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Low-light photography is as rewarding as it is challenging. Taking pictures in low light isn’t as simple as taking your phone out and snapping a picture as we do during the daytime. You need to adjust both camera settings as well as set your positioning to account for light sources to get decent results. But well-executed low-light pictures outshine their daylight counterparts. So, the extra effort is always worth it. So, let’s take a look at some tips on how to make your shots shine in low-light conditions. 1.Increase your ISO The ISO setting on your smartphone camera app or your DSLR determines how sensitive your camera lens is to light. Increasing this setting will mean more light will be captured by the sensors instead your lens.  The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive to light the sensor becomes. The downside of increasing the ISO number is that the captured picture will become grainier. So, you have to balance between capturing more light and image sharpness. 2.Reduce Shutter speed The shutter speed of the camera determines how long the sensor is exposed to light. The longer a sensor is open to let light in, the more light it has to create a detailed image. This can be done by using reduced shutter speeds.  The thing to keep in mind while using slower shutter speeds is to reduce any sort of movement of the camera. This is because any movement will cause blurry images. 3.Use sources of light to your advantage When taking pictures in low light conditions, first identify the sources of light around you. You can take advantage of these to frame the perfect shot.  Always make sure you don’t take pictures directly toward sources of light. Always keep light sources towards your back, so they properly illuminate the object you are photographing.
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Qatar is in the limelight these days because it is currently holding the FIFA World Cup. Located on the Arabian Peninsula, this little country has a lot of beauty to offer for those looking to explore the deserts of Arabia. From high-rise downtowns to sandy deserts pouring directly into the Sea, Qatar has some amazing sights to offer; both man-made and natural. So, let’s take a quick tour of the places to see when you are in Qatar. 1.Qanat Quartier This Venice-inspired neighborhood is a sight to see. This scenic neighborhood is filled with small shops and fancy café all along the canal with brightly colored buildings flanking it.  The Instagram story potential of this neighborhood is off the charts and is a must-visit sight for anyone that comes to Qatar. The beautiful golden sand-filled beach is right next to it. The Qanat Quartier is a combination of the canal streets of Venice with the sandy beaches of the Caribbean. 2.Katara Cultural Village If admiring art and culture is your thing, then look no further than the Katara Cultural Village. It has everything from art galleries to performance venues and theatres.  It is a place to visit if you want to see the wonders of modern architecture combined with traditional Arabian-style architecture. With cobbled streets, excellent restaurants, and a glistening beach with water sports facilities, what is not to like about Katara? 3.Msheireb Downtown Doha A recreation of the old commercial district of Doha, msheireb downtown is new sustainable downtown development with a new architectural style. The buildings and the open spaces are inspired by the traditional style of Qatar but with a modern aesthetic twist.  Architectural Photography is a very specialized niche of photography that tries to capture the essence of a building or structure. Every architectural object tells its own unique story and photographers try to capture that. Historically, taking photos of buildings was first done from a purely technical and documentation perspective, but over the years it has blossomed into a distinctive art form. While it may not seem like it at first, there is a lot of depth to architectural photography. 1. Look for unique angles and perspective Every building, and every structure is designed with a specific vision. You as a photographer need to figure that out and capture it. You can do that by spending some time around the building and exploring it from different angles and perspectives.  The Borujerdi House , Iran by mostafa meraji via Unsplash After spending some time with the building, you are photographing you will unlock layers within layers of beauty, symmetry, and abstractions that weren’t previously visible. 2. Revisit the site in different weather conditions and times It is really hard to capture a huge 3-dimensional object and then project it in a 2-dimensional photograph. You can lose a lot of information like the feeling you get when standing next to an object.  La Défense, France by Corentin LE LEANNEC via Unsplash Some buildings shine in rain, while others look good when captured during nighttime. Capturing the atmosphere is just as important as capturing the building itself. So, visit the site a few times during different times and weather conditions to choose the perfect atmosphere for your shot. 3. Include People One of the most common mistakes people make in architectural photography is not including people in their captures. This is because there is a misconception that architectural photography should not include people.  Mucem St Jean, Marseille, France by Baptiste Buisson via Unsplash
When in fact adding people into the mix can add soul to a bland picture. So be sure to adjust people in your next architectural shot to add a contrasting object. Create your next story using the Urban Jungle Photo Editor. Available on the Apple App Store. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be the first ones to hear about exciting new features coming to the Urban Jungle Photo Editor. How we see things in real life or in pictures is greatly dependent on the light we have available. We only see things that are illuminated by light. During the day it’s the Sun that is doing the illumination and during the night we use various devices like bulbs and lamps to allow us to see. Lighting temperature is an important property of light that determines how cool or warm a light appears and illuminates objects. Color temperature is the reason why things appear different during dusk as compared to midday. Why is Color Temperature Important? Color temperature plays an important role in setting the mood and the general vibe of the picture. In fact, a very common use of color temperature in videography is using it to depict geographical locations. A warmer country is depicted by using a warm color temperature, while a colder country is depicted by using cooler color temperatures. This is the reason countries like Mexico are shown with a yellowish hue color and cooler countries like Germany with more of a bluish tint.  Kobe by notethanunvia via Unsplash Filmmakers and professional photographers use a combination of using physical light and post-processing to get the perfect color tint for the mood they are going for. The color temperature of light conveys a lot about. How is color temperature measured? Color temperature is measured using degree Kelvin (K). Kelvin is the unit of measurement for thermodynamic temperature, but it is also used to measure the temperature of light. The scale is used to tell varying degrees of warmness or coldness of the light.  Color Tempreature Scale The smaller the number, the warmer the light. The larger the number the colder the light. For example, the light during sunset and sunrise is 1850 K, while light during normal daylight or in overcast conditions has a color temperature of 6500 K. What color temperature works for what scenario? Photographers and Cinematographers take the aid of various light temperatures to tell their stories. They draw inspiration from Color Theory. According to the color theory, every color has psychological meaning attached to it.  For example, the color Red has the meaning of Rage, violence, and evil attached to it while colors like Blue send a subtle message of depression or sadness. This way photographers can use light to subtly give layers to their scenes.
Use the Urban Jungle Photo Editor to unleash your creativity. Download it now for free on the Apple app store. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming exciting new features. You can also get your pictures featured on our page if you use the #UrbanJungleApp. Egypt is home to thousands of years of rich culture and history. That land has been home to many great civilizations over their history from ancient Egyptians to Romans and later Islamic conquerors. Making Egypt a multicultural center of preserving various cultures and architecture. Egypt is home to a wide range of buildings spanning different eras and civilizations. The famous ones are the pyramid of Giza and the immortal city of Luxor in Thebes. A photography visit to Egypt is both an enriching cultural as well once in a lifetime learning experience. Let’s take a look at all the cities you should visit in your search for the Urban Jungle in Egypt. 1. Sharm El Sheikh Located on the coast of the Red Sea, Sharm El Sheikh is a beautiful beach resort town. Go snorkeling or deep-sea diving in the beautiful coral reef surrounding the city. While it is not your typical Egyptian city filled with historic pyramids and structures, there is a lot of other beauty to be captured in Sharam El Sheikh.  Sharm El Sheikh by Oleksandr Podoima vis Unsplash Bur Sharam El Sheikh is home to a few important other historic sites such as House Horeb, this is where according to legend Moses received his Ten Commandments. 2. Thebes Thebes, the city of Kings is one of the most popular places to visit in Egypt. It is home to places like the immortal city of Luxor. Luxor has preserved ancient Egyptian history and culture for more than 4000 years.  Luxor Thebes by Tom Podmore via Unsplash You can experience things like the famous El Karnak Temple or the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Thebes is also home to the infamous valley of kings which houses 63 tombs of famous personalities of ancient Egyptian civilizations like Ramses and Tutankhamun. 3. Aswan Located on the eastern bank of the Nile, the Nubian city of Aswan is a land filled with legend and mythology. Aswan houses breathtaking temples and great structures like the Temple of the goddess Isis. These structures vary in style from ancient Egypt to Egypt under roman rule.  Thebes by AXP Photography via Unsplash While in Aswan you can also experience the unique Nubian architecture as infamous Nubian houses are plentiful in Aswan. Other things to look out for in Aswan are the Nubian handicrafts and porcelain industry. 4. Alexandria Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, Alexandria was Europe's gateway into Egypt for hundreds of years. Alexandria is one of the many cities named after the famous Macedonian conqueror, but few reach the glory as Alexandria has throughout the years.  Alexandria by Yehya Khaled via Unsplash Other than famous historical and archaeological sites, Alexandria is also home to modern museums and other cultural attractions that offer a fusion of ancient Egyptian and roman cultures. 5. Cairo The capital of Egypt and the crown jewel of the ancient Egyptian civilization, Cairo is a city of wonders and dreams. It has housed great civilizations over the years and has a history that goes as far back as 5000 years. The great pyramid of Khufu in Giza is just a drive away.  Cairo by Adrian Dascal via Unsplash Cairo offers a little bit of everything Egypt is known for like history, culture, architecture, and tradition. From citadels to pyramids and statutes, Cairo has everything you would expect to see in Egypt. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the Urban Jungle App. Download it now on the App Store. You can also get your pictures featured on our page if you use the hashtag #UrbanJungleApp. Shooting in a harsh environment such as a desert is challenging yet satisfying. Properly planned and executed desert shoots are stunning. The desert offers abundant opportunities to shoot a variety of different types of shots like landscape shots or macro shots of plants and animals. Having said that, the desert is not an easy environment to shoot. Sand and dust everywhere mean you have to be extra careful handing your camera and your lenses. This advice is also true for taking photos using a smartphone. Keeping your lens scratch free is critical yet at the same time a hassle. In this article, let us take a look at a few tips that can be useful in your next desert photoshoot. Camera Lens Cover/ Good smartphone cover This should be a no-brainer but always use good camera lens covers for your lenses. Also, avoid changing camera lenses out in the open in a dust-rich environment. You run a very high risk of permanently damaging your camera’s sensor.  The same advice also goes for smartphones. Use good rugged covers for your smartphone that also offer shock and drop protection. It is better to be on the safe side. Lens Cleaning kit A lens cleaning kit is also handy in a dust-rich place like a desert. You inevitably get dust and sand particles on your lens. But simply wiping it on your clothes may not be the best idea. At best you’ll smudge your camera lens and at worst you can get permanent scratches on the lens.  A lens cleaning kit should include the essentials such as
Shooting pictures in the desert means trekking and spending a long time in a hot, dry, and dusty environment. This is not a pleasant experience, so make sure you are mentally ready for the challenge. Pack the essentials for yourself like lots of fluids and sun protection. But most importantly bring a good attitude with yourself. That is critical for waiting and taking the perfect shots.  Instagram stories are a great way to get connected with your followers. Stories can be used for a variety of purposes. You can use stories to connect with your followers, ask questions, promote something and even just have some fun with your followers. While the content in form of stories does offer great versatility, it is also important to keep in mind it is only useful if the story is engaging. So, let’s look at some ways you can make your Instagram stories shine from the rest.  1. Keep it short and Keep it simple The rise in popularity of short-form content shows us that people like content that is short and crisp. People on social media have a very short attention span, and if you drag something out, they will lose interest fast. So, the best thing to do in this case is to keep your content short. If your story is an image, then you are already halfway there as those only remain on the screen for a few seconds. If your story is a video, it gets broken down into short clips. So, it's especially important in the case of your video that it is small and doesn’t get broken up a lot. That way your message or call to action just doesn’t get skipped because you were dragging your messaging.  2. Know your target audience I know it sounds like the most cliché advice anyone can give, but it’s a cliché for a reason. Knowing your audience is critical to making a good story. For example, let’s say you have a cooking channel and suddenly you start posting about the latest UFC matches, you should expect to take a hit in terms of user retention.  3. Make your stories engaging with stickers
Stickers are your best friend when it comes to making a good Instagram story. You can use stickers to convey your feelings, ask a question and even highlight important information in a fun way. Learning what stickers work and what don’t is very important for making engaging Insta stories. Create your next story using the Urban Jungle Photo Editor. Available on the Apple App Store. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be the first ones to hear about exciting new features coming to the Urban Jungle Photo Editor. Mongolia is known for its rich pastures and long plains. This magical place was home to Genghis Khan, the famous central Asian conqueror that united the tribes of central Asia and wreaked havoc over the medieval world. Presently Mongolia is very sparsely populated. But it hosts unimaginable natural beauty and cultural heritage. From the Steppe mountains to the Gobi deserts, Mongolia covers a diverse range of ecosystems. So let’s look at some of the must-go places if you are visiting Mongolia. 1.Ulaanbaatar Mongolia is sparsely populated, in fact, half of the country’s population lives in the city of Ulaanbaatar, which is Mongolia’s capital city as well. The city is located at the point where the Selbe and Tuul rivers meet and it’s aptly named the valley of the golden cradle.  By naraa .in.ub via Unsplash Ulaanbaatar has a unique vibe to it, the city is a beautiful mix of urban and nomadic lifestyles. Ulaanbaatar is also full of extensive museums and galleries that record its rich history. From the Bogd Khan Winter Palace to the Choijin Lama monastery. If you are interested in Mongolian nomadic culture and history, you will truly enjoy Ulaanbaatar. 2.Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur means the Great White Lake. This lake and nearby nomadic villages are a serene sight to see. The crystal-clear water of the lake beautifully mirrors the clouds above. The white nomadic yurts that surround the plains add to the whole nomadic aesthetic of the place.  By Dembee Tsogoo via Unsplash Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur is a distant and peaceful place to camp for a few days and gets away from the fast life of the city. You can go horseback riding near the lake and take photographs of the local flora and fauna. 3.Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Tucked away and hidden in the northwestern part of Mongolia, the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park hosts some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Mongolia. From snow-capped mountains to freshwater lakes. This place holds untouched natural beauty ready to be explored.  By Ariungoo Batzorig via Unsplash The park is the perfect place for outdoorsy people looking for adventure. The park is home to many nomadic tribes of Kazakh and Tuvan people. You can stay with them as you explore the raw wilderness of Mongolia.
Try Urban Jungle Photo Editor, now available on the App Store. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming exciting new features. You can also get your pictures featured on our page if you use the #UrbanJungleApp. High-quality cameras on smartphones have completely changed how people take photographs these days. In fact, most of the photographs that are taken these days are from smartphone cameras. While digital cameras offer a remarkable advantage over nondigital cameras, one disadvantage of using the camera on smartphones is battery anxiety. Smartphone cameras are even worse in this regard as compared to DSLRs because your smartphone is continuously depleting battery life as it is being used for 100 other things like calling, texting, and watching YouTube videos. While a DSLR camera is usually shut off when you are done shooting pictures. Imagine missing once in a lifetime picture because you ran out of juice on your phone. Or imagine traveling for hours to get to a good photo point, only for your smartphone to die on you. These are real possibilities when you photograph with a smartphone. Luckily, this problem has a pretty cheap and convenient solution, Power Banks. Power Banks are these portable devices that hook up to your smartphone, allowing you to charge your phone on the go. These devices are usually as large as a wallet and weigh only a few hundred grams. But offer a reliable way to ensure that you never run out of battery. Some important things to look out for when buying a power bank are its storage capacity and its power rating. Let’s go over these.  Maks Styazhkin via Unsplash 1.Battery capacity Storage capacity is measured in milliamp hours or mAh for short. The most common storage capacity for power banks is 5,000 mAH, 10,000 mAh, and 20,000 mAh. We don’t need to get into the nitty-gritty behind these ratings. To keep it simple, most average smartphones these days have a battery of somewhere between 4,000 mAh to 5,000 mAh. So, a 5000 mAh power bank can charge your smartphone once from 0 to 100 %. Similarly, a 20,000 mAh power bank will charge your phone 4x times from 0 to 100%.  Robert Torres via Unsplash Choose a power bank that meets your needs, keeping in mind that the higher capacity you go the more expensive the power bank will get. But even then, power banks are reasonably priced. You shouldn’t be paying anything above 100 USD for a decent power bank. 2.Power Draw Power draw is another important power bank specification you should know about. The higher the power rating, the faster your phone can be charged. So, let’s say your phone supports 25-watt fast charging, in that case, you’ll need a power bank that supports 25-watt charging in order to fast charge.  Reka Sarudi via Unsplash Anything below this and your phone will charge at regular speeds. For smartphones with a huge battery, this can mean a charge time of more than an hour from 0 to 100%.
3.Popular Power Bank Companies While there are countless Power Bank companies out there, not all power banks are created equal. It is always a good idea to go for an established power bank brand. These following companies make great power banks
Having a power bank in this day and age is a must. It helps you with battery anxiety and makes sure you are always topped off and ready to shoot anytime. Use the Urban Jungle Photo Editor to unleash your creativity. Download it now for free on the Apple app store. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming exciting new features. You can also get your pictures featured on our page if you use the #UrbanJungleApp. Short-form content is pretty popular these days. TikTok made this style of content popular but since then almost all major social media applications have adopted this style of content. Instagram does it with Instagram Reels and YouTube does it with YT shorts. The fundamentals of making this style of content are the same across all the platforms. Since the videos are very short and snappy, you only have a small time to win over your audience and get your message across. So let’s look at some tips on how to make the best Insta Reels. 1.Record high-quality footage Making good short-form content starts with capturing the best footage for it. If you don’t shoot good-quality footage for your reels, then it is just an uphill battle from there.  Credits Magnus Andersson via Unsplash You don’t have to use expensive professional cameras to record good high-quality footage. Smartphone cameras these days are pretty good. You just need to take lighting and angles to your advantage. The easiest way to shoot a good video is to use natural light to your advantage. Nothing ruins a good reel more than blurry and grainy video footage. 1.Hook in your audience Instagram Reels are really short. By default, Insta reels are only 15 seconds long. This is the main appeal of short-form content. As it lets viewers consume a lot of content without taking up a considerable amount of their time. So it is even more important to hook your audience in the start before they move on to the next video.  Credits ConvertKit via Unsplash Use snappy and exciting transitions or lots of movements to retain viewer attention. Start with a great hook or dramatic effects so you keep your viewers asking for more and they stay with you. 1.Entertainment or Inform your viewers Insta reels are categorized into two basic types of content, entertainment, and information. Decide what style of content you want to make. As both styles of content can have different tones, styles, and overall vibes.  Credits Jenny Ueberberg via Unsplash This will also determine the type of audience you get. So choose wisely. It is better to choose a style that matches your interest and personality. Making content that you enjoy making is as important as the content itself. 1.Take inspiration from others There is no point in reinventing the wheel. Look at what other popular content creators are doing in your space and take inspiration from that. They have achieved success by experimenting with what works and what doesn’t. This also helps with attracting and retaining an audience because they see a similar style and they want to stick with that style of content. So what are you waiting for? Start experimenting with Insta Reels today and tag #UrbanJungleApp so we can see what you have done! Use the Urban Jungle Photo Editor to unleash your creativity. Download it now for free on the Apple app store. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming exciting new features. You can also get your pictures featured on our page if you use the #UrbanJungleApp. |
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