Piictu

Piictu is joining Kandu: How to get your photos

nslimak — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:05:51 -0400

Today we announced Piictu is joining forces with Kandu - “a stealthy Betaworks company” that shares our vision and ideals of how technology is a catalyst for a better and richer world. Unfortunately, this news does comes with some hardship. As of Friday May 31st 2013, the app will no longer be available.

Piictu photos will be available for download from May 16th until June 7th, 2013 by following these steps:

1. Send an email to piics@piictu.com from the same email address you used when you signed up. (You need to use the same email address so that we know it’s really you.)

2. Write that you want your photos sent to you and include the email you want them sent to.

3. Give us a few days and before June 14th 2013, we’ll send you a file with all your photos.

Some of the stream you’ve created on our platform over the past two years have really made all our efforts worthwhile. Draw the piictu logo is a great example. From the entire team we want to thank you for the great energy, trust and support you have brought to the community and we look forward to bringing you more fun, exciting and heartfelt products in the future. We have lots of exciting things coming up…

Shoot us an email at support@piictu.com if you have any questions.

Cheers,

The Piictu Team

Watch Piictu founder Jon Slimak talk about photo trends from the...

nslimak — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Watch Piictu founder Jon Slimak talk about photo trends from the Luminance Photography Conference held this September in NYC. Read more about it here.

Sending out the Contest Prizes

piictucommunity — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:26:12 -0400

From the Piictu HQ

Estrella de Mar

piictucommunity — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:27:01 -0400

Posted by @berlin_rivas on Piictu

Lofty Shots: Elevated Photos by Pilot Wayne

piictucommunity — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:50:16 -0400

Aerial view photography is profoundly fascinating as it captures a world, for most people, only occasionally seen. On Piictu, a small community of pilots regularly post their adventures, offering superb glimpses from the bird’s eye. Aviator and aerial photography buff @PilotWayne on Piictu talks about his shots and offers advice on taking photos from a plane.

-Piictu

***

How long have you been flying?

PilotWayne: I have been flying for almost six years as a pilot, and many times before that as a member of a flight crew, or as a passenger, on different types of aircraft.

What type of plane do you fly? Who typically flies with you?

I usually fly a Piper Warrior or Archer III. Sometimes, I will fly an Archer II. These are very popular single engine propeller planes, with a “low wing” design. I’ve also flown “high wing” airplanes, including the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. These airplanes typically fly at 110 - 125 knots, powered by a 160 or 180 horsepower, 4 cylinder piston engine.

When flying for fun, I almost always fly with friends who are also pilots, and we take turns as “Pilot in Command.” I’m also a member of two flying clubs. We go on group flights, “for a $100 hamburger,” site-seeing, visiting a museum, or sometimes to see an air show. The last group flight we went on was to a great little airport restaurant in Westhampton Beach, for breakfast.

I also fly as a volunteer flight crew member for the Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary) and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This is exciting flying - search and rescue, aerial photography supporting disaster relief efforts, homeland security missions and patrol of local ports and waterways.

What made you want to be a pilot?

When I was very young, I received an unusual gift: a cardboard mock-up of a Mercury capsule. I still remember sitting in it, and operating the simulated control panel, which actually lit up and had “real” switches and buttons.

I took my first flight in a small plane when I was about ten years old, on a family vacation in Pennsylvania. We flew “once around the airport”, but I still remember every detail of that flight. Also at a young age, I took a helicopter site-seeing flight over Niagara Falls. That flight also has a big impact on me. (I would actually love to fly helicopters, but it’s just too expensive.)

I fly for the adventure, the challenge, the unique experience, and to explore new places with friends who share my passion.

Of course, it’s also great to be able to get somewhere in less than half the time it takes to drive! I enjoy combining flying with digital photography. You can see the world from a different perspective, and there’s always something interesting to take a picture of - unusual clouds, the light and colors of the sky at different times of day, the places you visit (seen from the air and on the ground), and of course, other airplanes!

What type of cameras and accessories do you use for aerial photography?

Most of my aerial photos, as well as airport and air show photos, are taken with a Nikon D5000 DSLR. I have two lenses: a 18-55 mm, and a 55-200 mm zoom.

I use a wide angle setting for cockpit shots, so that I can capture as much of the crew and instrument panel as possible. I also use wide angle settings for taking more panoramic shots of scenery and sky together. Sometimes, I will use my 200 mm zoom to capture a close-up of an area of interest on the ground, like an airport. I have also had pretty good success with telephoto shots of nearby airplanes.

I use a UV filter on both of my lenses, but I find that some tweaking of the brightness, contrast and white balance using a photo editing tool can really help improve the final product, especially when you are shooting on a cloudy or hazy day.

Sometimes, I’ll just use my iPhone 4S camera to take quick shots in the cockpit, or videos - when I don’t have time to set up and use the D5000.

Is it dangerous to take photos while flying?

It’s not dangerous as long as you maintain “situational awareness.” One of the most important things is looking out for other aircrafts in the busy New York airspace. I take pictures when I am the, “Pilot Not Flying” (another pilot is flying the airplane). You can fly from either the left or the right seats, which is why you’ll see my Piictu photos taken from both sides of the aircraft.

What’s your favorite aerial view?

The Manhattan skyline. You’ve probably seen my photos on Piictu - flying along the Hudson River and over Central Park. I also love flying along Long Island’s ocean beaches, especially at sunset. I enjoy night flying, and recently captured some good photos of night landings, using the iPhone 4S camera!

***

Thanks Wayne! We can’t wait to see more fantastic shots!

Follow Pilot Wayne on Piictu

dogshaming: I love to lick the insides of shoes :( Aw...

piictucommunity — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:36:01 -0400

dogshaming:

I love to lick the insides of shoes :(

Aw it’s okay! We love you, you little BT!

"Food"

piictucommunity — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:48:45 -0400

By @ kemolog on Piictu

Frozen Park in Glasgow, Scotland

piictucommunity — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:37:00 -0400

from @ashglasgow on Piictu

SNOOPY

piictucommunity — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:50:01 -0400

SNOOPY

Photo

piictucommunity — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:52 -0400

piictucommunity: arteem: Возвращение в Piictu ;) #piictu...

piictucommunity — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:38 -0400

piictucommunity:

arteem:

Возвращение в Piictu ;) #piictu #followme #NOTOWNEDBYFACEBOOK (Taken with instagram)

Nope, not owned by Facebook.

piictucommunity: RUH ROH

piictucommunity — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:23 -0400

piictucommunity:

RUH ROH

piictucommunity: inspired-ui: Piictu One of our faves!

piictucommunity — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:04 -0400

piictucommunity:

inspired-ui:

Piictu

One of our faves!

A Magical Mystery Box

piictucommunity — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:31:59 -0400

Maksim Kopeikin takes great, aesthetically pleasing photographs, using filters to push a sense of nostalgia and quietness inherent in each. Each photo has a sense of calculation related to the frame, relating shapes and lines to the square constraints of the photo uploaded. Maksim’s streams evoke a sense of imagination around the everyday, as in “Information Portal” or “Burger Distortion Field”. He has been kind enough to answer a few questions over email.

- Piictu

***

Where do you live currently?

In my home country, Latvia, in our beautiful capital Riga.

Are you a photographer for a living?

I don’t do photography for a living because there are a dozen other things I could do for a living; it’s just really hard to pick one. If you’ve ever tried doing multiple things for a living you’d know that the result will be sub-par. Why? Concentration and the desired level of detail takes time and a lot of brain power.

Only with full dedication to something one would be able to accomplish some kind of self-satisfactory level, which, at that specific point in time feels damn near perfection, yet, it isn’t. And even then, it’s for a very short period of time.

As far my iPhone photography/videography goes? I just love it and I have a taste for what I like, hence I don’t put out stuff I personally think has no value factor for others.

For the “Magical Mystery Box” stream, what inspired you to begin documenting the box? Do you take it with you places normally?

The box itself inspired to me start documenting it: I don’t go out without my Magical Mystery Box. The box had a very long history even before I started documenting it, but everything changed when someone sat on top of it and broke the lid. After that happened I hadn’t carried that box for two years.

Suddenly, I felt the need to fix it after my mother repeatedly wanted to get rid of it. After I fixed it, I knew that I have to go the extra mile and do something with it to make it feel complete.

So, I asked a friend of mine to do that abstract painting on top, which was replaced with a piece of plank (below, one can see the unpainted wood on the case).

She did. And it was beautiful. After that, the box fetish began. I started noticing that the box is just the perfect size. I can fit my notepad in there. Millimeter perfect. I can fit that and this and everything!

And after that, I’ve noticed how it just blends in with the surrounding landscape of objects, interiors, nature etc. And, just by chance, I’ve decided to wittingly put the box in a couple of pictures I was doing for some freelance clients at that time. Something like a stamp or maybe a easter-egg type of thing… And that’s where it all began.

We will look for the Easter Egg Magical Picture Box photos coming our way soon.

Thank you, Maksim!

Follow the “Magical Mystery Box” Stream on Piictu.

Legends of the Fall

piictucommunity — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:36:44 -0400

Photos by @mekarka found on Piictu

“For Cloud” by Sunthink on Piictu

piictucommunity — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:25:00 -0400

“For Cloud” by Sunthink on Piictu

Big Travels for Big Boy

piictucommunity — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:48:00 -0400

After spending two years in Iraq, Antonio Ramirez is currently stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. Known as Tony_Ram on Piictu, his Big Boy project has gained a lot of momentum, and quite a few funny and attentive photos documenting the burger mascot’s travels. The stream demonstrates an inventive and diverse community surrounding Big Boy’s various destinations, and garners support and celebration from many other viewers. After flipping through the photos, it is clear Big Boy has a world of his own.

-Piictu

***

Antonio Ramirez: I got the idea for Big Boy after my last deployment to Iraq when I realized that I didn’t take any pictures of him in various locations that he had been in with me. I don’t get the chance to travel much on my own time, so packing up and going on a vacation to multiple places was out of the question. It was then that I decided that Big Boy would travel on his own through the US, and then maybe the world.

Big Boy was chosen because he has traveled with me through two deployments, traveling over 28,000 miles total, and he has returned safely each time. I figured it was time for him to go on vacation and visit others. The only problem was that I did not know whom or where I could send him.

So, I turned to the Piictu community and received positive feedback from many people. There is no other app out there that feels like you are part of a family and that is what gained my trust and confidence to let Big Boy travel within the Piictu family.

My goal for Big Boy is for him to travel the world to see as many major landmarks and buildings that Piictu users see in their daily life. But for right now I’m content with him traveling across the US and touching all 50 states.

***

Thank you, Antonio! We hope you reach your goals!

Watch Big Boy’s Journey on Piictu.

From @raquin on Piictu, “Win or Loose, Everyone...

piictucommunity — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:42:00 -0400

From @raquin on Piictu, “Win or Loose, Everyone Wins!”

Photo from @daria_levitskaya on Piictu

piictucommunity — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:34:00 -0400

Photo from @daria_levitskaya on Piictu

Piictu Profile: @Qoop's OBENTO!

piictucommunity — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:41:54 -0400

Qoope is a Japanese office worker, currently living in Tokyo, Japan. Several times a week, Qoope shares his lunches in a Piictu Stream called, “Today’s OBENTO, thx Honey!”. These lunches are perfectly boxed together, often with cuts of fresh fish, vegetables, and rice. Since we’ve been salivating over the entire stream, we decided to contact Qoope to learn more about the dish.

-Piictu

I was wondering - are these Obentos made for you by your significant other?

These obentos are made for my lunch by my wife every morning.

What goes into an obento box so that it’s obento (and not another Japanese dish?)

“Bento” means a Japanese style lunch box or its contents, but not limited to Japanese dishes. Italian, Chinese, French, etc. can be made available. The “o” is attached to the noun, because it is polite in Japanese, o-bento. Please refer to the below home page created by a French man, who loves “bento” and now manages a bento-box shop in Kyoto, Japan: http://en.bentoandco.com/pages/contest-top-10 That blog shows appetizing, beautiful obento boxes.

What made you want to document your meals in a stream?

To record my lovely wife’s beautiful work.

Do you get a lot of feedback from posting them?

I’m happy to receive about ten responses or more, every time I post them.

Thanks so much for sharing, Qoope!