Ever since feature phones came with better and better cameras, the world has been documenting in real-time and there’s very rarely an event that happens without a smartphone held high in the air. Being able to take photos or shoot video there and then is great but, we seem to have forgotten that taking time to create something truly beautiful is just as important as being “FIRST!”. Smartphone cameras are great these days but, we still need a helping hand when it comes to creating unique and stunning images. Read on to see if Cameran can help us find our way again when it comes to taking photos.
Description: Cameran is an application that is here to help us take better photos. Not only that but, it takes its inspiration directly from someone who knows how to take a photo, Mika Ninagawa. Mika is a famous Japanese photographer whose vibrant and brightly colored photos have helped her to commercial success. The app comes with access to 25 Wallpapers of her stunning work. With 30 filters on offer to make your own work akin to that of Mika’s work and easy sharing to Facebook, Instagram et al this is a great app for budding photographers.
How it Works: Getting started with Cameran is really simple, just head over to the Play Store to download the app and then you’re ready to get started with the app. When you first open the app you’ll be greeted with the capture screen and some menu icons:
From here you can capture an image straight away and then get to editing it but, I have a picture in mind that I want to see if I can improve upon. So, to get that image into the app all I have to do is access the bottom left icon and select pictures from the gallery. We’ve been suffering from a lot of snow in the middle of England so I have taken the opportunity to take some photos around the village, here’s my original image:
I’m pretty happy with it as it is but, I want to make this photo really “pop” and I’m hoping that Cameran can help me do that. Once you’ve gotten the photo into the app you can take a look at the filters on offer, and apply them to your photo if you wish:
As the app will tell you, there are a number of filters that feature 3 effects applied to them and they all work well but, this depends on what sort of photo you have. Here, my photo is a simple landscape type photo so, I don’t want to do too much to it. I think something like a Lomo effect or something else oldworldy will do well.
Cameran allows you to tweak the settings of your chosen filter as well, which is pretty great as you don’t feel like you’re just slapping something on top of it. After you’ve done tweaking your photo you can save it in your phone’s gallery. Mine came out like this, I’m pretty happy with it but, there is far more you can with these filters and effects. It’s all about what you want to do!
Sharing your photos is important as it’s this that will get you access to the included wallpapers – think of it as a sort of photo swap! The more photos you share, the more of Mika Ninagawa’s work you’ll get access to.
Cameran is very much an application that gets better the more you use it. The more time you spend with the app, the more wallpapers you’ll unlocked and, hopefully, the more creative you’ll become.
Opinion: I’ve always loved to take photos and while I don’t seem to find as much time as I used to, I still enjoy taking snaps every now and then. With Cameran, I can get creative with my shots and the more people I share the photos with, the more wallpapers I can customize my device with. Instagram has made sharing out photos easier than ever but, common, everyday filter will only get you so far. With the unique filters on offer here, you can do a lot more and make some truly inspiring images.
Ratings
- Speed (5/5) – There were no slowdowns or hiccups when using the app and everything was very snappy.
- Features (4/5) – It might be another filter app but, Cameran offers unique filters and a truly inspiring look.
- Theme (4/5) – The app looked fine and as for the theme well, the theme is your photos, the more photos you make, the more fun you’ll have with the app.
- Overall (4/5) – Cameran is a great app for those that enjoy taking photos and it’s even better if you enjoy sharing them, definitely worth trying out.
Pros
- Plenty of filters on offer will help you create your favorite look.
- Having to share images to get access to Mika’s work is a fun little twist.
- The 3x filters can make photos feel instantly brighter and more vivid.
- User Interface is easy to use and promotes creativity at every turn.
Cons
- A tutorial would be great.
- There are a lot of filters on offer already but, more are always welcome!
Conclusion: I’ve had a lot of fun with Cameran and I’m sure that anybody who enjoys taking photos with their smartphones will do as well. instagram is great and Google have now got in the game with Snapseed but there is always room for competition and while it might look like another filter app there’s more to it than that. I often don’t like to use my smartphone to take photos if I have to, as I feel it does poorly with shadows and blacks but, with the great filters – and control over them – I can quickly and easily make the B&W photo I’m often aiming for. There’s a lot for you to explore in Cameran, and it’s well worth the time and effort. If you like to create something as well as taking snaps then Cameran is a great app for you. Click the link below to give it a go!