Home Tags Posts tagged with "photos"
Tag:

photos

iPhoneography
ChromebooksiOS Tips and TricksMicrosoft Tips and Tricks

iPhoneography: Image Editing on the Go (With Any Device)

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin
If you’re like me, your phone may be the best camera you own. In this blog entry, we’ll quickly explore some tools and the special effects that are possible on your device.

Join the ongoing TCEA Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) SkypeChat via your mobile device or online. Explore and share concepts at the intersection of teaching, learning, leading. and technology!

Creating and sharing fabulous photos may best be achieved by following a simple three-step process. These strategies can also be used, though, to edit existing images, such as those found in the Library of Congress. For example, the Library of Congress recently released a World War I collection including:
  • The Stars and Stripes – This collection presents the complete 71-week run of the World War I edition of the newspaper The Stars and Stripes.
  • World War I Sheet Music – From 1914 through 1920, the Library of Congress acquired more than 14,000 pieces of sheet music relating to what ultimately became known as the First World War.
  • World War I Posters – This collection makes available online approximately 1,900 posters created between 1914 and 1920.
  • Newspaper Pictorials: World War I – This online collection is drawn from three primary sources.
There are several more collections available that serve as rich sources of images usable in the classroom. Still, some of the best images are those photos we take in teaching and learning situations.

Step 1 – Take Fabulous Photos (adapted from this site)

Who doesn’t love a bit of mystery?  Here are five take-aways from this awesome video on taking fabulous photos:

  1. Include an interesting subject (person, animal). While you can focus on nature shots, an interesting subject can add an air of mystery to all types of photos.
  2. Don’t be afraid of silhouette photos. These are photos taken against the light, such as sunrise or sunset. Often, these are photos with the light behind them, making the photographer unable to clearly see the subject’s face. When taking these photos, hide the sun behind the subject.
  3. Include shadows in your photos, perhaps even focusing on the shadows more than the subject(s) who cast them.
  4. Take photos from a unique angle. A selfie stick can be helpful.
  5. Strive for simplicity. Try to take photos that are distraction-free and have a central focus.
Some examples of great photos appear in the video 7 Little-Known Tricks for Taking Incredible iPhone Photos.

Step 2 – Explore Great iPhoneography Examples

Many photographers are choosing to take and edit pictures on their mobile phones, necessitating the new term “iPhoneography.” You can find great iPhoneography resources and online communities that provide examples of this approach.

In the podcast Encouraging Learning with Mobile Photography, a part of Vicki “CoolCat Teacher” Davis’ Every Classroom Matters podcast series, veteran photographer and teacher, Meri Walker (@iphoneartgirl) shared some tips. You can see some examples online in this video slideshow of her iPhoneography gallery.

Step 3 – Edit and Share Your Photos

Since this blog entry is about editing and sharing your photos, you can find a variety of apps below that provide “on the go” image editing, but you also have access to image editing solutions that you can use on your computer. My suggestion is that you find the image editing tool that is easiest for you and that you are most likely to use on a regular basis.
For image editing, considering the following, depending on where you want to edit images:

Mobile Apps Available:

Camera Replacement Apps

iOS Image Editing Apps

Android Image Editing Apps

Computer/Browser-based Image Editing Apps

For sharing with others, try these cloud storage outlets:
  • Google Photos (and Google Drive) – This provides free cloud storage and incorporates the PicNik editor, which is easy. This is my favorite choice since I am not a professional photographer.
  • iCloud Photo – This provides unaltered storage of your photos in the cloud but can be expensive.
  • Microsoft OneDrive – Although not designed for photos, it is fairly easy to save photos to it.
  • ShutterFly – Another location that offers a wide variety of services, such as photo books, cards, and gifts.
Finally, you probably do not need any more apps, but you may find mobile device apps are easier to work with than their desktop or browser-based cousins.  As you consider different apps, remember that there are some other great ones out there that make editing easy. Don’t be afraid to share your favorites in the comments.
0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
photos
Web 2.0 Tool

Communicating with Photos

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

It’s estimated that we will take more than 10 trillion photos in 2015. They seem to fill a need in everyone for telling a story. But just taking photos doesn’t foster communication or allow us to express our deepest thoughts and feelings. For that, we need a way to edit the photos into something amazing.

Autodesk offers an excellent solution for photo editing with its Pixlr suite of tools. Available as a free Android or iOS app, on the web (for Chrome), or as a free download for Mac or Windows computers, Pixlr is simple and elegant. Like more expensive programs such as Photoshop, it includes the ability to use layers, transform objects, add creative effects and borders, and change colors.

Besides standard photo editing tools, Pixlr also has some extra features that could be very useful in the classroom. The History Brush, for example, allows you to start with a photograph of a friend or loved one and, by using various overlays, end up with a portrait that places your subject in the foreground with an illustrative background — almost like a comic book. You’re basically creating a very rich, textured background while leaving your subject in real-world focus. This would work well with a photo and essay writing assignment where students are illustrating an emotion, like joy, or a concept, like diversity.

Pixlr Express (for both the web and mobile devices) also has the ability to create a collage of up to 25 images. This could be used for a group project with a team of students taking photos, editing them appropriately for the theme, and then merging them into one collage for publication. The Pixelate Brush can take existing works of art and pixelate them into new masterpieces reflecting a more modern feel.

In addition, if you use Gmail or Google Drive, you can set your email photo attachments to open automatically in Pixlr. Tutorials, tips, and templates are also provided, as is a blog with regular #pixelate challenges and ideas for photos. And this school district site has a nice introductory PDF on using Pixlr for students.

Students of any age will love the opportunity to showcase something they are passionate about through photography. But take the lesson to the next level by having them communicate an important lesson, a deep concept, or a difficult topic using appropriate photo editing and enhancement. Photos aren’t going away, so we must be sure our photo editing skills are up to our needs!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
photos
Digital Literacy

Helping Students Find and Cite Photos (Updated)

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

Teaching students to correctly cite resources they use in their reports can be a difficult task. But Photos for Class can make it easier for them. Photos for Class is a free website that allows students to search for and download images that are safe to use in schools with the Creative Commons license. All of the images available are appropriate due to their proprietary filtering system, so that’s a big relief for teachers. But the best thing about the site is that, when the image is downloaded, the author, title of the image, a link to the original photo, and the image license terms are automatically added to the bottom of the graphic. So students can’t help citing their source.

Explaining Copyright First

Before starting to use Photos for Class with students, take time to teach them about why it’s a great tool. Explain basic copyright law to them using one of the resources below.

Putting the Photos Tool into Use

Once students understand the basics of copyright law, put them into small groups or pairs and have them create short scenarios illustrating the main ideas. Then have each group share their scenario and ask the rest of the class to determine what action should be taken. Finally, show students Photos for Class and how to use the search feature. Discuss with them how each image is automatically cited and what each part of the citation means.

By the way, if you are using Edmodo, then you can quickly add the Photos for Class free app from the Edmodo store.

As of this month, Photos for Class now includes public domain images from Pixabay’s safe search, which really enlarges the library of graphics available. This is great news for students and staff.

Photos for Class is a very easy-to-use website that can eliminate one small headache for both teachers and students – the problem of finding appropriate images to use in class projects and then citing them correctly.

This blog was updated with additional resources on March 16, 2018.

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts