Sharing Beach Moments and Lens Flares

PicsArt Monthly | 1
MonthlyIssue #09 | June 2014
A Photographer’s
Guide to the USA
8 Killer Tips
for Air Show
Photography
Add Flare to Your
Photos

6| PicsArt Monthly
Follow us...
Meet our team...
Editor-in-Chief | Arusiak Kanetsyan
Art Editor | Cristina Gevorg
Designer | Ina Sarko
Copy Editor | Arto Vaun, Cameron Sheldon
Editorial Contributors | Arto Vaun,
Satenig Mirzoyan, Mark Gargarian, Heather Parry
Special Contributors | Lou Jones, Chris Corradino
In-House Photographer | ma_lina
Address: PicsArt Inc.,
800 West El Camino Real,
Mountain View, CA 94040
Publisher: PicsArt
Coverphoto:JasonBell
@ma_lina

PicsArt Monthly | 7
Copyright of Socialln Inc. ( PicsArt Photo Studio ) 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be re-used without the written permission of
the publisher. The content of this magazine is for informational purposes only and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of publication.
PicsArt Photo Studio does not claim any ownership right for the photos in the Magazine. All photos,if not mentioned otherwise, are the property
of respective PicsArt users. The PicsArt username or photo owner is cited on each photo. PicsArt Photo Studio has a non-exclusive, royalty-free,
worldwide, limited licence to use, modify, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, and reproduce PicsArt users’ photos, including without limitation
distributing part or all of the Magazine in any media formats through any media channels.
We’re turning the corner into
summer’s full blast, which means
sun, fun, and friends. That energy is
reflected in the June issue of PicsArt
Magazine. As you relax and enjoy the
summer warmth, check out what we
have in store in this issue…
There are many talented, budding
artists in the our community. In
this issue we highlight the work of
Roxy H.Art, who uses PicsArt to
mix in photography and drawing,
resulting in unique works of art. Her
work is bold, honest, and well worth
checking out.
What’s the one image most people
think of when they think of summer?
The beach! We bring you a diverse
collection of beach images from
different perspectives and regions.
From industrial ports and desolate
beauty, to fun-filled party scenes,
beaches are poetic spaces where the
sea meets the land, and these photos
capture that perfectly.
Along with the warmth of summer
come the unique shades of sunlight.
Many photographers strive to
capture and play with light. Often,
even pros capture flares and
twinkling light by accident. PicsArt
offers some dazzlingly realistic lens
flares that can be inserted during the
editing process. We provide a helpful
article to illustrate the uses of lens
flares.
Jason Bell is one of the best known
portrait photographers working
today. His work has appeared in
magazines like Vanity Fair and
Vogue, and he has photographed
everyone from the royal family to
movie stars. In this issue, Bell talks
about his background, photos, and
life as a high profile photographer.
There’s much more in the June issue
of PicsArt Magazine, so sit back,
enjoy the sunshine, and check out all
the useful, entertaining articles and
photos!
Welcome!
As always, please give us your feedback at info@picsart.com.

8| PicsArt Monthly
The Many Facets of Travel Lights
By Lou Jones
Straphanging on an overcrowded Green Line subway, squeezed between a too young
mother with baby stroller and a hipster with a too big backpack, I spotted someone
carrying a tote bag with the most cryptic logo stenciled on the side: TRAVEL LIGHT
THINK SMART. I was about to dismiss it until I realized how many ways that message
might be interpreted. I still have no idea what they were advertising but my mind
raced.
1. If you plan on venturing more than three zip codes away from home and don’t want
the hassle, you can enlist travel services. By changing the spelling (Travel LITE), we
derive another name for convenience-based travel. This often is to made-up locales
like Disneyland or Six Flags or household destinations like Paris and Cancun: school
vacation tours, package deals with groups of like-minded tourists and fun-filled
resorts as opposed to hard places with names that have no vowels or are necessary to
look up in a dictionary.
In lieu of hardcore immersion into a new location, these excursions offer enjoyment
from managed sightseeing where most of the amenities are provided. They also
scream for “selfie” photographs to make your friends back home jealous.

PicsArt Monthly | 9
Travel Lite is intended to reduce stress, generate new experiences and maximize
convenience. The terminus may be secondary to the service.
2. As an inveterate travel photographer,
I often tote everything but the kitchen
sink. Besides cameras and lenses
(visas, Lomotil, GPS,...), the most
obvious is lighting equipment for
my assignments. Over the past few
years I have reduced the size and
weight of everything I carry. Using
speedlights, which are small
and portable, has lightened my
burden substantially. I suppose
you could call the speedlights
(Nikon) and speedlites
(Canon),TRAVEL LIGHTS.

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On the other hand you might also need a nightlight that dangles from the end of
your key chain to find the bathroom, outhouse or latrine in some one-star motel or
campground in Albuquerque or Ayers Rock.
3. Abusing the privilege of moving unencumbered across the far reaches of our planet,
tourists of all types scorch the earth with their expectations, culture, money, politics,
etc. Their mere presence changes things. Tourists pollute, steal antiquities, burden the
ecology, and stereotype the natives. We need to tread lightly or travel light in order to
be responsible guests.

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There is a famous quote “Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures.” It
should be the photographer’s mantra.
4. The most likely meaning for the above slogan is important too. As a general rule,
people who only venture out once in a while carry too much stuff. They pack for every
contingency--that fancy ball gown--just in case. The phrase “Pack Right Travel Light”
advises to pack your bags paying attention only to what is absolutely necessary. There
is nothing more unnecessary than being trapped by heavy luggage. It is expensive to
get onto planes.
Inertia. It slows you down. You can hurt yourself or others.
I try to adhere to a rule: don’t carry it if you can’t run with it. I have spent years seeking
better designed gear that shaves ounces off my kit. Camera bags that give you
scoliosis really slow you down unless you are attempting an assignment that requires
an inordinate amount of preparation. Catching a taxi, train or bus overloaded with too
much stuff diminishes reasons for traveling in the first place. And they are the mark of
the “ugly tourist”.
5. THINK SMART. Well that goes without saying. And I had to catch another subway
anyway.

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Sharing
Moments by
the Shore
PicsArtists Share Their
Snapshots of the Sand, Sun &
Waves
Beaches are everywhere, yet no
two beaches are the same. Similarly,
PicsArtists are everywhere, yet no two
have the same eye or photographic flair.
When we look at these photos of the
seaside collected from a community as
large and diverse as PicsArt, we can't
help but appreciate the experiences
we share in common in addition to the
idiosyncrasies that make us unique.
These photos tell the story of where
the water meets the land. The beach is a
place where people come to do anything
and everything - build sandcastles, surf,
go for a swim, take a pensive stroll or
just sit and enjoy the view. As enormous
freightliners move in and out of harbors
with loads of cargo, small groups of
beachgoers paddle out in tiny kayaks.
Birds circle overhead in search of fish or
seek refuge ashore only to get chased
away by small children.
This collection of photos convey the
experiences and memories as seen by
PicsArtists on various shores scattered
around the world. They are so vivid, you
can almost taste the salt or a cool ocean
breeze whipping across your face...
@cathyhelix

PicsArt Monthly | 15
INSPIRATION : Photo

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@badasswes
@badasswes
@lenslife

@stu76
@nickon69
@priyankamukherjee

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@peacelovephotos

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Add Flare to Your Photos
Many photographers spend years trying to capture a glimmering lens flare. They
invest in expensive lenses and strain to catch the light at just the right angle.
Historically, and for many photographers, lens flare is a vexing light that reflects off
the glass of your lens, ruining an otherwise brilliant shot. However, the twinkling
beauty of lens flare has transformed it from purely accidental into an artform of its
own, with many pros spending months trying to perfect their lens flare technique.
PicsArt eases this process for you by offering some dazzlingly realistic lens flares
that can be inserted during the editing process. PicsArt lens flares are also fully
customizable so you can integrate them seamlessly into your favorite shots. Here
we demonstrate four of PicsArt’s lens flares in action over the same photo, each one
offering it’s own mesmerizing effect. And the best part is all they require is one touch!

PICSART IN ACTION

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8 Killer Tips for Air Show Photography
by Chris Corradino
As temperatures warm up around most of the globe, it's time to once again
welcome the return of Air Show season. If you've never attended one
before, get ready for a thrilling event. No matter how many times
I photograph these high flying performances, the power and
precision of the pilots never fails to amaze me. While
they are an astonishing sight, the raw speed of the
passing jets can make for a challenging photo
opportunity. This article includes eight
essential tips to help you capture
the big event in your area.

TUTORIAL : Shooting

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Beat the Crowds
Since much of the 2013 flying season was
cancelled due to budget cuts, this year's
shows are expected to smash previous
attendance records. With more than
150,000 people jockeying for a good
vantage point, it's essential you arrive 1-2
hours before the show starts. This allows
you to set up your gear in a prime location
with unobstructed views of the action.
Before settling on a spot, scan the horizon
for any distractions that could block your
lens. The performers usually enter from
the left and right with their stunts done at
show center.

Lens Options
Air shows are usually several hours in duration
and longer lenses can get quite heavy. Image
stabilization is a nice feature, but a tripod will
give your arms a break and allow you to
create sharp images consistently. While
the majority of my aviation work
is shot with longer lenses, I find
that wide angle lenses are also
useful for performance teams
that are spread out in wide
formations. By utilizing a
few different options,
you can capture more
of the action and
come home with a
diverse collection
of images.
Camera
Settings
In order to freeze
the flight of an aircraft
travelling over 500 miles per hour,
you'll need a very fast shutter speed.
For the best results, I recommend at
least 1/1000th of a second. This is quick
enough to stop even the fastest of aircrafts
while also preventing camera shaking. My
exposure is typically around 1/1000, ISO 400,
and f5.6. These settings are not meant to be
exact, but merely a starting point. Depending on the
weather conditions that day, adjustments may be necessary.

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Autofocus Techniques
Most DSLR cameras feature continuous focusing, also known as AI Servo. This mode
will allow you to track moving subjects. Keep your center focusing point over the
aircraft with your shutter held halfway down. As you follow the plane through your
viewfinder, the camera will automatically adjust the focus as the aircraft gets closer.
When you are ready to make an image, simply press the shutter all the way down. Air
Show organizers often arrange photo passes where the pilot flies at a reduced speed.
Don’t get too comfortable though, they return to full speed after just a few slow turns.

The Peak of Action
Smoke trails and afterburner effects are great additions to an aviation image. Be
ready for them, as they happen quickly. The trails of white smoke are actually created
by pumping oil into the exhaust pipe. This is particularly interesting when used by an
entire formation of planes. The patterns of smoke can be used to make for a more
artistic composition. In addition, it adds a bit of contrast to the otherwise plain blue
sky. I also look to capture the interaction between two planes. When pilots are flying
side by side with their wings nearly touching, a great deal of tension is introduced to
the photo. By freezing this moment in time you are also showcasing the precision, and
skill of the daring pilots.
Enough Memory
With all of this fast-paced action, you will likely burn through many memory cards
rapidly. I used to bring a portable hard drive with me and download the contents of
the card while continuing to shoot. This is no longer necessary as large capacity cards
of 32GB are now very reasonably priced. I like to shoot in RAW format whenever
possible. However, if you are short on memory cards, you may want to consider
shooting in the Large/Fine JPEG format. This will allow you to fit more images on the
card than RAW.

36| PicsArt Monthly
Capture The Local Color
For an up close look at some
of these aircrafts, check with
your local airport or military
base for "static displays". From
the ground, you can get a much
better look at details like the
paint scheme, and propellers.
Depending on the venue, you
may even be able to climb inside
the cockpit. Since you will be
very close, a wide angle lens
is the preferred choice here.
Walk around the entire plane
to search for the best angle and
create a strong composition.

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Capture The Local Color
During the brief pauses
in action, turn your lens
towards the people around
you. Spectators can often
yield some interesting
images. Maybe it's time for a
quick selfie as well. Pay special
attention to any signs that may
show the event's name. These
can be used to start and end
your gallery of images.

Creative Edits: A City on a Back of an
Animal
The PicsArt editor makes really cool editing tricks easily available to anyone who has
the will and imagination. You can create some really amazing surreal images with
PicsArt and, to show you what we mean, we have created a tutorial on how to raise
an entire city on the back of an animal by combining photos and applying effects.
This tutorial also introduces users to our recently added feature for Android devices,
which lets users create their own custom clipart! Follow these simple steps to become
a photo wizard with PicsArt.

TUTORIAL : Editing
Step 1: Open Your Photo
Upload an animal photo from the Photo
section of the main menu. Make sure that
your photo features a brightly lit animal in
front of a dark background.

Step 2: Apply the Cinerama Effect
to the Main Photo
Select the Effects icon and choose the
Cinerama effect from the Fx section of
the Effects menu. Save and confirm with
checkmark.

Step 3: Add a New Photo
Select the Add Photo icon and add a photo
of the city you want to place on the back of
the animal.

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Step 4: Apply the Cinerama Effect
Select the top left icon (the Effect icon)
from the menu that appears after you add
a photo. Apply the Cinerama effect, just
like you did with your main photo.

Step 5: Cut and Create Clipart
Select the Scissors icon from the top menu
(i.e. the Free Crop option). Choose the
Lasso option by clicking on the Brush icon.
Use the lasso to cut out the skyline of your
city from the background. Press the Save
as Clipart button at the top of the screen
to save your selection as a clipart image.
This will save your selection in My Clipart
section, allowing you to reuse it on any
image whenever you need it.

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Step 6: Place and Blend the Image
Adjust the size of your city and place it on
the back of the animal. Select and apply
the Lighten blending mode from the menu
below. Confirm the changes you have made.

Step 7: Shape Masks
Select the Shape Mask icon and choose
a shape to frame your photo. Reduce the
opacity to around 30% to go with your shot.
Confirm and save your creation!

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How to Draw Amazing Anime!
Step by Step Tutorial
Anime has a unique style that has garnered global popularity, even fanaticism. This
tutorial demonstrates how to make your very own anime using PicsArt Drawing Tools
and your smart device.
See how PicsArt Drawing Tools make drawing fun and easy, and use this step by step
tutorial to create your very own anime. Who knows? Maybe one day your anime will
become the main character for your own cartoon or comics!
TUTORIAL : Drawing

Step 1: Draw the Basic Outline
Draw a basic outline of your
anime character using simple
strokes in a light blue color
so that you will be able to
distinguish it from other
outlines later on.
Step 2: Refine your Outline
Add a new layer and use your
previous layer as a guide to
draw a more precise outline.
Delete the layer with the blue
outline when finished.

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Step 4: Add Color
Use thick colorful brushes
to add the basic first layer of
colors to your drawing.
Step 3: Final Outline
Reduce the opacity, and add a new layer
for your final outline. Trace a final outline
using clean and deliberate strokes. Make
sure you get all of your details exactly right
and correct previous mistakes. Delete or
hide previous outline layer when done.

Step 5: Add Shading
Add a new layer and outline
the areas of your drawing
you would like to shade.
Color this outline in black
when you are ready.
Step 6: Background Color
Reduce the opacity of your shade layer for a
more subtle shade. Use brighter tones to add
lighting and reflection in your drawing. Finish
your drawing by using a translucent brush to
add shading and texture to your background.
This creates ambiance and gives your anime
character that final touch of realism it needs!

52| PicsArt Monthly
Design a Postcard that
Encapsulates Summer
Vacation
PicsArt has everything you need to create the perfect postcard
using your summer photos. With the right combination of masks,
texts, and clipart, you can create a professional card that perfectly
captures the feelings and images of your fondest summer
vacation memories.
With this tutorial, we’ll show you an example of how to create a
postcard step by step. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make
something look so good in five easy steps!

Step 1: Upload a Photo
Upload a photo from the edit section of the main menu.
TUTORIAL : Design

54| PicsArt Monthly
Step 2: Add Shape Mask
Select the Shape Mask icon from the menu bar and choose a shape mask that fits your
photo best. Customize the color, size, and opacity of the mask.

Step 3: 2nd Shape Mask
Add a second Shape Mask with the same color and opacity as your previous one.
Reverse the mask by checking the box next to Inverse at the bottom right corner.

56| PicsArt Monthly
Step 4: Add Text
Press the Text icon to add text to your postcard. Add your text line by line to
experiment with different fonts, sizes, and colors.

Step 5: Add Clipart
Press the Clipart icon and choose clipart images to add that go with the theme of your
postcard. Customize the size and color to complete your postcard!

PicsArtist Roxy’s Visceral Mobile Art
The series of abstract portraits created by PicsArtist Roxy H.Art (@roxyhart) are
gripping. Not only is her artwork raw and emotionally charged, but it is rendered in a
unique artistic fashion - all on her mobile phone!
At times, Roxy mixes her drawings with photography, blending the two togehter with
a variety of brush strokes and textures. Roxy does not hold back when she faces inner
anguish as an artist, but rather injects this emotion into her work.
Nevertheless, some of her portraits are less jarring, possessing a softer, more poetic
touch. In these portraits, her frustration gives way to melancholy as she tones down
stark reds and peppers her portraits with faded yellows, purples, and blues.
Not long ago, terms like “mobile art” were easily dismissed by the fine art mainstream,
but PicsArtists like Roxy prove that a tablet or smartphone can be just as powerful as
a canvas and paintbrush. The following collection of portraits by Roxy illustrate that,
even without the traditional tools, mobile artwork retains emotion and authenticity.
INSPIRATION : Drawing

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WHAT'S NEW
PicsArt’s Exciting New Features for
iOS and Android Devices
PicsArt recently released some exciting updates for Android and iOS. Most of the new
features were available for both platforms, but they had their slight differences.
The update included two new effects, Dodger and Vintage Ivory. The former softens
your photo with pale colors and ambient lighting, while the latter is inspired by vintage
color palettes and resolutions, but with a new whiter and brighter twist.
PicsArt also gave users the ability to customize the colors of PicsArt Masks with a new
Hue slider. Shape masks offer the opportunity to choose from a variety of shapes to
overlay on your photos, and they have been made even better recently - by adding the
option to customize them by texture, in addition to the previously available color and
opacity.
For a quick fix and speedy share of an image we introduced the Auto Enhance tool,
which automatically brings you the basic best version of your image, while still allowing
you to customize in small ways.
In addition to these commonly shared updates, the two platforms have some
differences as well. iOS users can now customize their collages by adjusting the inner
borders, and can choose from a whole new variety of pre-made grids. iOS users will
also be excited about our updates in the Social Network, as written tags and usernames
written out in comments or photo descriptions now automatically become links to what
they are referencing. This will make it easier for users to discover each other as well as
trending tags.
Don’t worry Android users, you have some cool stuff too! We know that photo stealing
has become an issue in our network, so we have removed the save option for photos.
Now only photos that have #freetoedit tag can be saved and reused by others. If you do
not tag your miages with that tag, no one will be able to save them. We hope that this
will help prevent photo theft and preserve the artistic rights of our creative userbase.

74| PicsArt Monthly
A Brief
Introduction to
Photo History
Although photography as we know it
is among the youngest of the major art
forms, its history can be traced back to
ancient times. Chinese philosopher Mo-
Zi discussed the principles of a camera
obscura in the 4th or 5th century BCE.
For two thousand years it was known
as a small dark room (or box) with a tiny
hole in one wall, through which light
shone and projected an inverted image.
During the late 1500s, Giambattista
della Portia perfected its design by
adding a convex lens to the hole,
making a sharper, more detailed image.
Camera obscuras allowed artists to
trace a scene in ink for a more faithful
reproduction.
The Early Days of Image
Processing
The 18th and 19th centuries saw
a multitude of methods for image
processing and creation. In 1727,
Johann Schulze mixed chalk, silver, and
nitric acid - a very early photosensitive
compound - noting that one side of
the flask darkened when exposed to
sunlight. In 1816, Joseph Nicéphore
Niépce created the world's first
photograph by coating a metal plate in a
silver chloride solution and exposing it
to light for 8 hours. However, he did not
discover a way of permanently fixing
the image for another decade.
William Henry Fox Talbot applied
Niépce's recipe to paper in 1834, fixing
the images with a salt solution and
eventually patenting the first paper
negative as the “Calotype” in 1841.
Meanwhile, Louis Daguerre was
creating the Daguerrotype by coating
copper sheets in silver iodide, creating
a metal negative which he developed
in a solution of mercury. These two
inventions lead to the creation of
photography. To that end, on August
19, 1839 the French government
publicly acknowledged the invention of
photography.
The first glass negative was made by
Frederick Scott Archer in 1851 using
a wet plate collodion process. During
the 1850s, the tintype photograph
emerged; this made the negative image
appear positive by exposing it onto a
dark-coloured metal sheet coated with
collodion, which made the shadows
appear light and the highlights dark.
In 1861, James Clerk-Maxwell realized
that he could photograph a scene three
times, through a red, blue, and green
filter, and project the images on top of
each other to create a full-colour image.
Finally, in 1871, Richard Leach Maddox
suspended the silver solution in gelatin,
creating the dry emulsion which sent
photography skyrocketing. It was
applied first to glass negatives, but
would later find its way onto the thin
plastic film that made photography
possible for the public at large.

The Photographic Boom
By 1878, glass plate negatives were
being manufactured commercially
and, in 1880, George Eastman opened
what would become the Eastman-
Kodak company. Within ten years he
was producing roll film, and in 1900
released the first personal camera, the
Kodak Brownie. In 1907, the Lumière
Brothers released the first commercial
colour film.
Oscar Barnack, working for Leitz
microscopes, pushed camera invention
forward in 1914 with the first 35mm
camera, which was improved upon
and released in 1924 as the first Leica
camera. 1936 saw the introduction
of the modern SLR (single-lens reflex
camera), as well as the legendary
Kodachrome film which finally made
colour photography popular. Polaroid
would release instant black-and-white
film in 1948, followed by the colour
version in 1963.
Students from the Emerson School for Girls
Southworth and Hawes (American, active 1843–1863)
Medium: Daguerreotype
CopyrightofallimagesinthisarticlebelongstoTheMetropolitanMuseumofArt

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Unidentified Woman in Nine Oval Views

The Digital Takeover
The first digital camera was invented in
1975 by Steve Sasson of Kodak, using
CCD sensor technology invented by
Willard Boyle and George Smith in
1969. The birth of auto focus came with
Minolta's Maxxum in 1985, paving the
way for the world's first commercially-
available digital SLR – Kodak's 1.3
megapixel DCS-100, which sold in 1991
for $30,000 USD. Eight years later,
Nikon would wrestle away Kodak's
dominance of the photo industry with
the release of the D1, a 2.7MP model
which went for a comparatively modest
$6000.
In 2003, Canon released the Digital
Rebel, the first consumer-level DSLR
with a price tag under $1000, followed
two years later by the first full-frame
digital camera, the 5D.
Adobe hopped on the digital wave with
the creation of Photoshop in 1990.
A decade later, the first camera phone
was developed by Sharp in the early
years of the new millennium. Kodak
ceased all production of film cameras
in 2004 and, even though the variety
has been pared down, they continue
to produce film for the die-hard analog
market.
In the past ten years the major camera
companies have focused their research
and development almost entirely on
improving their digital technology,
which has now begun to plateau. The
possibilities for future ingenuity now lay
wide open, with endless photographic
possibilities waiting just over the
horizon.
The Reading Establishment
Attributed to William Henry Fox Talbot (British, 1800–1877)
Medium: Salted paper prints from paper negatives

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Lola Montez

Lemuel Shaw

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Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre
John Jabez Edwin Mayall (British, Oldham, Lancashire 1813–1901 West Sussex)
Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negative

View Down Brattle Street from the Southworth & Hawes Studio at 5 1/2 Tremont Row, Boston

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Interview with Celebrity
Photographer Jason Bell
Having shot for publications like Vanity Fair, Vogue, photographed royals, and had
some of his work submitted into Britain’s National Portrait Gallery, Jason Bell has
cemented his place as one of the foremost portrait photographers of his generation.
He has published four books and received more accolades than we have room to
mention. In any case, Jason’s work is the gold-standard when it comes to peering past
the face and into the soul of subject, model, or celebrity. His work has fascinated us
for some time, so we interviewed him to learn more about his work and career.

INERVIEW
All images by and copyright of Jason Bell

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How did you become a photographer?
I just always was. I took pictures a lot as a child and then when I was at school I was
given the keys to the school dark room, which I remember finding a magical place. It
just carried on from there.
You actually studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at Oxford,
and as of today you have photographed some of the most powerful
individuals on earth, from presidents to royals. Is there a correlation
there?
I am a strong believer in researching the people I photograph, so I think it helps that
my education has given me an understanding of what some of them do.

What was it like to take the official christening photographs of Prince
George?
It was an honour to be asked. Everyone kept telling me beforehand how nervous I
would be and that I must be so stressed. But I actually felt very relaxed throughout.
They gave me all the time I needed to prepare and were very friendly and relaxed. I
enjoyed it.

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Many of your photos are part of the permanent collection of the National
Portrait Gallery, the United Kingdom’s official gallery for portraits of
historical British people. Your work is national history. How does this
feel?
I try not to think of it in those terms, but more about what I want to say about the
person I’m photographing, or what I can encourage them to reveal.
Are there any portraits of yours in the National Portrait Gallery that
stand out as favourites?
My favourites tend to be favourites because they are people I have felt a particular
connection with or even become friends with. I try to do that with everyone I
photograph but obviously it happens with some people more than others.

You’ve captured a lot of artists and entertainers as well. What is it like
photographing celebrities?
I am lucky in that I photographed some famous people very early on in my career so I
got used to it very quickly, and it is not something that I find difficult to deal with at all
now. They are just people like everybody else and usually enjoy being treated as such.
You did the movie posters for modern British classic like Billy Elliot and
Love Actually. How is shooting a movie poster different from capturing a
portrait?
It tends to be much more art directed so I have less freedom to just do what I want
and have to follow a brief more carefully. In those instances I try to follow that brief
and then give them something in addition, that they maybe didn’t know they wanted.

94| PicsArt Monthly
Have you ever photographed someone who had maybe been a role
model of some kind for you, or maybe just admired greatly?
Yes - very early on in my career I was sent to Iceland to photograph Bjork. I had been
listening to that first album of hers all summer and so was a bit of a fan. It actually
kind of got in the way initially, me being a fan, and I had to get past that as quickly as
possible to find the person I wanted to photograph.
What was the most surreal moment you ever experienced during a
photography shoot?
I was shooting a campaign for the Royal Opera House of a Chinese opera singer called
Liping Zhang, in a beautiful area near the Mongolian border. We were assured the
weather would be OK since it was late spring but a freak snowstorm came through,
so we were all freezing and inappropriately dressed and we had to bundle her up in
Chinese army coats to keep her warm, and at the last moment there was so much
snow we couldn’t even drive her to the spot where I wanted to photograph her, so in
order to get her there we had to rent a camel to put her on.

98| PicsArt Monthly
What advice would you give to amatuer photographers?
Many of the students and amateurs who come to see me show me a little bit of
everything. That is unlikely to get you commissioned when you are starting out. So I
think it’s better to concentrate on one thing and do it very well at the beginning and
then when that goes well you can branch out.

102| PicsArt Monthly
Bewitched by Blight
A building in ruins hangs together by what
seems like threads. One of the upper floors
sags precariously, just inches above the
head of a young woman who strolls absent-
mindedly with a teddy-bear in hand. It seems
possible that, at any moment, the whole
structure could come crashing down. Lady
Luck we presume?
Danny Aguirre (@danny-aguirre-142) is the
PicsArtist responsible for this Photo of the
Month, entitled "Lady Luck." Aguirre edited
this image to perfection, transplanting a
young, lively and vibrant woman into a world
of decay. In this manner, the photo speaks to
us through contrast.
Darkly lit ruins, once full of life, now sit
forgotten, surrounded by sick yellow skies.
The deteriorating building bears down on
an unwary and carefree youth (Lady Luck),
ambling at the mercy of its behemonth
broken structure. In this peculiar and eerie
scene, Aguirre captivates his audience while
conveying the promise of the unexpected.
In an ever-changing world, Aguirre has
captured the aesthetic beauty of a building
that has passed its prime. However, in it's old
age, the building has become something else
entirely: a peculiar and curious space open to
imaginative interpretation. This is, perhaps,
the luck that the young lady pictured in the
image and Aguirre's audience have stumbled
upon: an unexpected opportunity to reflect
on the present in light of the past. Through
his creative vision, Aguirre allows us to study
ourselves and the physical structures we
leave behind for future generations.
@danny-aguirre-142

A Photographer’s Guide to the US
The most unique shots in America and where to get them
Kelso San Dunes, Mojave Desert
If you’re looking for a unique photography opportunity, head for the Kelso Sand
Dunes - mountainous piles of sand that seem to spring up from nowhere in the middle
of the Mojave Desert. The tallest dunes can rise up to 650 feet above the surrounding
terrain. In this setting, a well-timed hike might allow you photograph the sunset from
a phenomenal vantage point. A couple words of caution: be sure to take a flashlight in
order to get back to your car and never go alone.
If you don’t make it to the sand dunes, don't despair. The spectacular darkness of the
Mojave desert translates into spectacular nighttime photography. With almost no
ambient light (apart from the stars and the vague glow over the horizon coming from
Las Vegas), the Mojave is the perfect place to experiment with time lapse night shots
and double exposures. This is a surefire way to snap some fantastic shots.
@hp1986

@hp1986 FEATURE : Destination

The Redwood
Forests,
California
If you drive down
the west coast
of California on
Route 1, you’ll
suddenly find
yourself in a
magical landscape
of trees so tall
that you feel like
a tiny critter. The
redwood forests
in California are
truly a sight to
behold, and the
deep ochre of
the tree barks is
spectacular to
see.
Driving through
this area is
fantastic, but
make sure that
you park up and
go exploring with
your camera. This
is one of the best
places for nature
photography.
The way the light
streams through
the canopy in the
late afternoon
is nothing short
of breathtaking:
a must see
for every
photographer.
@bobbyle

@usmany1974

@wendizzle

Tucson, Arizona
Tucson may not seem like a photographer’s haven; and, if you visit in July, when the
temperatures soar to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it certainly won’t feel like it either!
However, the landscape of this often-forgotten city makes for some truly breathtaking
sunsets and sunrises where flat land gives way to gorgeous mountains ensconced by
sunlight.
If you visit Tucson, you'll also find that it is an unlikely hotbed of culture and art. With a
history that goes back much further than many of its neighbors in the south west, Tucson
boasts remarkable architecture, historic neighborhoods, and museums, not to mention
the Mission San Xavier del Bac, an 18th-century mission that is still functioning. What's
more, the city has a distinctly Western flavor in light of pervasive Native American and
Mexican influences. After the sun goes down, you’ll also find art events and bars alive
with music and bonding in a comfy college-town atmosphere, which means that you can
capture some great shots of people simply being themselves.
@nasir61980

@sweetdreamsinsmiles@everythingilikenm

DIY Wall Decorations for Kid's Room
Artists start young, so here we want to show how you can nurture art into a child by
decorating his room, so he starts seeing and valuing creativity from his early days.
This DIY tutorial is so easy to do, that if you have elder children you can involve them
in the process of making these awsome wall hangings. Make a collage in minutes that
will be an impressive surprise for everyone, and give you a proud piece of original
artwork to hang on the wall in your kid's room.
For this project, you’ll need a color printer, markers, scissors, glue, 2 pieces of
ordinary cardboard and 4 equal-sized colorfull cardboards or canvas.
Step 1: Print
Find some awesome characters online by either browsing clipart in the PicsArt Shop,
or googling cartoon images. Also, print out some basic colors or patterns to cut into
shapes. If you don't like the color of your background cardboards or canvases, you
can either color them with paint or print out patterns to make your backgrounds
more colorful.
Step 2: Cut
Cut out your characters carefully and glue them on cardboard. Now cut out the
cardboard in the shape of your characters. Be sure to cut out shapes for the scenery
of your collage, like clouds and trees. There is no need to glue them on an additional
cardboard if you do not want to make them look 3D.
Step 3: Create 3D Elements
Identify some parts of the animals you want to highlight: like tails, eyes, or ears. Cut
out two of those parts from cardboard and glue one over the other, so that the one
with patterns stays on top.
Step 4: Glue
Glue your shapes onto 4 pieces of cardboard. Start with the scenery (trees and
clouds), then glue on your characters, then glue on their cool colored double-layered
body parts to make them stand out. As a result, you will have 3D-like animals or any
other items you want.
Step 6: Draw Parts and Write Messages
You can draw some fine elements into your collage using ordinary colorful markers.
You can also write a message on your collage with a marker. Your creations are now
ready to make your child smile!

Daniel’s Twisted Animal
Crime Lineup
Great artists know how to turn heads with their art, and that is
certainly the case with PicsArtist of the Month, Daniel
(@n3cr0n0m1c0n). However, when he turns heads, he turns
them into something else. Daniel has recently unveiled a
series of photos that replace the head of a human body
with various animal heads - the only exception being an
awesome Star Wars stormtrooper helmet.
In each photo of the series, Daniel's body dons a
different head. Nevertheless, he is shown wearing
the same clothes - a leather jacket with a zipper
that runs diagonally across his torso into the
side of his collar. The thing about Daniel’s
photos is that the details of their construction
work really well together to create a dark
artistic vision with grungy undertones.
Despite this odd synergy, each photo is
posed with a nonchalance that seems to
undermine the strangeness of it all, every
shot displaying the emotional expression
of a criminal lineup or mugshot. The body
takes on a neutral stance and the animal
heads stare with vacant expressions, as
if silently counting the seconds for the
camera shutter to click so they can walk
off and do something else. The overall
emotional effect is weird, uneasy, slightly
comic, and extremely captivating.

FEATURE : Artist

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