Tag Archive for: photography

543 – Awesome Apps: Photos

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April is “Awesome Apps” month on WELSTech as Martin and Sallie share some of their favorite apps that can provide a boost to your productivity, ministry activities or just plain enjoyment of your smart devices. In this episode the “focus” is on photo apps including cameras, photo management, editing and sharing. Don’t be satisfied with just “taking pictures.” Up your game with these awesome apps!

The discussion:

Photo apps – The best camera is the one you have with you! And these days, your handy smartphone camera offers quality and features which result in stunning photos. Martin and Sallie share their favorite apps to extend your smartphone camera capabilities, including capturing, editing and sharing.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Untangling Audio Cable Confusion from Church Tech Today

Featured video:

Watch President Schroeder’s 2018 Easter Message.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 544 – Awesome Apps month continues with a deep dive into a variety of mobile app utilities. Release date: Wednesday, April 11.

Get involved:

Free Stock Photography from WELSTech

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The WELSTech Challenge Album is a collection of 1,000+ royalty-free, high-resolution photos which were donated by WELSTech listeners for use in ministry. The album is hosted on Flickr and searchable using the term welstechphotochallenge coupled with other specific search terms. The album includes images representing all parts of the church year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Confirmation and more), school, outreach, food, and seasons of the year.

Application/audience

These images are helpful to any congregation, school or individual who wants to share the love of Jesus with the world using any means of communication! With the rise of visual communication, the images can be used for all types of print and web communication including web sites, e-mail, social media, bulletins, newsletters, school projects and more.

Related resources

Looking for more quality stock photography for your ministry project? Check out these free options:

  • Flickr general search – Select license option of “No copyright restrictions”
  • Pixabay
  • Unsplash

Watch this video for a quick overview of the WELSTech Challenge Album.

See All Ministry Resources

462 – Social Media for Ministry: Instagram

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Get ready to go social as WELSTech begins a season-long focus on social media for ministry. This month we look at the Why, What, Who and How of Instagram. There’s news from Apple and Code.org, plus a bluetooth speaker winner and even more Instagram greatness to close out the show. Don’t wait … watch or listen now!

The discussion:

Visual communication – New this podcasting season is a monthly series titled Social Media for Ministry. The fist platform Martin and Sallie take a deep dive into is the popular image-sharing app Instagram. View the full-size Instagram for Ministry infographic and follow the links below for more details.

News in tech:

Apple’s newest products, most available starting September 16:

WELS now:

“What does this mean? The continuing importance of Luther’s Small Catechism” is the title of the upcoming Interactive Faith series led by Rev. John Braun. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 or 8 pm Central beginning September 21.

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Request the Social Media Quick Guide: Instagram from Church Tech Today’s eBooks page.

Featured video:

Check out Instagram’s videos on Vimeo including this week’s featured video, Introducing Instagram Stories.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 463 – Next week the WELSTech listeners rule the roost as we share community feedback for the month. Release date: Wednesday, September 21.

Get involved:

461 – Taking Better Pictures

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WELSTech’s 2016-17 season is underway this week as Martin and Sallie chat with photographer Naomi Green and share the latest news in tech, an upcoming streaming Bible study event from WELS, a Pinterest ministry resources (perhaps the best kind of ministry resource), picks of the week and a featured video to start the new school year. Join the conversation!

The interview and discussion:

Naomi GreenCreative imagery – Photographer Naomi Green, a member of St. Peter’s in Monticello, MN and a volunteer at West Lutheran High School, joins Martin and Sallie to share her experience, tips, equipment and software choices for taking great church and school photography.

News in tech:

Samsung is recalling the Galaxy Note 7 worldwide over battery problem

WELS now:

“What does this mean? The continuing importance of Luther’s Small Catechism” is the title of the upcoming Interactive Faith series led by Rev. John Braun. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 or 8 pm Central beginning September 21.

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Bible Crafts for Kids on Pinterest

Featured video:

Experience the First Day of High School for freshmen at Lakeside Lutheran High School, the newest addition to WELSTech’s WELS Schools playlist video.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 462 – Continuing with the photography theme, Martin and Sallie kick off a season-long “Social Media for Ministry” focus with a deep dive into Instagram. Release date: Wednesday, September 14

Get involved:

449 – Fur the Love of Photos

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The WELSTech summer series on “mobile ministry” continues as Martin and Sallie explore photography. The cameras we carry on our smartphones can be powerful tools for ministry. Listen in for good camera apps, tips and accessories. Plus, Sallie shares some TechSmith love, and Martin has a square jellyfish for his phone.

The discussion:

Martins iPhone PhotoMobile photography – As the old saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you. And your smartphone camera may be just the thing you need to accomplish more ministry goals than you realized.

Picks of the week:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 450 – Mobile hardware, operating systems (iOS vs. Android) and peripherals will be the topic of next week’s podcast. Release date: Wednesday, June 22

Get involved:

445 – Something For Everyone

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WELSTech has something for everyone on this community feedback episode. Topics include social media strategy, mobile photography, Google Apps for Education, church bulletins and more! Martin and Sallie also share the latest news from TechSmith and Google, helpful tips on Excel and the Chrome browser and worship/bulletin artwork from WELS artists.

The discussion:

BuffetThe listeners speak – Martin and Sallie share recent WELSTech community feedback.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Women’s Ministry Conference – July 21-23 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Featured video:

Learn more about the upcoming Women’s Ministry Conference in this Together video update, saved on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 446 – Jason Schmidt joins Martin and Sallie for the last edtech discussion of the school year focusing on outdoor and rainy day tech for schools (and beyond). Release date: Wednesday, May 25

Get involved:

407 – Nothing Boring About Your Photos

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This week on WELSTech we tackle the topic of graphic design with a variety of online and mobile tools for creating professional imagery, infographics and slide shows to communicate a message. Martin tries to Sway viewers to a new way of presenting, and we hear from a WELSTech Hall-of-Fame member with a free eBook to share.

The discussion:

imagineThat145x125Graphic Design – Martin and Sallie help you take your images to the next level with a variety of easy and often-times free image editing tools in this 4th installment of the Imagine That summer series.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 408 – Next week we wrap up the summer Imagine That series with a discussion of image storage and organization. Join us Tuesday, September 1 at 4 pm Central. welstechlive.wels.net

Get involved:

405 – You and Your Camera

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The WELSTech summer Imagine That series continues with a discussion of photography and an announcement of a new WELSTech Photo Challenge. There’s also 3D and camera exposure picks of the week and plus loads of community feedback!

The discussion:

PHOTO CHALLENGESay Cheese – The latest WELSTech series, Imagine That, is back as Martin and Sallie discuss the ins and outs of photography including camera selection criteria, tutorials on lighting and exposure, and ideas for what to photograph in a church and school setting. They also announce details of the WELSTech Photo Challenge and the August photo categories.

August 2015 Photo Challenge

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 406 – Imagine That continues as Martin and Sallie share image editing techniques to enhance your photography. Join us Tuesday, August 18 at 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net

Get involved:

282 – Going Beyond Cat Videos

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Today’s WELSTech Podcast covers ways to use your mobile photo or tablet photography in ministry. We also talk with designer Corissa Nelson about ways she lets her light shine through her online business, image donations to WELS and design work for her local congregation.

The discussion:

The best camera … – Martin and Sallie talk about the meteoric rise in prevalence of “pocketography” – using cameras on smartphones and tablets to easily capture and share images – and ways which these cameras can aid the work of churches, schools and individuals.

The interview:

(19:50) Letting Her Light Shine Through Art – Corissa Nelson, member of Our Savior in Grafton, WI, talks with Martin and Sallie about her design business and the ways she uses her gifts to God’s glory in her church, the synod and beyond.

News in tech:

(33:40) Grace Lutheran principal Peter Iles garners Google’s attention

Picks of the week:

  • (35:25) Photogene – Watch Sallie’s tour

  • PhotoSynth – Take a 360 tour of Martin’s office

Of interest:

(40:57) WELSTech Camp will run from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM and plans are for 4 one-hour discussion time slots plus lunch, snacks and giveaways. Join the conversation on September 14 at Martin Luther College!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(45:02) Episode 283 – Connecting with an audience is important to any public speaker and the topic of next week’s podcast discussion as we continue reviewing Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. (Release date – 04/09/13)

The featured artist:

(45:50) We close the podcast with the music of The Branches Band (www.branchesband.com|Facebook) – This Is The Day The Lord Has Made

Get involved:

234 – Smile

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best photo organizing and editing tools.

The discussion:

Take my picture! – The 7 Best series is back and this month Martin and Sallie share their top picks for working with photos.

Photo Organizing and Editing Tools

  1. Aviary -Phoenix image editor and Raven vector editor
  2. Picasa
  3. Instagram
  4. Irfanview
  5. Flickr
  6. GIMP – Tutorials
  7. PicMonkey

Kudos to the WELSTech community for lots more great recommendations:

Coming up in June … 7 Best Bookmarking Tools and Tips

News in tech:

(24:44) Google Drive is live

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (34:37) FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts!
  • Check out the newly updated FinalWeb video tutorials

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(44:25) Episode 235 – Martin and Sallie conclude their discussion of the online e-book How to Transform Your Small Business With Social Media, looking at Chapter 5 to the end. (Release date – 05/09/12)

The featured artist:

(45:38) We close the podcast with the music of Cross to Glory – One Name from their CD titled “Life’s Song“

Get involved: