Category: Uncategorized

  • Holiday Deal from Luminar Neo and a new tool – GenExpand

    Holiday Deal from Luminar Neo and a new tool – GenExpand

    Luminar Neo was just updated with a new generative tool, the GenExpand. Skylum is also running a Holiday Special from the 15th of December to the 26th of December.

    What is GenExpand Tool?

    GenExpand is a tool to expand the photograph. It works great when you need to change the aspect ratio for your photograph.

    It is also handy if you need to correct the perspective and photograph a too tight composition.


    What it is not good for?

    GenExpand is not good for large expansions. It works best with small expansions.


    The deal

    image from Skylum website

    Now, you can get Luminar Neo at a reduced price.
    1-year subscipition is only 49€, and the two-year subsciption is 79€. A lifetime license goes for 99€. These are very good deals if you need a decent image editing software.

    Disclaimer: the links are affiliate links.

  • 5 reasons why there should be people in a Street Photograph.

    5 reasons why there should be people in a Street Photograph.

    Street Photography is a very popular genre. The great thing about it is that it can be done in so many ways. I have made a few videos about different approaches to street photography. I will link to those videos at the end of this blog post.

    Street photographs often include people. There are quite a few reasons why they are important. Here I have listed five of them.

    Scale and Perspective:

    People in photographs can provide a sense of scale, helping viewers understand the size and spatial relationships in the scene. This can be particularly effective in urban landscapes, where human figures can contrast with the grandeur or decay of city environments.


    Dynamic and Spontaneous Composition
    :

    People add a dynamic and unpredictable element to street photography. Their movements, expressions, and interactions can create spontaneous and alive compositions, offering a sense of realism and immediacy.


    Cultural Representation
    :

    Including people in street photography can capture the essence of a culture or a place. Different attire, behaviors, and interactions can provide insights into local customs, traditions, and everyday life, making the photograph a window into diverse worlds.


    Relatability and Engagement
    :

    Viewers often find images with people more relatable and engaging. Seeing others in photographs can evoke empathy or curiosity, making the viewer more invested in the image. This connection can be powerful, whether the subject is a solitary figure or a bustling crowd.


    Human Element Adds Emotion and Story
    :

    People in street photographs can convey various emotions, from joy to sorrow, tranquility to tension. This human element can turn a simple scene into a story, inviting viewers to wonder about the subjects’ lives, thoughts, or destinations.

    More content about Street Photography can be found on my YouTube channel.

    If you want to support my free content consider getting me a Cup of Coffee! Thanks!

  • The Ultimate Photo Organizing Tool: Excire Search 2022:

    The Ultimate Photo Organizing Tool: Excire Search 2022:

    Struggling to sift through your vast photo archives? Excire Search 2022 is here to help. And guess what? They have an irresistible Cyber Week deal!

    Organize Like a Pro with Excire Search 2022

    We all know the drill: keeping organized and managing your photo archives is crucial. I have developed five top tips using Excire Search 2022 to simplify your photography life.

    Disclaimer

    A quick heads up: Excire generously provided me with Excire Search 2022 for testing purposes. I’ve been exploring its features since March 2022. Rest assured, my views are entirely my own; Excire had no input in this content. However, I do have affiliate links for their Cyber Week promo in the description.

    Excire Search vs. Excire Foto

    While Excire offers a plug-in version (Excire Search) and a standalone app (Excire Foto), this post focuses on Excire Search. Check out my latest video for the lowdown on Excire Foto.

    The Magic of Excire for My YouTube Ventures

    Excire has been a game-changer in sourcing images for my YouTube content. The search options are diverse, though I won’t delve into those here – catch the end screen of this video for more details.

    Integration with Lightroom

    One of the standout features? Excire Search’s seamless integration with Lightroom. Typically, keywords are stored in the Excire database after initialization. But here’s the kicker: you can transfer these to the Lightroom catalog, enhancing your search efficiency in Lightroom.

    Color-Based Image Searches

    Need to find images with specific color themes? Excire Search has you covered. Select color squares in the search window, and voilà! The software scours for images matching your chosen palette.

    Discover Similar Tones with a Reference Image

    Excire isn’t just about content; it’s also about matching colors. Selecting a reference color helps you find images with similar tones – perfect for achieving a specific aesthetic.

    URL-Based Searches

    Add a twist to your searches by using an external image URL. The results are impressively accurate, especially when you customize the search order.

    A Word on Search Quality

    Let’s address the elephant in the room: no AI is flawless. While Excire Search may have its limitations, its efficiency and speed in finding the right images are commendable.

    Organize with Collections and Sets

    After searching, Excire sorts results into collections. I’ve tweaked these by renaming them, focusing on the search criteria rather than the date. You can create as many collections as you like, though they’re not Smart Collections that update automatically. That said, you can always create these manually.

    The Cyber Week Steal in 2023

    The list price of Excire Search 2022 is usually €119, but it’s been slashed to just €59 for Cyber Week. A steal, right? Grab the deal using this link.

    Final Thoughts

    Overall, I’m very happy with Excire Search 2022. It has helped me a lot. I have at least over 300.000 images in my Lightroom catalog. Finding the images I need without Excire Search 2022 would be impossible.