iPad favorite apps - Drop Box

We bought the iPad on the day it was released in 2010 and my wife was the primary user of it.  For many months, I was underwhelmed with it for a few reasons.  However, over time, I saw many uses for it in business.  When the iPad 2 was released, I bought one and gave it to my wife.  I started to customize the original iPad for my day to day use and never looked back.  My only regret is that we have two 16 gig machines.  I believe for heavy use a 32 gig device is the minimum requirement.

One of the first apps that I recommend every owner to have on their iPad is Dropox.  I have Dropbox installed on my Android phone, my iPad, and two of my window machines.  This little app enables me to 'share' files and folders between devices.

Highly recommended! Sync your files online and across computers, iPad, Xoom, iPhone, Android devices, and more with @Dropbox. 2GB account is free! http://db.tt/gpvuVQn


A few recent uses:

1. I took a few video clips from old videos that we had from when our girls were in their teens.  The files were too large to share via mms or email.  Therefore, I shared them on Dropbox from my Droid and edited the videos on my windows machine.  I loaded the files to Vimeo and shared the videos with family.  (Oh, did we laugh at a few of them.  Where did the time go?)

2. I use lightscribe to burn all the covers on the DVDs I produce.  An older windows machine has the drive and drop box installed.  I moved a few images that I wanted burned to make DVD labels into dropbox and the older machine had the images available for burning to covers.  Quick and efficient.  Once the DVDs were burned, I removed them from drop box.

3. Burning ISO files from multiple machines.  Often, I need to burn many copies of a show and it is nice to have multiple machines working at the same time.  I move the ISO file into a dropbox folder and quickly the file is available for all my machines to burn DVDs.

Yes, I can add a network drive and it will do the same thing (maybe quicker too).  However, good network drives are not cheap and this is an easy way to access files even if the machines are not on the same network.

4. Images for my portfolio - I will discuss a portfolio app for the iPad in the future that is very slick and easy to use.  I move resized images into Drop box that I want to add to my portfolio app for the iPad.  This eliminates the need to hook the iPad to a computer via iTunes.  (Not that this isn't a method for moving images but I like using Drop box better.)

5. Documents, ebooks, etc.  A few other uses is having documents and ebooks on multiple machines.  Only one click away.  I keep my wedding contracts and other documents in a folder in dropbox.  When I am heading to a shoot, having the document on my iPad eliminates the need for extra paper.  I have the latest copy at all times with me.

Ebooks - there are many tremendous ebooks available (and I will discuss a few ebook readers in the future). After purchasing the ebook, I move them to my ebook folder within drop box and I now have the ebook with me at all times.  It is in my iPad, laptop, or desktop machine.

6. Favorite poses.  Move favorite portrait or wedding poses into dropbox and have them available for clients to see when you are posing them.  The beautiful screen makes it easy to see and using drop box makes the process of getting the images on your iPad very easy and quick.

I have many other uses for the Drop Box app but these are some of my top favorites.

Highly recommended! Sync your files online and across computers, iPad, Xoom, iPhone, Android devices, and more with @Dropbox. 2GB account is free! http://db.tt/gpvuVQn

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography - Capturing details

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Details, details, and more details are in every wedding.  Every wedding has very interesting details.  

The ladies were laughing and enjoying their quiet time together.  Music was playing in the background from their iPod.  In between laughing and story telling, I asked the bride if she had something Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

  Immediately, they began to gather up the items.  I wanted a unique way of presenting the items and asked for a shiny platter.  The bride's mom had one and my creative juices started.  Utilizing  multiple lights I was able to create interesting shadows which created the details that I like in these type of shots.

This photo displays a little of each item.  The perfume was borrowed and the necklace was used.  However, it was all unique to the bride when combined together. 

As a photographer, capturing details is critical for many reasons.  The bride might have dreamed and planned of this day since a little girl.  Hours and hours of detailed planning goes into the wedding day and I do everything possible to capture the details. 

These detail shots are great for the album but they are also very nice for large prints to remind the couple of their steps taken in preparing for their special day.

I envision this image framed in silver on metallic paper with black matting.  

Nikon D300 - Processed in Lightroom and NIK HDR efex pro.

Travel Photography - Shadows and lines

Shadows and lines

This is another image from Riverside California.  I was walking in the town enjoying the beautiful evening  and this beautiful image took place in my mind.  Listening to the sounds coming from the restaurants and the people talking as they walked on the sidewalks made it even better.  I could imagine this as a scene in a movie.

A young couple sitting at an iron table enjoying the evening and a quiet dinner while listening to a local band playing music in the background.  Maybe a jazz band or an up and coming singer standing off to the side with a microphone in hand dreaming that one day she will be singing on stage to thousands.

The lines and shadows created by the light made this a great setting for a black and white image.









Nikon D300
Nikon 35 mm @ f/2.0 1/15 second 
Hand held
Processed in Lightroom 3.x and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

High School Senior Portraits and Weddings by dr Frank

Contact dr Frank to photograph your wedding, portraits, or special event.

Visit dr Frank's portfolio site for more fun, exciting, and colorful photographs of weddings in and around Pittsburgh, PA 

Specializing in Wedding and Portrait Photography

Beaver County, Pittsburgh, and surrounding communities.

Riverside California - Travel Photography

Riverside California
Mission Inn

This is the hallway between that will take you to the back of the spa or various shops and restaurant.  I took this image in the evening and processed in Lightroom and Nik Plugins

Nikon D300
Nikon 35mm
ISO 1600
f/2.0
1/50

Riverside California - Travel Photography

Lines and shapes in Photography

This is another image taken while walking along the beautiful streets of Riverside, California.

Although I mentioned this before, I could spend weeks if not years, photographing the amazing detail in this town.  One item that I covet is to be able to walk the streets of a beautiful town (without freezing) in March.  In Pittsburgh, we have our days but anything in the fifties is a tremendous blessing during March.  On the day that I photographed this beautiful town, the weather was nearly perfect.  Mid 70's with a beautiful sky and sun.  During the mid day, I am sure the sun was too bright for photographs but that is the case with most areas when the sun is shining.

I can imagine talking to some of the building owners and asking permission to photograph other buildings from their upper floors or even roof top.

Within the frame

This second image was inspired from the book Within the Frame.
It is not a technical book and I am very glad for that fact.  IMHO, it is a must buy for any photographer. Regardless of your skill level this is one of the best books on the art of photography.  David has other books including a collection of ebooks that are amazing too.

Too often we wait until someone leaves the scene to frame it but one lesson within the book is to wait for someone to be in the scene (for various reasons).

Regardless where you live or work, there are many great photography opportunities.  Go out with a plan, go out with no plan.  Either way, get out and photograph the beauty of life!

Riverside California Travel Photography

Glowing Lights

Earlier in the day, I photographed this shot in very low light and minimal lighting.  However, when I returned at night, the light was nearly perfect to create a fun shot.  In the dark, the beauty of the designs on the wall were lost.  However, when all the lights were on, they appeared on the wall as if by magic.

This was shot with the Nikon D300 and 35mm

The second shot is my shot from earlier in the day.  Both are very unique in their look.

HDR Hallway

Riverside California - Travel Photography

Travel Photography Riverside California

Riverside California at night

After my journey up the mountain, I was exhausted but could not pass up the beautiful lights, shapes, and color.

This is the front entrance to an old church which must be the 'home' of a homeless man.  Earlier when I was here before dark, there was a man with a long gray beard and laundry cart filled with stuff sitting on the side of the steps.

When I came back to photograph this at night, he saw me and hurried off down the alley and stopped in front of another building.  I felt bad that I was interfering with his home.  This shot was hand held with the Nikon D300.

Jennifer & Andrew - Wedding Engagement @ Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh

What better way to create summer in March in Pittsburgh?  Visit the Phipps Conservatory and enjoy the beauty, warmth, and amazing color!  Jennifer, Andrew, and I visited the Conservatory to photograph their wedding engagement photos and the setting could not have been better.  We were blessed with an amazing sun that poured into the glass roof and windows of the conservatory.

Too often when photographing an engagement session in Pittsburgh, weather is a major factor.  However, the beauty of the conservatory would make even the worst weather day in Pittsburgh seem beautiful.  The color, settings, architecture, and light provided an amazing setting for an engagement portrait shoot.

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

One of the best parts about an engagement session at the conservatory is that the couple is able to enjoy the beauty of the conservatory at the same time.

Every aspect of the conservatory brings hope of an upcoming spring and summer  to the Pittsburgh native as we finish off another harsh winter.

Please enjoy the engagement show that captures their love and smiles.

Engagement Photography Pittsburgh

Phipps Conservatory Pittsburgh Photographer

Jennifer Andrew Engagement @ Phipps in Pittsburgh from Frank Kendralla on Vimeo.

High School Senior Portraits and Weddings by dr Frank

Contact dr Frank to photograph your wedding, portraits, or special event.

Visit dr Frank's portfolio site for more fun, exciting, and colorful photographs of weddings in and around Pittsburgh, PA