Anyone with an iPhone can take decent photos and videos. In a sea of filtered Instagrams, it takes the right equipment and plenty of skill in order to stand out.
If you fancy taking your photography skills to the next level, these courses and gadgets should help you get there.
1) Lytro Illum camera
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Most cameras capture light in 2D. The Lytro Illum (now $369.99, or 71 percent off) records the angle and direction of 40 million individual light rays to construct each photo in 3D. You can even adjust the focus and perspective after you take the shot. This flagship model has an 8x zoom and a constant f/2.0 aperture. If you’d like to start a little simpler, the original Lytro camera (now $79.99, or 59 percent off) also takes “living photos” that can be adjusted by the viewer.
2) Hollywood Art Institute photography course and certification
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Taught by industry professionals, this Hollywood Art Institute Course (now $25, or 99 percent off) offers 22 learning modules to help you get your photography certification. It skips the jargon, concentrating on real-world techniques, and offers five years’ access to the Pro Article Database.
3) Lume Cube and smartphone mount bundle
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Phone photographers never have to worry about nighttime lighting woes again. The Lume Cube (now $89.99 or 9 percent off) is a small, portable light that syncs with your device for brilliant photos your phone’s flash can only dream of. It’s waterproof up to 100 feet, for night swimming shoots. Also included is a mount for smartphones.
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4) Adobe KnowHow all-inclusive photography bundle
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This bundle of 14 video courses (now $69, or 93 percent off) is a complete education in how to take and edit photos. The practical tutorials cover basic camera skills, plus portrait, travel, wedding, and night photography. On the digital side, you learn Photoshop and Lightroom from scratch.
5) Extendable pole for GoPro
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You know those sweet videos where snowboarders film themselves carving through the powder? The extendable pole for GoPro (now $27.99, or 44 percent off) lets you similarly capture your own adventures. It is made from aircraft aluminum, making it light, durable, and easy to use.
6) Videography bootcamp
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Folks who prefer moving images will benefit from the videography bootcamp (now $39, or 97 percent off). It brings together eight courses that cover basic cinematography, filmmaking, camera drones, GoPro videography, and plenty of post-processing.
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