Mac OS X Mountain Lion Camera and Photos
Author: mety Labels:: Mac OS X Mountain Lion Camera and Photos
Mac OS X Mountain Lion
Camera and Photos
Camera
The Camera app is your resource for taking photos with your mobile device, as well as HD videos that have high-quality picture and sound. It's designed to work closely with the Photos app, which lets you view, organize, and edit the media you've captured.
If you have one of the newer models, you can even take advantage of your device's front and back camera to photograph what's in front of you, or take a self portrait instead. The interface is similar across devices, so you should be able to learn your way around the app fairly quickly.
Click the arrows to view Camera on each device.
Camera is not available for the Mac. However, you can still take photos with your computer (front-facing only) using an app called Photo Booth. We'll take a closer look at Photo Booth on the last page of this lesson.
Have More Than One Apple Device?
Your device's camera is more of a utility than an app, so syncing doesn't really apply here. You can sync your photos and videos, however, using a feature called Photo Stream.
Getting to Know Camera
As you already know, the Camera app is different on each device—but there are many similarities when it comes to basic tools and features. Use the interactive below to learn how to perform several common tasks in the iPhoneversion.
Insider Tips
Once you know your way around the app, consider these tips for getting the most out of Camera.
Quick Access to Camera
On the iPhone and iPod Touch, you can access Camera even more quickly using the icon on your lock screen. Just drag the icon up, and the app will open instantly—there's no need to unlock your device first.
Quick access to CameraZooming In and Out
To zoom in or out in the Camera app, use the pinch gesture. This option is great for taking close-up photos when you can't get close enough to your subject (for example, in a crowd, at a public event, or when photographing wildlife).
Zoomed in
Zoomed out
Sharing a photo
The Edit button
Editing a photo
The Photo Booth App
Accessing your Photo Stream
Creating a calendar in iPhoto
You may want to use this feature sparingly if image quality is important to you. Because Apple devices don't have an actual zoom lens, the picture will start to appear grainy as you zoom in more and more.
Taking Screenshots
To take a screenshot on an Apple mobile device, all you have to do is press the Home button and the Sleep/Wakebutton at the same time. This will take a photo of what's on your screen—just like all the images you've seen throughout this tutorial.
Photos
What happens when you take a photo or video on your device? It goes straight to the Photos app. Photos is where you'll be able to view and manage of all your media—including miscellaneous photos and videos that you've saved to your device (from an email, text message, or anywhere on the web).
You can use Photos to create slideshows, organize your photos and videos into albums, and share media in a variety of different ways. You can even sync the app across devices using a feature called Photo Stream, so you can access your photos anytime. Check out Apple's overview of Photo Stream to learn more about how it works.
Click the arrows to view Photos on each device.
Photos is not available for the Mac. However, you can still manage your photos and access Photo Streamusing an app called iPhoto. We'll take a closer look at iPhoto on the last page of this lesson.
Have More Than One Apple Device?
Use iCloud to sync your photos via Photo Stream. To find out if you already have it enabled, visit your device's iCloud settings. Remember, you have to configure each device separately.
Getting to Know Photos
As you already know, the Photos app is different on each device—but there are many similarities when it comes to basic tools and features. Use the interactive below to learn how to perform several common tasks in the iPadversion.
Insider Tips
Once you know your way around the app, consider these tips for getting the most out of Photos.
Sharing Photos
Sharing photos and videos from the Photos app is easy. All you have to do is tap the Share button 
anytime you see it (for example, when you're viewing an image in full-screen mode). From there, you'll be able to share the photo on Twitter or Facebook, or send it in a text. You can even assign the image to a contact, or make it your device's wallpaper.
anytime you see it (for example, when you're viewing an image in full-screen mode). From there, you'll be able to share the photo on Twitter or Facebook, or send it in a text. You can even assign the image to a contact, or make it your device's wallpaper.Sharing a photoEditing Photos
The Photos app also lets you edit your photos with simple options like rotate, enhance, remove red-eye, and crop. This is a great resource for correcting minor problems with your photos, without having to switch to an advanced image editor.
To access the editing options, tap Edit while viewing a photo in full-screen mode.
The Edit button
Your options will appear at the bottom of the screen. Remember to tap Save when you're done.
Editing a photoMore Camera and Photo Apps
Photo Booth
You can use Photo Booth to take fun snapshots of you and your friends. Just like the Camera app, it uses your device's built-in camera to capture photos—the difference is that it comes with a wide range of special effects for you to choose from. For example, you can apply a stretch, X-ray, or thermal camera effect. You can also use the app to take regular portraits, without applying any effects at all.
The Photo Booth App
Photo Booth is available for the iPad and Mac only.
iPhoto
iPhoto is the Mac equivalent of the Photos app. Not only can it be used to manage the photos on your computer—it also gives you access to Photo Stream, where you can view and edit photos that you've taken on other devices.
Accessing your Photo Stream
iPhoto also comes with several other features that Photos doesn't have, including Facebook integration and advanced editing. You can even use the app to create cards, books, and other printed materials from your photos. Just pick a template, and iPhoto will walk you through the process. When you're done, you can order the final product from their printing press.
Creating a calendar in iPhoto
iPhoto comes built into the Mac. A mobile version can be purchased for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.
In the App Store
Other mobile apps from third-party developers (i.e., apps that are supported by Apple, but not developed by Apple) can be downloaded in the App Store. There, you'll find a wide variety of tools that can help you take, edit, and share photos. For example:
- Instagram for taking photos and applying filters
- Camera Awesome also for taking photos and applying filters
- Adobe Photoshop Express for editing photos
- Adobe Photoshop Touch for advanced editing
