How To

How to create a shared photo stream album on iOS 6

As if there aren't enough ways to share your photos with friends and family members, Apple has introduced yet another sharing method in iOS 6: Shared Photo Streams.

Shared Photo Streams allow you to post and share photos to a Photo Stream album hosted by iCloud. The photos stored there don't count against your iCloud storage allotment, and will work over Wi-Fi and cellular data. You're able to share photos with fellow iOS users as well as by creating an iCloud.com Shared Photo Stream album for non-iOS users.

To create a Shared Photo Stream, launch the … Read more

How to take a panoramic photo with iOS 6

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 during an event last week, a new feature to iOS 6 was also shown off -- panorama photos.

The new feature, which is specific to the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, allows users to take 240-degree panoramic photos using the native iOS Camera app.

Taking a panoramic photo with iOS 6 is simple. Launch the Camera app and tap on the Options button along the top of the screen. Select the panorama button.

You'll then see some instructions on the screen. From there, it's easy. Move your phone in a slow, steady … Read more

DIY: The $10 gliding camera strap

Back when I discussed the seven things every photographer should have in his arsenal, I mentioned replacing the neckache-inducing camera strap with one of the many alternatives that can be found online. From necktie-inspired straps to the geeky-but-awesome Spider Holster, superior options are abundant.

Originally made popular by Custom SLR, the gliding camera strap is my favorite of these alternatives. Using the tripod mount as an anchor, the gliding camera strap gives you the comfort of an over-the-shoulder hang with the convenience of grabbing your camera and hitting the shutter button at a moment's notice.

The unexpected genius of … Read more

How to make a supersimple bounce flash for your dSLR

The internal flash of a dSLR comes in handy when shooting in low light and indoors but can sometimes be too harsh on your subjects. Bouncing the flash is a great way to distribute the light more uniformly, allowing for more than just foreground assets to show up in the photo. Bouncing the flash is also great for avoiding harsh shadows and those pesky red eyes.

So how do you bounce a flash? Well, the easiest way is to use an external flash attachment. The problem is that external flashes are bulky, heavy, and cumbersome to travel with. This makes them less desirable to carry around and decreases the chances you'll actually have one when you need it most.… Read more

Print your own giant posters

Anyone who's ever shopped for a piece of art to hang behind the living room sofa knows that big art typically comes at a big price. Even if you pick up some mass-produced Ikea canvas, you still have to contend with fitting it in the car, or paying someone to deliver it to your doorstep.

If you have more time on your hands than money, there are some easy solutions for printing infinitely large posters from even the most modest printer.

The first step is the image. Whether you're going to print in black and white or full … Read more

Seven tools every dSLR owner should carry in their arsenal

What I always say to friends saving up for a dSLR is this: you'd better be saving for a lot more than just the camera.

Memory cards and camera bags are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the suite of accessories dSLR owners depend on. And that goes for casual, amateur photographers, GWC (guys with cameras), and pros.

Whether you're a new or prospective dSLR owner, these are the accessories you'll want to pick up as you build your photographer's arsenal.

1. Extra batteries This one's a no-brainer, but newbies often … Read more

Print Instagram postcards from your phone with PrintYourInsta

If you got yourself an AirPrint-enabled printer and printed an Instagram photo from your iPhone's Camera Roll, then you were undoubtedly disappointed with the result. AirPrint assumes any and all photos in your Camera Roll are rectangular. So, when you print a square Instagram photo, the top and bottom of the photo get clipped.

With PrintYourInsta, you can print your Instagram photos in their entirety. Actually, PrintYourInsta creates a 4x6 postcard centered around your Instagram photo. (The photo itself is 3.25x3.25 inches.)

The free app lets you print out a basic postcard, which features no background pattern. … Read more

Privately converse with your Instagram friends with InstaTalks

It's no secret that Instagram is a fantastic photo-sharing app. One thing it doesn't do, however, is let you converse privately with user Instagram users. If you have friends on Instagram you'd like trade comments with that won't be seen by the rest of the Instagram community, give iPhone app InstaTalks a whirl.

… Read more

Comparing the best ways to store your photos online

If you're like many others (including me), you habitually turn to Facebook when you want to share photos online. Arguably, that's perfectly fine -- after all, your photos are not only stored in a place you access often, but are quickly shared with friends and family who use the social network (so, basically, everyone).

The downside? Facebook doesn't offer much beyond tagging, likes, and comments. What if you want to order prints? Or search for photos by date, name, or tag? Most importantly: what happens when you get sick of Facebook and cancel your account?

The benefits … Read more