IPhoneography

I recently wrote a guest post for the wonderful lifestyle blog A Bubbly Life written by the very sweet Laurel. In it I wrote all about my favorite two apps for editing photographs on your phone. I wanted to share the post here with all of you, and to tell you that I am going to be introducing you to another fantastic FREE app later on this week. You don't want to miss this one, it's like Instagram & A Beautiful Mess combined…it's beautiful. But for today, here is a quick post on tips for photography using just your phone.

As a blogger, I have come to really appreciate the true value of good quality photographs, and since getting my first 'proper' camera (the Canon pictured above) a few years ago I can really see the difference the photographs have made to my blog from a professional point of view. But, carrying a big, heavy camera around all day just to capture my coffee dates just get frustrating. And then I have to fiddle and play around with the settings to get the light just right, and never mind the editing that comes afterwards.

But, after getting my first iPhone last year, I cannot tell you how it has revolutionized my blogging. I am able to quickly snap bits of pretty-ness as I walk to work, sit at my desk and especially, while out and about with friends.

I can edit, add text and upload them to my blog in a matter of seconds. AMAZING!

Today I want to share with you my two favourite apps for blogging. I hope you find them useful. I have mentioned them both on numerous occasions on my blog and Facebook page, and that's because I think the are just wonderful.

One of them is only for the iPhone (Instagram) but A Beautiful Mess is for Android users too. If you know of any other great apps that you love to use, please pop me a comment below.

Happy Snapping!

Instagram has been around for a while, but it is still one of my absolute favourite apps for quick and easy editing on my iPhone. When posting photographs to my instagram feed I try and use the same filter so ensure consistency with my brand. It also looks a lot neater and is easier on the eyes when my photographs have a similar feel to them. But that is completely up to you, you can go wild with the filters and frames available and are only limited by your imagination! Download Instagram for free through Itunes.

Here are some images I've edited using the Valencia filter:

When you take photographs on your phone, play around with angles and make use of as much natural light as you can. Using a flash really takes away from the natural feel of your photographs and makes the look plain and artificial. Natural light is softer and more forgiving on people and products.

A Beautiful Mess is a photo editing app designed and developed my one of my favourite blogs...A Beautiful Mess. This app allows you to add backgrounds, make collages, add text, add cute doodles and frames and change the colour of each of those elements. Its super easy to use and the results are pretty amazing. I often get readers asking how I add all these effects to my photos, and it's so simple. This app has also recently been released for Android users. You can download it through the Itunes store for .99c

All of the photographs above were taken with my iPhone 4S. Nothing too fancy, but with a little bit of time and thought, you can really make your pictures pop! Do you have any other tips for taking great photographs with your phone?

Look out for my new favorite app coming to the blog soon.

Vietnam through Photographs

Farmboy and I escaped the cold of South Korea for the sun, sea and sand of Vietnam over Christmas time last year. Or that's what we thought we were doing when we booked our flights the months previous, but only a few weeks before leaving we were told it had been snowing up North in Sapa, right where we were headed.

In spite of the chilly weather we experienced in the North, the central regions were wonderfully warm and we even managed to get two swims in! Our pale forms were a bit of a sight, but with our smiles we blended right in with the other tourists. We are known for searching out the quieter parts of cities and countries, but we were unable to escape the crowds in Sapa and Hoi An. We didn't mind though, it's all part and parcel of traveling these days.

I will be posting more in depth information on our 12 day trip to Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay & Hoi An) but for now I leave you with some photographs from an epic trip to an incredible country. It was one of our most favourite trips so far (even being on par with our honeymoon to the Greek Islands) and we will most certainly be going back to HoiAn.

The food was amazing and incredible cheap, the public transport, or rather the transport that was most readily available (metered taxis) were a complete rip off and despite being one of the most budget friendly countries in South East Asia, it became our most expensive trip due to missing our flight home. Thankfully we teach English in Korea, and can just about afford to make that mistake once, and only once. Besides, we got to spend 12 hours at the airport with no money, 1 coke, 1 bowl of Pho noodles and the movie Frozen on Farmboys ipad with 13% battery life...what more could you want for your last day of holiday together.

Enjoy

x

Photography Styling Challenge {patterns}

Today is my fourth contribution to the wonderful monthly Photography Styling Challenge that Redesigned By M started in June last year. 

My first submission was Morning {click here} followed by Bedroom {click here} and Order {click here}. Each theme or concept is open to interpretation by the photographer, and it has been really interesting seeing how each of us has handled the theme in a different way.

The theme for this month is Patterns, and I couldn't wait to get started photographing the pretty stationery that is on offer here in South Korea. 

The photographs cannot be edited in anyway, and only a maximum of five images may be posted. This is always difficult for me as I am tend to take so many photographs that I struggle to choose the best ones. Each one appeals to me in a different way. But, in essence this is exactly the point of the challenge...to better yourself as a photographer and stylist. One of the biggest challenges for myself this year as a photographer is to shoot with more purpose, and not to just snap away and hope that 1 out of the 400 images i capture comes out exactly as I envision it. So yes, this series has been challenging, but I've learnt a lot about myself as a photographer and about my equipment too. 

Here are my five chosen images for this photography challenge. I styled my shoot in my bedroom to maximise the soft morning light that comes through our one and only window, and I used a piece of white foam board as a reflector and base.

I used the following settings on my NIkon d300s & 35mm 1.8 lens:

-ISO 400

-Aperture variation of 1.8 - 2.5

-Shutter-speed 320

-I had my white balance on cloudy and used only natural light (no flash was used).

I am going to start including my settings used in this challenge to give you an idea of how you can recreate the style of these images. I am constantly learning every time I pick up my camera too, but I hope these help you a little in your photographic journey. 

Make sure to check out the other participants of this challenge:

Redesigned By M

At The Corner Of Happy And Harried

My Food Tapestry

Inge Kathleen Photography

A Woven Life

The Delicious World Of Chefette Spicy

A Tree Grows in the Bayou

I Live Under A Rock

Hooked On Homes

Cambodia Through Photographs

When Farmboy and I were living in South Korea back in 2010, we headed over to Cambodia for the first of our holidays.

Here are a few photographs from our travels through an incredible country full history. They were mostly taken by Farmboy, I learned everything I know about photography from him.

We spent time in Siem Riep so we could see the Angkor Wat temples and ruins, took an over night bus to the coastal town of Sihnoukville and from there, a boat took us to paradise (aka Lazy Beach).

You can read a full in-depth post on the how's and the what's over here on our old travel blog. 

We were a little younger in these photographs, and we have learnt since learnt a little more about traveling and what to pack (most importantly a first aid kit for the bumps and scratches and tummy aches you will inevitably endure). 

If you have any questions about our trip, please feel free to pop me an email here.

x

Happy Weekend!

We're in for more snow this weekend...here's a little glimpse into the snow we've had over the past couple of weeks. Some of these were taken on my walk home from school last week, and the last one was taken by Farmboy out and about in Jinan one weekend.

This weekend I plan on getting crafty with some last minute Christmas decorations, and I am off in search of a pan to bake my granny's special Apple Crumble...here's to hoping I can find something suitable in my little town.

Have a lovely weekend! 

x

Do you have any exciting plans on this the last weekend before Christmas?

x

Photography Styling Challenge {Order}

Today is the third month that I have been contributing to the wonderful Photography Styling Challenge that Redesigned By M started back in June this year. 

My first submission was Morning {click here} and then Bedroom {click here}. Each theme or concept is open to interpretation by the photographer, and it has been awesome seeing how each of us has handled the theme in a different way.

This week's theme is Order (organization) and there are elements in this theme that we have to use for the next theme, which is Chaos.

So that sure made things a bit tricky.

The photographs cannot be edited in anyway (this was so hard for me and the horrid green tables and artificial light in the classroom just wan't doing my images any favours) but I was able to resist. Also, only five images can be posted, this is always difficult for me as I am tend to take so many photographs and I struggle to choose the best ones. Each one appeals to me in a different way. So yes, this series has been challenging, but I've learnt so much about myself as a photographer and about my equipment too. 

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I love all things pretty, and dainty, and full of pastel and pretty pink bows. But, as this is a photography challenge, I really wanted to challenge myself to take some photographs that are different from my usual subject matter. I decided to shoot one of my classrooms here in South Korea. At the start of the school day all the students have all their things in order, and wait patiently for the school bell to announce the start of the day. By late afternoon, the classroom is in complete disarray. Papers flying all over the show, girls screaming, hair curlers lying on desks and milk cartons scattered about. It's quite a sight. You can check back next month for photographs of the chaos of a Girls Middle School.

For now, here are a few shots of order and calm at the start of a school day.

Make sure to pop on over to the other members of our team, to see their interpretation of Order:

Redesigned By M

redlovinpixie

At The Corner Of Happy And Harried

My Food Tapestry

Inge Kathleen Photography

Pies And Puggles

A Woven Life

City Girl Searching

The Delicious World Of Chefette Spicy

A Tree Grows in the Bayou

I Live Under A Rock

Hooked On Homes

Autumn in South Korea {Naejang Mountain, Jeungeup, Korea}

Here are some photographs from our trip to one of the most famous mountains to see the Autumn leaves here in Korea; Naejang Mountain. We were told that the weekend we had decided to go was THE weekend to see the leaves, and although you can't really tell from the photographs (I am a bit of an artist at concealing unwanted elements!) the WHOLE of Korea seemed to be with us to see the colourful show of nature.

It was spectacular, we simply have nothing like this back home in South Africa, and I literally had to be dragged away from each and every tree (you can only have so many photographs of leaves I was told).

Christmas Styled Shoot

A little peek into a lovely styled shoot I did this weekend...and a shot of behind the scenes (it is winter here so please excuse the oversized pj's!) to give you an idea of what goes into a photoshoot like this one.

Happy Tuesday everyone, Christmas is just around the corner!
x

Photography Styling Challenge {Bedroom}

Today marks the second month of Redesigned by M's wonderful photography styling challenge. Each month we are given a new theme, and we have until the first Monday of the next month to post our photographs. The photographs must be unedited, and must have been taken since the start of the challenge in June this year. Click here to see my photographs from last months theme {Morning}.

Some of my thoughts behind my shoot:

These photographs are of my friend Cassandra's room here in South Korea. Here in Korea, as part of our contracts with our schools, we are provided with housing. Now housing is a pretty strong word for most of our accommodation. For the majority of us, we are given a single, one room apartment (one room meaning that that one room is your bedroom, kitchen, lounge, study and entertainment area). We eat in our 'rooms', we get ready in them, we relax in them, we sleep in them. Thank you to the lovely Cassandra for all her idea's, and for putting up with me climbing all over her pretty room.

On that note, here are my submissions for the theme {bedroom}:

If you'd like to find out more or even join us in this wonderful challenge,click here

Make sure to pop on over to see the other members of our challenge:

Redesigned By M

redlovinpixie

At The Corner Of Happy And Harried

My Food Tapestry

Inge Kathleen Photography

Pies And Puggles

A Woven Life

City Girl Searching

The Delicious World Of Chefette Spicy

I Live Under A Rock

A Tree Grows in the Bayou

Fun & Flirty Photoshoot...Laura Whang

Last weekend I took some photographs for a new friend. Readers, meet Laura. Laura is a newlywed, she is married to Rich who is Korean American, and they have just landed on South Korean soil for the start of what will {hopefully be} a long stay. 

I am helping Laura re-brand her blog, which at the moment is housed over here. She writes hilariously about her adventures here in Korea (she is a whole lot more funny than me, and she writes so well). If you'd like to get more of a feel of life here in Korea and the odd things that happen to us on a daily basis, pop ob over to her blog and say hello. I will let you all know when her new site is up and running, and you can get a little feel for the other creative things I have been keeping myself busy with (blog re-branding). 

Traditional Hanbok Wedding Shoot...James & Minhee

Last weekend I went off on a little adventure without my hubby side kick, to the traditional South Korean Hanok Village in Jeonju. It was there that I met up and photographed a delightful couple, James & Minhee.

Mr & Mrs Urban got married in July this year, and as a way of celebrating Minhee's South Korean heritage, they wanted to have some photographs of themselves in the traditional Korean Hanbok (wedding dress) to show James' family back in America. I was thrilled that they chose me to be their photographer, as this is the first shoot of this kind that I have done (and I hope to do many more!). 

James and Minheem you two were a delight to photograph (Minhee was just as easy as sunshine to capture, and her natural beauty just shines though...no editing needed!). 

I wish the two of you have a lifetime of happiness and joy, wherever your futures may lead you.

{Minhee...I hope you enjoy these photographs, the rest of them will be on their way to you soon!}

Photography Styling Challenge {Morning}

I have joined a  wonderful new photography challenge held by Redesigned by M. The challenge is designed around styling your own workspace for your photoshoot and was created with two main outcomes: learning how to use your camera in its fullest capacity, and learning how to be your own stylist for a shoot.

I absolutely loved this challenge, as for me, the best part of any shoot is the styling element, where I have to move around objects to create the 'perfect' shot. Personally, when I take photographs, what I love most is the small details, the tiny bits that make up the whole. This is exactly what I get to do with this challenge. 

No editing may be done to the photographs, apart from edge cropping, and all photographs have to have been taken since the start of this challenge in June this year.

If you'd like to know more or if you want to join the challenge, pop on over toRedesigned by M.

This months theme was {Morning}

I spent a lot of time thinking about this theme, how to make it unique, trying to get all artsy farsty with it.  I really wanted to use the beautiful natural light that comes in through our bedroom window here in Korea and brainstormed how to style my shoot around that.

Here are the results. Hubby had to be very patient with me, but I quite like how the photographs came out.

What do you think?

Make sure to check out the following other bloggers and their entries for this challenge:

Redesigned By M

redlovinpixie

At The Corner Of Happy And Harried

My Food Tapestry
Inge Kathleen Photography

Pies And Puggles

A Woven Life

The Delicious World Of Chefette Spicy

Portrait Session {Caitlyn de Beer Life Coaching}

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting up with a client (who has since become a lovely new friend!) who needed some branding done for her new website and blog. During the weeks leading up to our meeting we also decided she needed some new photographs for the website as well as new graphics. 

Caitltyn is also here in South Korea teaching English, but she is also a qualified life coach and helps people set and achieve goals to get them to where they want to be in life. Her aim is to make your dreams come true through her guidance (and the odd shove) in the right direction. If you're interested in hearing more about what she does, pop on over to her website CaitlynDeBeer.

Here are some of the photographs from our shoot. Caitlyn was so easy to photograph (I mean, just look at her!) and I had such a fun time doing it. 

If you are here in Korea and want some new pretty pictures for your blog/website/facebook/family, please feel free to pop me an email here citygirlsearching{at}gmail{dot}com or use the contact page above. You can also see more of my work on my Facebook page RoxyPictures.

I look forward to hearing from you.

x

A love for film photography

I found these old photographs Farmboy and I took a couple of years ago after we had just got back from our first stint teaching here in Korea. It's times like these that I remember what makes film special. The fact that you can't undo the photograph. The time spent patiently waiting for the roll to end. The rush of excitement walking home from the developer clutching that white envelope. Reliving a single memory in its entirety.

Have you ever played around with film before?

x

Malaysia in black and white

Here are a few  black and white photographs of our recent  trip to Malaysia in August this year. 

There's something special about black and white photography, too much and its over kill, but just the right amount and its perfect. 

I used to think black and white was the lazy photographers best friend, but I have since changed my mind. 

Sometimes, simple is best. 

Here are my favourites:

How to edit photographs for Instagram

When I first got on the Instagram train I was intimated by all the incredible images on my feed. Never in a million years did I think I would ever get more than one like (thanks hubby!) and never did I think people would comment and tell me they loved my feed. 

I'm still learning as I go, but here are a few tips that I hope you'll find useful. 

The best piece of advice anyone ever gave me was this: "If you're feeling uninspired, find images that you feel drawn to and try and recreate them". You'll stimulate your creativity and learn just how to create the images that you enjoy looking at. Then use that knowledge to create your own original material. 

I recreate images I love for my own personal use, I don't want to infringe on anyones copy write, but at the same time we all have to start somewhere, and thats a pretty good place to start.

Here are a few tips of how to take your photographs and what apps I use to edit. The photograph on the left is the original image, and the one on the right is the 'after' product.

All of the photos below were taken with my iPhone 4s.

Think carefully about what you want to photograph. Think about the different angles you can take the photograph. Think about using/not using props, as well as your background. Some of the most beautiful images I have seen have plain, white backgrounds that don't distract.

Then snap, snap snap. Take 2 photo's of the same thing, heavens go ahead and take 100! Each time try change one thing and then look at which ones you like the best.

Natural light works wonders! Try placing objects near a window for soft, natural looking images. Bright natural light when enhanced with Instagram effects, for example Valencia, will give you a similar look and feel to these two images below. 

I mainly use the wonderful A Beautiful Messapp when editing for Instagram. It's one of my favourite apps for adding text, frames and cute doodles onto photographs. A lot of the images in my Instagram feed have been edited in the A Beautiful Mess app, and then uploaded to Instagram and run through different effects until I am happy

A Beautiful Mess app can be found on the Itunes store (click here). The app itself costs $.99 and is packed full of features. You can purchase additional effects/doodles/borders/text easily through the app itself. I have the basic $.99 version and its perfect for what I need.

To see more of my photographs on Instagram, follow along @roxypearce.

I hope you've found this helpful, if you have any questions please pop me a comment below.

Happy snapping!

xxx

CityGirlSearching Photography

Hello friends! 

I am now available for freelance photography work. I am currently based in South Korea and so will only be able to photograph locally here for the time being.

Here are a few photographs I've taken at weddings/engagement shoots or while out and about having adventures. If you would like to see more, please click here to see my Facebook page!

Feel free to drop me a line for my rates and packages. I look forward to hearing from you.

xxx

The Perhentian Islands {Malaysia}

Here are some of the highlights of our incredible holiday in Malaysia. We landed in Kuala Lumpur and speedily made our way straight to the Perhentian Islands on the East coast of mainland Malaysia.

These are my photographs of our trip, from our afternoon in Kuala Lumpur, to the Islands, and to the incredible market in Khota Bharu. Later this week I'll try and post Farmboys photographs too.

For information on getting there, where we stayed and other useful travel info, head on over to our travel blog Farmboy & Citygirl where I'll have a post up soon on the nitty gritty of our trip.

Enjoy

x

Anna Inghardt Photography

Lately I have been developing a deep appreciation for film photography. There is something special about film. Although the film effect can be reproduced through various editing programs, the feel of holding your very own roll of film, patiently waiting to get them developed, and finally holding the finished photographs in your hands is something that digital just can't beat. 

I'm not sure if these images from the very talented Swedish photographer Anna Inghardt were taken on film, but they do have the light and whimsical feel associated with it. 

I am in love with each and every one. 

Do you like the white on white colours? How do you feel about the grainy texture? Do they make you want to whip our your camera, find some white percale linen and get snapping as much as I do?

x

I'm back!

Farmboy and I have just settled back into our little apartment after an incredible week in Malaysia. 2 flights, 3 taxis, 2 buses, 1 subway & copious amounts of walking...we finally touched back down on Korean soil this afternoon...what a journey home, I'm shattered!

I can't wait to share the photographs with all of you, and let you know what it was like. Here are a few instagram snaps until I get editing. I hope you are all having a wonderful relaxing weekend.

x

All of these photographs were taken with my iPhone, and most were edited with the wonderful #ABeautifulMess app. Click here to find out more about more about it.