Archive for 2013-12-15

With phones in every pocket these days, mobile photography has increased more than ever. With powerful tools and software amazing photos can be taken on the go.

The keys to taking better mobile photos are in some ways the same fundamentals that apply to taking a picture with a pro SLR or any other camera. The best camera is the one you have with you when the opportunity arises: the tools may be different but the factors that make an image great are the same regardless of the box that captured it.

Tech Soul brings you 5 tips for a better phone photography.

1.Know your device
Understand how mobile phone camera works and know its limitations. Typically these cameras have a limited shutter-speed range and a fixed aperture, so major in-camera exposure adjustments are made by adapting the ISO. There are apps available to help you get around this.

2.Apps

Take your mobile photographs to a high level by using photography apps. They can help you to overcome the limitaions of your device. Camera+ and Camera Awesome (iOS only) have grid tools, levels, image editing and great controls for exposure and focus.

Slow Shutter can create dreamy long-exposure effects like flowing streams and evening hour light trails, while keeping the high ISO noise to a minimum.
Make sure that you save all the photos before editing, because a loss of your favourite moment would a hurt a lot.

3.Exposure
Exposure affect the photo a lot. Get your exposure right in-camera and then play with it afterwards in editing apps.
Small sensor cameras need light! Use the sun, get in the shade, use a piece of paper to bounce light, wait for the right light, use a flashlight or another mobile phone screen as a light source — make use of your existing knowledge to get the best light. Be patient.

4.Composition is King

Get level — keep those horizons and verticals in check. (Many camera apps have horizon levels and grids.)
The rule of thirds — is still the rule. Don’t always centre your subject.
Use curves and converging lines.
Use positive and negative space.
Know your color! Make use of complimentary colors. Use color patterns and shapes to add compositional interest.
Watch your backgrounds. Poles growing out of people’s heads or lines cutting through them ruin mobile shots just like they ruin any other shots.
Direct — Don’t wait around for the perfect composition to happen (or settle for what you’ve got). Move things and people. Arrange your frame so that is makes you happy.
Break the rules! But know why and when to break them.

picturecorrect.com

5.Frames

Use objects in the foreground to frame the main subject and give depth to your shots. Shoot through windows, mirrors, other objects — framing provides context and adds interest.

picturecorrect.com

Look for different angles, don't be afraid to get down on the ground or climb a ledge, get closer for details or keep it wide for more context. Use Black&White for noisy or poorly-exposed photographs. Open up your mind and click :)

Happy photography :)

source : photocorrect.com

About 15 years ago, when Internet was not so popular we used to get out of the house to get what we needed. Now, we do it with just few clicks in comfort of our home or may be in office. Things have changed and we're moving on. All this is happening because of the fastest growing industry : e-commerce.

What is e-commerce?
Trade of goods and services for money on the internet is called e-commerce; 'e' standing for electronic -commerce. There are different ways in which companies are going online:

· Online retail store: You can expect to find many brands under different categories in such stores, example myntra.com, flipkart.com just like the real world shopping-malls.
· Online buy-sell platforms: these e-commerce portals don't sell anything but provide a platform for the buyers and sellers of different products and services to get together and do business. Example ebay.com and OLX.com (Bech Daal)
· Convenience purchases: these portals cater to services that grease the cogwheels of our lives making mundane purchases simpler and faster, saving us much needed time and money. Example online sale of air travel tickets like makemytrip.com, musaafir.com, hotel bookings like hotels.com and movie tickets like bookmyshow.com.

Why shop online?
Online trade makes a lot of sense for both businesses and customers. For businesses, it cuts a lot of costs in terms of rentals, staff salaries, bills and as a consumer, I don't have to move out of the comfort of my home to make an important purchase and sometimes I can even treat myself to some retail therapy in my office hours!

One thing is clear, this industry is here to stay and capture a whole lot of more eyeballs in the coming future.

Here are few things that you need to know while purchasing a product online :

1. Website: First and foremost, make sure the sites you are purchasing from are well-known and have a legitimate customer base to make sure your money is going to an established business that cares about its customers and will deliver quality goods and services. Google is your friend here. If it's a website you're unaware of, look for testimonials and search results.

2. Products: If you're buying something standard like a book or an electronic device, you know that what you pay for is what you will get. However, if it is something like clothes or accessories that need to be touched and felt before buying, the color, size, feel could be entirely different from what may appear in the image on the website. Many services these days allow you to test the products before you give them cash, this can be helpful and tedious at the same time.

3. Terms and Conditions: Read through the website's exchange and return policies. Make sure you keep receipts and take note of delivery terms. A good practise is too save the page/pdf of conformation.

4. Payment Gateway: PayPal can be the best and safest way to swipe your card online. Most of the websites use PayPal and you can pay using your PayPal account if you have one. Plus, your card issuing bank has its own gateway before the transaction goes through for you to enter your personal pass code. This entire structure makes sure your details are safe and secure. If you don't hold a card (very few people), you can go for the 'Cash on Delivery' option if it's available.

5. Shipping and Handling: Most websites usually charge shipping and handling charges to deliver your order to your doorstep. But many websites also offer free shipping or free shipping on orders that are over a certain amount, the latter bieng more common.

To make the most of shopping online, of course after having made sure that the above given basics are in place is finding great deals and offers that many websites offer. Every day there are more and more bargains to be snapped up. But let's look at a few things to do before you get too tempted and spend your money in a hurry:

(i) Research- If you're buying an electronic item on the net like mobile phone or laptop, read the reviews (you can find it on my blogg too), ask your friends and family. Make sure you've done your research before making a big ticket purchase

(ii) EMI'S- Many websites offer you the option to convert your big credit card purchases into EMI's. Go for it, if the plan suits you.

(iii) Discount Coupons and Deals- There are many websites that cater to bringing great bargains to online shoppers in the form of discount codes and coupons. The biggest name is groupon.co.in which is the Indian portal of the international website and there are many others like couponzguru.com, coupondunia.in, coupondekho.in etc. Also, many retail websites keep running promo codes on their merchandise from time to time. Always check for free coupons, they help you to reduce the price.

(iv) Limited Time Period Offers- Some sites offer limited period offers to build excitement around their discount deals. The best example of this is fashionandyou.com that holds sales that last only between 3-5 days.

(v) Shopping festivals- and now shopping festivals have also moved online? Festivals organised like the OMG sale by Citibank and GOSF (Great Online Shopping Festival) are a great time to get your hands on the best deals online. Some sites also offer extra discount during odd hours. A great example of this is Cyber Monday which is the ecommerce version of Black Friday internationally!

(vi) Exchanges and Returns- All e-stores allow a decent window of 15-30 days to request exchange and returns. If you receive the wrong size or product, most websites will exchange for the right one if available in stock. Else, you would get a credit note for the same amount that you can use later to buy any other product from the website till the time it's valid. Most of the times, websites will also arrange for the reverse pick up of the product, else will refund your shipping costs by including it in the credit note. Please keep in mind that a quality check on returns is must and only products with intact quality are accepted.

(vii) Price and e-store comparison- With so many websites carrying a huge variety of categories and brands, it becomes difficult to look for the right thing at the right place. Sometimes too many options cause too much chaos. That's what the global ecommerce behemoth amamzon.com and its sister portals like junglee.com do so effortlessly.

(viii) Try and Buy- Some websites like yebhi.com offer their customers an option of trying their selected items before purchasing them. However this service is limited to select locations only due to logistical constraints. Jewellery e-retailers like caratlane.com and bluestone.com offer a first time home trial as they are selling high value products and need to establish trust and patronage.

(ix) Hidden Charges- many times there could be hidden charges in online transactions that end up going un-noticed. For example, many websites charge extra for a Cash-on-Delivery payment option. Also sometimes shipping is only free beyond a minimum order value. Make sure you notice them.

(x) Pre-Bookings and Wish-Lists- What happens if your coveted phone model goes out of stock at the e-store of your choosing? What happens when you are eagerly awaiting a sequel in a book series/video game due to be released next week? You pre-book it, that's what! Its easy and breezy, an automated service that saves you repeated check-ins, reminders and crowd-rush. You can do this on flipkart.com and most super-stores.

(xi) Same day delivery- With a small amount of extra shipping charges, many websites let you make up for the last minute buying by doing Express deliveries on the same day, just in time for your loved one's birthday or those over delayed Christmas presents! Amazon India and Flipkart have recently started this feature in select cities in India.

(xii) Gift wrap/cards- your presents not only reach on time, they reach complete with beautiful packaging with a thoughtful gift card. These personalised services are also offered by most websites at a nominal cost.

(xiii) Size Chart- Apparel purchases can be a tricky deal since color, size, fit and feel matter a lot while buying a certain item. Its best to opt for brands that you know offer good quality merchandise and consult the size chart of every brand separately since every company follows its own standards in sizing and measurements.

And lastly, enjoy the comfort of shopping for anything you want from virtually any place that has internet. Happy Shopping!
source:lifehacker