PicsArt Monthly November issue 2013

Monthly
Issue #02 | November 2013

Meet Surreal

Photographer

Frank
Herfort

6 Easy Steps

to Master the Curves Tool

1 Photograph:
4 Transformations
Tips & Tricks for Perfect

THANKSGIVING SHOTS

Why take photographs?

Insight from Famous Photographer Lou Jones

Based in Mountain View, CA, PicsArt is a full-featured
mobile photo editing & drawing mobile app and the fastest growing
mobile art community.

All-in-1 Photo Editor
& Art Community

Editor-in-Chief | Arusiak Kanetsyan
Art Editor | Cristina Gevorg

Cover photo: @franciskabosnjak

Meet our team...

Designer | Ina Sarko
Editorial Contributors | Mark Gargarian, Heather Parry, Miki Ross Karakla
In-House Photographer | ma_lina
Address: SocialIn Inc.,
800 West El Camino Real,
Mountain View, CA 94040

Follow us...

Publisher: PicsArt Photo Studio

Copyright of Socialln Inc. ( PicsArt Photo Studio ) 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be re-used without the written
permission of the publisher. The content of this magazine is for informational purposes only and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time
of publication. PicsArt Photo Studio does not claim any ownership right for the photos in the Magazine. All photos,if not mentioned otherwise, are
the property of respective PicsArt users. The PicsArt username or photo owner is cited on each photo. PicsArt Photo Studio has a non-exclusive,
royalty-free, worldwide, limited licence to use, modify, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, and reproduce PicsArt users’ photos, including
without limitation distributing part or all of the Magazine in any media formats through any media channels.

Welcome!
PicsArt Monthly is here to inspire you and to help
you become a greater artist. In this issue, you’ll
find articles that make you think, tutorials that
will transform your photography, and the best art
from PicsArt users.
Get started by catching this month's article by
award-winning photographer Lou Jones, Why
Take Photographs. This unique insight asks a
simple question and provides some surprising
answers, a worthwhile read for anyone who takes
pictures.
In this issue, we also show you some of the
amazing things that are possible on a mobile
device with PicsArt Photo Studio. Master color
tones with the Curves Tool, see how you can
transform a photo using PicsArt effects and
brush up on your painting skills with our drawing
tutorials.
You’ll also want to read our Thanksgiving Tips
and Tricks so that, when you sit down in front of
a turkey this year with the whole family, you’ll
be guaranteed to take holiday photos that stand
apart from the rest.
Find all of this and more in our November issue to
feed your inspiration and curiosity, and take your
own artwork to a whole new level.
Enjoy reading and feel free to send us your
feedback at info@picsart.com!

@ma_lina

Why Take
Photographs?
by Lou Jones

I have been taking pictures so long that the simplest questions are often
overlooked. So I tried to think back to some of the things that got me
interested in photography. So “why take pictures?”
When I started out that query was a little easier to answer. Also, at that
time I could name all the people who were direct competition. Now
everybody is a photographer. So if we have that much competition why
do we want to contribute to the clutter?


PRO INSIGHT

Kikabana
(Kookiegreen)
Every art community has it’s rockstars, and ours is no different. Meet Kikaban, username @
Kookiegreen, a PicsArtist that has a knack for splendor. Her photos are rife with what can best
be called energy, the life and colors within them bursting so that they can barely be contained
within their rectangular frames. Her photos span beautiful seaside vistas, candid street portraits,
and special instances that make daily life so rich. She also has a flexible style in her choices of
color, effects, and general composition. Essentially speaking, Kikabana churns out masterful
photography on a regular basis.

Lou Jones is a Boston-based
photographer with more than 43
years of professional experience.
His award-winning work has
been exhibited in museums and
collections around the world, and he
has published multiple books of and
about photography.
Lou has served on the boards of
directors of numerous photographic
associations, societies, and
museums.
He helped found the school Center
for Digital Imaging Arts of Boston
University and conceived the
prestigious Griffin Museum's annual
Focus Awards.
In addition, Jones lectures and
teaches workshops all over the
world.

To be creative
Since its inception photography has engaged some of the most creative minds. And some of the
most bizarre, too. And although it was under pressure in the early years to justify itself as an
art form, most museums today have photography collections and understand its historic and
aesthetic contributions. Social networking sites like PicsArt, Facebook, and Instagram have
opened up new opportunities to showcase.

To document
There are not many truly creative photographs being made. Most people just want to capture
moments of their new baby, wedding, graduation, gathering, party, “selfie”, etc. Photography
serves as the easiest and most convenient way to remember. You do not have to know how to spell
RAW or PhotoShop to get competent results.


To be trendy
Photography has been popular since Kodak made it easy.
But the digital revolution has made it accessible for all. The
cameras are simpler, cheaper. More pictures are taken with
cell phones than all cameras. It is a universal hobby. Anybody
can do it. Even hipsters.

To tell stories
It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional or an amateur.
You don’t need formal training. But we can most accurately
tell the big and little stories of our own lives, of those
surrounding us and of those far away. The more we know
about each other, the more we see, the better we understand
and cope.

To get paid
Years ago I argued that I would take pictures for free if that
was my only option, but my colleague said he quit, locked the
door to his studio and went home each night to his family.
He was also right. To him photography was just a job. Albeit a
good one.

To record your life
Some people are clever and obsessive enough to integrate
photography into every aspect of their lives. They take
pictures of their travels, their ideas, their politics, food, dog,
etc. They turn the camera inward. This may be personal,
quirky, entertaining, serious, or funny. And the best camera
for that just happens to be the one you have with you: DSLR,
point & shoot, cell phone.

For love
I have often been asked how I select my employees. I tell them I don’t seek people who want to
take pictures. I seek people who have to take pictures. It is in their eyes. Souls who love the act and
art of photography. It is part of their DNA.

Why not?
Photographs can be documents but do NOT have to be accurate. Each of us sees the world
through our own filter. Subjective. Everyone has their own reasons for taking pictures. All valid.
But even so, photography is the world’s universal language. No need for translation.

PicsArt Monthly | 11

@ntrdangquang

INSPIRATION | Shots

Showers of Melancholy
A Gallery of Rainy Days
Rainy days have long been great emotional fodder for photographers. There is just a special kind
of beauty that goes with a wet city street after a hard rain. Water changes the way that light
plays on objects, evoking a particular reflective state of emotion in any given scene. Even drops
on a window pane exude a certain undeniable melancholy. The emotional palette of a rainy day,
however, varies depending on the context and choices taken by a particular photographer, and the
variety of feelings involved can range anywhere between muggy sadness to a more upbeat sense
of cleansing and renewal.

@stefyste77

This gallery features a variety of photos from the PicsArt community with the theme of a rainy day.

@hermionejedusor

PICSART IN ACTION

@ulianovd

Four Transformations

If anything, one of the most wonderful things about PicsArt is
the amount of effects options available. This means freedom and
creativity. No matter what photo you are starting with, there are
limitless directions you go in, and each option offers the potential
for a unique transformation with its own style and flavor. Here is
a demonstration of how a photo is being transformed using four
PicsArt FX Effects.

CROSS
PROCESS

WARM
COLOR

LOMO

BLACK
AND
WHITE

What is Aperture
Controlling Depth of Focus
If a camera is an eye, the aperture is its pupil. It is the hole through which light passes and is
focused, and it is created and controlled by the iris surrounding it. In a camera's case, the iris (or
diaphragm) is made of several small metal blades overlaid in a circular pattern. Just as our pupils
widen to let in more light in the dark, we can open our apertures in low light, and close them in
brightness. What is less obvious, though, is the effect the aperture's size has on depth of field.

What is Depth of Field?

@shamzrapz

A photo's depth of field is the distance between the furthest and closest objects that are in focus.
If both the foreground and the background of a scene are sharp, it has a large depth of field. If a
small area is in focus, but the front and back fall off into blur, it has a small or short depth of field.
These are also known as deep focus and shallow focus.

Smaller Aperture, Sharper Image
The depth of field is controlled by the aperture. A large aperture, while it lets in more light,
shortens and softens the focal plane (the precise distance at which your lens is focused). This is
because the light comes in at steeper angles, causing it to scatter more. As the aperture shrinks,
only the straight-on light rays can enter. This cuts down the total light, but sharpens the image and
increases the depth of field.

Shooting

@ma_lina

TUTORIAL
TUTORIAL | Shooting

@ma_lina

The f-stop is a fraction, just like shutter speed, and so the smaller f-numbers designate larger
openings. This means that apertures with values of f/2 and f/4 will make bright, soft-focus
photographs, while f/16 and f/22 will create a large depth of field. However, the camera will need
a longer shutter speed or higher ISO to compensate for the light loss.

Controlling the Background

@ohnorok-

Creative aperture control allows you to remove the background by blurring it out, which directs
the focus to the subject. Using a shallow depth of field allows selective focus, which is used
to highlight detail in a small area of a scene. Conversely, a large depth of field can bring the
background into the picture, when needed.

A Bit About Bokeh


@shamzrapz

@kate-cat

You have probably heard this word thrown around a lot, but what is bokeh? How do you even say
it? While the second question is a topic of endless (and fruitless) debate, most people agree that
bokeh is the way the lens renders out-of-focus blur. This is most obvious in points of light; when
defocused, the haze they create takes the shape of the aperture. Sometimes it is beautifully round,
sometimes it's octagonal, and can be more like a pentagon. Conventional opinion believes that the
rounder the aperture, the better the bokeh.

Minimum, Optimum, and Maximum Apertures

@soskha

Every lens has its limits; it will have a maximum f/stop – the largest its aperture will go – which
we call wide open. The maximum aperture is noted in the name of a lens: “Nikon 50mm f/1.8”, for
instance, or “Canon 200mm f/4”. On a zoom lens, this is often a range: “Pentax 18-55mm f/3.55.6”, where the maximum aperture is f/3.5 at 18mm and closes down to f/5.6 when zoomed to
55mm. Less advertised are the lens' minimum apertures. They are often f/22 or f/32; only very
specialized lenses will shrink down to f/64, or to Ansel Adams' mythical f/90! Every lens, too, has
an optimum aperture. This is different for every lens, even different units of the same model. It is
the aperture at which the lens achieves its sharpest focus at its center point; the point where all
the lens elements line up as perfectly as possible, with no distortion. It is usually found around f/8,
but can fall anywhere, depending on the lens design, and on chaos theory.


How to Use the Aperture
Large apertures are popular in portraiture and macro photography, to blur the background and
focus on the main subject. They can also create a sense of depth, lead the eye, and separate the
foreground and background. They're used in any type of low-light photography, since they are
arguably the most effective and dramatic way to let in more light without using a flash. Small
apertures are used in landscape photography, when the full depth of the scene is important and
long exposures on a tripod are possible. For the same reason, they are preferred for architectural
photography, both inside and out.

@rure

The aperture can be changed on a DSLR through either the Aperture-priority (“A”) or fully Manual
(“M”) modes. Use a small f-number for a small depth of field and a large number for a large depth
of field. On an automatic camera, such as the PicsArt camera app, use the “portrait” scene mode
found in the menu (marked by three squares in a row) to get a large aperture and shallow focus.
For a sharp image front to back, use the “landscape” mode, which closes the aperture down small.


How to Use PicsArt's Curves Tool

This tutorial will show you how to master PicsArt’s Curves tool by breaking down the
process step-by-step. The Curves Tool is simply the most effective way to adjust the
lighting and colors in any photo. It gives you unprecedented control over individual tones,
and lets you edit them individually.
This tool represents the color tones on your photo as curves, where each point on your
photo is represented as a point on that color curve. The tool allows you to intensify or
minimize these tones by selecting one of these points and dragging the curve. There are
four curves in total and each ones let you alter individual colors separately on a specific
point: Red, Green, Blue, and RGB. Each curve let’s you only adjust the tones of that color,
while RGB, let’s you adjust all of them at once.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll soon realize that you can almost always get the coloring
and lighting of your photos exactly right using only this one amazing tool!


TUTORIAL | Editing
Open a Photo and Curves Tool
Open PicsArt Photo Studio app, click on the orange Photo button. Choose a photo you
want to edit. Select the tools icon from the main menu. Click on the Curves from the
pop-up menu.

Choose Color Channel
Select from either RGB, Red, Green, or Blue, to alter the tones of that color in your
photo. RGB allows you to edit all of the colors at once. The resulting curve only graphs
the tones of whatever color channel you are in.


Drag the Curve
Select and drag a point up/down to alter the color value of a tone. If you drag the highest
point on the far right end of your curve down, you reduce a color where it is strongest. If
you drag the lowest point on the far left end up, you intensify a color where it is weakest.

Switch Between Colors
You can freely switch between curves to work on them individually, without losing your
previous edits. Create a blue curve that compliments your red curve to mix and match
tones, or just work on overall contrast and brightness by using the RGB curve.


Undoing Changes
Add as many points as you like to a curve, and use the cycling arrows on the bottom left
hand to undo an edit. To delete a point that you have added, select it and press the trash
icon.

deleting a point

Finish and Confirm
Once you have chosen a curve or set of curves that gets the color and lighting in your
photo just the way you want it, click the checkmark at the bottom right corner of the
screen to finish your session and confirm your edits.


How to Draw a
Mermaid in PicsArt

Beyond the dynamic photo editor, PicsArt Photo Studio also features a fully equipped
drawing tool. PicsArt’s drawing tools are up to the task of keeping up with even the most
active imaginations. You can organize your workspace in layers, which allows you to work
on things like outline, color, and shading independently by designating a separate layer
for each aspect of your drawing. The brush is customizable which means that you can
customize the brush type along with thickness, color, and opacity, depending on what your
drawing needs.
This drawing tutorial takes on the challenge of drawing the mythical mermaid using
PicsArt drawing tools, breaking down the process step-by-step. The thing to look for here
is how PicsArt is capable of getting into fine details like fish scales, while providing the
freedom to effortlessly brush lighting and shading onto your drawing, to achieve some
truly stunning results.


TUTORIAL | Drawing
Draw the
Basic Shape
Draw a basic skeletal
outline of your mermaid
approximating the
location of the head,
torso, arms, and tail.
When finished reduce
the opacity.

Add a New
Layer
Create a new layer and
trace a more meticulous
outline of the previous
one. Delineate details
like fingers and form the
shape of the face and body.
Reduce the opacity when
done.

Draw the
Final Outline
Create a new layer and
trace the final outline with
clean and deliberate lines.
Add details like a nose
and mouth, and define
the contours of your
mermaid’s hair.


Color
the Drawing
In a new layer color in your
mermaid with a brush,
filling in only the most basic
colors.

Color
Shades
Create yet another layer
to add basic shading, using
dark and light tones of each
color to create shadow and
reflection.

Background
Color
Hide the top layer to
remove the final outline,
leaving only the colors. Go
over your mermaid with a
dark brush to define any
essential lines that may
have been removed. Add a
layer in the background and
give it a base color.

Add Final Details
In a layer between you mermaid and your background, add any details you may
want behind your mermaid, whether it’s waves, light or seaweed. Your mermaid is now
ready to swim with the fishes!

INSPIRATION | Painting

Art That Will Make
You Rethink What’s Possible
on a Mobile Device

@aomarimchen

The images in this gallery are straight from some of PicsArt’s most visionary imaginations.
All of these works were done using PicsArt drawing tools, yet none are alike. Each image
bares the unique stamp of its creator. This mix of styles will blow apart your idea of what’s
possible on your tablet or smartphone, and perhaps inspire you to dig a little deeper the
next time you are confronted with a blank canvas. This museum of flowing textures and
swimming watercolors is sure to light up your eyes, and put an itch in your fingertips to
create.

@davidkhoirul

NEW IN APP

PicsArt Celebrates Second
Anniversary by Tripling its User Base
On November, 7, leading artists’ social network and mobile picture editor PicsArt, Inc.
celebrated its second anniversary with significant progress and impressive metrics. Over
the last year, PicsArt installs tripled to a mind-blowing 90 mln, while use increased to over
25 mln active monthly users.
PicsArt is the most popular socially-connected mobile picture editor and is full-featured
enough to keep up with the most ambitious and professional artistic imaginations. At the
same time, PicsArt’s easy-to-use intuitive interface lets users unleash their inner artist, by
allowing them to immerse themselves effortlessly in the creative process. One PicsArtist
(PicsArt user) writes, “I can create artwork out of almost nothing…”
To date, PicsArt has 25 to 30 mln active monthly users and over 20 mln total photos
shared on its social network, with users performing 2 mln edits daily.
Over the past year, PicsArt has taken a big-picture development strategy, expanding to
iOS while releasing 31 updates for its Android version. Among the new features recently
added to the app are DrawCam, Lens Flare, Clone Tool, Curve Tool, Color Tool, and an
endless array of new Masks and Effects. The company has also expanded its internal shop
by providing free and premium clipart and frames.
PicsArt also introduced weekly art contests this year, that challenge users in the areas of
photo-enhancement, drawing and graphic design. As of today, PicsArt has held around
100 contests with 250 to 4,000 submissions to each contest. These contests allow users
to exhibit and explore their artistic and creative skills, and contest winners benefit with
the exposure of being featured in PicsArt media.
Even more recently, PicsArt began issuing its digital magazine, PicsArt Monthly. The
magazine is a culmination of the best content from PicsArt’s blog, which features photo
and drawing tutorials, regular columns, exclusive interviews with photographers, and user
galleries, targeting to promote PicsArt’s homegrown artists to the greater community.
Since November of 2012, PicsArt has retained its 4.7 user-rating on Google Play,
maintaining its place as one of the highest-rated among the most downloaded mobile apps
on Google Play and in AppStore.
The company has held to an ambitious vision, listening to its users and remaining a
place where any artist can create amazing art from the minute they pick up the App.
PicsArt always keeps an eye on what’s next and if this coming year is as successful as its
predecessor, then PicsArt Photo Studio has a very exciting future ahead.

INTERVIEW

A German
Photographer in Moscow:
An Interview with Surreal Photographer Frank Herfort
Frank Herfort is a German-born, award-winning photographer based in both Berlin and Moscow.
His work focuses centrally on exploring the contrasts and contradictions of life in contemporary
Russia. His photography is often highly conceptual and spans many themes which explore the
concepts of time, wealth, power, and the inner psyche of their subjects. Herfort’s photography
includes artistically staged work as well as documentary work and reportage. He has published a
book of photographs entitled Imperial Pomp, featuring photos post-soviet high-rises, and what he
asserts is their markedly pompous architectural style.
His clients span the advertising, editorial and construction industries, including such names
as Audi, Adidas, Exxon Mobil and Aeroflot. Frank has won awards for both his artistic and
commercial photography, and his art is represented in galleries throughout the world.
We interviewed Frank to ask him about his life, work, experiences and insights.
How did you first get into photography?

All photos by Frank Herfort

At the age of 13, I saw a photo exhibition of art students in Leipzig, Germany
where I realized that photography was not only shooting snapshots of family and friends, and I
became really interested in the perspective and attitude of making images.

You do a lot of conceptual photography where you stage scenes, what started you on staging
conceptual photographs?
I combine staged photography with real situations. I don't like images, where you see at first
glance that the image is staged. I love to find this special magic thing in the image, which you
cannot explain. But I also don't like photographs that are pure reportage, because there is not
enough personality inside. Mixing your personality and the real world in combination is what is
most interesting for me.
You have a wonderful gallery titled “Time in Between”, surreal staged photographs of moments
that seem without beginning or end. Why did you pursue this particular project?
I got this idea already by the year 2000, when I first visited Russia, but I realized this project
only in 2005 as I was finishing my diploma project for my university. I was fascinated by these
real-life situations[of people waiting] in the public spaces of Moscow. They were hard for me to
understand, there was something strange and mysterious for me. So I tried to express exactly that
feeling which I had felt.
By the way these images are only minimally staged.
You use a lot of juxtaposition in your photographs, meaning capturing two contradictory
subjects in the same image, often putting the lighter side of life next to the dark. Why the
juxtaposition?
I love these contrasts and I think that life is pretty similar. You never only have good things and you
never only have bad things. Everything plays together. I also like to confuse people, because then
you make them start thinking.

You also have a great gallery called Imperial Pomp, where you traveled all across Russia to
photograph garish post-soviet architecture. Were there any surprises traveling to these far
corners of Russia and if so, is there a particular moment that stands out?
In general I felt very safe and confident travelling through Russia, I speak the language and know
how to react in certain situations. But only one time, it was a sunny friendly day in the city Samara,
and I was robbed by a taxi gang before I even had much time to react. They forced me to take
money out from the ATM. It was really scary and I was shocked for the whole day but also happy
to have survived.
But in general, Russians are very easy-going, relaxed and nonaggressive.
You did a series on Hostess Girls. What led you to this particular project?
This was a short and spontaneous project and it was done in Germany, not in Russia where you
may expect it to have been done. I just loved to see these colorful plastic “uniforms” on the girls.

You have also done your share of commercial photography. What is the biggest difference
between the experience of shooting a private project versus a commercial one?
Actually this is really a good question and these two fields are completely different. With the one
you earn your money and with the other one you do your passion. The commercial work is clear
and forward and has a special purpose or function, but the artwork is free from everything. There
is no practical reason to do it.
What is your favorite project that you have worked on?
I love all projects I work on, from everyone you get something new.
Are there any specific projects you are especially eager to shoot in the future, that you haven’t
already?
Yes, there is big book project which I just started researching and collecting material for, and one
other smaller one which I'll realize within the next year in Germany.
If you could give 3 pieces of advice for beginners who want to become great photographers,
what would they be?
1 . Follow your instincts and real interests.
2. Don't waste too much time on your equipment choice (it doesn't matter if you use the 80 MP
camera with state of the art lenses or just a self made pinhole camera).
3. Just start (and try to finish), but still remember to be patient.
You can learn more about Frank Herfort at http://www.frankherfort.de

A Look Behind
Arifibudi’s Minimalist
Masterpiece
Arifbudi (@wongkatro) took this shot
in his native country of Indonesia. He
is a member of Funnzyfam, PicsArt’s
homegrown Indonesian art community,
and his talent for capturing unforgettable
shots has garnered him a massive online
following in PicsArt’s social network.

@wongkatro

This photo, captured on the shimmering
banks of an Indonesian beach, is a
minimalist triumph. Arifbudi has used
black and white with a heightened
contrast to mesh together the land and
sky, leaving his subjects marching along
against a white abyss, accompanied by
only their broken reflections below their
feet.

@sophieharlow

FEATURE | Destination

The most unique shots in Australia
and where to get them
Travelling to Australia from the US or Europe is like stepping into another world. The nature is
different, the animals are different, and there are so many different climates and places that it's
like you've visited an entirely new planet! Yet amongst all this beauty there are some places that,
as a photographer, you simply cannot miss.

The Brisbane CityCat, Queensland
Queensland is a veritable haven for interesting pictures of Australia, but Brisbane is the place
to go for diverse travel photos. From its man-made Street Beach to its leafy green suburbs, a
photo walk around this city will always be a beautiful one, but the best way to get unique travel
photography in Brisbane is to hop on the CityCat and explore the whole place!
The CityCats are catamarans that will take a keen photographer down the Brisbane River, taking
in the city’s gorgeous skylines, huge skyscrapers, green riverbanks and more. If you only have a
day or so in Brisbane, this will give you hundreds of great travel photos! And the very best thing
about this is their wifi access, meaning that you can upload your photos straight to the PicsArt app
for all to see!

Melbourne, Victoria

Diversity is the heartbeat of this
city, and amongst the modern, clean
architecture you’ll find fascinating old
buildings; amongst the fashionable
bars you’ll find Parisian-style coffee
shops, and behind all of this a walk
through the street art-lined dirty
lanes of the city will give you some
of the most interesting travel photos
you could ever hope to get.

@sculpto

Stepping onto a street in Melbourne’s
CBD is like stepping onto a street in
Paris, or Rome, or London, depending
on which part of the city you’re in.
This extraordinarily cool city feels like
a mixture of Australia and Europe,
whilst the edgy graffiti covering
its back streets could have been
taken straight out of LA. Although
Melbourne isn’t so obviously on
Australia’s Places of Interest list, no
photographer should miss a shot of
its beautiful streets–especially in the
rain!

Sydney Opera House, Sydney

This area of Sydney is ground zero for
the city’s travel photography, with the
Botanical Gardens and the amazing
Sydney Harbour Bridge just minutes
away. The grand white “sails” of the
Opera House, however, will always be
the image that photographers catch
first.

@ayattabdo

This may be something of a cliché, but
the truth is that Jorn Utzon’s Sydney
Opera House has become the most
iconic building in the whole country,
and the most photographed place in
Australia. Whether you’re on a boat
sailing around it or capturing images
on a photowalk around its grounds,
this building is as beautiful and as
striking as you’d expect. Shoot away
against Sydney’s clear blue sky and
your images will always be perfect.


Photographing
Thanksgiving
@reallifeninjasquid

Food, Family, and Fall Colours

FEATURE | Tips Tricks

Thanksgiving is coming up, and families everywhere are gathering together to stuff
both a turkey and themselves full of festive treats. This holiday provides all sorts of
opportunities to tell the stories of harvest season - love, bounty, and the rich explosion
of colour that marks winter's approach. Whether you're outside among the leaves or
hogging the carrots and peas, you can use these tips to get great shots of your autumn
feast.

The Spirit of the Season
Thanksgiving pictures are a way of immortalizing the excitement and blessedness we
feel when we are surrounded by family, friends, and food (or as some might say, the
only things that matter). Our job as photographers is to illustrate the tastes, smells, and
feelings in a visual image. When you're shooting, think about what the holiday means
to you, what you're thankful for, and portray these things in your photography. For
inspiration, look to the weather, to the changing plants and trees, and to the people in
your life that influence you for the better.

In the Yard
Fall colors are the highlight of the season for any
photographer, whether they brighten the background
or comprise the whole photo composition. The brilliant
shades of green turning to yellow, orange, red, and
brown characterize this time of year, and have come to
represent the familial warmth of the holiday. Depending
on where you are, the perfect explosion of foliage
might come before or after Thanksgiving day, so watch
the trees and have your camera ready for when they
change, as the window of opportunity can sometimes be
short.
The fun isn't over once the leaves have fallen, though;
there is still plenty of potential for great photography.
Leaves strewn across the ground make a beautiful
image, and children (or adults) playing amongst piles of
leaves can make for a wonderful Thanksgiving picture.
If you're using the PicsArt camera, select the fall-color
scene mode for accentuated hues.

Festive Foodies
If you're passionate about food photography, your
holiday is likely dominated by pictures of turkey. To
get the best shot possible, try to capture your bird
under natural lighting, near an open window. If this isn't
possible, seek out diffused or shaded light to minimize
reflections that make the meat look greasy. If all else
fails, cover a lamp with tissue paper or a piece of white
sheet to soften the light.
Of course, there are many other essential harvesttime dishes as well – pies, buns, and a huge array of
vegetables of every shape and color. The same lighting
principles apply; a soft, even glow will make your platter
look very appealing and will suppress harsh shadows.
Resist the urge to use flash – if necessary, use a tripod
with a long shutter speed instead to avoid a flat-looking
picture. Arrange your plates neatly; wipe away any
drips or spills, even out the arrangement, and maybe
add a garnish for a more appetizing image. Remove
distractions from the background and fill it instead with
related items such as plates and silverware, decorations,
ingredients, and other dishes.

Planning the Family Portrait
It's hard to take Thanksgiving
pictures without including the
customary family photo. Arranging
a large number of people can be
tricky, but with a little planning,
it doesn't have to be a chore. For
one, bring along a tripod and use
your self-timer to make sure you
can get in the picture, too. Gather
your group together in daylight if
you can; if not, use a well-lit room
and take care not to position them
directly under an overhead light,
which will cause ugly shadows to
streak down your subjects' faces.
If you need to, place some low
table lamps just in front and to
either side of the group.
When arranging your subjects,
place the tallest people in the back
and everyone else in front. Having
them sit in a variety of positions,
with some standing, some sitting,
and some on the floor, will add
levels to your composition and
enhance the visual interest. Take
several shots - if someone blinks
or makes a funny face, this will
allow you to replace it with a
better version from a different
shot.
When you upload your photos into
PicsArt, play with different effects
to get your shot just the way you
want it. Adding a creative filter
with a yellow-orange tint, such
as “Warm Color”, “Twilight”, or
“Vintage” will give your pictures an
autumn glow. Share your creations
and let the whole world know:
what are you thankful for?

FEATURE | Artist

Kikabana
(@Kookiegreen)

All photos by @Kookiegreen

Every art community has it’s rockstars, and ours is no different. Meet Kikaban, username:
@Kookiegreen, a PicsArtist that has a knack for splendor. Her photos are rife with what
can best be called energy, the life and colors within them bursting so that they can barely
be contained within their rectangular frames. Her photos span beautiful seaside vistas,
candid street portraits, and special instances that make daily life so rich. She also has a
flexible style in her choices of color, effects, and general composition. Essentially speaking,
Kikabana churns out masterful photography on a regular basis.


Kikabana describing her approach to photography writes:
Photography is something everyone does now, they do it to share what they have seen, to
show off what they have or what they look like. Before I take a photo, already in my mind I
know what I want it to look like and what will be in it. Hopefully I have the skills to do that,
but of course It doesn’t always work out as I am just a hobbyist photographer and for me its
more of a passion than a career. Imagine, what you want to take.
Before lifting the camera to your eye, try different angles and perspectives. If everyone
is taking a photo from one spot, take it from a different spot, try to be unique, and most
importantly of all, don’t be afraid to screw up, thats life, everyone does it, learn from it and
MOVE ON! The Final rule of Digital Photography is: DO NOT DELETE ANY IMAGES YOU
TAKE, DIRECTLY FROM YOUR CAMERA! Review all images on your computer first, as
many people have deleted images on the camera and later found that whoops, “I am missing
shots”.
- Kookiegreen

PicsArt Monthly November issue 2013

PicsArt Monthly November issue 2013

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PicsArt Monthly November issue 2013