Street Photography
Editing Images on a Mobile Phone with Apps (Minimalist Street Photography pt.2)
Are you passionate about minimalist street photography but find yourself struggling to edit your images without the use of complex software? Look no further! In this second installment of our series on minimalist street photography, we will explore the world of mobile apps that can help you edit your images on the go. Gone are the days of lugging around heavy equipment or spending hours in front of a computer screen. With the right apps on your mobile phone, you can enhance your street photographs with just a few taps. Join us on this exciting journey as we uncover the best apps for editing images and unleash your creativity in minimalist street photography.
Editing Images on a Mobile Phone with Apps (Minimalist Street Photography pt.2)
Introduction
In the first video, I walked you through my pocketable minimalist setup for street photography, which included the Ricoh GR3 camera. Now, in this video, I’ll show you how I transfer the images from the camera to my phone and do all the editing and sharing on my phone. Contrary to popular belief, editing images on a phone doesn’t result in a loss of detail or information. In fact, all the apps I’ll show you today maintain your images at full resolution, preserving all the details. I even printed these edited images up to A1 size for my photography book. Let’s dive in!
Transferring Images to the Phone
On a typical shooting day, I find a coffee shop to sit down and start the transfer process. I turn on the Wi-Fi settings on my Ricoh camera and connect it to my phone via Wi-Fi. Then, I open the photography apps and go to the Ricoh’s app called “Image Sync.” This app displays all the images on my camera, and I can easily select and download them to my phone’s gallery. These images are raw files since I’ll be editing them with the apps mentioned next.
Editing Images with Mobile Apps
Personally, I prefer using my Samsung Note 9 for editing because of its larger screen and the stylus, which comes in handy for editing photos. One of the main apps I use for editing is Lightroom Mobile. I don’t spend too much time on each image since I believe that if I have to spend a lot of time editing, it’s probably not a great image to begin with. Let’s take an example image and go through the editing process.
This particular image has some nice hard light and is in the West End area. I start by adjusting the crop and rotation to get the desired composition. Since this image works better in black and white with no significant color information, I immediately switch to the black and white mode in Lightroom Mobile. If you want a detailed tutorial on editing in color or black and white, refer to my separate videos.
In the black and white mode, I can even adjust the separate color values using the “Mix” feature. For instance, I can increase the yellows in the highlights to add contrast to the image. Moving to the exposure section, I fine-tune it without playing with the contrast setting. Instead, I adjust the highlights and shadows to achieve the desired custom contrast effect. I also bring down the black point to enhance the shadows.
Once I’m satisfied with the contrast, I move to the curves section and create a contrast curve to further enhance the image. After making these adjustments, I review the image and decide if any additional tweaks, such as a slight tuck and crop, are necessary. However, I try to keep my editing minimal to maintain the authenticity of the image. Sometimes, I may use the “clarity” feature to add a touch of edge contrast, but I avoid excessive use to keep it natural.
Exporting and Saving the Edited Images
Once I’ve completed the edits, I click on the share icon at the top of the app and select “Save to Device.” This exports the edited photo as a JPEG, but it retains the same resolution as the original raw file. Although the format changes from raw to JPEG, I don’t lose any resolution. The edited photo is saved back to my gallery, ready for sharing or further use.
Lightroom Mobile also has the advantage of syncing all the edits I make on my phone to Lightroom CC on my computer at home. This means I can easily access the same edits on a larger screen if I need to evaluate the image from a different perspective. Additionally, I used to use an app on iOS called Darkroom, which is a fantastic option for editing images with a clean and intuitive interface. If you’re using an iPhone, I highly recommend checking it out.
Conclusion
Editing images on a mobile phone is a convenient and powerful way to enhance and share your photos. With apps like Lightroom Mobile or Darkroom, you can maintain the full resolution and details of your images while achieving professional-quality edits. So don’t shy away from editing on your phone – embrace the freedom it offers and unleash your creativity!
Frequently Asked Questions about Editing Images on a Mobile Phone with Apps (Minimalist Street Photography pt.2)
1. Why should I edit images on a mobile phone?
Editing images on a mobile phone is convenient and efficient. With powerful editing apps available, you can quickly enhance your street photography on-the-go without the need for a computer or any complicated software.
2. Which apps are recommended for editing images on a mobile phone?
There are several popular apps for editing images on a mobile phone. Some highly recommended options include Adobe Lightroom Mobile, Snapseed, VSCO, and Afterlight. These apps offer various tools and effects to take your minimalist street photography to the next level.
3. Can I achieve professional-looking results by editing images on a mobile phone?
Absolutely! With advancements in mobile technology, editing apps have become incredibly powerful and can produce professional-looking results. By using the right techniques and mastering the tools within these apps, you can create stunning street photography with just your mobile phone.
4. Are there any limitations to editing images on a mobile phone?
While editing on a mobile phone offers great convenience, there are some limitations compared to editing on a computer. The smaller screen size may make it slightly more challenging to fine-tune certain adjustments, and some advanced editing techniques may not be as easily accessible. However, for most basic and intermediate editing tasks, a mobile phone is more than capable.
5. Can I edit RAW images on a mobile phone?
Yes, many mobile editing apps support editing and processing RAW images. Apps like Adobe Lightroom Mobile and Snapseed allow you to import, edit, and export RAW files directly from your mobile phone. This gives you greater flexibility in enhancing the quality and details of your street photography.
6. Can I share my edited images directly from the editing apps?
Yes, most editing apps allow you to share your edited images directly to various social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. This makes it convenient to showcase your minimalist street photography to a wider audience without the need for transferring files to a computer.
7. How do I learn to edit images effectively on a mobile phone?
There are numerous online resources, tutorials, and video courses available that can help you learn to edit images effectively on a mobile phone. YouTube channels, photography forums, and dedicated websites provide valuable tips, techniques, and step-by-step guides to improve your editing skills.
8. Will editing images on a mobile phone affect their quality?
When editing images on a mobile phone, it’s important to use high-quality images and avoid excessive compression. While some loss of quality may occur during editing, proper app settings and export options can minimize any noticeable degradation. Additionally, saving your edited images in a suitable format, such as JPEG or PNG, will help retain their quality.
9. Can I revert to the original image after editing on a mobile phone?
Yes, most editing apps provide the option to undo or revert back to the original image if you are not satisfied with the edits. This allows you to experiment and make changes without permanently altering the original photo. However, it’s always a good practice to create backup copies or duplicate images before editing to ensure you have a safe version to revert to if needed.
10. Are there any precautions I should take while editing images on a mobile phone?
While editing images on a mobile phone, it’s crucial to ensure your device has sufficient battery life and storage space. Some editing apps can be resource-intensive, so charging your phone and freeing up storage can prevent interruptions and potential data loss. Additionally, backing up your edited images to cloud storage or external drives regularly is recommended to avoid accidental loss of your creative work.
I hope you find useful my article Editing Images on a Mobile Phone with Apps (Minimalist Street Photography pt.2), I also recommend you to read my other posts in my blog at this link.
If you need help with anything join the community or do not hesitate to contact me.
Best of luck! and follow your passion.
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