Picsart Monthly April Issue 2014

Monthly Issue #07 | April 2014

Aerial Photographer Cameron Davidson 7 Ways to Make Your Zoo Photography Look Wild Producing Fabulous Pop Art

Photos

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Pro Insight 08 | Color Inspiration 14 | Producing Fabulous Pop Art Photos 48 | Amazing Primal Paintings Created with PicsArt PicsArt In Action 24 | Depth and Motion With Blur Effects Tutorials 26 | 7 Ways to Make Your Zoo Photography Look Wild 38 | Draw a Shaman Priestess with PicsArt 42 | Use PicsArt to Levitate What's New 58 | New Android Update 62 | Stretch Tool and New Masks Interview 66 | Aerial Photographer Cameron Davidson Feature 74 | Soaking in the Sun 76 | A Photographer’s Guide to Costa Rica 84 | Keep Time with This DIY Wall Installation 86 | Minimalism in Commonplace Objects

Meet our team...

Editor-in-Chief | Arusiak Kanetsyan Art Editor | Cristina Gevorg Designer | Ina Sarko Copy Editor | Arto Vaun, Satenig Mirzoyan Editorial Contributors | Mark Gargarian, Heather Parry, Miki Ross Special Contributor | Lou Jones, Chris Corradino In-House Photographer | ma_lina Address: SocialIn Inc., 800 West El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040

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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.

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Welcome!

It’s said that April is the cruellest month, but at PicsArt Monthly we think it’s the coolest.

For this issue, we have articles and photos that reflect the renewed creative energy that spring brings. Here’s a taste…

Ever wondered how to levitate? Well we just happen to have a tutorial on how to create mesmerizing levitation photos. And that’s just one of the interesting tutorials in this issue!

With spring comes a flood of vibrant hues and shades. Lou Jones’ essay combines a poetic sensibility with practical concepts about the world of colors.

One of the many watershed events of the 1960s was the Pop Art movement. We’ve assembled some fantastic photos that PicsArtists have created in homage to that exciting era. We also highlight one of our talented users who creates works with an injection of abstract expressionism and primitivism.

PicsArt in Action this month demonstates how the dynamic PicsArt Blur effects can be used to play with depth and texture in photos.

Just another creative tool to inspire our growing community of artists!

Lastly, make sure to check out the Android and iOS updates in order to keep your PicsArt running at optimum functionality.

Enjoy this issue of PicsArt Monthly and remember, we’re always happy to receive feedback! info@picsart.com

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COLOR

By Lou Jones Paraphrasing, someone once wrote, “There are seven seas, seven deadly sins, seven chakras, seven days of the week, Seven Wonders of the World…and then there are seven colors.”

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet...

I like red. Always have. But everything I know about color I learned from that box of crayons I was given as a kid. The sum total is what was written on the Crayola paper wrapper: green, violet, and burnt sienna. Unfortunately that is all most of us know about the subject. People take color for granted.

What exactly is color? Newton, Einstein, Rembrandt and Freud, frequencies, particles, pigments and foibles, each has a different answer to that question.

BLUE Originally the color pigment was manufactured from indigo and woad. One of the most popular colors for many people.

Most preferred by men. It is attributed with feelings of calm or serenity. One of the most prevalent in nature because of the sky and the seas. Cold.

Colors can be combined to complement or cancel each other. But in practical terms, none of the science matters. We do not need to know its speed or wavelength or theory to make it work.

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PRO INSIGHT

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COLORS Primary colors are red, green, and blue.

Secondary colors are orange, green, violet, while CMYK refers to cyan, magenta, yellow, black.

For photographers, color is a tool. To make our pictures better we need to be aware of how colors affect our audience, not necessarily why. Because of how our eyes receive light waves, warm colors tend to stand out from the background while cool colors recede. Or more obviously, bright colors attract attention whereas dark colors are largely ignored.

YELLOW This is the brightest and most visible of colors. A person surrounded by yellow feels optimistic. In the West, yellow is often associated with cowardice and treachery but in China yellow is a noble color. Indicates the sun. Light. Air. Royalty.

Armed with the right light and right colors, you can do almost anything in photography. You can create your own reality or fantasy. You can highlight what you see or hide what you don’t want others to see.

Colors have psychological effects on people so we can draw their attention in the direction we want them to look or dramatically affect their mood. They have cultural attachments also. Therefore what a color means in one country can induce entirely different behaviors in another.

Using many colors can be distracting. Because there are so many colors it can be a balancing act to use them effectively and judiciously in a good photograph. On the other hand, being monochromatic can be clever or abstract. Color choices are so subjective and personal. “The science of color must be regarded as essentially a mental science.”

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RED Blood. Fire. Emotion. Anger. If you want to draw attention, use red.

Red has long been associated with love, warmth and comfort. Worn by brides in China. It has the longest wavelength of visible light.

Little empirical data has been collected on its influence but color is a wonderful means of nonverbal communication. It is a hot topic in marketing, art and design. We use and abuse colors.

Photography is the perfect outlet for experimentation and exploitation of colors.

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GREEN Green is a cool color that symbolizes nature. It is also associated with fertility. Growth. Supports harmony.

Used on money.

Light illuminates everything we see democratically. Everything receives its share. But color differentiates.

It is discriminating. Color makes choices. Light does not. Light goes in and reveals while color comes out to inform.

WHITE White is the compression of all the colors of the spectrum. It represents purity or innocence.

Sterility. Wisdom. In certain cultures it connotes death.

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@sterayb

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INSPIRATION : Photo

PicsArtists Produce Fabulous Pop Art For those who love pop art, PicsArt is a perfect tool for creating images that burst with the glow of the pop art movement from the 1980’s.

Pop art was a movement in which artists incorporated images from mainstream culture into fine art, blurring the lines between high and low art. At his Factory in New York City, Andy Warhol--the godfather of pop art-- created iconic images of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Campbell’s Soup, and other symbols of American culture. By making fine art using mass production techniques, he both celebrated and criticized mass culture.

Other pop artists created collages that mixed various cultural icons, or drew on popular images, essentially changing the way we look at the most recognizable faces and images that are reproduced constantly throughout mainstream media.

PicsArt has a section of various pop art effects that borrow from the patterns and themes of that era. These photos show how easily PicsArtists utilize the styles of the movement’s pioneers, thereby keeping the spirit of pop art alive while customizing and adding your own touch. See if they inspire you to create some stunning pop art of your own!

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@daffylaye

@sterayb

@sunt30

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@milvy

@milvy

@sterayb

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@hannahrg

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Depth and Motion With Blur Effects PicsArt Blur effects offer a slew of options that add a touch of motion and depth of field to your photos.

Here’s a photo of a motocross biker altered by four different blur effects. There is the Focal Zoom, which replicates the blur that occurs when a picture is captured mid-zoom. Motion Blur adds a sense of dynamism to your photo by recreating what happens when you capture a moving object. Then there is Radial Blur, which creates a swirling tunnel. Lastly, Smart Blur is perfect for creating a soft, out-of-focus glow for your photos.

@soskha

Blur effects literally put you back in the moment when you were taking your photo, when the camera was still in your hands. In a way, they let you pause time to get the focus and camera motion just right.

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PICSART IN ACTION

focal zoom

motion blur

smart blur

radial blur

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TUTORIAL : Shooting

7 Ways to Make Your Zoo Photography Look Wild

by Chris Corradino If a trip to the Serengeti isn't feasible right now, don't pack your long lens away just yet. Instead, head to the local zoo where it's possible to capture stunning images of exotic animals year round. Your photos don't have to be hindered by metal bars and other man made objects. In fact, with the following guidelines, your zoo shots will look truly wild.

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Shooting Through Fences Fences may be designed to keep you out, but they don't have to stop you from creating successful photographs. At the Cape May Zoo in New Jersey I had a terrific opportunity to photograph a four month old Snow Leopard. In order to eliminate the unsightly barrier surrounding the habitat, I positioned my lens just three inches from the wire. By getting that close, the obstruction fell out of focus.

Then with an aperture of f5.6, the shallow depth of field essentially rendered the fence invisible.

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The Right Lens for the Job A medium telephoto lens in the 70-200mm range is often the most useful focal length for zoo photography. The greater magnification enables one to fill the frame with the subject and minimize distractions.

Before pressing the shutter, take a quick look at all four corners of the viewfinder.

Are there any artificial items that are creeping into the frame? If so, zoom in further, or recompose by physically moving to a slightly different angle.

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Pop Up Flash to the Rescue While the pop-up flash of a DSLR may not throw the light very far, it can be an effective tool in close quarters. When I came across this touching moment of a Wolf Monkey holding her baby, I needed more light to capture the detail in their expressive faces. Unlike most brightly lit flash photos, the goal here is to create a more subtle appearance. This is done by cutting the intensity of the flash to -1.7. It enough light to soften the shadows without blowing out the highlights.

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At the Ready Animals wait for no one, so you must be ready to shoot in an instant. The moment you arrive at the zoo, take the camera out of your backpack, turn it on and remove the lens cap. Set the shutter speed to at least 1/500 of a second. Anything slower increases the likelihood of blurry images due to subject motion. You are now prepared for any action that should arise.

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The Ideal Time of Day To avoid being hurried by busloads of impatient tourists, I generally recommend arriving when the zoo first opens. This is particularly helpful when visiting popular creatures like the Panda in Washington DC's National Zoo. On a Sunday afternoon for example, it's nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of your subject without someone stepping in your frame. As an added benefit, many animals are more active early in the day. You may even be lucky enough to witness and photograph the action at feeding time.

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The Decisive Moment In his book, Images Ă la sauvette, photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson wrote, "There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment". This same idea can certainly be applied when photographing animals.

When you locate a subject you are interested in, it's tempting to immediately shoot a handful of pictures and move on. I recommend slowing down and watching through the lens while studying the animal's behavior.

Rather than settling for a static shot of a motionless subject, wait for a dynamic moment to start shooting.

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Seasons Change - Peacock In Spring, zoos are typically bustling with unique photo opportunities. Peacocks for example, go through a mating ritual called "shivering". You can literally hear their feather's rustling loudly as they display their brilliant feathers. The more impressive the exhibit, the more likely they are to attract a mate. Some facilities will even post an online schedule with events to watch for.

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Using the Magic of PicsArt to Draw a Shaman Priestess

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Don’t let the easy usability of PicsArt Drawing Tools fool you. It's a professional level drawing tool that can be used to create some amazing artwork. Just have a look at this step by step tutorial.

Step 1: Open the PicsArt Drawing Tool Select “Draw” from the main screen and then select “Draw blank” to start a new drawing from scratch.

You have the option of choosing the precise width, height, and orientation of your drawing before entering your work space.

Step 2: Outline Sketch your initial outline using thin lines to sketch your shaman priestess.

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Step 3: Refine your Outline Reduce the opacity and in a new layer draw a more elaborate outline, with extra details and accessories added on.

Step 4: Shading Add a new layer, and use custom black watercolor style brushes.

Customize the brush type and opacity to create varying darkness in shading throughout your drawing.

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Step 5: Color Color in your drawing in a new layer with different colored brushes. Make sure that this layer is below your shading layer.

Step 6: Refined Color Add another new layer for texture, lighting, and detail. Use bright tones for reflecting light and shifting tones on things like feathers. When you confirm you can also add things like masks and effects for a final touch.

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TUTORIAL : Editing

Use PicsArt to Levitate PicsArt is packed with all kinds of extraordinary tools and effects that can create some amazing visuals. But while some tools are built for specific purposes, there are things that take a little more imagination. Take levitation for example. Making a person levitate might seem a bit impossible, but with just a little guidance you will see how easy it is to do by just getting a little creative with a few different features.

The results will have your friends scratching their heads and wondering if you’ve been hanging out with David Blaine recently. But you won’t need a famous magician for this magic tragic trick, just the right tools and an easy to follow tutorial.

Prep: Take two photos in the same place. In one photo have your subject standing casually, in the other, have your subject prop him/herself up on an object like a stool, chair, or table. Make sure both photos have the same background.

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Step 1: Open a Photo From the main screen select Draw, then choose Draw on Photo from the popup menu and upload a photo.

Step 2: Change the Tone Choose a color that you want to tint your photo with.

Press the paint bucket to fill your layer, then reduce the opacity to watch your wall of color become a faint tint.

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Step 3: Add Photo Add a layer, then press the add photo icon to import the photo of your subject against the same background but standing/sitting/laying on a supporting object.

Crop the photo around your subject and line it up so that it matches the background of the other photo.

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Step 4: Remove the Supports Use the eraser to remove the background of the added photo, including the supporting object, leaving nothing but air between your subject and the ground.

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Step 5: Make a Ghost Reduce the opacity of the layer with your added photo to turn your levitating figure into a ghost.

Step 6: Final Touch Add a lens flare or mask to create an eerie glow to your photo, and accentuate the supernatural aura of your image. Save and confirm to finish!

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INSPIRATION : Drawing

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Amazing Primal Paintings Created with PicsArt In the vast ocean of PicsArt’s talented community, there are some especially gifted painters who shatter preconceptions of painting with a mobile app. Enter Roland Johansson (@rojo61), a painter who is as gifted with his finger on a screen as he is with oil on a canvas. If you had to categorize his style, the abstract expressionism of the 1930s comes to mind.

He uses wide brushstrokes and patches of clumped colors to create bold portraits. The tactile texture of paint remains in his mobile art, and he uses texture as a tool for self-expression.

His portraits are primal, and have the raw power of cave paintings. At a glance, one would never guess that these works were done on a mobile device, but they were, using PicsArt. Here we exhibit some of Roland’s finest paintings.

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New Android Update Custom Cliparts, Shape Masks, Selection Tool, and more!

We have released some new features, now available for all Android devices on Google Play!

These new features refine and expand the editing opportunities of PicsArt, giving you desktoplevel control over your mobile art and taking customization to a whole new level.

This update gives you exciting new choices like Shape Masks, refines the use of text, and empowers you with heightened customization tools by letting you create your own clipart. We are also introducing the new Selection Tool so that you can focus on pieces of your photos with precision and copy/paste them with ease.

Download the new Android update today from Google Play and take your photo editing to a whole new level!

Shape Mask Shape Masks can be used to overlay masks in the form of various shapes to your photo. The masks are customizable and give your photo a trendy new look.

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Custom Clipart Like a specific part of a certain drawing or photo? You can now use free crop, shape crop, or the selection tool to single out and create your very own clipart items to add to your other images whenever you like!

Selection tool The selection tool lets you focus on specific areas to pinpoint your editing techniques. Select an area of your photo either with your finger or by using a predetermined shape. You can then copy/paste this area within your photo, duplicate it, localize effects on targeted areas, or create varying perspectives of the same view.

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Text Improvements You can now zoom in on your text using multi-touch zoom. We have also improved the wrap text option, so you can wrap text around a specific item in your image or drawing with more precision.

Pull Down Refresh Pull your screen down with your finger and release to refresh the social networking part of the app, this way the latest posts and comments are always just a touch away!

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iOS Update Stretch Tool and New Masks Our latest iOS update is here to give you a more satisfying user experience and introduce new features. We are offering a new Stretch tool, which allows you to manipulate your picture - twisting it, pulling it, and inflating it into the shape you desire. We are also adding several new masks and a whole new section in our arsenal of masks.

Stretch Tool The Stretch tool, located in the Tools section of the editor, magically transforms your photo into a piece of clay that can be stretched and molded in four different ways: Warp, Swirl, Squeeze, and Inflate. Warp lets you push or pull areas of your photo, while Swirl stirs your photo into a clockwise or counter-clockwise spiral.

Squeeze and Inflate let you pinch or expand parts of your image with a finger. You can redo your transformations or freeze sections of the photo you don’t want to affect with your edits.

New Masks This version gets a complete overhaul of masks. This update brings new masks to the Bokeh, Light, Artistic, and Border categories, and even adds a brand new Textures category.

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Interview with Aerial Photographer Cameron Davidson Cameron Davidson is a photographer who has been at it for some time, taking the art of photography to new heights, literally! His specialty is aerial photography.

He spends his life traveling the planet, going up in helicopters to photograph the world from high above. He has published 6 books and his acclaimed work has the rare honor of having been turned into a U.S. postage stamp. This honor is perfectly suited for Cameron, who has traveled 49 of America’s 50 states, and maintains that the final remaining state of Hawaii is on his “hit list”. We contacted Cameron to ask him about his work and what it’s like to take pictures from a helicopter.

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How did you become a professional photographer?

In the early eighties I was assisting several Washington D.C. based photographers.

At the same time, I was pursuing my interest in wildlife photography. I was given the opportunity to spend two summers photographing a Great Blue Heron Rookery in southern Maryland for National Geographic. When that article was accepted, I made the jump to full-time shooting.

Do you remember what it was like your first time shooting from the air?

It was a short flight in a Piper Cub over the Great Blue Heron rookery on Black Swamp Creek along the Patuxent River in Maryland. I remember the pure joy of the flight and how in one photograph I could tie the interaction of water and land together in a graphic image.

Can you tell us about your 15 day circumnavigation of the world for Heinz, and what it was like to cross the planet in such a short period of time?

Serious sleep deprivation. I started at Dulles Airport and flew to Los Angeles, then on to Auckland, Queenstown, Singapore, New Delhi, London, Manchester, London and back to Dulles.

Many time zones, an all aerial shoot, and we hit it right on the money with weather. India was tough because of the high winds and dust, but it all worked out. I remember when I got home I slept for three days.

What moment do you remember most when you reflect on this project?

Taking a personal day and chartering an airplane to photograph Mount Cook/Aoraki in very clear weather. We took the plane up to 13,000 feet and shot the mountain at sunrise. A buddy of mine was living in New Zealand near Mount Cook and he said that in the six months he'd been in New Zealand he had never seen the mountain like that.

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Your aerial photo of Maryland’s Blackwater Refuge is now a U.S. postage stamp. How do you feel about that?

I think it is great. Because of the five year NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement), it was tough to not be able to tell anyone other than my wife that it was happening.

For me, it was an honor but more importantly, the series showed the importance and beauty of aerial photography. I was pleased that they chose so many fine aerial photographs and even produced a puzzle from the images.

You have traveled extensively throughout your career. If someone had a single chance to see the world from a helicopter, where would you recommend they do it?

That is tough to narrow down. I know for me - I’d love to photograph Scotland from the air, and also return to Africa. If I had to narrow it down, I would say spending a day or two in Kenya and Ethiopia would be pretty amazing.

What kind of things are most surprising when you look at a place from the sky?

The patterns that repeat themselves at different altitudes. Sometimes an image shot at five-hundred feet will look similar to one shot at five-thousand feet.

Are there any particular types of things that are different than one might expect or that made an unusual impression on you when you saw them from above?

No, I can’t say so. I research the areas I am shooting. There is also the element of surprise, which you hope for, the undiscovered target or opportunity that unveils itself that happens on just about every flight. You just have to be prepared to be lucky.

Is there a particular set of skills or equipment for aerial photography, and if so what is the most important thing when going up in a helicopter to shoot?

It is a niche within a niche. Safety comes first, above all else. I’ve written about aerial safety and have taught a class or two. The key is to know the limits of the aircraft you are flying in, a pilot who understands how to fly for the camera, and use a Gyroscope to stabilize the camera. Always remember, safety comes first.

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Is there a lot of teamwork in Aerial photography, and what does your team mean to you?

Yes. There is teamwork - you and the pilot. It helps a great deal if you understand aviation, weather reports, and respect the decision-making of the pilot.

What have you learned from taking so many photographs from the sky?

That there are patterns and forms everywhere. That the earth changes as humankind exploits it. There is beauty even in the raw destruction of landscapes.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thank you for the opportunity to show my work to your community.

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Soaking in the Sun with Yellow Petals and Black Panels A bedding of saffron colored flowers blanketing a plane as far as the eye can see, punctuated only by an isolated pine rising from the center. This image evokes the feeling you get when you stand amongst the splendor of nature in the open air, drawing in with each breath the essence of the life thriving around you, feeling alive and connected.

The image is a beautiful and worthy Photo of the Month, captured by user Hush Puppie (@hur1052). It demands closer scrutiny, however, specifically around the strange slanting black panels peeking above the horizon of yellow flowers. If you haven’t identified them yet, we’ll clue you in. They are solar panels, and here in this picturesque landscape, they are not only primely positioned to soak in clean and usable energy directly from the sun’s rays, but in this context, they remind us of the cause they were erected to defend.

@hur1052

April is not just a month to marvel at the budding wonders of Spring, but it is also the month of Earth Day, a day in which we ponder the conservation of our planet’s increasingly vulnerable environment.

It was therefore hard to ignore Hush Puppie’s image as the obvious candidate for our Photo of the Month. It is a reminder of the beauty and life of the natural world, as well as the measures we must undertake to ensure its protection. A stunning photo with a powerful message.

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FEATURE : Photo

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The majestic Arenal Volcano lies just 90km northwest of the country’s capital, San Jose, and and is still active after an eruption in 1968 that destroyed the town of Tabacón. Until 2010, it was one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world.

Although you’ll be very aware of its movements throughout the day, when noises spew from the top and you can feel the ground move beneath your feet, it’s not until fiery lava and burning rocks explode from its top that you’ll feel the true might of this fantastic sight.

This might not sound like the classic location for a photography trip, but Volcan Arenal lies in the middle of a national park that bears the same name, and in which almost all of Costa Rica’s 850 bird species can be found. As well as the beautiful native plants around the reservoir, you might also see jaguars, snakes, deer and coati. Pack a quick zoom lens for this trip!

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@henrycoco03

Volcan Arenal

@alexispizarro73

To the north of the Panamanian isthmus, just tucked under Nicaragua, is a country that may be small in size, but is large in personality. Costa Rica has been the tourist hub of Central America for years now, but many exquisite locations still get lost when folks take their cameras to its balmy shores. As one of the most diverse countries in the region, there’s more than enough nature to keep any photographer busy, but even if flora and fauna isn’t your thing, you’ll find lots to keep you busy in Costa Rica!

@jesus9520

The most unique shots in Costa Rica and where to get them

@genarysanchez

A Photographer’s Guide to Costa Rica

@luisarodriguez8

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@dennis2490

@hp1986

Puerto Viejo Just over the border from Panama (you can make a crossing via a run down wooden bridge) on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, lies Puerto Viejo, a little surfing and fishing town that’s big on reggae and low on the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With a mix of cultural influences, from native Caribbean to hippy American with a little tico lifestyle thrown in, Puerto Viejo is where like-minded souls meet to live with a slower pace and a lot more friendliness.

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@jacquecm

If you’re not a surfer or a surf photographer, don’t worry; Puerto Viejo’s little eccentricities and unique personalities will give you more than enough inspiration for fantastic shots of a whole different way of life. Whether you’re enjoying the local coffee and cacao, cycling along into nearby towns like Cahuita, seeing the nature along the way, or simply sampling the community’s vibe, you’ll find yourself relaxed, inspired and snapping away with gusto.

@hp1986

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@fernandahevi

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@ilicam

Tamarindo On the west coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, Tamarindo welcomes travellers from all over the world to its luscious white sand beaches.

What was once a small fishing town has now grown to be one of the most accessible and enjoyable tourist areas in the region, and the chilled-out manner of the place is so strong that you’ll feel your cares melting away the minute you step off the bus.

@aniemcghie

Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge is in easy reach of the town, as is Playa Grande, an excellent surfing and watersport beach that you can take in by horseback if you’re not so inclined to get wet. The incredible thing about Tamaraindo, however, is that it lies just beneath Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, where intrepid wildlife photographers will be afforded the unique opportunity to see the world’s largest reptile, the leatherback turtle, crawl ashore to lay its eggs. Between May and October you might even see the creatures on Playa Grande. Take a zoom lens and remember not to get in the way of this ancient birthing ritual; take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.

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@tonysuazo09

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Keep Time with This DIY Wall Installation For this week’s DIY feature, we will show you how to take a few basic materials to create not just a custom clock, but a complete modern art wall installation. With just a few simple materials, this tutorial will show you how to add some handy originality to your wall.

The key to this is how to use frames to organize space. Frames are not just extra flare - they focus one's eye on a subject, even if it is just blank space.

The way frames are hung relative to one another is important. Check out this tutorial to bring some modern art sensibility to your living room in just four easy steps.

Step 1: Materials Find a basic flat clock-face, scissors, glue, 3 backless picture frames, newspaper/ magazine clippings, and a rectangular piece of cardboard with a center hole and a cool design.

Step 2: Decorate Frames Take the strips that you cut out from your old magazines and newspapers, and glue them to your frames.

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Step 3: Clock Face Remove the pin holding the clock hands in place on the face, and reinsert it through the piece of cardboard, so that only the hands are visible over the cardboard.

Step 4: Assembly Glue the cardboard clock behind one of your frames and use the scissors to fit it to size. Hang your new clock on the wall with your decorated frames to complete your very own art-deco installation!

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Minimalism in Commonplace Objects Our PicsArtist of the Month is Slavko Pjevcevic (@ slavkopjevcevic), a PicsArtist who uses his camera to take beautiful and minimalist still-life portraits. Slavko’s photos choose a single subject, isolate it, capture it and give it all of the camera’s attention.

This approach forces us to examine and evaluate the inherent aesthetic properties of objects that we may otherwise find unremarkable, such as a teacup or globe. Slavko eliminates all other distractions and leaves us with only form and texture, and suddenly we are faced with a gallery of art that changes the way we see objects around us.

Even the colors in these images are minimal, with sepia and B&W tones.

It is the common thread throughout Slavko’s work--the bare essentials are the subject.

The details are more important than context and setting. Slavko wants us to look closer and appreciate the subtleties around us. His photos make us do just that, they simplify in order to draw us in and show us what has been hiding in front us all along.

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