PicsArt Monthly January 2014 Issue

Monthly
Issue #04 | January 2014

Using Double Exposure
to Tell a Story

Interview with
Photographer
Tom Robinson

Create Your Own Animal
Hybrid with the PicsArt App
PicsArt Monthly | 1

Based in Mountain View , CA , PicsArt is a fun and full-featured mobile photoediting and drawing app for Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
PicsArt Monthly | 3

Editor-in-Chief | Arusiak Kanetsyan
Art Editor | Cristina Gevorg

Cover photo: Tom Robinson

Meet our team...

Designer | Ina Sarko
Copy Editor | Satenig Mirzoyan
Editorial Contributors | Mark Gargarian, Heather Parry, Miki Ross Karakla
Special Contributor | Lou Jones
In-House Photographer | ma_lina
Address: SocialIn Inc.,
800 West El Camino Real,
Mountain View, CA 94040

Follow us...

Publisher: PicsArt Photo Studio

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.

4 | PicsArt Monthly

Welcome!
The new year is here and PicsArt Monthly is excited to
help you make 2014 the best yet for the photographer and
artist in you. This issue is here to fill you with excitement,
inspiration and ideas for ways to capture every moment of
the new year.
But before we plunge into 2014, we must pay homage
to 2013, a big year for PicsArt. At the end of the year we
completely redesigned our app for iOS7 and released
some exciting new features for Android. Read up on these
achievements in the New in App section.
This month, to help you excel your photography and
editing skills, we share some insight on how to achieve
the best lens flare and give your photos a vintage, retro
feel. As Valentine’s Day approaches we demonstrate how
PicsArt can help you surprise your significant other with a
customized Valentine Card- DIY or digital. We also bring
you godly editing powers this month as we show how to use
PicsArt to create your own hybrid mystical animal.
To inspire you, we have gathered a collection of double
exposure images by PicsArtists, one of the latest
photography trends. The saying that art is what you make
others see rings true in this trend, particularly as these
images leave it all up to interpretation of the viewer.
New places are always cause to whip out your DSLR or
smart phone, and aspiring travel photographers will receive
some guidance on how to make it more than a hobby from
Tom Robinson, a travel photography veteran and inspiration.
Explore our January issue to get the details on all of these
features and more.
@ma_lina

Enjoy reading and feel free to send us your feedback at
info@picsart.com.

PicsArt Monthly | 5

Things That
Don’t Go Bump
In The Night
In learning to photograph architecture,
the good thing: IT DOESN’T MOVE.
When you are beginning to take
pictures seriously and searching
for exceptional subject matter, the
fact that a civilization’s history and
accomplishments are on display
in its bricks and mortar, buildings
and structures is tremendously
picturesque. Architecture affords you
the luxury of remaining stationary
and doesn’t change its mind while you
fidget with dials and buttons on your
camera. You can take your time.
So if you are looking for something
more significant and less self-indulgent
than pictures of your kitten, lunch,
party or “selfies”, look no further. By
showing the world human achievement
made of steel and concrete, wood and
glass, sticks and stones, that search is
over.
The bad thing about photographing
architecture: IT DOESN’T MOVE.
Therefore, everybody tends to copy
the same images of the more famous
buildings. When starting out, it is a
time-honored practice to try and imitate the masters but eventually you want to
strike out on your own.
More to the point, photography should not be relegated just to action. There
is a potential world of imagery not going anywhere, i.e. landscapes, artwork,
monuments. I happen to be partial to still lifes. They combine my love of graphics,
composition, storytelling and stuff.
8 | PicsArt Monthly

PRO INSIGHT

You can set up a still life with unique props or found materials, juxtapose them in
intricate, clever ways and take all the time in the world to get your desired results.
I think about what might look good for days, weeks, and months. I draw sketches
of my ideas in a little book I carry with me everywhere. I enjoy searching for and
acquiring just the right objects. The care and attention I put into placing and moving
each item is enjoyable and meditative. So many decisions go into the perfect tableau.
So many visual problems need solving. Whether it is simple and clean or complicated
and luxuriant, I am totally in control.
PicsArt Monthly | 9

Before there was PhotoShop I spent a whole afternoon in the produce department
of a mom and pop store inspecting cherries, one by one. Everyone in the store
thought I was a creep but I eventually found the perfect shape, color and stem. I
bought maybe two dozen “selects” but when I got back to the studio that one was
still obvious.
Many photographers, who would rather not engage in confrontational photography
or rely on living beings, find beauty in inanimate objects, i.e. sculpture, doorways,
graffiti, distressed interiors, trains, peeling paint and make wonderful abstract
photos that transcend the original scenes.
I led a workshop of photographers to Europe a time ago. Everybody ran helter
skelter around the towns to capture local character and characters. But one lady
toddled about, never venturing far from the tour bus. On top of her unwieldy tripod
a 35mm camera was always pointed straight down. She photographed the street,
cracks in the sidewalk, trash on the ground, tiles, anything lying around. Her pictures
were exquisite. (I still cannot explain why she paid to go halfway around the world
for something she might have found at home.) But since she couldn’t bear the
anxiety of photographing people, she had found her own niche.
PicsArt Monthly | 11

Besides our magnificent
rural landscapes that
change only with
the season, we have
the urban cityscape.
Documenting our
everyday surroundings
has tremendous appeal
for some. Your camera
can give insight into how
a society thinks, acts and
feels. Close-ups of details
or wide shots of vistas tell
a story.
You never have to make
an excuse to a flower or
a tree. Their colors or
ecosystems are excellent
subjects for your untamed
imagination. Out in nature
or in the studio flora
presents ever-changing
new facets and never gets
boring.
12 | PicsArt Monthly

Lou Jones is a Boston-based
photographer with more
than 43 years of professional
experience.
His award-winning work has
been exhibited in museums
and collections around the
world, and he has published
multiple books of and about
photography. In addition, Jones
lectures and teaches workshops
all over the world.


@kae132

INSPIRATION: Photo


Using Double
Exposure to Tell a
Story
Double exposure, or the blending of
two photos into one, is one of the latest
photography trends that is also widely
popular among the PicsArt community.
It can be achieved using a DSLR camera,
which may have a built-in multiple
exposure mode or using PicsArt's Add
Photo and Photo Blending features.
Double exposure doesn't simply blend
the second image over the first. The
key is in the light and dark areas; a true
double exposure is created by repeatedly
exposing the same image. So, the second
image will only show through the first in the
underexposed (or dark) areas.
The great thing about a double exposure is that every
photo carries its own meaning or feeling, and when two
photos are combined, their individual personalities either
compliment or contrast each other to create images
with meanings of their own. These images have blended
human outlines with nature or buildings in
interesting and thought-provoking ways.
This gallery shows that art is up
for interpretation and can
mean something different
to each set of eyes.
These double
exposure images
are created and
shared by talented
PicsArtists from
around the world.


@gizemkarayavuz



@gizemkarayavuz

@vaun-fiedler

@gizemkarayavuz


@vanessagarc

Transforming Digital
Pixels to Paper Pages
PicsArt effects transform your photos with a stroke of the finger. We have used four
effects from the Paper section of the Effects Menu to demonstrate how the same
photo can be edited using PicsArt's preset effects. These effects give the illusions
that your photo was printed on paper, and the results have a wonderful tactile and
nostalgic feel that is a sharp departure from digital HD images. Sometimes as an
artist, you want your photo to look retro or old-style, and these effects harken back
to the age of print, when there were pages in place of glowing screens.

@darkm

With PicsArt, this can be achieved with the ease of scrolling through a menu,
allowing you to experiment, explore, and even customize each effect individually
until it looks perfect. Nothing is permanent until you apply and save it, so let your
imagination be your limit.

Stenciler 1

Stenciler 2

Stenciler 4

Stenciler 5

TUTORIAL: Shooting

Lens Flare
Photography
How to enhance your photos with
the use of flare
Lens flare is the phenomenon that occurs when
photographers shoot directly at the sun but are
focusing on something else. You’ll have seen
this technique used extensively in fashion and
retail photography, mainly for summer and
spring clothing lines, where lens flare is used
to saturate the image in a slight overexposure,
implying that the sun is around and is here
to stay. However, it can be used in a number
of other ways and for many different effects.
This photo tutorial teaches how to get a greatlooking lens flare on your photos.

Catch the sun at an angle,
not straight on
Shooting into the sun is key when attempting
to catch a lens flare, as this is what causes them
in the first place, but shooting directly into the
sun can hugely overexpose your image,making it
unusable. While shooting early in the morning or
late at night can sort this problem out for you, it
can be difficult to properly catch the light when
shooting in the middle of the day.
The optimum way to see what angle gives the
best lens flare is to simply move your camera
around while keeping your intended subject
in the frame. Move slightly to each side, tilt
the camera, and aim at the subject at a slightly
different angle each time. The perfect lens flare
will present itself at one of these angles, and
then you can compose your picture around it.


@kelleyskys


Expose your image properly for the lens flare

@semblance

As mentioned above, shooting straight into the sun, though necessary for lens flare,
can in fact horribly overexpose your image and white out most of your picture.
However, one of the most popular uses of lens flares these days is to allow the rest
of the photo to bathe in an ethereal, slightly overexposed light balance. If this is your
vision, then underexposing your image will be just as deadly. So what to do?
It’s important to shoot in manual for this sort of shots, as auto modes will leave a lot
of your image looking too dark. For a diffused flare, you should use a wide aperture,
keep the ISO as low as possible, then play around with the shutter speed until your
desired effect is achieved. Bracketing can also help you here, so that you can shoot
several shots at different shutter speeds, just in case.

@vvk
@vvk

@charitamsrfil

Choose the right lens for your shot
If your aim is to catch lens flare, ensure that any lens that you use does not have a
hood. You can, however, use a filter, as this actually increases the instances of lens
flares thanks to the extra glass. But which lens is best to catch a lens flare? A wider
aperture will always help you to catch a creative lens flare, so an f1/4 or f/2.8 will be
very useful for this endeavor. In fact, as lens flare is “technically” an error, you will
actually find that older lenses are best for achieving this. Remember, the older, the
better!
If you can’t quite catch the correct lens flare on your photo, you can always apply any
of PicsArt’s Lens Flares in your photo editing afterwards and your picture will look
just as awesome.

Use PicsArt to Create
An Animal Hybrid
With PicsArt, you can pull off some really wild photo
manipulation with surprising ease. Play doctor
Frankenstein and make a super beast from the parts of
different animals. Make pigs fly and horses meow, break
all of natures rules and have fun along the way. Thinking of
what animals you want to mix may even be the hardest part
of the process. This tutorial shows you step by step how it’s
done using the PicsArt app.


TUTORIAL: Editing
Upload a Photo of
the First Animal

@lorenanr

Upload an animal photo to supply
the first half of your beast with an
appropriate background, whether it’s
a cloudless sky or tall-grassed field.*

Add Photo of
the Second Animal
Select the Add Photo icon from the
menu bar below the screen and
upload an animal photo to supply
the second half of your beast.
When added, you will be prompted
with editing options, choose the
scissors to free crop your photo.


Free
Crop
Choose between free crop options.
You can use your finger to paint
the piece of the animal you want
to keep in red or you can use the
lasso tool to trace the contours of
the piece you want to select. You
can adjust the brush size and zoom
in for precision and combine both
tools for more exact selection.
Confirm when done.

@charliebrowntheclown

Position the
Second Half


Adjust the size and position of the
newly imported section of your
animal, whether it is the head, or
legs.

Fuse
the Halves
Drag and position the newly
imported second half, attaching it
to the first photo. Adjust the size,
so that the two halves fit snugly
together. Try out different blending
modes to combine the photos and
adjust the opacity, if required.

Apply
Effects
Apply any PicsArt effect to make
your photo look more realistic. Your
new beast is now ready to try its
luck in the wild.
Congratulations, it’s alive!

*If your first animal doesn’t have the appropriate background, you can initially
upload a background photo and then add two different animal halves to it using
the Add Photo and Free Crop functions.

How to Draw a Samurai
Using the PicsArt App
PicsArt Drawing Tools are equipped to satisfy experienced and beginner artists
alike, due to the combination of their expansive variety, customizability, and easy to
use interface. Most importantly, the final results look fantastic and can completely
change your idea of what you think is possible in mobile editing.
In this tutorial, you will see, step by step, how PicsArt can be used to create a
stunning portrait of a Samurai. You’ll learn how to work in layers to make sure that
your armor shines and your smallest details look fantastic down to the tassels
hanging off of the sword casing. In just eight easy steps, you can create an eyepopping piece of artwork without breaking a sweat!


TUTORIAL: Drawing
Open the
PicsArt
Drawing Tool
Select “Draw” from the
main screen and then select
“Draw blank” to start a
new drawing. You have
the option of choosing the
precise width, height, and
orientation of your drawing
before entering your work
space.

Draw the
Basic
Shape
Draw a very rough
Samurai outline,
vaguely shaping
everything from
the position of his
body to the shape
of his helmet and
armor.


Refine
Your
Outline
Reduce the opacity,
and in a new layer,
trace your rough
outline with a more
precise outline,
choosing how you
want your samurai
to look. When done,
reduce the opacity
again and create a
new layer.

Draw Final
Outline
Trace the final outline,
using the previous two
outlines as a guide. Use
clean and deliberate
strokes to ensure that
your armor is smooth
and add all of the extra
little details that bring it
to life. Delete previous
outlines when finished.


Background
and Shading
Add 2 new layers for your
shading and background.
On your samurai, use a
translucent spray brush
with a black or very dark
grey color to add shading.
Pick a direction for your
light source, and shade all
areas that are not directly
exposed to sunlight.
Color your background
layer.

Add
Color
Add another layer
between your shading
and outline, then hide the
layer that has shading.
In the new layer, color in
your outline. To color fine
details and add lighting,
simply add layers higher,
so that you can tackle each
task individually.


Finish Your
Background
In your background layer,
create an ambience by
using colorful streaking
brushes. This can add
movement to your
drawing, depending on
what angle you draw them
in. Reduce the opacity
when you are finished, so
as not to oversaturate the
drawing with color.

Touch
Ups
Add whatever
details needed to
make your drawing
pop: extra touches
of lighting, empty
spots of color. You
can also erase any
extra lines that
don’t add to your
drawing.


Design A Valentine's Day Card for
Your Significant Other Using
the PicsArt App
We know everyone loves holidays, and as Valentine's Day is fast approaching, you
can use PicsArt to create the perfect card for your loved one in time for the holiday.

@elminibrahimli

Plan in advance and capture a romantic photo to use as the base of your card.
Once you have picked a photo you can use many Valentine's Day clipart, stickers
and frames available in PicsArt to give your significant other a memorable, 100%
personal and unique card, designed by you!


TUTORIAL: Design

Open Photo
From the Photo
section of the
main menu, open a romantic
photo to act as the foundation
of your Valentine's Day Card.

Frame
Select the
Frame icon from
the menu bar, and choose
a frame from Love package
in the succeeding pop-up
menu. You can download the
package for free if you don't
have it yet.


Stickers
Decorate
your card
with romantic stickers, by
accessing them from the
menu bar. Customize their
size, opacity, hue, and tap your
finger to place them in the
desired location on the photo.

Photo
Effect
Select the
Effects icon and choose the
Twilight Effect from the Fx
section to create a nostalgic
romantic hue in your photo.
Fade it for more subtle final
touch.


@jackmack830


INSPIRATION: Drawing

Express Yourself
The drawings in this gallery were
created by various artists and shared in
PicsArt's social network. It is amazing to
acknowledge that all of them were done
exclusively using mobile devices and the
PicsArt app.
Each one is the product of a talented
individual with his or her own unique
inspirations. They depict only a small
glimpse of the diverse potential of what is
possible with PicsArt Photo Studio.
PicsArt Drawing Tools can take the form
of any paint or brush in your hand, so that
every stroke can be personalized to fit
your style or vision.
In addition to the standard options of size
and color, artists can choose from a long
list of textures and adjust the opacity of
their brushes, making difficult things like
shading and lighting effortless and fun.
It is a full art studio capable of producing
the complex textures and details of a
realistic painting, as well as the energy
and character of more abstract drawings.


@marleywintee

@fredsagoe


@nahuelnanusilva


PicsArt for iOS 7
New Design
New Experience


NEW IN APP

PicsArt Has Arrived on
iOS 7 with Slick New Design!
The completely redesigned PicsArt for iOS7 has arrived. PicsArt’s user-interface
has been optimized for Apple fans. The new design is more comfortable for iPhone
and iPad users and places the social network features at the very center of the
application.
Launched in January 2013, PicsArt for iOS is quickly gaining momentum and
catching up with the massive install base of the Android version. Combined, PicsArt
has over 100 million installs between the two platforms. While the initial iOS design
was the same as the Android one, the recent release is tailored specifically to iOS7,
following the new operating system’s user-interface guidelines of deference, clarity
and depth.
The release came at a key time for PicsArt, which, less than a year after its iOS
launch, has already earned high user-ratings and a loyal following. PicsArt's new
release makes creating and sharing artwork more accessible and exciting than ever
before.
The new design displays a pastel and white color palette, doing away with the
original black background. Black-based interfaces are suited for advanced
professional editors, while this brighter and more vibrant makeover gives the app
a softer, friendlier, and more welcoming visual feel. This is much more in-line with
PicsArt’s inclusive strategy to create an app where not just pros but anyone can
become a great artist.
At the core of the redesign is PicsArt’s decision to put its social network at the
center of the application. Users now have full access to the social network directly
from the start-up screen, where they can explore featured photos, connect with
other artists, and enter art contests. The original editing menu options remain just
a touch away, accessible from anywhere and at any time using the central button in
the new toolbar.
Finally, PicsArt has also streamlined access to its free and paid add-ons like stickers
and fonts. All add-ons are now available for purchase or download within the editor,
allowing users to continue creating and editing without the interruption of leaving
to visit the Shop. This change is important for the company, which provides all of
its editing features for free and relies instead on these small in-app purchases as
a non-intrusive way for the company to monetize and maintain its rapid pace of
development.

New Android
Update
The PicsArt's latest update for
Android has a whole host of new
features and enhancements that
make editing and drawing easier
than ever, while providing you with
new exciting and fun features.

Enhanced Drawing Tool
The Drawing tool is now better
than ever, giving you more freedom
to experiment with our new Undo
Layer Changes feature, and letting
you work at your own pace with the
new ability to save your project file.
Use the undo function for
individual layers, so that you can
always come back to earlier layers
and undo the latest changes you
made on them.
We have made a major change to
our drawing tool. Now you can save
drawing projects that are still in
progress, reopen them and work on
your drawing at your own pace.

Fireworks Package
Overlay spectacular fireworks onto
your photos seamlessly to add
a festive and celebratory feel to
photos from any event.


Enhanced Stickers
We have included a
bunch of great new
stickers in this update.
Moreover, now you
have unprecedented
control of your stickers
with the ability to
choose from multiple
blending modes, adjust
their opacity, change
their color, and scale
them to your taste.
With the new stickers
you can create your own
masks, add bokeh of any
size and color, or blend
stickers so that they
become a part of your
photo.

Add Multiple Photos
at Once

@vanessaart

@darkm

You can now add
multiple photos at once
into your workspace
when using the Add
Photo function.

New Cinerama
effect
The Cinerama Effect
creates a warm and
vivid image, and brings
your photos to life.


@angiemessedup

App Design Changes
We have redesigned the shop. Now you can download new frames and clipart
directly from the Frames or Clipart sections of the editor, making your editing
smoother and more fun.
The contest section is now filtered by contest types, making navigation between
past contests easier.

New Masks
We have also added some new masks, giving you an exciting new set of ways to
enhance your photos and add atmosphere.

Improved Fish Eye and Caricature effects
We have made some enhancements to Fish Eye and Caricature effects. Now you
can customize them by choosing their placement within your photo and increasing
or decreasing the radius of the area affected.

Interview with
Photographer Tom
Robinson
From Marrakech to Mexico
Tom Robinson is a London based location and portrait
photographer, who travels extensively. He works for
magazines, advertising, hotels, restaurants, and PR.
Tom takes spectacular shots from around the world
that capture stunning vistas, local traditions, and the
eccentric moments that occur throughout everyday life.
We interviewed Tom to ask him about his work and
photography.
How did you first get into photography?
I first studied photography at school when I was 16
but decided to study graphic design at university and
subsequently spent the best part of ten years working
in advertising. Photography remained my hobby
though and in 2008 I packed my bags and hit the road,
travelling for over a year with my girlfriend through
South and Central America, as well as South East Asia,
Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. It was one hell of a
trip. During that trip I amassed a portfolio of work and
put together a website, which is how I began receiving
commissioned work.
You are from London, but your photographs are from all over the world, and
you even say that you feel most at home abroad sometimes. Is there a particular
location that you have shot where you felt most at home, and if so why?
That’s a statement I wrote a few years back. It’s still true, but I think it’s more
accurate to say ‘I feel most alive when in countries that are nothing like home’. My
senses seem further heightened when on the road and I tend to ‘see’ so much more
than when I’m back at home. It’s a hard one to quantify, but I think any person who
genuinely loves exploring will understand.

INTERVIEW

South America is a vast continent that you have explored and photographed quite
a bit, but your photos seem to penetrate deep into its far corners and locals. Do
you have a method for exploring vast places you have never seen?
I was lucky enough to spend five months in South America, which allowed me to get
away from the much-fabled Gringo Trail. Generally, I find smaller towns, a few hours
away from the larger cities great places to experience the ‘real’ life of countries. As
fewer tourists visit these places the locals are also much more welcoming and are
happy to have their photos taken. Although I dare say it’s the same in the UK too.

One of your many stunning galleries is of the shots you took from Dia del los
Muertos (the Day of the Dead). Can you talk a bit about what this experience was
like for you?
I can honestly say it was probably the most incredible night of my life. We didn’t
really know what to expect and I was concerned we may not find anything at all as
we didn’t really know where we were going. Luckily a local guide pointed us in the
right direction and we stayed up til 8am, visiting local graveyards. I remember being
struck by the atmosphere – while quiet and calm, people were celebratory and
more than happy to have their photos taken. This would certainly not be the case in
England. Every year I look back through the photos and remember what it was like.
I’m keen to go again, perhaps when my daughter is older.

Marrakech was the first place you ever traveled to, and you say this trip was
at the root of your love of travel. What was it that struck you so strongly
in Marrakech all those years ago, and how intertwined is this with your
photography?
Yes my big sister, who had already travelled lots and was actually living in Thailand
at the time, took me on my first ‘travelling’ experience around Morocco when I
was in my early twenties. My camera at the time was my trusty Olympus OM20
and I shot three rolls of HP5. I looked back at the shots recently, they’re ok,
nothing amazing, but certainly still resonate my recent photography work. We
explored towns and villages. Took a wide variety of transport. Stayed in terrible
accommodation ate amazing food and got food poisoning. We’d taken the boat over
to Morocco from Spain. I guess I was struck at how much your surroundings can
change after a few hours on a boat. It began my intrigue to see what was out there
in the world and to experience it first hand.
Which project are you most proud of and why?
I still feel my South and Central
America work is some of the best
shots I’ve taken, which is slightly
annoying as I took them back in
2008. But I’m also very happy with
my India shots from 2013 and
the recent activity based shoots
I’ve done, including ice climbing in
the Arctic Circle and canyoning in
Madeira.
I have a strange relationship with my
photographs and am my own worst
critic. My thoughts tend to sway from
‘these are the best photos I’ve ever
taken’ – usually shortly after taking
them. To ‘these are terrible, am I ever
going to better those photos I took
in South America (five years ago)’.
Usually though, a few months after
the shoot, I look back at the photos
and then, with a fresh pair of eyes,
pick out the shots I’m most happy
with and add them to my website and
update my printed portfolio.

What has been your single most challenging moment as a photographer?
A few months back I was on a ten day shoot in Quebec, Canada. A lot of planning had
gone into the trip and it was for an important client. The weather was terrible. I was
meant to be photographing the ‘perfect train journey’, but we were going through
thick a bank of fog and all I could see out of the windows (which didn’t open) was
blanket grey. That was pretty stressful and that fog seemed to follow me for four
days. Ultimately there’s not much you can do about these situations, and the client
knows that, you’ve just got to try and get the best shots you can and re-work the
schedule where you can. Saying that though I put a lot of pressure on myself to get
great shots, so when that’s not happening I usually get very grumpy.
What is your favorite part about being a photographer?
Going to amazing places, meeting interesting people (and getting paid to do it).
Simple.
Are there any subjects or places that you would love to shoot in the future that
you have not already and if so why?
I find photographing specific events or activities most enjoyable – like the kite
festival in India I shot, or ice climbing in the arctic. It gives me a much clearer brief
regarding what to capture, plus I get to have a great time experiencing the activity
first-hand. It doesn’t always go to plan though – on the canyoning shoot I broke my
5D III. Although I did throw it off a waterfall. Lesson learnt.


Do you have any words of advice to
give photography enthusiasts that
want to create great photography?

Photos by Tom Robinson

I’m often asked how to get into
travel photography. The honest (and
simple) answer is to go travelling.
It’s quite amazing how many people
don’t realize that. You should be
super critical of your own work –
only putting up your best pieces
and editing your choice heavily,
constantly trying to take better
photos. Above all you just need to
practice, practice, practice.


Feature: Photo


FEATURE: Photo

A Sea of Feelings: Gizem Karayavuz’s
Self-Portrait
The photo of the month is this piece titled “Self Portrait” by Gizem Karayavuz
(@gizemkarayavuz). Gizem is a very creative artist who knows how to put PicsArt’s
editing tools at the service of her imagination. Here she has submerged herself in a
churning sea of water, skillfully weaving images, subjects, textures, and soft lighting
to create a pale, glowing, and surreal piece of self portraiture.
She tagged her image with a quote from author Diane Hardy, “We all have a sea
inside us; Can you hear it? Can you hear the ocean roaring?” Following the quote,
Gizem explained that 2013 was a hard year, but that she sustained herself through
her artwork, and the support of others from the PicsArt community. Gizem's
fragments of self-expression put together with this image resulted in a complex and
powerful self-portrait, putting on display where she is and how she feels. Struggling
under water, but finding meaning through creation and beauty: this is our Photo of
the Month.

Travel to Peru
Exploring the Country through a Photo
Walk
Say the name “Peru” to most people, and their minds
fill with images of Mayan ruins and the famous
Inca Trail, popular with all types of travellers the
world over and dramatic in its intensity as well as its
beauty. But, for the photographer especially, Peru is
a place of great interest even outside of its Mayan
heritage. In fact, you’ll be so busy soaking in this
amazing country, that you won’t even know where to
lay your camera while you enjoy you pisco sour with
a bowl of ceviche.

Miraflores, Lima

To the uninitiated, Miraflores provides a fantastic
introduction to the beautiful madness of South
America, as you can still munch on cooked Guinea
Pig, the country’s best delicacy, and hunt for
bargains in a dusty mercado, but after a long day on
a photography tour around the neighborhood you
can also splash out on a good bottle of pisco with
a nice meal at the end of the day too. Oh, and it’s
covered in cats, if you like that sort of thing.


@stephaniesosa20

The most striking thing about the Miraflores district
in Peru’s capital city of Lima is just how un-Peruvian
it seems. With its clean, wide streets and modern
architecture, cafes, wine bars, modern buses, and
oodles of amazing street art, Miraflores wouldn’t
look out of place in Berlin, Bilbao or Barcelona–and
yet it’s only a short bus ride away from Lima’s most
bustling (and most Latin American) market and even
a (admittedly much longer) bus ride away from some
actual ruins just outside the city. In Miraflores, you’ll
get some of the most un-Peruvian pictures of Peru.

FEATURE: Destination


The Inca Trail
You can’t go anywhere in Peru without
people talking about the Inca Trail, and
for good reason. This 5-day hike (or
photo walk, if you’re one of us) begins
in Cusco and takes in three separate
trails before it ends at Machu Picchu,
the mountain that holds a 15th-Century
Inca site known as the Lost City of the
Incas. The astonishing site of the wellpreserved ruins against the stunning
landscape of Huayna Picchu mountain
is ground-zero for photographers, and
it’s where travel and photography truly
come into one unforgettable experience.
The hike is no easy feat for many
travellers, so one of my strongest travel
tips is to pack light. No one wants
to drag around a huge DSLR with 5
different lenses, a tripod and three
different flashes while they’re navigating
trails from a different civilization, so
on this photo walk, remember that less
is more. Take just one lens or two and
practice some different photography
techniques to get the best out of your
trip!

Pucallpa
Where better to nurse your sore feet after the Inca Trail than Pucallpa? This
beautiful city lies on the banks of the Ucayali River, which feeds directly into the
Amazon. With beaches, the Parque Nacional, river acitivies and more wildlife than
you will know what to do with, this is the perfect place to relax and truly grab some
fantastic pictures of Peru.
A few days in Pucallpa will allow you to experience all this city has to offer, from the
mall to the markets and everything in between, while still giving you time to enjoy
some fun photo walks. Travel photography is all about capturing the essence of a
place, and Pucallpa will allow you to do just that!

Create a DIY
Valentine’s Day Picture
Frame/Card for Your Loved One!
To make a DIY Valentine Card you need cardboard or construction paper, napkins
with Valentine themed print, a photo of you and your significant other, a thick
paintbrush, and multi-purpose white glue. To make an average-sized DIY card with
cardboard you need one 7.87”x5.91” piece - the base; one 7.28”x4.72” piece - the
slider; two 0.59”x4.72” pieces (A); four 0.59"x7.87” pieces (B) ; two 1.77”x2.76”
pieces (C); and two 1.57”x7.87” pieces (D) of cardboard.

D
B
B

C

A A

THE BASE

B
B

photos by @ma_lina

D


Glue the two A pieces
together for one
thicker A piece. Glue
the result onto the
edge of base. Glue the four B
pieces into two B pieces and
glue the results (two B pieces)
onto the edge of the base.

THE SLIDER

C

FEATURE: Tips & Tricks

Paint the
base, the
slider , D
and C pieces
with acrylic paint.

Cut Valentine
themed squares
(to fit D and C
pieces) out of
napkins.* You only need
to use the top layer with
print of usually 3-layered
napkins.

Dilute the glue
with water. Using
the paintbrush
cover the C and D
pieces with the glue mixture.
Carefully place the napkin
cutouts onto the surface
and run over them with
additional glue mixture, so
that the napkin blends with
the surface.


Glue the D
pieces to
the top and
bottom edges
of the base. Glue one C
piece to the left side of
the base.

Take the
leftover
C piece
and glue
it to the right edge
of the slider. Glue a
romatic photo to the
middle of the slider.

Success! Your Picture frame is now complete and should include a romantic photo in
a Valentine themed frame. To make your gift even more romantic, you can turn your
frame into a Valentine's Day Card by writing a special message on the inside of the
base. This will be revealed when the slider is slid in and out.
*The napkin can be replaced with glitter, sparkles, sequins, jewels, painted rice or
anything else that you would like, your creativity is your limit!

@moniaelise

FEATURE: Artist

Monia’s Sentimental
Posters
Monia (@moniaelise) is a PicsArtist who likes to turn her most captivating photos
into sentimental posters that send personal messages. She uses PicsArt Photo
Studio to put the right words to the right moment, allowing her to articulate and
express her feelings in a more complete way. The results look excellent, making
each image extra special by inviting us to ponder a thought and a moment as a pair,
perhaps provoking us to reflect on our own lives.

@moniaelise

What makes Monia’s posters work so well is also the fact that she happens to be an
excellent photographer. She shoots quite a bit in black and white, and her images are
always filled with life, with people as their central focus. Her shots are exquisitely
framed, and the photos that she captures always seem to give us a window into
moments of action, sincerity, or simple beauty.


@moniaelise


PicsArt Monthly January 2014 Issue

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