John Mitchell Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit this, but for years I've been using a basic talk & text "dumb phone". It has actually served me perfectly well since my mobile needs are uncomplicated, and I don't mind using a computer for online stuff. However, I've finally decided to enter the 21st century and buy a smart phone (Android). Any suggestions for useful photography-related apps that I should be looking at? Some of the plant/flower/insect ID apps discussed in other threads sound pretty cool, so I'll be checking those out for sure. What are your favourite apps for photography, stock and otherwise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDM Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) Instagram. There are a number of forum regulars on there (Michael Ventura, Phil Crean to name a couple). I’ve not used it in a while but intending to start posting again soon. It is mellow and positive. Edited August 31, 2020 by MDM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiskerke Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 PlanIt (video here) TPE (video here) Both not free. wim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Ventura Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 I do like Instagram, thanks for the mention Michael. Instagram is generally apolitical and mostly about sharing photos. There are some good apps for identifying plants and animals. One app I found recently, called “Lumos”, it is a sun and moon predictor...I needed something like this recently when scouting a shoot location and I needed to know where the sun would be at a later time of day. May not be that useful to others. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDM Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 29 minutes ago, Michael Ventura said: I do like Instagram, thanks for the mention Michael. Instagram is generally apolitical and mostly about sharing photos. There are some good apps for identifying plants and animals. One app I found recently, called “Lumos”, it is a sun and moon predictor...I needed something like this recently when scouting a shoot location and I needed to know where the sun would be at a later time of day. May not be that useful to others. Don't mention it Michael. I lurk occasionally but have not been in the mood for posting so haven't been liking posts. Yours are always very varied and interesting. I must get back on there soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDM Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) Maria J is also on Instagram. She is also around Vancouver and has been posting some nice stuff. Also Gina Easley in Oregon. Edited August 31, 2020 by MDM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MizBrown Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 If you have Creative Cloud, you can download various mobile apps: Creative Cloud, Lightroom, Photoshop Express, and some other. Lightroom has its own camera app. I also have Easy Release. In the past, I had other programs and have some on my iPad that I don't have on my phone. I syncronize all phone and iPad photos and export them to be posted from my desktop Lightroom (I don't allow Facebook on my portable devices). I also have offline Central American maps. Find the offline maps for your most used area. Travel: check for public transit maps: Mexico City has a good one that stores the maps on your phone. Try the different id apps, and pick what works best for you. If you're on Windows as the main machine, Your Phone Companion app can be useful for transferring photos from the phone to a hard drive, also allows for more comfortable texting if you don't have a portable foldable keyboard. Other things I've had but don't have now: Focus Assistant Pro, Focus Chart, Manual Flash Calculator, Image Edge Mobile (Sony only). It's also helpful, if you have a data plan, to have Wikipedia on the phone. Helps check the phone id apps. I do have Image Edge Mobile on my iPad, but it's also available for Android, just not all that practical on a phone screen. Make sure GPS is set up. Taking photos with the phone as index photos for the main camera if you don't have GPS on that can be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 I'm another recent convert to recent technology with an Android phone. Sorry can't help with useful apps but the photo quality is pretty good ( if more than a little over processed). It's a pity that we can't use these shots here on Alamy's mobile phone stream. The app I use most frequently is Google (is Google an App?) in order to see the weather forecast (UK MET office in my case), Oh and WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends and family. Life becomes complicated when you have to check e-mail, Facebook and WhatsApp to see what is going on! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Norwood Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Not a photo app as such but the what3words app is very useful for finding your precise location. The world is divided up into 3m squares and each square has a unique combination of 3 words so by looking at the app you can tell exactly where in the world you are and by telling someone the 3 words, someone else can find you. The emergency services use the app in the UK. And it's free! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colblimp Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Wim has already mentioned TPE - it’s superb. Tells you sun rise and set and moon rise and set, which is very useful for shooting, er, sun rises and sets, etc. It’s not free but worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inchiquin Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Very useful question, John, because I'm in exactly the same situation - not through choice but because Virgin have just upgraded their PAYG SIMs and they no longer work on steam phones. I shall be reading this thread with interest. I had already noted what3words as a useful app to start with, as Sue points out. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 (edited) Another fan of TPE, but also. A compass, a weather app (e.g. Accuweather, Netweather radar), tide times (if you live near the coast), a raw viewer/converter e.g. RawDroid Pro, and whatever apps exist for triggering your camera (Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc.) remotely. Edited September 1, 2020 by Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanderingemu Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 i know people have said Instagram, but doing what is happening on the street I have found Twitter really useful when i'm about to see if there is anything happening around, i have a few searches. Also after taking some images, including people i have been able to use it to identify people, and new spots. (that said i hate twitter's toxic content) if you don't have data or connection always on the go MAPS.ME is a great map application, you download the area when you are connected (home, wifi) and then you can access maps offline. Was great on the road... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDM Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Not directly related to photography but a good English to foreign language dictionary on a phone is very useful when travelling (remember what that is?). I have full size English-Spanish and English-French dictionaries on my phone and there are various other language learning apps as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanderingemu Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, MDM said: Not directly related to photography but a good English to foreign language dictionary on a phone is very useful when travelling (remember what that is?). I have full size English-Spanish and English-French dictionaries on my phone and there are various other language learning apps as well. agree. i would add basic Google translate to the list. Last year in Ukraine i was able to get info from the sign to tell me the parade of a folk festival actually started 2 blocks from where i thought it did 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDM Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 17 minutes ago, meanderingemu said: agree. i would add basic Google translate to the list. Last year in Ukraine i was able to get info from the sign to tell me the parade of a folk festival actually started 2 blocks from where i thought it did 😉 Yes sure as long as you have internet. Also Google Earth. I haven’t used it in ages so maybe all has changed but you could plan out routes on a computer and load them to a phone and/ormap where you have been and correlate later with images snapped on the phone just using the GPS so internet not essential. Of course there are loads of other GPS apps as well. I am out of touch with developments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanderingemu Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, MDM said: Yes sure as long as you have internet. i actually download local languages to my phone when on WiFi when in an area for a while, so i don't need connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDM Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 18 minutes ago, meanderingemu said: i actually download local languages to my phone when on WiFi when in an area for a while, so i don't need connection. OK I wasn't aware of that. One for the future. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanderingemu Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 26 minutes ago, MDM said: OK I wasn't aware of that. One for the future. 😀 "future". so weird for me to now be looking at 6 month rentals for first time in 7 years.. new experience everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 4 minutes ago, meanderingemu said: "future". so weird for me to now be looking at 6 month rentals for first time in 7 years.. new experience everyday. Rentals of what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meanderingemu Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, spacecadet said: Rentals of what? roof, space, somewhere to park my backpack under this "new normal" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnans Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Snapseed - Photo editing app Photographers companion - App to find Sun position, northern lights etc. Similar to TPE but obviously the free stuff so limited features. ProCam X - A version of Camera where you can control Aperture, Shutter speed etc. Fatlama - Peer to Peer lending / borrowing Photography related gadgets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnans Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 1 hour ago, MDM said: OK I wasn't aware of that. One for the future. 😀 Same applies to Google maps as well where you can download any mapped area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiskerke Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 2 hours ago, MDM said: Not directly related to photography but a good English to foreign language dictionary on a phone is very useful when travelling (remember what that is?). I have full size English-Spanish and English-French dictionaries on my phone and there are various other language learning apps as well. I just point my phone to a page or a sign. Google Translate does the rest. Worked in Japan. Haven't been to other countries lately where I don't understand the script or language. Speaking is on a different level though. 😕 wim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots of interesting stuff to explore once I figure out how to set up my new smart phone, which I fear might be smarter than I am. 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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