Photography Resources for Smartphones and the Classroom

Smartphone Shoot / itchys / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

  
"The best camera is the one you have with you."   Chase Jarvis

The cameras most of us have with us most of the time are our smartphones. While modifying a photography unit I decided that I should add some helpful resources for working with smartphone photography.

 




Each of these videos provides useful ideas for taking photos with smartphones.

Muck Farm / Phil and Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onr2824qfIU
  
  • 9 Tips for Better Smartphone Photos

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YroMyQJ-GMQ
  
  • Smartphone Photography: Taking Better Photos with Your Phone

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMCa_1krUeo
  
  • How to take great photos using your smart phone

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGunTKV3QIw
  
  • Five Tips for Taking Better Photos with Your Smartphone

Photo Apps / Jo Schiffbauer / CC BY 2.0

Can we talk about smartphone photography without discussing apps? I think these recommendations are worth reviewing.

• http://www.creativebloq.com/design-tools/best-photo-apps-513764
  
  • The 30 Best Photo Apps

• http://www.diyphotography.net/top-android-photography-apps-serious-smartphone-photographers/
  
  • Top Android Photography Apps for Serious Smartphone Photographers

• https://insidersguide.vzw.com/tech-smarts/top-photography-camera-apps/
  
  • Top Photography Apps for the Camera Pro in All of Us

• http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/10/25/best-photo-apps-for-photographers-reviewed-and-rated/
  
  • Best Photo Apps for Photographers Reviewed and Rated

• http://www.canadianliving.com/life/community/20_best_photo_apps_for_your_smartphone.php
  
  • 20 Best Photo Apps for Your Smartphone

• http://www.mensjournal.com/expert-advice/21-best-photo-apps-for-smartphones-20131125
  
  • 21 Best Photo Apps for Smartphones

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Of course, I want to include some ideas about using photography in the classroom. 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_oALYl_lC

Flickr Badges / Alexander Kaiser / CC BY 2.0

• Using Flickr in the Classroom

• Have students curate a gallery

• Access Flickr's special collections

• Photos taken on phones can be emailed to Flickr using Flickr mail

Pinterest has some good resources for using cameras in the classroom.

• http://www.pinterest.com/nedrai/
  
  • Nedra Isenberg's Pinterest boards

• http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=camera in classroom
  
  • search page for "camera in classroom" on Pinterest

• http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=photography in classroom
  
  • search page for "photography in classroom" on Pinterest
    

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The photography apps I am currently using are the following ones.

on my smartphone... 

• Camera (default app)
• Halftone (http://www.juicybitssoftware.com/halftone/) - turn photos into comics
• iPhoto (http://www.apple.com/ios/iphoto/) - organize, edit, share
• NightCap (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nightcap-night-capture-photo/id486414195?mt=8) - for low light situations
• ProCamera (http://www.procamera-app.com/) - antishake, night camera, burst mode, sharing, video, QR codes and bar codes
• Pxture (http://www.pxture.it/) - photo + mask + font = interesting text effects
• SnappyCam Pro (no longer available in the American iTunes Store) – hold shutter button for burst mode
• ToonCamera (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tooncamera/id392538848?mt=8) - turn photos into cartoons

on my computer...

• ColorStrokes (http://macphun.com/colorstrokes) - selective coloring
• GraphicConverter (http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/image-editing-slideshow-browser-batch-conversion-metadata-and-more-on-your-mac/) - organization, workflow, photo-editing
• iPhoto (https://www.apple.com/mac/iphoto/) - organization, phto-editing, sharing, creativity
• Seashore (http://seashore.sourceforge.net/The_Seashore_Project/About.html) - photo-editing, layers,
• Snapheal (http://macphun.com/snapheal) - remove objects, enhance photos

online...

• Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/) - online photo management, sharing
• PicMonkey (http://www.picmonkey.com/) - photo-editing, graphic design, collages

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What would you suggest that I share with teachers about photography and about cameras in the classroom?