Why do I take photos? I should ask why do I take photos these days? The answer is simple: to show something to someone else or to temember something. There was a time I photographed for other reasons but these days are gone. Indeed there are times I regret I got rid of all my photo cameras but it is as it is. The smartphone is the camera I use most because it is so much easier. I make a shot and show it immediately. Only if I like to post it somewhere I use the free app Photogrid to make it smaller and put my name on it. My smartphone, a Samsung A10, has no option to leave a watermark on each photo. To be honest I do not care really if my photos are used by someone else. A part I uploaded on pixabay.com which means anyone can use them and there's no need to mention me (no watermark on them either). I subscribed to the community "StockPhotos" on Steemit.com too. This means each article with photos I post here are free of a watermark too. I think it's a good initiative. If you use someone else's pictures you can do something back to that community.
If it comes to showing something it can be everything.
For example an offer of a product. The drugstore Kruidvat for example frequently uses the kind of offers that shouldn't make one buy it. This Milka chocolate for example. If it's a one-time offer you expect an item to be cheaper. With Kruidvat it's different. Frequently the price is the same or it's even more expensive! It's clear most people do not even read. They only see the big shield in ref and yellow with the word "Aktie".
Curious about this shop's slogan?
It's: Kruidvat steeds verrassend, altijd voordelig! (Kruidvat always surprising and cheap). If you think a bit longer you might say these offers if they are surprising and who knows the normal price is already low enough a good offer? A smart way of marketing. Interesting is this messy drugstore with the shouting colours is not the cheapest one in the country. They fool people in every way. They remained open during the lockdown although they sell toys, deep fryers, printers and supplies and all kind of things pharmacies do not sell (with us they are the pharmacies where you can buy all kind of medication without a recipe and make-up, glasses and contact lenses as well). Every shop had to close except supermarkets and pharmacies but these stores made a huge income too while others went bankrupt.
The boots. If you watch the boots outside it's clear which ones are used and which are not. The web is not one made overnight and it reminds me of a news item I read. Webs covering the country. Did I forget which country perhaps Australia? If these webs cover the entire country I doubt. Papers love to make news out of no news, things worse as it is, are fond of shouting headings that tell more than the entire article and in most cases, these are click bates. It's not about bringing objective news but about making people curious enough to click. If you do so to have a closer look you are wrong.
If you like to have a closer look at something a macro lens, or if you use a smartphone this option, is a nice plus. I frequently use it although it doesn't mean I can easily make a quick shot with it. It can take me an hour or more. I also noticed the Samsung A10 macro function isn't much more than a faster way to make a photo from nearby. The only way to make a sharp picture is to move the phone front and backwards and hold it still so it can focus. In many cases, it will not and you need to start all over again or try from a different angle.
The photos above are taken with the macro option of my Samsung A10 and give and impresdion of my last months.
Personally, I don't like to Photoshop a photo. To me, this isn't photography but a totally different thing. Disappointing I find my phone's camera rarely shows what I see. It's kind of weird no one managed to change that problem. After all, we live in 2021.
Due to restrictions and lockdowns for the second year in a row, I am sure the number of smartphone photos taken increased. It's the only way to show others how you are doing and what keeps you busy. All kind of contests been hosting to distract people from their lack of freedom. I remember the "view outside my window", the "street views", the face masks (bought and handmade), the "I am still alive" and the weekly walks and markets contest. Worldwide many photos are taken and shared and for sure it kept people busy to make their daily photo and bring something new but we also learned to see beauty in what we took for granted. That walk outside, our garden, saying "hi" to the neighbours, hugging our family and friends. Grandparents took care of us and our children. The freedom to go out whenever we liked even if we rarely felt the need to.
We shared our photos although it became fewer. After a period of keeping ourselves busy, fighting boredom and depression one by one we pick up our lives again. We go back to work, some go out, will travel again, celebrate the Summer or start doing what they should have done earlier. Renovating for example.
After Winter I started to renovate. A water closet, the drains in the kitchen, window frames and holes in the wall. Painting in and outside and new sockets. There are things not finished yet, partly done but I hope each day or at least each week to improve our life and... to do this all before I am no longer able to (bitten by a tick for the second time. Last time was two weeks ago. I feel rather upset about it and about living on the country).
Curation Duo week 3 is about smartphonephotography. Please, read the rules set by the community.
Community: SYT: Creative smartphone photography
https://read.cash/c/syt-creative-smartphones-photography-9cd6
Earlier Curation Duo weeks
Curation Duo week 1 was about "Photo Pandemic Poetry". Of course, you are still welcome to join. Use a photo about the pandemic/coronavirus/Covid-19 for a prompt and write your poem.
Community: SYT: Poems
https://read.cash/c/syt-poems-bd19
Curation Duo Week 2 was about Christians and the pandemic/coronavirus/Covid-19. A personal view of your life as a Christian is asked during this plague. How do you deal with it, do you still love your neighbours, did you bond with others, and how is it with your faith, trust these days? Do you work on a better future or are your days filled with prayers and do you hope someone will come to your aid? How many of those in your community are broke, depressed caused by the restrictions? Do you reach out?
Community: SST: Christianity
https://read.cash/c/sst-christians-4c9e
Use "Christians" in the title
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SYT: Creativity - drawings
https://read.cash/c/syt-creativity-96be
Contests/Challenges
https://read.cash/c/contests-challenges-c22c
Psychology
https://read.cash/c/psychology-c98b
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https://read.cash/c/short-stories-tales-c00f
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https://read.cash/c/syt-poems-bd19
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https://read.cash/c/freewriting-c99e
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https://read.cash/c/self-motivation-freewriting-ca66
Alcohol effects (freewriting)
https://read.cash/c/alcohol-effects-c5c2
Parenting
https://read.cash/c/parenting-c55d
Diaries
https://read.cash/c/diaries-cc77
Introduce Yourself
https://read.cash/c/introduce-yourself-c32c
Traveling
https://read.cash/c/traveling-cc04
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https://read.cash/c/politics-the-voice-of-the-people-cc97/settings
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https://read.cash/c/pets-9d9a
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https://read.cash/c/share-some-thoughts-sst-89db
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https://read.cash/c/sst-christians-4c9e
Use "Christians" in the title
Share Your Talents (SYT) - singing
https://read.cash/c/share-your-talents-f01d
SYT: Creative smartphone photography
https://read.cash/c/syt-creative-smartphones-photography-9cd6
SYT: Recipes from your kitchen
https://read.cash/c/syt-recipeswrite-from-your-kitchen-ef89
#kittywu #curation #curationduo #smartphonephotography
Hi. I think editing is as much a skill as clicking the picture. Editing involves a whole lot of work, and I would say way more than what goes into handling the camera. Unrelated to this article, but I see my introductory post is still pending. Would you look into it please. Thanks