May The Force Be With Us….Always

Let’s put our Photoshop skills to good use and come up some other options to make them feel better!
Here’s a layered PSD file of a blank background and Kimye on top. Here’s a jpg of just them surrounded by white.

Tweet 

Post your shots and tag em with #kimyekiss

Here are some others people have come up with! Keep em coming!

Under the Sea, by Audrey Rose McBay

by Audrey Rose McBay

From Adam Lanigan

Have fun!

Noel Chenier

ABOUT NOEL
Noel Chenier is an award winning photographer,  educator, and app developer.

Noel’s work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across North America, and can be viewed on his website at http://www.noelchenier.ca
Contact Noel at noel@noelchenier.ca

I hope you find these blog useful! If so, it would be awesome if you would check out my LearnPhoto365 Photography Assignment Generator Apps on the app store, a unique photography app that’s meant to inspire you to take great photos! Try the FREE VERSION!

Perfect for anyone taking part in a Photo 365 challenge, there are over a hundred individual assignments and hundreds of thousands of potential random ones. Versions available for iPhone/iPod and iPad, including free versions so you can try them out! Full details, including reviews and tour videos of the apps can be found at www.learnphoto.ca/apps Even if you only download the free version that would help get it up the app store lists!

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Hi Everyone

First off, a warning. This message will relates to the launch of v2.0 of my photography apps, and one more request for help from you to spread the word.
If you are sick of hearing about my apps, you probably should stop reading.  But before you do, I just wanted to explain the reasons why your help is so important, some of which you may not realize.

Still here? Awesome. I truly appreciate it.
To start, I will again thank every one of you who has helped me in the past promoting my apps. The small success that I have had with the apps is all because of your help.

As you probably have already seen, I just launched the version 2.0 update  which has a whole bunch of awesome new features to go along with the redesign I did for V1.5. I’m going to make one more huge push to get it up the app store lists…and this is where you come in.

THE PROBLEM:

I can’t post most places about the app…because I created it.
It’s hard to promote an app without being labelled a spammer.

Most times I’ve tried to post about my photography apps on various online photography boards/communities/blogs/comments/forums/Facebook/Twitter/etc, I’ve been called a spammer, gotten banned, deleted, or suspended.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand that spamming is what I am doing by general definition as it is unsolicited…but this is a photography related app, not some “lose weight/get rich quick/financial advice” scheme, and most of these places I have tried to post it are for photographers. Or the posting is photography related, or people asking about recommended photo apps.

However, if anyone else posts about it, it’s okay. Because you are already a user on the board or a member of the community…and you didn’t create it. So that’s fine.

Tech writers and app review sites never get back to me.
I’ve emailed hundreds of em. Most never return/acknowledge my attempt to contact them, or a follow up email or tweet I send. Or even worse, they expect to be paid for reviews.  I’ve tried taken the time to engage the person beforehand, personalized my pitch…hasn’t mattered. I’m sure it’s because they are buried under emails from people like me, but no matter what the reason is, I’m not reaching them.

The app store does not help sell apps.
Well, only the ones they choose to feature. And it’s usually the same apps or apps that people already know about. For example…Instagram is featured three times on the photo app page in the Canadian store. You’d have to be living in an underground cave on a pacific island since WWII to not know about Instragram…
The app store is so full of apps, it’s like a needle in a haystack the size of a small mountain. Unless people search for specific keywords, my app won’t even come up. And you can’t even browse apps anymore. You only get to see what Apple decides to feature or what is on the top 200.

The only way to get noticed is to make it into a Top Ten list…and the only way to do that is to get downloads. And the only way to do that is to get noticed…

See the vicious circle?

THE SOLUTION:
Here are some things that I could do:

1) Pay for fake downloads, 5 star reviews, etc.
A lot of people are doing this right now. Just read most reviews of many popular apps, and you will see lots of text that appears to have nothing to do with the app reviewed.

2) Create fake accounts and post about the app as someone else.

These are slimy tactics that I want no part of.

So then you are saying “Well Noel, why don’t you just pay for advertizing?”
Well, I have. I spent a bit of money on Facebook advertizing and got a grand total of 80 clicks on that ad…with no bump in downloads.  Advertizing in a photography magazine? Well, that’s $500 for one issue for a business card sized ad. I’d have to have 250 downloads of the paid version to even recoup that cost. I will be doing this for the launch however, in the hopes it MIGHT pay off.

So these are some of the reasons I need your help.

Some of you might be asking “What do I get out of it Noel? Why should I help you make a ton of money?”

First off…I’m not going to be making a ton of money off this. I won’t be an app millionaire. But most of you know, my dream is to be able to just teach photography. This just might be possible if my app can get some buzz and exposure to shoot it up the lists. If it does that, my dream might just come true.

And you are correct. I can’t compensate you for doing this. I can’t give out free courses to everyone (but there are some prizes, info below)

But maybe I have helped you out in the past somehow…advice on buying a camera..given you an honest critique on one of your photos…you’ve used information I’ve posted on my blog to take a better photograph of something…or I’ve liked or shared something you were passionate about…or you just like helping people make their dreams come true.

So if that is the case, here’s what I am asking help with.

I know you are all busy, so I’ve made sharing the apps as easy as possible!
I’ve created a page to share/tweet/post/pin/email about the app here: http://www.learnphoto.ca/apps/promote.html

You can feel free to modify the posts/tweets to your liking of course and obviously a personalized message would be better. But if you don’t have the time, just click the buttons you want!
Any chance you have mention the app on a blog or other online community about photo apps would be appreciated as well.

PRIZES

And while I can’t reward everyone, I can however offer a variety of prizes that you could win!
The draws will be random, with entries given for every post, tweet, etc that you do to help me out over the next two weeks. The more you share, the more likely you will win a prize.

Here are some of the things you might win!

COMPLETELY FREE PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
I’m going to thrown in a free full 8 week or 2 day photography course as the main prize.
(“Hey Noel, I’ve already taken your course, this is no good to me.”
Well, you can use the money towards other courses…or think of what an amazing Christmas gift it would be to give someone a course.)

AN HOUR WITH NOEL!
You have me for a full hour to do with whatever you please.
Maybe I should rephrase that…
It could be for one on one camera instruction, critique, help with anything photography related, even a portrait session. This will most likely be a Saint John area only prize.
For those not in Saint John, it could be done via Skype or other online communication.

VARIOUS PRIZES
I’ll also be giving away iTunes cards, Photo Life subscriptions, some free copies of my apps, and other things that I can come up with.

CONCLUSION

Thank you for making it to the end. I hope that I have made it clear why your help is needed, maybe convinced you if you weren’t sure, or reaffirmed why you are helping me out.

Sincere thanks,

Noel
ps- here’s the link again for the easy promotion page: http://www.learnphoto.ca/apps/promote.html

Share this info with your friends!

Tweet 

Noel Chenier
———————-
Photographer and teacher
LEARNPHOTO.CA  Noel’s online photography learning community! http://www.learnphoto.ca
NEW! Photography Assignment Generator Apps now available on the app store!
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/noel-chenier/id566645905 
Noel’s Portfolio http://www.noelchenier.ca
Noel’s Photo Tips Blog http://noelchenier.blogspot.com
Work Done by My Students! http://www.learnphoto.ca/gallery
Contact Email: noel@noelchenier.ca

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As Breaking Bad comes to an end (and a fitting one in my opinion), I thought it would be fun to give out a fun assignment…a Breaking Bad Photo Scavenger Hunt!

Here is the list…

• BLUE (Preferably the same blue as the meth! example http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Sky?file=Bluemeth.png)
• PURPLE
• BEAKER
• FLASK
• RV (Preferably the same style as the one on the show)
• PONTIAC AZTEK (Bonus points if it’s green!)
• BACON
• GAS MASK
• FRIED CHICKEN
• PINK TEDDY BEAR
• BLACK PORK PIE HAT
• STEVIA
• MINERALS (NOT rocks…)
• PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS
• WALT WHITMAN’S “LEAVES OF GRASS”
• CHAMOMILE TEA
• CAR WASH
• SHAVED HEAD
• GOATEE
• BOX CUTTER
• TWINS
• REMOTE CONTROL CAR
• LILY OF THE VALLEY 
• BARRELS 
• GREEN DRESS SHIRT
• “YO”
• SKINNY
• CRYSTAL 
• LOTTERY TICKET
• SELF PORTRAIT AS “HEISENBERG” 

Most of these are physical items…some are more “descriptors” that can be open to your interpretation and creativity (skinny, crystal, “YO”)
Some of these are going to be easy…some not so easy.

I would PREFER that these be new photos you take after getting this list…but if you have a great previous image that fits…ok.

Feel free to combine some of the terms…got a purple RC car going through a carwash being controlled by a guy with a goatee and a black pork pie hat? Awesomesauce.

UP FOR A REAL CHALLENGE? How about the:

Almost impossible bonus Breaking Bad VEHICLE scavenger hunt:

• 2004 Pontiac Aztek (GREEN)
• 1986 Toyota Tercel Wagon (RED)
• 1982 Chev Monte Carlo (RED)
• 1986 Fleetwood Bounder RV (BEIGE)
• 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer (RED)
• 1997 Cadillac DeVille (WHITE)
• 1986 Volvo 240 (WHITE)
• 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle (BLUE)
• 2012 Chrysler 300 (BLACK)

I’d be very shocked if anyone could put together this full list exactly…but do your best!
Not sure what they look like? Here ya go
 

SHARING YOUR PHOTOS

Post your photos however you like…Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, whatever!

Make sure to tag your photos with #breakingbadscavengerhunt

I’ll post some links at the bottom of this post once people start putting their images out there!

PRIZES!

Wouldn’t be much fun if there weren’t some prizes…I’ll give away some copies of my assignment generator app, some $10 itunes cards…and for those who actually complete the FULL scavenger hunt list, there will be a separate draw for a brand new Breaking Bad season 1 DVD. if this thing really takes off, I’ll add more prizes as I see fit.

It will be done by random draw, but if you want to be eligible for prizes, YOU MUST FOLLOW the rules (and help me out with some promotion of my app)

1) You must REGISTER with me by sending me an email by clicking here.

2) Download the free versions of my Photography Assignment Generator app, either for iPhone or iPad. Don’t have an iPhone or iPad? no worries. Tweet about it instead.  Tweet

3) Tell all your friends about this scavenger hunt by TWEETING and/or LIKING ON FACEBOOK using the buttons below.
Not on Facebook/Twitter? Ok, email a photography friend with the link and CC me on it)

Tweet

4) You must have completed at least half (15 terms) of the scavenger hunt. Once you have done so, email me the link to your images.

5) Deadline for entries to be eligible for prizes will be November 1st

**read the fine print rules/terms below. I know, I hate fine print too…**

SOME TIPS FOR YOUR PHOTOS 

Of course we don’t want to see boring photos just showing an RV or a flask…I want these photos to be the bomb, yo!

Here are some tips for getting some photos that are TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT…

LIGHT

There are many different types and directions of light that we can shoot under, so try some different options. If you can do off-camera/wireless flash or use continuous studio lights, you can control the light and do some funky effects.

-Side and top lighting shows off shape and texture better.
-Monster lighting (from below) will result in some extremely crazy and spooky shadows.
-Shoot it in silhouette. Put the subject in front of a window or have it backlit by the sun or a flash.
-Try using the DAYLIGHT white balance under FLUORESCENT give your image a green-ish cast…or shoot under TUNGSTEN/INCANDESCENT to make it yellow. 
-Shadows can also be interesting…a shadow of a man in a pork pie hat maybe?

COMPOSITION

-Try a wider shot of the scene, with the subject small, or get in close to fill the frame with it.
-Create a pattern with your subject by collecting a bunch of them.
-Shoot the subject from other vantage points…from above, below, eye-level.

LENS

Use different lenses.  Wide angle to show more of a scene, or your zoom to shoot a detail.
Use your macro to get close up on details or make the image a bit more abstract.
Got a fisheye? Distort er up!

SHUTTER SPEEDS

You can use faster shutter speeds to freeze something moving, or slower speeds to create blur.

APERTURES/DEPTH OF FIELD

-Use smaller number apertures (ex F4.5) to make a subject stand out from the background.
-Use high number apertures (ex F22) to make the whole scene in focus.
-Shoot subjects at a non-parallel angle to get extremely shallow depth of field to make a subject stand out

GETTING CREATIVE

There are lots of cool techniques to experiment with.

PANNING

Use a slow shutter speed (1/30th of a second or slower) and move the camera with the subject as your photograph it. Set you camera DRIVE mode to continuous, and shot a whole sequence as the subject moves past the lens. (This could work really well with the RV or the one of the vehicles)

ZOOMING/ROTATING/JIGGLING

Use a slower shutter speed(1/30th of a second of slower) and move the camera during the exposure. Zoom the lens in and out to create a crazy zoom effect…rotate the camera to create circular lines, jiggle the camera to make shake.

SHADOWS

Use strong directional light to cast a shadow of your subject (A “Heisenberg” silhouette maybe?)

FOCUS

Play with your focus a bit…no reason the subject has to be sharp…focus on something else in the foreground or background.

PHOTOSHOP/FILTER 

Of course for all you Photoshop wizards  feel free to HDR it, add blur, or for or iPhoneographers apply any filters/effects you like, grunge it up, low-fi it.

So off you go!  Have fun, I can’t wait to see what creative things you come up with!

Noel Chenier
———-
Photographer and teacher
Connect with Noel on INSTAGRAM or TWITTER or via EMAIL 
LEARNPHOTO.CA  Noel’s online photography learning community! http://www.learnphoto.ca
 
Photography Assignment Generator Apps now available on the app store!
A unique photography app that’s meant to inspire you to take great photos!

Perfect for anyone taking part in a Photo 365 challenge, there are over a hundred individual assignments and hundreds of thousands of potential random ones. Versions available for iPhone/iPod and iPad, including free versions so you can try them out! Full details, including reviews and tour videos of the apps can be found at www.learnphoto.ca/apps Even if you only download the free version that would help get it up the app store lists!

Noel Chenier


***FINE PRINT RULES/TERMS****
this list/contest is in no way affiliated with AMC!

i make no claim on copyright on your images (I’m a photographer, and hate any contest/person who tries to sucker people out of their images). Anyone taking part in this retains all full rights to their images. The only usage of their images will be as examples to promote the scavenger hunt. This will most likely only include pulling in automatic RSS feeds from Instagram, etc or linking to your blog/gallery/etc which will result in thumbnail/small images being displayed and not direct usage of your images (Users will be contacted for permission in that case)

I retain the right to disqualify anyone from winning prizes who do not follow the rules.
Completion of the scavenger hunt is under my discretion.

If you submit photographs not taken by you, you will be disqualified (I also hate people who steal other photographers images and pretend they are theirs)

I retain the right to add prizes if the interest grows beyond my current expectations.
Right now, the prizes are as follows:

3-$10 iTunes cards
10-promo codes for my Photography Assignment App
1-Breaking Bad Season 1 DVD Set

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