Black Friday deals

I did a post like this the last few years, so why not again. As during Black Friday there are many deals, it’s the best day to get all the software and tutorial one wants and needs. The discounts are worth it. So as before, here is a list of discounts I found for now. There will be more as Friday approaches, and I will be updating this post as I find some :)

1. Master exposure blending video tutorial

Add to CartAs usually, I will start with my own discount. From today, until the end of the month, you can get 50% off (that’s 25 instead of 49 USD) from my video tutorial series Master exposure blending. Just use the code BF2017 at the checkout. You can buy it from the Master exposure blending page here.

meb

2. Macphun software

Macphun offers a lot of discount on their software during this week. For their Creative Kit and plug-ins from it they offer 30% discounts.

For Luminar, you can get the upgrade for 49USD and new users for 69USD. For Aurora it’s 49USD for the upgrade and 89USD for new users. And with Luminar or Aurora , if you use the code HDRSHOOTER you will get an extra 10USD off.

macphun

3. Topaz Labz

Topaz Labs offers a huge 75% discount on all their plugins and also on Topaz Studio. You can check out their Black Friday page here, or their store here.

The offers are valid until the November 29th.

topaz

4. ACD Systems

ACD Systems have a 20-50% discount on all of their products and you can find them on their website here. The offer ends November 26th.

macphun

5. Oloneo Photoengine

Oloneo, in my opinion still one of the best HDR tonemapping software, is currently in a huge 55% discount. You can get it for 56 Euro (instead of 124) + tax. This is really a great deal. Just don’t forget it is available only on Windows. You have to use the code SPECIAL2017PE to get this price, and it’s available until the 27th November. Get in on the Oloneo Page here.

oloneo

6. Peak Design

Peak Design is offering quite a lot of discounts right now. 25% off Everyday Messengers, 15% off all Clips, Straps, Pouches, Accessories and 10% off other Everyday Bags. If you want to get this offer, head over to Peak Designs website right now here.

peak

7. Imagenomic

Imagenomix Noiseware is still my favorite noise reduction plugin, and right now, you can get it with a really nice discount (around 30%). Same with other Imagenomic Plugins. Just head over to Imagenomic site and use the code BF2017.

imagenomic

Hviezdoslav in the snow – Plotagraph

I did not know that, with a Plotagraph Pro you can also add particles to photos. Stuff like snow, rain or flowers. It is very easy and just looks great. The only problem with this is, that you can’t compress the resulting video as much as other Plotagraphs. There is just too much movement for that. But still I thought I share one with you :)

This is the Hviezdoslav statue in Bratislava. This snowy photo really fits to this heavy snow animation, as it really was like that that day. I’m still not 100% sure about how I animated the background, but after over 50 different tries, I ended with this one. Hope you like it.

The autoplay on this one is dissabled, so it does not load all the time, so if you want to see it, hit play.

(if you use an older web browser, you may only see a static image, if you are on a mobile, please hit the play button to see the Plotagraph in motion)

Last week I mentioned I got the Spark remote from Alpine Labs as a Kickstarter reward. And now, since I had time to play with it, I will share with you my thought about it. So here goes.

What can the Spark remote do?

Alpine labs is a company specializing on camera accessories. There are the makers of Radian time lapse device and few others. Spark remote, their latest product, is a camera remote. It’s can work in three different settings.
Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review

1. As a wireless infrared remote

It can work as a standard infrared remote, but with one special function. In the app, you can select what camera brand you want to control, so it works on all of them.

2. As a wired remote

Secondly, you can attach it to a camera directly by a cable, and use the button on it as a standard wired remote.

3. As a app controlled remote

Lastly, if you connect it to the camera by cable, you can pair it with the provided app, so getting advanced function. This can be used to take photos, do long exposures, HDR, Photo booth mode (similar to timelapse) or control multiple devices at once.

Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review
Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review

How is it to use the Spark remote?

The remote on it’s own is very simple to use. For the wired control, you just connect it to the camera and it works. For the wireless one, you fist have to go into the app, and set the correct camera model. You have to do that only once, as the remote remembers what you set.

For all else you have to pair the remote with the app, and use the build in function. They are all very simple to use, and offer all the functions you may need. The only one I could not find was bulb ramping, which should be possible here. Maybe after an app update.

Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review
Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review
Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review

I took me seconds to get all up and running, as it is just so straightforward. You connect the Spark remote to the camera, open the app, wait until it’s connected (if its not, you can go into settings and choose the remote to connect) and choose what you want to do. It’s all connected with a Bluetooth, so the range is quite good also.

Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review
Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review
Spark remote by Alpine Labs - review

Conclusion

The remote is small, works well, the app offers many functions. Alpine Labs states up to 2000 hours of work on one battery and replacing it is quite easy. The ability to work in multiple modes is quite handy. Sometimes one needs just a wireless remote, sometimes app control is needed. I like that you can have it complex or just completely simple. Overall I quite like it and it will have a permanent spot in my camera bag from now on.

You can find Spark remote by Alpine Labs on their Kickstarter site. Other Alpine Labs products on their official site here.

Clouds invading Paris – Plotagraph

I spend today evening in Mikulov in Czech republic. And while I got quite a few photo, who know if they are good. I have arrived only recently, and have not had time too look at them. But with how crazy windy it was, I’m not that hopeful. If it worked out, you will see a photo from there tomorrow :)

But for today, here is another Plotagraph I made, this time of this very cloudy view of Paris, taken from the top of the Tour Montparnasse.

(if you use an older web browser, you may only see a static image, if you are on a mobile, please hit the play button to see the Plotagraph in motion)

Using Plotagraphs as Live Wallpapers

Using Plotagraphs as Live WallpapersI was editing a Plotagraph yesterday, and while doing so, I had an idea. What would be a great use for Plotagraphs? Live wallpapers for you phone of course. They are perfect for it. The loops are short and endless, the files can be smaller to the size of a normal photo.

So I looked around, for how to do it. The simplest way I found, is to use an app called Video Live Wallpaper which you can find in Google Play store (I don’t know if something similar is possible with iOS, as I don’t have any Apple device right now, so can’t test). You just install the app, choose the video you want to use, and thats it. There are also other apps, so you can use any one you want.

It just looks great :) It gives so much live into a wallpaper, and since it loops perfectly, there is no sharp transition when the video repeats.

Download my Live Wallpapers

I did crop and export few of the Plotagraphs I shared with you on this blog, and you can download them here. They are all 1080x2160px in size, so a 18:9 vertical aspect. They are meant to fit all the new phones with taller screens, but the app should crop them automatically on different ones.

(You may see controls when you hover your mouse over the plotagraph. This is due to the fact that mobile browsers dont auto play them, and for those I need a play button so it can be started.)

Download the Star trails, Podersdorf sunset and Dubai sunset here (use right click/save target as to save the mp4 file).

And the Light over Paris, Autumn reflection and Dubai Traffic here (use right click/save target as to save the mp4 file).

Please let me know what you think about this idea, and if you use them in your phone setup, feel free to share a screenshot :)

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