22 DECEMBER 21, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
HOLIDAY
New survey unwraps holiday photo-taking insights among U.S. families
A photo with family and friends
- ugly sweaters and all - is a holiday
tradition. But getting everyone
posed in front of the fi replace
is just the fi rst step. From selecting the
right settings, to taking the photo, to
sending it to our loved ones, so much
goes into capturing the moment. At
Samsung Electronics America, this
got us thinking: How are we capturing
and sharing moments this holiday
season?
We conducted a survey of over 1,000
smartphone owners in the U.S., and 85
percent of respondents told us smartphones
are their top choice for taking
holiday photos. That's why we've engineered
and designed the Samsung
Galaxy family of smartphones with
great cameras. With the Galaxy S8, S8+,
S8 Active and Note8, easy photo modes
will make your holiday feast stand
out on any newsfeed, and voice- and
gesture-activated timers make getting
the whole family in the holiday card a
breeze, especially with the wide-angle
selfi e mode.
CAPTURING (AND
SHARING) THE MOMENT
We all love sharing holiday photos
on social media. In fact, our survey
found 50 percent of consumers post
more pictures on social media during
the holidays than during the rest of the
year, and 45 percent say they receive
more likes and comments during the
holidays. Forty-two percent of those
surveyed also noted they are more
likely to participate in a holiday activity
if there are good photo-taking
opportunities.
When taking holiday photos, 60
percent of respondents said that they
would be more likely to snap pictures
if their cameras had features designed
for winter activities such as low-light
capabilities, dual cameras, or larger
screens/displays.
Here are some tips for expert photo
taking this holiday season:
EXPERT TIPS FOR LOWLIGHT
PHOTOS:
• When shooting in low-light conditions
against an illuminated background,
turn your subject toward
the brightest point. That way, whatever
light there is will hit where you
want it - plus you'll compose a more
interesting shot.
• When capturing moving subjects
in dark conditions, digital zoom is
rarely your friend. Resolution is lost
with each level of magnifi cation, so
for better close-ups, avoid zoom
and move as close to your subject
as possible.
• If you're shooting a skyline or
landscape at night on a Galaxy S8,
S8+, S8 Active or Note8, switch to Pro
mode. Adjust your camera's ISO settings
and set your shutter speed to a
longer time. Opt for a stable surface
to keep the shot steady.
CLOSER TOGETHER
The holidays are a time to connect
and spend time with those you care
about: 51 percent of consumers say a
picture with family members is their
most sought-aft er photo of the season.
Expert tips for taking quality family
photos:
• Whether you opt in to matching ugly
sweaters or not, color coordinating
or wearing items from the same hue
(warm versus cool) will help tie your
family's look together.
• To ensure that everyone is in the
shot and one person isn't stuck behind
the lens, opt for a smartphone
that has a camera delay timer. On
your Galaxy device you can choose
a delay of 2, 5 or 10 seconds. If you
have Bixby on your device, you can
even use your voice. Just say, "Hey
Bixby, set the timer for rear camera
to 10 seconds."
• Smartphones that capture portrait
shots are great for enhancing your
subjects. With the Galaxy Note8, the
Live Focus feature lets you capture
portrait and wide-angle shots at the
same time.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE
HOME
Every family has their own traditions
but some things are universal - everyone
loves cute photos. Parents with
children at home and families with pets
are more likely - by 22 percent and 29
percent respectively - to take photos of
these cute sidekicks. Of course, sometimes
kids and puppies don't make the
most cooperative subjects, so how can
you capture the moment regardless of
their willingness to sit still?
EXPERT TIPS FOR
REDUCING BLUR:
If you're shooting a fast-moving
subject and don't want motion in the
shot, use a fast shutter speed.
• The Galaxy S8, S8+, S8 Active and
Note8 feature an enhanced Smart
Auto Focus on the front-facing
camera that tracks every face in the
frame, so all your shots stay sharp
and in focus.
A FEAST FOR THE EYES
The most popular foodie photos of
the season are holiday pies and desserts
- with 57 percent of respondents
noting they'll take a photo of their
sweet treats over other foods.
EXPERT TIPS FOR FOOD
SHOTS:
• A straight-on shot over your plate
lacks visual interest. Switch it up by
taking photos from multiple angles
to see what works best.
• Food Mode on the Galaxy S8, S8+,
S8 Active and Note8 is optimized
for pictures of delicious treats.
Activate it and you'll get enhanced
color, contrast and blue tone effects
that make everything more
enticing.
Whether you spend the holidays
with friends or family, inside or outside,
with children or puppies, while
eating cookies or pie, the best way to
capture and share your memories is
right in the palm of your hand, made
possible by the unmatched camera
quality of the Samsung Galaxy family
of smartphones.
For more information on the
Samsung Galaxy smartphone family,
visit https://www.samsung.com/us/
mobile/galaxy/.
Courtesy BPT
Glendale Kiwanis install a new member, help Salvation Army
The Kiwanis Club of Glendale
has been busy of late inducting
new members and assisting
local residents in need. In the
left photo, the club recently introduced
James Park of Broadway Stages
as its newest member. Glendale
Kiwanis President Kerrie Hansen,
Past President Bill Maher and Assemblyman
Mike Miller presented
Park with his club apron and pin. In
the right photo, club members also
presented a $250 donation to the
Salvation Army for its bell-ringing
fundraiser recently held outside
the Stop and Shop supermarket
in Glendale. Hansen is pictured at
the check presentation along with
President-elect Tony Sauro and
Cadet Allen and Lieutenant Ciricao
of the Salvation Army.
Photos courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Glendale
