Technology Explained, Practice
Daniela Bowker
Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! ...

When you hear the term 'high-res' thrown about with such abandon when it comes to images for web use, have you ever stopped to think just how big or how high quality and image meant for the web needs to be?

Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! Saving images for the web
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring

There's an assumption that high-contrast images are more dynamic, more compelling, more inviting. Have a go at some low-contrast photography. You might surprise yourself with the results.

Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring
Feature Articles, Theory
Daniela Bowker
Seeking balance in your photos

Balance doesn't mean symmetry; it means an internal consistency and tension within your photos. And it's a vital element of composition. 

Seeking balance in your photos
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Training your photographic luck

Great photos might be down to a little bit of luck, but most of that 'luck' you make yourself. Don't believe us? Read on...

Training your photographic luck
Feature Articles, Practice
Daniela Bowker
The ups and downs and ins and outs of ...

Photographing buildings doesn't have to mean wide-angle lenses and fretting about correcting for the keystone effect. Any lens, and angle. Don't believe us? Let us show you!

The ups and downs and ins and outs of photographing buildings

dinner date

The battle of the Instagrams

Screen shot 2011-03-07 at 18.49.15

It’s a very simple idea and it’s a little bit addictive, too. It’s a website where Lomo-fi can do battle against 1977; Toaster can take on Inkwell; and Apollo and Hefe can slog it out. Two Instagram images are placed side-by-side and you get to choose which you prefer by clicking on it. And then another two appear. And another two. And another two. Oh hell, before you know it, you’ve been sucked in and you’re late for your dinner date.

It’s called Pic A Fight. It was developed by Paul Stamatiou and Chad Etzel, because, as far as I could tell, they could. It entertained them. It’s been entertaining me this evening, too. Instagram users can sign up and submit their images to contest fights. The images that score the most highly get displayed in the Top Pics gallery. And, yeah, that’s about it.

Kapow! Fairy lights versus dessert

You can even send other users’ pictures into pitched battle if you fancy a bit of fratricide, though.

Pic A Fight: slightly addictive Instagram aesthetic contests.

(Headsup to TechCrunch.)