DXO is making its DXO Optics Pro 8 post-processing software free until January 31, 2015. When you register your email at www.dxo.com, you will receive an activation code for the software. A review at PetaPixel states that the software is most useful in batch editing of hundreds of photos at a time. It is not recommended for individual tweaking of images. The software is a 200MB download and requires a heavy computing platform (Core2Duo or higher processor; support DirectX 9.0.c or higher, 256MB VRAM graphics card; 2GB RAM but 4GB highly recommended; and 6GB hard disk space). For Mac users, your computer needs to have OS X 10.6 or higher installed. Check the website for a list of cameras supported by DXO Optics Pro 8.
Readers into video editing may want to look at the list of Five Free Video Editors That Deliver Impressive Results by www.techrepublic.com. These are: a) OpenShot for Linux; b) Kdenlive for Mac OS X and Linux; c) Avidemux with versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux; d) WeVideo for Chromebook; and e) VSDC Free Video Editor for Windows.
Tanaw sa Kalikasan (Juanchito Paner)
The Girl in My Dreams (Paul Ines)
Untitled (Carl Anthony T. Feji)
Untitled (Ian Darine Auman)
Untitled (Marlon Malabuyoc)
Gusto Mo ng Swiss Knife (Roli Talampas)
Monkey on the Rocks (Katherine Regina Abad Manuel)
Pico de Loro Trekking (Dennis Abrina)
Sipat Photo Winning Entry (Justine Carl Carabeo Adlawan)
Silhouette (Joselito Eugenio)
Microsoft has created an app for Windows, iOS and Android smartphones that allows the user to share photos with friends even if these do not have the app installed on their own devices. Microsoft XIM allows you to pull photos from several platforms, like your gallery, Facebook, Dropbox, and even Instagram, and share these photos with groups or individuals through text message. The recipients get the link and, upon clicking it, join the slideshow where you can all view and discuss on the photos simultaneously. If they have the app they can add photos to the Xim. And all Xims automatically expire after a while.
If you prefer a free photo-sharing app that protects your photos from screen grabs and erases them after 24 hours, get YOVO (You Only View Once) from the iTunes app store. The app uses a technology called a D-fence that make screengrabs or screen copying almost entirely unusable. Read more about it at https://yovo.me/.
And now to our featured readers.
Justine Carl Carabeo Adlawan of St. Joseph College-Olongapo Inc. shares the photo that won him the 1st Prize – Category 2 (14-17 years old) in the 2014 National Children’s Month Celebration: Sipat-Bata Photo Contest. Fourteen-year-old Justine Carl represented Olongapo City in the competition. This young photo enthusiast who likes to express his feelings through photography is a member of the St. Joseph College-Olongapo Camera Club and the Subic Bay Photography Society. He started on photography four years ago and attended his first seminar in 2012 where he met Roy Van Morales who would become his mentor. As a member of the Subic Bay Photography Society, Justine Carl writes that he has also benefited from the organization’s trainings and free seminars.
From Davao, Ian Darine Auman of BDO sent in an untitled photo taken with his smartphone. He shares that he is still a newbie who still has to acquire a DSLR. “I am still learning to get a hold on techniques on how to improve my own shots, thanks to my mentor, Peter John Myles Sarenas. He always gives advice, compliments, and creative criticisms whenever I get a good shot or a bad one,” writes Ian.
From Katherine Regina Abad Manuel is a snapshot of her dog named Monkey whom she calls “my little bundle of joy.” Her photo is titled “Monkey on the Rocks.”
Paul Ines relates that before he started on photography, he was just “an ordinary person who wakes up every morning and prepares himself to go to work every weekday.” Due to stress at work, a broken heart, and a nagging feeling that something was missing in his life, he was already becoming depressive when he bought a camera. He shares: “The only thing that makes me feel better is when I go to places to unwind and take pictures with my family or friends. Taking pictures of simple things makes me feel better, too, like taking pictures of people walking on the streets, taking pictures of the sunsets, taking pictures of the sky with the ocean. I appreciate beautiful things that God made for all of us, and I want to capture them. I want to capture a memory that you can have forever. To share these pictures is one of my goals in life and I know through photography I can show that the world can be a better place.” Paul sent in a portrait of a girl named Ariane with the title “The Girl of my Dreams.” “This picture gives me inspiration not only on photography but also to do many great things in life, and this picture makes a better me every single day I wake up,” writes Paul.
Marlon Malabuyoc of NASDAQ in McKinley Hills, Taguig shares an untitled sunset photo. Marlon writes that he has been shooting for a year – mainly portraits of his kids.
Other photos were submitted by previously featured readers, some of whom regularly send photos to this column.
Regarding his photo titled “Silhouette,” Joselito Eugenio writes: “My wife took this picture of me, when we went to the National Museum. We enjoy the classic and priceless paintings and artworks of our national artists, as we also treasure photos of our loved ones and family.”
Dennis Abrina’s photo titled “Pico de Loro Trekking” shows the monolith at the peak of the mountain located in the Maragondon-Ternate area in Mount Palay Palay, Ternate, Cavite. Dennis says that mountain hikers, lured by the beauty of the place, usually take three hours to reach the top of this mountain.
Professor Roli Talampas once again shares an image from one of his travels (on official business always). He was in Europe recently where temperatures started to drop, making it hard to steady the camera. His photo, “Gusto Mo ng Swiss Knife,” shows hundreds of the famous tool hanging from the ceiling as store décor.
Carl Anthony T. Feji, registered nurse and currently working in Intensive Care Unit at the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital sent in the untitled black-and-white photo of a church. “Taking photos has always been my stress reliever after a long day at work,” writes Carl Anthony. “It makes me appreciate more the beauty of life and what nature serves us on our table. I hope that someday, through my photos, I will be able to inspire other people.”
And from Juanchito Paner is the photo with three kids pointing at the sunset (“Tanaw sa Kalikasan”) taken in Binangonan, Rizal.
Readers may view issues of Picture Perfect, including the ones in this column, at www.mbpictureperfect.com.
For comments, suggestions or just to share an image or idea, email rfyparedes@yahoo.com.