THIS IS TO RENT THIS SERIES, NOT DOWNLOAD. YOU CAN RENT AND WATCH FOR THREE MONTHS. 
 
I'm excited to share Charles and Missy's passion for mobile photography and the incredible opportunities offered by mobile phones! - Mark.
 
About this series:
 
Learn to get the most from the camera that’s always with you in this comprehensive 6-part series, presented by award-winning photographers Charles and Melissa Needle. Using lectures and demonstrations, the instructors will empower you to create mind-blowing masterpieces using nothing more than your mobile device!
 
Session 1: Going Beyond “Point & Shoot”
 
Charles and Melissa inspire you to capture “art” in your everyday life and show you how to get the most from your native camera's hidden features. They’ll also reveal helpful accessories and demonstrate two creative shooting apps: Average Camera Pro (Dominik Seibold) and Slow Shutter Cam (Cogitap Software).
 
Average Camera Pro combines multiple photos into a single abstract/painterly image, while Slow Shutter Cam creates slow-shutter-speed effects.
 
Session 2: Getting in Close
 
Learn to capture stunning closeups with your mobile device. Charles and Melissa demonstrate the built-in close-up capabilities of the native iPhone camera, then discuss accessory lenses that allow you to focus even closer. The session ends with a demo of macro shooting apps like Macro by Camera+ (LateNiteSoft S.L.) and Focos (Bending Spoons Apps ApS) to create beautiful bokeh effects.
 
Session 3: Smartphone Editing Tips & Techniques
 
Charles and Melissa discuss and demonstrate editing features built into the native iPhone camera. They then review two key apps to transform any image into a WOW image: Snapseed (Google) and TouchRetouch (ADVA Soft).
 
Snapseed enhances photos and applies digital filters, while TouchRetouch eliminates challenging extraneous elements (power lines, fences, distracting objects, etc.).
 
Session 4: Crafting Painterly/Abstract Images
 
Charles and Melissa demonstrate how to craft painterly/abstract images using four editing apps: Prisma (Prisma Labs, Inc.), Color Splash (Pocket Pixels Inc.), Artista Impresso (JixiPix Software) and Waterlogue (Tinrocket, LLC).
Prisma creates paintings using AI-based art filters. Color Splash converts photos to B&W and lets you paint back color selectively. Artista Impresso creates images in the style of 19th-century Impressionists, while Waterlogue transforms images into watercolor paintings.
 
Session 5: The Magic of Double Exposure
 
Through lectures and step-by-step demonstrations, Charles and Melissa show you how to combine two or more images into stunning works of art. You’ll learn to add a soft glow, change a background, insert a second image into a specific spot, or overlay images to create something abstract.
 
They'll take a deep dive into Snapseed (Google)’s “Double Exposure” tool and explain the power of the Image Blender (JHND/Sverige AB) app.
 
Session 6: Stunning Black & White Mobile Photography
 
Charles and Melissa explore the native iPhone camera’s capabilities for capturing and/or editing black and white images. They then demonstrate four fabulous B&W editing apps: Snapseed (Google), Dramatic Black and White (JixiPix Software), Vintage Scene (JixiPix Software) and TinType (Hipstamatic, LLC).
 
Snapseed's B&W tool lets you apply filters to specific areas. Dramatic Black and White crafts images with extraordinary light and contrast. Vintage Scene features sepia tones, grain, and faded looks. TinType reproduces photographic styles from over 100 years ago, like daguerreotypes.
 
Note: Android users are welcome, but please note that Charles and Missy use and demonstrate apps and features on an iPhone. Many apps and techniques work on both platforms, and the instructors will highlight similar android apps when possible.
 
About Melissa and Charles
 
Charles and Melissa Needle are award-winning, husband-and-wife, Colorado-based fine art photographers with 35 years of combined teaching experience. They are sought-after speakers for national and international audiences, including the Royal Photographic Society (UK) and hundreds of camera clubs.
 
Charles has led photography workshops in the US, Canada and Europe for 25 years, including locations like Monet’s Garden (Giverny, France), Keukenhof Gardens (Netherlands), and The Butchart Gardens (Canada). He has authored three instructional books: Tiny Worlds: Creative Macro Photography Skills, Impressionistic Photography: A Field Guide to Using Your Camera as a Paintbrush, and Creative Macro Photography: Professional Tips & Techniques.
 
Charles is a 17-time North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Award winner. In 2024, he made the shortlist for the Close-up Photographer of the Year international contest. He also earned honorable mentions in the 2018 and 2021 International Mobile Photography Awards Contest.
 
Melissa has assisted Charles in workshops, classes and online teaching sessions since 2016. She is a full-time professional photographer who enjoys exploring her creative side with post-processing methods. She has presented at numerous camera clubs and conferences, including the NECCC annual conference.
 
Melissa has received numerous awards. Her notable honors include Gold Key and Blue Ribbon awards from The Boston Globe Art Show, cover features in Cape Cod Guide magazine, MUSC Humanitas, and Neuroscience, and a Top-24 Image Award in the 2020 NANPA Showcase Competition. Her work appears in three books: Charleston: A Photographic Portrait, Savannah: A Photographic Portrait, and Massachusetts: A Photographic Portrait. She leads the Greater Lynn Photographic Association (MA) smartphone specialty group and was awarded the title MNEC, Master Member of NECCC in 2022.