Mobile Applications That Enhace Visaul Art (Photography & Filmmaking)

In the past photographers like Ansel Adams and Fred R. Archer pioneered the zone system mostly by eye. These men were able to accurately measure the brightness and darkness of photographic scenes by achieving the proper exposures they were seeking. Nowadays, photographers and cinematographers are equipped with technological tools such as, digital cameras with inbuilt metering systems, light meters, as well as waveform monitors, which are more reliable and accurate for measuring the zonal ranges in a particular scene.

Additionally, these modern technological tools continue to evolve, and today, remarkably, there are mobile applications that assist cameramen in bringing their images to life exactly how they envisioned. Ansel Adams, and Fred Archer would be amazed by the sophistication behind some of the tools that modern cameramen are fortunate enough to work with. This post sheds light on a specific category of mobile applications that can help photographers/filmmakers work accurately, efficiently, and professionally.

This mobile application is one that helps visual storytellers locate the direction of the sun. In exterior photography, knowing the direction of the sun as well as the proper hours to shoot is key to creating compelling images. The more seasoned cameramen rely on traditional techniques in detecting the position of the sun at various hours; however, not everyone is blessed with this ability. Therefore, acquiring a mobile application with this type of capability will save most definitely time, and unnecessary headache. And with that being said, here are two of the most recommended sun finding mobile applications by industry professionals: Sun Seeker, and Helios.

Furthermore, there are many other mobile applications out there that are extremely beneficial to filmmakers and photographers. A few examples are digital film slates, director’s viewfinders, shot designers, storyboard creators and so on. Some of these applications are free, and others come with a price tag. However, as a visual artist the key is finding those mobile applications that can improve the way that one works.