It would seem that we struck several nerves this morning. In just a few short hours since we made the announcement of eyePhone: Making Stronger Photographs With Your Camera Phone, I’ve learned that camera phone photography is one hot button issue out there!. So much so, that I thought it might be interesting to make the discussion public here on the blog. I’ll preface the discussion by saying that the eyePhone eBook is receiving excellent feedback. Al Smith did an amazing job putting his mobile phone photography course into eBook form, and it’s an inspiring and eye opening read.

In my announcement post, I asked the question: Can a camera as limited as those found in smartphones, actually make you a better photographer? If so, why do you feel that way? If not, then why not? Have smartphones earned a place is the digital photography industry?

I know people get unnaturally passionate when it comes to their mobile phones, so please let’s not turn this into an Apple vs Android vs Blackberry (ouch… that actually physically hurt to type!) discussion. Share your thoughts and enjoy the debate folks!

Get the PDF Now!

So here’s the question – Can a camera as limited as those found in smartphones, actually make you a better photographer? There’s no great epiphany here. The answer is, absolutely. Firstly, if you can learn to take good photos with a smartphone, you’ll be able to take brilliant ones with a “real” camera. Secondly, having the ability to take photos all the time gets you thinking creatively and actively practicing – two things that only lead to growth and improvement.

I’m sure I’m in excellent company here when I say that from the moment that I got my iPhone 4s, my photography (and even my interest in photography) took a whole new turn. It is largely due to the new convenience of finally having a decent camera that is ALWAYS with me, the ability to edit my photos, and then turn around and share them instantly. Of course, it’s not just the iPhone. Plenty of smartphones now carry these capabilities, and I believe our photography is better for it.

eyePhone: Making Stronger Photographs With Your Camera Phone by Al Smith, the latest eBook release from our friends at Craft & Vision, gives us a wildly entertaining and informative look at how camera phones can benefit all photographers. Al teaches a college level course on mobile phone photography, and eyePhone is basically that education wrapped up into a beautifully stunning eBook.

Amateur photographers and even professionals can benefit from learning how to use your camera phone to your advantage. Even professionals like David duChemin have attested that their camera phone makes them better photographers!

“Thanks to Al Smith I learned more about the camera on my iPhone in 10-minutes than I had in two years. My iPhone has made me a better photographer.” – David duChemin

Here’s what you’ll gain from this eBook:

• Understanding technological limitations and how to use them to your advantage
• Good shots come from creativity, not the best gear
• Working with light and mobile phone flash
• Editing your images on your smartphone
• Which apps reign supreme
• The best methods for sharing photos with your mobile devices

Hey, there’s a discount!

Whether you are learning photography as a beginner, a hobbyist, or you are a professional, there’s no better investment in the continued growth of your photography for $5, although today thru May 27th, 2012, you get it for only $4 with the discount code: EYEPHONE4 or us the code EYEPHONE20 to get 20% off if you are purchasing any 5 or more eBooks (codes expires at 11:59pm PST May 27th, 2012).

View Additional Page Samples

The downloadable PDF is just $5USD. (or only $4 today if you use the discount code: EYEPHONE4)

You can view some page samples or download the ebook here: eyePhone: Making Stronger Photographs With Your Camera Phone

Happy Photographing folks!

May 1st, 2012 – VANCOUVER, CANADA: PhotographyBB announced today, the release of the 51st edition of the downloadable (PDF) PhotographyBB Magazine. PhotographyBB Magazine provides a diverse range of photographic education for beginner to intermediate level photographers. With over 120,000 downloaded editions each month, PhotographyBB Magazine has become a leading resource in the future of free information distribution. The publication offers readers: Digital Photography tips and techniques, explorations on developing creativity, issues surrounding the photo community, social media for photographers, entrepreneurial advice for emerging professionals, and image post processing tutorials in Adobe® Photoshop, and RAW processing in Photoshop Lightroom.

PhotographyBB Magazine is available for free download: http://www.photographyBB.com/magazine

This 51st edition explores techniques for photographing light orbs and fire streaks. Additionally, readers will learn how to take great automobile photos and how to capture the true essence of a subject. There’s even tax planning tips for working photographers, along with Photoshop tutorials and more.

Editor in Chief, Dave Seeram had these comments regarding this recent release:

Yes, it’s true. This month (and last) we’ve been getting our hands dirty with subject matter that typically isn’t something you would find in a photography magazine, yet it all relates directly to photographers. Creativity is something that can be developed, and we believe that through education, experience, and exposure to new ideas, that we can help inspire photographers to bring out their full creative potential. It’s not just about learning photographic techniques. It’s about finding our inner drive.

PhotographyBB Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB Website at: http://www.photographyBB.com/magazine

PhotographyBB was founded in Oct, 2006, and is a division of PowerButton Central (2004).
For more information, visit the PhotographyBB website at: http://www.photographybb.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/photographybb
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photographybb

What is the point of taking photos if not to share them with our friends, our family, or even the world? If you’re anything like me, you love taking photos, but sometimes the task of getting them out into the world is daunting, confusing, and can feel unproductive. To be successful, there are a few questions that need to be answered: Why should we be sharing our photographs with the world? Which photos should we be sharing? How do we find an audience and build a following to share them with?

Shoot and Share: Getting Your Photographs Out Into the World by Stuart Sipahigil, the latest eBook release from our friends at Craft & Vision, answers these questions and more. Stuart discusses strategies for sharing photos online and building an eager audience across venues such as Flickr, 500px, Google+, Facebook, your own website, prints, photobooks, and more. Stuart also talks about his method for overcoming the confusion and time consumption required to make it all possible.

Photography at it’s core is all about communication. Why, how, and where can we find an audience to share our photography with? Some of the most popular photographers that we all know of (and follow) are masters of TWO things:

1. They are experts in their craft of photography
2. They are experts in sharing their photography with the right audience.

With this 56-spread eBook, Stuart answers the above questions and provides down-to-earth, practical advice based on his experience of 30 years.

Here’s what you’ll gain from this eBook:

• How to attract more fans, followers, and even buyers
• Define why you want to share your photos, then…
• How and where you can find the right audience for your photography
• Social media, sharing sites, professional hosting, your own website, prints, photobooks, and more
• How to pick the right images to share
• How to get help with editing

Hey, there’s a discount!

Whether you are learning photography as a beginner, a hobbyist, or you are a professional, there’s no better investment in the continued growth of your photography for $5, although today thru April 28th, 2012, you get it for only $4 with the discount code: SHARE4 or us the code SHARE20 to get 20% off if you are purchasing any 5 or more eBooks (codes expires at 11:59pm PST April 28th, 2012).

Click to view larger, additional page samples.
The downloadable PDF is just $5USD. (or only $4 today if you use the discount code: SHARE4)

You can view some page samples or download the ebook here: SHOOT AND SHARE: Getting Your Photographs Out Into the World

Happy Photographing folks!

Mar 29th, 2012 – VANCOUVER, CANADA: PhotographyBB announced today, the release of the 50th edition of the downloadable (PDF) PhotographyBB Magazine. PhotographyBB Magazine provides a diverse range of photographic education for beginner to intermediate level photographers. With over 100,000 downloaded editions each month, has become a leading resource in the future of free information distribution. The publication offers readers: Digital Photography tips and techniques, explorations on learning to harness creativity, issues surrounding the photo community, social media for photographers, entrepreneurial advice for emerging professionals, and image post processing tutorials in Adobe® Photoshop, and RAW processing in Photoshop Lightroom.

PhotographyBB Magazine is available for free download: http://www.photographyBB.com/magazine

The 50th edition explores the issue of developing one’s own creative style, techniques for minimizing background distractions when portrait shooting on the go, and even income tax tips for working photographers.

Editor in Chief, Dave Seeram had these comments regarding this recent release:

Since the beginning of 2012, I’ve been determined to bring a more diverse selection of article topics to the magazine that I feel are fun, captivating, and applicable to most photographers whether amateur or as emerging professionals. I feel that we’ve done a remarkable job on this edition in accomplishing that mandate and I’m excited to see what the reaction is. I believe change fosters growth, which is what we hope to inspire for all of our readers.

Speaking of change, I picked up a new iPad recently with thoughts of how it may change the way I approach my own photography. In this edition, I reveal what my thoughts are on how the new iPad will impact photography from both community and industry standpoints.

PhotographyBB Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB Website at: http://www.photographyBB.com/magazine

PhotographyBB was founded in Oct, 2006, and is a division of PowerButton Central (2004).
For more information, visit the PhotographyBB website at: http://www.photographybb.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/photographybb
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photographybb

As photography enthusiasts of different backgrounds, ages, genres, and experience levels, there’s one commonality that we share  – we all take photographs of our friends, family, and loved ones. It doesn’t matter what genre photographer you are, nor which camera model you have (smartphones included), we all share this thread of common humanity. Most of us take ‘portrait’ photos at family gatherings, events, celebrations, etc… While we treasure the memory of these times, asking our loved ones to stand in front of the camera and say “cheese” only captures an insincere moment. As subjects, we’ve been conditioned to stand in front of a camera and hold a fake smile while trying not to blink. As photographers, we’ve been conditioned to center our subjects and give them the ol’ “one, two, three – click” count. You are capable of more. It’s not about lighting equipment, camera settings, or even about “vision”. It’s about expression, and finding the precise moment to capture the best image of our loved ones. Let’s take photos that connect emotionally, rather than images that just say, “Hey, I was there, they were there, and I took a snapshot of them.”

With his latest release, Forget Mugshots: 10 Steps to Better Portraits, David duChemin is at it again, making the photographic world a more beautiful place, sharing his wealth of experience when it comes to making portraits. I have long subscribed to David’s views on the importance of vision over technique, and we’ve come to a point now where we all ‘get it’, vision is important. But now it’s time to move beyond vision, beyond technique, and shift into a different gear – expression. You may have the technical abilities and the vision, but now it’s time to understand how to express it. Forget Mugshots shows us how to do that. These aren’t sequential steps, rather (as David puts it), “if I could tell you only 10 things to make your people photography stronger, what would those 10 things be?”

Here’s what you’ll gain from this eBook:

• How to wait for, and recognize the right moment
• Understanding smiles, eyes, and expression.
• Creative Exercises and Portrait Profiles to learn from
• How to use (and play with) the light
• Controlling your background
• Finding the right position and perspective

Hey, there’s a discount!

Whether you are learning photography as a beginner, a hobbyist, or you are a professional, there’s no better investment in the continued growth of your photography for $5, although today thru Mar 17th, 2012, you get it for only $4 with the discount code: MUGSHOTS4 or us the code MUGSHOTS20 to get 20% off if you are purchasing any 5 or more eBooks (codes expires at 11:59pm PST Mar 17th, 2012).

Click to view larger, additional page samples.
The downloadable PDF is just $5USD. (or only $4 today if you use the discount code: MUGSHOTS4)

You can view some page samples or download the ebook here: Forget Mugshots: 10 Steps to Better Portraits.

Happy Photographing folks!

Photo challenges (or photo “assignments”) are a great way of helping us to step out of our comfort zones with the camera. We post one new challenge to our forums monthly, were everyone is welcome to push themselves in coming up with spectacular photos based on the theme which we assign! Remember, the name of the game here is not only great photography, but having fun and thinking creatively. And your assignment theme is…

The Assignment Theme Is…

Assignment #64 Theme: Coin Spin!
Timeframe: Mar 1st – Mar 15th, 2012
Entries are to be submitted here: Assignment #64: Coin Spin! (PhotographyBB Forums)

That’s right – a coin spin! What we’re going to look for this month is how you decide to capture a spinning coin. What type of coin will you spin? Will you shoot with a fast or slow shutter speed? How will you light it? Will the background play any particular role? Lots of possibilities with this one. Enjoy the exercise and have fun with it. I look forward to all of your entries.

Important (Please Read): With all of our photo assignments, the object (besides having fun) is to learn something new, even if that means learning how to see the world around you in a different way. Therefore, we only accept entries for new photos which have been taken during the assignment time frame (see above). You may submit up to 3 entries in total, and the top 3 photos will be selected and published (with image acknowledgments) in an upcoming issue of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine.

Click HERE to Submit Your Photo!

Why Should You Participate?

In our efforts to help photographers grow and improve, our photography assignments are designed to test and push your creative bounds to the limit. These photo assignments are intended to encourage our members to see the world in different ways, try new camera techniques, and photograph subject which you may normally shy away from. We feel that in doing this, you will ultimately find new challenges for yourself which will help us to all grow as photographers. Our photography assignments are open to everyone at all skill levels and are to be submitted through our assignments section in the PhotographyBB Forums. Membership is completely free and you can register in seconds, so feel free to join our community of photographers where we participate in assignments, share photos, and discuss photography all day long. We have a supportive and friendly community of photographers and beginners, and this is a great way to get to know one another. Have fun, and happy photographing!

Mar 1st, 2012 – VANCOUVER, CANADA: PhotographyBB announced today, the release of the 49th edition of the downloadable (PDF) PhotographyBB Magazine. PhotographyBB Magazine provides a diverse range of photographic education for beginner to intermediate level photographers, and with over 100,000 downloaded editions each month, has become a leading resource in the future of free information distribution. The publication offers readers: Digital Photography tips and techniques, camera function training, discussions on issues surrounding the photo community, social media for photographers, entrepreneurial advice for emerging professionals, and image post processing tutorials in Adobe® Photoshop, and RAW processing in Photoshop Lightroom.

PhotographyBB Magazine is available for free download: http://www.photographyBB.com/magazine

The 49th edition marks the 4 Year Anniversary for PhotographyBB, and to celebrate, there are several prizes for readers to win. This edition explores the topics of how photographers can discover and define their own artistic style, techniques for shooting at dawn, how to build a solid file-backup strategy, and much more.

Editor in Chief, Dave Seeram had these comments regarding this recent release:

My sincerest appreciation goes out to our team of contributing authors, and to all of our readers. We’re now entering our 5th year of publication, and we’re still growing. One of the areas we plan to explore more this year, is the topic of creativity. There are so many advancements in camera technology and post-processing software, that creativity tends to take a bit of a backseat these days. Ultimately, we believe that the most creative photographers (the one with a clearly developed vision) are the ones capable of producing the most compelling images. This doesn’t need to be something that only applies to professionals either. Hobbyists take just as many photos that are equally as important, and we want to do our part to help foster our collective creativity as artists.

PhotographyBB Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB Website at: http://www.photographyBB.com/magazine

PhotographyBB was founded in Oct, 2006, and is a division of PowerButton Central (2004).
For more information, visit the PhotographyBB website at: http://www.photographybb.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/photographybb
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photographybb

Since I first picked up a camera, I’ve loved shooting landscapes and streetscape photography. I didn’t realize it at the time, but almost every outdoor scene can fool your camera’s exposure meter. One of my biggest challenges was understanding why my landscapes didn’t look as striking as those that I had seen from other photographers (let me tell you – it has NOTHING to do with post-processing). I remember exporting my photos into Lightroom, only to find they all looked rather dull, washed-out. It was frustrating and disappointing, and many of us have been there before with our landscape shots. Outdoor photography is wonderful because it gives us the opportunity to shoot with nothing but natural light, but often the resulting images feel a bit flat. Do you ever find that your landscape shots sometimes lack the punch or depth of the great landscape photos you’ve seen? You’re not alone! It all comes down to getting the right exposure, and that you actually can’t trust your camera to do it for you.

I’m so excited to tell you all about this month’s eBook, which genuinely is one of my new favourites: EXPOSURE For Outdoor Photography. This is one that so many outdoor photography enthusiasts are going to love. I wish I had this when I was first learning, it would have made my early shooting days much more enjoyable!

EXPOSURE For Outdoor Photography by Michael Frye is a 50-spread eBook that covers not only the basics, but also how exposure can create aesthetically compelling photography. Michael is renowned for his outdoor photography, and in this eBook he shares his knowledge for making technically perfect exposures when it comes to natural light shooting – in a wide variety of situations.

Here’s what you’ll gain from this eBook:

• Exposure Modes and Metering Modes
• How to read and USE your camera’s histogram for better exposure
• How to handle high-contrast scenes
• Learn the Zone System for achieving perfect exposure of a scene in seconds
• Perfect exposure when freezing or blurring motion
• 10 real-life case studies, each illustrating helpful techniques

Hey, there’s a discount!

Whether you are learning photography as a beginner, a hobbyist, or you are a professional, there’s no better investment in the continued growth of your photography for $5, although today thru Feb 20th, 2012, you get it for only $4 with the discount code: EXPOSURE4 or us the code EXPOSURE20 to get 20% off if you are purchasing any 5 or more eBooks (codes expires at 11:59pm PST Feb 20th, 2012).

Click to view larger, additional page samples.
The downloadable PDF is just $5USD. (or only $4 today if you use the discount code: EXPOSURE4)

You can view some page samples or download the ebook here: EXPOSURE For Outdoor Photography.

Happy Photographing folks!

Photo challenges (or photo “assignments”) are a great way of helping us to step out of our comfort zones with the camera. We post one new challenge to our forums monthly, were everyone is welcome to push themselves in coming up with spectacular photos based on the theme which we assign! Remember, the name of the game here is not only great photography, but having fun and thinking creatively. And your assignment theme is…

The Assignment Theme Is…

Assignment #63 Theme: Now There’s Something You Don’t See Everyday!
Timeframe: Feb 15th to Feb 29th, 2012
Entries are to be submitted here: Assignment #63: Now There’s Something You Don’t See Everyday! (PhotographyBB Forums)

The challenge is to take a BRAND NEW representing the given theme.

I thought we’d go with a fun theme this time around. There’s really two challenges with this theme: 1) You need to find subject matter which fits this theme, and 2) You need to find a way to photograph it CREATIVELY. It’s not just about shooting something you don’t see everyday, it’s about shooting it WELL. Bring your cameras out with you as often as possible because you never know when a photo opportunity will come along. Have fun with this challenge! I look forward to all of your entries.

Important (Please Read): With all of our photo assignments, the object (besides having fun) is to learn something new, even if that means learning how to see the world around you in a different way. Therefore, we only accept entries for new photos which have been taken during the assignment time frame (see above). You may submit up to 3 entries in total, and the top 3 photos will be selected and published (with image acknowledgments) in an upcoming issue of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine.

Click HERE to Submit Your Photo!

Why Should You Participate?

In our efforts to help photographers grow and improve, our photography assignments are designed to test and push your creative bounds to the limit. These photo assignments are intended to encourage our members to see the world in different ways, try new camera techniques, and photograph subject which you may normally shy away from. We feel that in doing this, you will ultimately find new challenges for yourself which will help us to all grow as photographers. Our photography assignments are open to everyone at all skill levels and are to be submitted through our assignments section in the PhotographyBB Forums. Membership is completely free and you can register in seconds, so feel free to join our community of photographers where we participate in assignments, share photos, and discuss photography all day long. We have a supportive and friendly community of photographers and beginners, and this is a great way to get to know one another. Have fun, and happy photographing!