app.
Rick