@picn2k camera might just be the travel (photography) companion of our dreams. The pictures it creates are ambient, the colours nuanced and soft. In short, it perfectly captures travel memories that will last a lifetime. The incredibly talented photographer Jongbeom Lee has created @picn2k camera’s atmospheric filters that you can use to produce stunning photos whether you’re a nature explorer or city voyager.
“What we’ve seen in our travels becomes hazy over time, low-definition memories as if they had been a dream. My intention was to create a filter that would replicate that sensibility.”
Jongbeom collaborates on @picn2k camera with a group of like-minded developers and while he is responsible for devising new photo filters for the app, the three developers (former IT company employees) oversee design and programming. And this dynamic is certainly proving successful.
Each month, the app is updated with an original Scene – a customised filter that you can choose according to your mood or even the weather. Along with this, Jongbeom shares one of his own beautiful pictures which uses the new filter and he gives specifics on how it was edited and adjusted. Think of it as an exhibition area for his impressive portfolio of work, doubling as a handy reference point to help you create your own amazing travel photos.
Here are his tips for perfecting the art of the travel photo.
1. Accentuate with primary colours
“In nature, colours are often not diverse enough, and this can make for a boring photo. I chose the OK 4 filter because it’s great for sprucing up colours. Sometimes, wearing primary colours like red or yellow can make eye-catching photographs of people in nature.”
2. Apply SP to indoor photos
“The SP series of filters are great for adding warmth. It washes over the photo with a singular, warm, tone. It does not accentuate colours as much, so I use it mostly for indoor shots and food.”
3. Always use the iPhone camera grid
“Photography is dubbed as ‘the art of negative space’. So less is better. But it’s a little more complicated than that here: the sky, buildings, trees and cars. The least you can do is to get the framing perfectly perpendicular.
My iPhone camera setting always has grids on the screen. I used the grid to truncate the screen between the buildings and the sky. Then I split the frame into three, so each space is occupied by a pillar, trees and a car.
When we were making @picn2k camera, one of the first features I requested our developers was an in-camera grid. Even users who are all thumbs with photography can get pretty good shots as long as they line up horizontal and vertical lines with the grid.”
4. Pink is key for sunsets and nightscapes
“City nightscapes often have an overall amber tinge because of the lights. Choose the right TK filter for sunsets and nightscapes to dial down the yellow and bring out the original colours. For the nightscape photo of Hong Kong, I used the TK 4 filter, then raised TINT to add a bit of rosiness. Tap on the water droplet icon in the app to adjust tint.”
5. Capture the full perspective
A big part of our focus is on providing guides that enable users simple and effective ways to create great photos, even without cutting-edge camera performance or technology.
“This was taken using a DSLR. When people see photos, their attention is first drawn to the person in the shot, and then to where the person is looking, before taking in the whole photo. So if the figure is looking straight ahead showing only the back in the picture, the viewer’s gaze also becomes stuck on the figure. However, as seen here, even a slight turn or tilt of the head can completely change that. It is no longer just a photo of someone’s back, but a photo of a stargazer.”