This would be Michael Bay's bluetooth speaker.

A few months ago I got a random email from a company I hadn't heard of before (Zoeao) asking if I wanted to review a Bluetooth speaker. Normally, I would say no - I'm very picky about the companies I work with and the products I review, but this was different. There was a link to some info about the speaker and when I saw this thing... I knew I had to give it a spin.  

Here's the official video from the Zoeao.  

It's simultaneously insanely cool and incredibly lame. That's why I had to try it.  I'm nowhere near an expert on audio or speakers but I do consider myself an aficionado of a good sonic experience. My personal benchmark for the best Bluetooth spesker is the UE Boom.  I've had 3 of them over the years. They're rugged, sound good, and can easily be chained together for more stereo experiences. Needless to say apart from not being qualified to review a Bluetooth speaker, I also didn't need one. I was still excited for this speaker though... 

It's borderline rediculous. 

I'll spare you the boring details here and focus on what matters. The sound is good. It's powerful, punchy, and can easily fill a medium to large room with ease. It also connects VERY easily with multiple devices I own. It's Bluetooth 5.0 which is solid. It never lost connection on me. The battery life is also INSANE. Zoaeo claims 30 hours. I've never charged it once and I have been using it off and on for over a month. If you do have to charge it you can do so with the included USB-C cable. A braided one at that. It also has an AUX jack and a 3.5mm cable if you don't want to connect wirelessly. 

The biggest standout here beyond the very stellar audio quality, battery life, and build quality of everything is the design. This speaker is clearly aimed at a cyberpunk sci-fi crowd. If you like robots, transformers, and futuristic looking tech. This thing delivers. It even glows neon green when it's on (you can turn the LEDs off manually). 

I haven't really decided if I like the design or not. The Blade Runner fan in me wants to love it but the minimalist simple side of me hates it. All I can is it definitely turns heads and it will be a conversation piece in any room you place it. Maybe I will use it as a prop for film one day. 

One last thing I really like about this speaker functionally is the units volume control. It's a touch sensitive slider on top. It feels like you're adjusting a robot's emotional responsiveness. It's fun. 

So if you're looking for a really good wireless speaker that would fit in perfectly in Deckard's apartment from the first Blade Runner, this wins on every front. If you just want a decent Bluetooth speaker I'd still recommend the UE Boom. They're both roughly the same price too. 

Learn more about the Gravastar at their IndieGoGo page. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gravastar-crazy-cool-speaker-with-ultimate-sound

Cheers,  

pt.  

MY NEW FAVORITE TRAVEL LENS

iPhone X + Moment Anamorphic

Last week I landed back in Toronto after being in Mexico for 7 days to shoot a wedding. The nice thing about the gig was that the wedding was only one day, which meant we had 6 days to explore and relax - I took this time as an opportunity to give Moment’s Anamorphic lens for smartphones a proper spin for photos and video while travelling.

If you’re not familiar with Moment’s anamorphic lens or anamorphic lenses in general, I made this video that demonstrates some of the advantages to this unique aspect ratio and perspective - specifically for smartphones.

Originally I bought the lens for video but this trip made me really appreciate it’s photo capabilities. It’s a little bit of a pain that you have to shoot with the Moment app or else your photos will look “squished” - which you would then have to “desqueeze” in post (this can be done with apps on your phone as well) But I got used to the process after about an hour of shooting.

The below gallery is a few images without any edits applied. These are direct from the iPhone X with Moment’s Pro app.

I think my favorite aspect about shooting anamorphic is the scale. You can capture so much width and size that it makes even this little side street feel grandiose.

One thing I noticed on this trip was how much video people take while traveling with their phones. Now I know most of us don’t want to create big epic films of our travels, most people just want to have some keepsake clips as a memory - but that doesn’t mean they can’t look epic and cinematic. The Moment Anamorphic is easy to carry around. I had it in my pocket the entire trip and it never once got in the way. If I saw a scene I liked I just popped the lens on and shot away, it only added about 10 seconds to my workflow while shooting. The best part is that I didn’t have to carry around any of my bigger cameras like the GH5 or even the somewhat travel friendly G85 or G7.

Besides the wonderful photo quality and perspective I am most pleased with the video. Simple clips come out much more stylized and feel more epic than standard smartphone video clips.

Here’s a short video of some of my favorite scenes captured with the Moment Anamorphic on my iPhone X. I used FilmicPro to capture all of this:

I love gear that has the least barriers to create - Lugging around a fancy mirrorless or DSLR with big lenses is counter to what I think travelling is all about. It’s about your experience and living in the moment wherever you are. This is why in my opinion the Moment Anamorphic is an easy way to add some flair and style to your trip memories without taking away from the trip itself, and why it’s now my absolute favorite lens to travel with.

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Get your Moment lens here: http:bit.ly/ptmoment
I have not been paid to write this piece but I do get a 10% commission if you use this link which helps me make more content like this post, videos, films, and more.

Follow me: instagram.com/impatrickt
Subscribe: bit.ly/impatricktyoutube

Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget to share this article if you liked it.

Cheers,
pt. //

DANFORTH SIDEBAR

It feels good to be making content back in Toronto. One of my first gigs since I got back from New York was for a fairly new restaurant located in Toronto's Danforth neighborhood called Danforth Sidebar. It's actually right beside the Danforth Music Hall (one of my favorite music venues in the city). Given the recent and tragic mass shooting incident that happened right on its doorstep it was especially nice to help this local business. They deserve the best promotion and content because their food is absolutely stellar. Not to mention the staff are equally amazing.

Enjoy some of my selects from the shoot and be sure to follow them on instagram!

Shoutout to Justin Maguire for producing this shoot - many more to come.

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Don't forget to follow me on instagram to see more. @impatrickt #justshootit

pt. //

CAMPING // MAY 2018

I find when I try to make "cinematic" videos of experiences it stops me from actually experiencing whatever it is I'm doing. Trying a new approach that lets me live a bit more in the moment but still capture memories. It's funny how we all have cameras on us but we don't really document home movies like we used to.

Took a couple photos as well.

Follow: Hasan + Oscar.

#justshootit

TAKE PROFRESSIONAL FOOD SHOTS WITH YOUR PHONE

This is going to be a quick post - I see a lot of people shooting really bad photos of food with their phones so I want to give you a few easy tips to up your #foodie game. Food is one of the latest photography specialties to become democratized by technology so take advantage of that smartphone you have and wow your hungry followers.

This isn't rocket science and hopefully by the end of this you'll have 20k followers so you can eat for free at fancy restaurants.*

*I'm kidding. Don't work for free food that's stupid. Get paid.

Pixel 2 + VSCO

Lighting is probably the most important part of food photography, and I don't mean your flash. In fact the flash on your phone is garbage and it's going to make the food look like crap. I'm talking about nice lighting that isn't overly harsh or yellow. You want a clean bright light source usually coming from an angle. To demonstrate I bought some black presentation board and an eggplant parm from Patrizia's of Manhattan (it was delicious btw). I stacked the sandwich on a cutting board and placed a cheap LED light from Amazon off to the left. I snagged the shot above with the Pixel 2 and edited it with the HB2 preset in VSCO. Voila.

Here's a BTS of the setup:

LOW BUDGET FOR THE WIN

If you don't have a lot free time on your hands like yours truly, natural window light is your best bet. Always find a table closest to a bright and large window or walk your food there to get the shot. Here's a couple examples of window light.

Lastly there's basically three main compositions you should stick to. The top down, the POV, and the quarter angle. You really can't go wrong with any of them but top down and POV usually seems to perform best.

Top Down

POV

Quarter Angle

Extra Tip:
Turn your phone upside down for a lower perspective.

"But the lighting in this restaurant is shit!"

This happens all the time. You have to get creative if you're dealing with less than ideal lighting situations. I'll sometimes use the candle on the table or even someone else's phone with the brightness turned up as an artificial source. Here's an example using candle light to boost the scene up a bit.

To recap everything:
- NO FLASH
- Natural lighting is best (go to the window!)
- Use the three composition rule (POV, Top Down, or Quarter Angle)
- Use a small LED or someone else's phone if you need bit of extra light
- Don't go crazy with editing. Less is more.

There you have it - I told you it wasn't rocket science. I hope these tips help you capture better eats. Don't forget to stop overthinking it and #justshootit.

Follow my food shots: instagram.com/patrickshootsfood
See my food work: patricktomasso.com/food


pt.

FIVE PODCASTS YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO RIGHT NOW

I fucking love podcasts. Everyday I get to learn something, feel something, and be entertained - Just with a pair of headphones and my phone. I consider myself a bit of Podcast junkie, consuming at least 2 or 3 episodes of my favorites everyday, and thus I figured I would share a few of my absolute favorites for you to check out. In no particular order... here we go.

#1

Caliphate by The New York Times

From the team behind New York Time's The Daily (another favorite of mine) comes this absolutely gripping podcast hosted by Rukmini Callimachi. A reporter you may have been introduced to as the expert Reply All contacted for their ISIS episode. Caliphate is only three chapters in but the access and storytelling thus far has been incredible. It's a very eye opening look into the foundations of ISIS and why they are gaining such popularity, even recruiting seemingly "normal" individuals for their cause. It's definitely heavy and at times graphic, thankfully there's only one episode per week because it requires quite a bit of reflection after each listen. Add this to your weekly rotation though and you will not be disappointed. I think it's especially important to know all you can about this subject matter as more and more people make misinformed commentary that makes matters even worse.



 

#2

Somebody Somewhere by Rainstream Media

LISTEN

I'm trying not to put too many true crime podcasts on here but this one can't be missed. Somebody Somewhere investigates the 2001 murder of Assistant United States Attorney, Tom Wales. I had no prior knowledge of this case before diving in, but was I ever hooked from the start. The podcast is produced and hosted by two former CNN producers so the reporting and production is top notch. Season 1 just finished so I won't spoil anything but this is one you have to binge. There's military politics, noire style espionage, and odd ball characters that make everything about this case riveting and a genuine mystery.

#3

The H3 Podcast by Ethan and Hile Klein

LISTEN

If you're not familiar with H3H3 productions then firstly you need to check out their videos on YouTube. Ethan and Hile are experts at dissecting almost everything that is wrong with trending memes and topics. They also provide genuinely smart commentary on the current state of social media, all packaged up in hilariously edited videos. Their podcast is no different except they have a wide range of interesting guests. From Bob Saget to Post Malone, their off the cuff and casual conversations are informative, funny, and enlightening.  It's also a great behind the scenes for how a lot of top YouTubers think and create. I especially enjoyed the MKBHD episode for that.

#4

How Did This Get Made? from Earwolf

LISTEN

If you're a fan of all things movies like me you will especially enjoy this one a lot. Hosted by the always hilarious Jason Mantzoukas, Paul Scheer, and June Diane Raphael (along with a plethora of guest appearances from all over the celebrity map) the trio dive into some of the worst greatest movies of all time to try and understand "How Did This Get Made?" - One of my favorite episodes is for Fast and Furious 8 which has Adam Scott in the studio as well. Their commentary is hilarious and if you're someone the loves a great bad movie, this one will reaffirm why.

p.s. Have you ever seen Geostorm? Go watch it. Right now.

#5

Song Exploder by Hrishikesh Hirway

LISTEN

I almost didn't include this one as I consider it a "staple" podcast, meaning it's one that has been around since approx. when Serial blew up the medium as a whole, but I still find people that have no idea it exists. Song Exploder interviews some of the greatest musical artists and dives in piece by piece into some of their most popular songs. They play through original demos, isolate instruments, tell stories about where the song came from, and how it was made. It's a great one to put on during a quick commute or while at the gym. It's informative and easy to listen to, which is why I had to include it. Just in case you haven't added it to your list yet.

Photo by Lukas Blazek via Unsplash

There you have it. My 5 podcasts I think you should be listening to. I'd love to hear some reccos from you guys with some of your favs - I'm constantly looking for new podcasts to check out, so leave a comment with a link to one of your current listens, and let me know if you've heard of any of the ones I listed above.

I also co-host my own podcast called Exploit with Gabi Pirraglia. We talk about life, the internet, and content creation. Check it out!

Follow me: instagram.com/impatrickt
Watch me: youtube.com/impatrickt

Cheers!

pt. //

THE $35 BOKEH BEAST

It's $35 bucks...

How much convincing do you really need?

When it comes to photography and filmmaking gear, cheap and good never seem to work in tandem. If something is inexpensive it usually means it's either going to break easily or it's just going to perform like hot garbage. However, sometimes there are exceptions to the rule, and that's where the Fotasy 35mm F1.7 CCTV lens comes into play. A lens that will set you back about $35 USD with an adapter for your camera. You can get it for E-Mount, Canon, and Micro 4/3 - I'm also pretty sure Nikon adapters exist as well. This lens is so cheap it's a miracle it can even focus, let alone be able to capture half-decent images.

It's not perfect - Which isn't surprising given it's price, but it's damn good. You'll notice in the following shot that it's perfectly sharp in the center but gradually degrades as you fan out into the corners. It gives it a vintage, dream-like quality, or it looks like shit. You decide.

To really put the lens to the test I reached out to Madison Wilson while she was here in New York, and we made a little video together. You can see the full video as well as more of my thoughts on this little lens below!

Again... it's $35 bucks. How much convincing do you need?

Get the lens here: https://amzn.to/2JP5XuQ


#justshootit

Follow me: instagram.com/impatrickt
Watch more: youtube.com/impatrickt

PORTRAITS IN CENTRAL PARK WITH THE PIXEL 2

On Saturday April 28th, I had the pleasure of joining a bunch of New York's finest photographers on a spring walk through Central Park. It was all for @nycprimeshot - An account that recently featured one of my photos on their page - They curate some of the best of New York so it was amazing to be in such epic creative company. I wanted to shoot a video of this insta-meet but I also didn't want to miss out on all the fantastic models that volunteered their time, so I decided I would shoot video with my Lumix and shoot portraits with the Pixel 2. Below are some of my selects, all of which are Pixel 2 with portrait mode on.

Scroll to the bottom to see my video of the day.

@susanna_mostaghim + @suuhleena

@danae_k_muratore

@danae_k_muratore

model unknown // comment if you know they are!

@natali.hope

@susanna_mostaghim

@danae_k_muratore

@half_pepper

It was crazy to see how well the Pixel 2 handled portraits, especially from a distance. I don't do a lot of portrait photography but this shoot definitely has me wanting more. Special thanks to all the models that came out. Check out my video of the day below and shout out again to @nycprimeshot for hosting!

Follow me: instagram.com/impatrickt
Watch: youtube.com/impatrickt

#justshootit

THE DRAMA OF FOG AND MIST

Pixel 2 // VSCO

If you follow me on instagram and watch my stories you'll know that as soon as it starts raining, or there's a bit of fog - I'm immediately hitting the streets. I absolutely love shooting when it's wet and humid out. As winter turns to spring the rapid changes in weather create what I consider to be ideal photographic conditions. Overcast sky, wet surfaces, and a thick haze.

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Sometimes it's not always as foggy or misty as we want it to be but thankfully there's an incredibly easy way to add a bit of drama to your moody grams with an app called Lens Distortions.

With the Lens Distortions app there's a plethora of options for adding dynamic layers to your image, my personal favorite is the Fog II pack - Below I will show you how easy it is to add a quick layer to a simple image. Always start with the original image (no edits) we will apply our filters after we add the fog we want.
 

It's really as easy as picking a layer and then playing with opacity/placement until it blends into the image naturally. I did a quick behind the edit of this on my Instagram and I had a few DM's from people that couldn't even tell that I added the fog in post. A great magician never reveals his secrets - good thing I'm not a magician. Once you have your fog set it's time to edit the photo. We'll use VSCO for the final edits.
 

VSCO Formula

Here's the final image:

You can't be afraid to get a little wet to grab shots like this - Sometimes I find myself standing on a street corner waiting for the right person to walk by for up to 10 minutes at a time. Patience is key.

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Next time you wake up and it's gloomy out don't be upset - It's a great time to go explore and capture a new mood that you may not have felt happy about before. It beats Pizza and Netflix... (it doesn't).

Apps Used:
Lens Distortions
VSCO

See more of my work on Instagram and watch more of my tips on YouTube. #JustShootIt

 

Unsplash x NYC Photowalk

On Saturday April 21st I had the pleasure of joining a few other talented photographers on a photowalk for Unsplash. Daniel Gold saw that I was in NY and sent me a DM the day before. Thankfully my schedule was open to hang out for the afternoon. 

I met a lot of cool and talented people that I hope to collaborate more with in the future. Check out some shots I grabbed and watch the video at the end for some more scenes from the day. 

 @beccasiegelphoto

 @jessemyfriend

 @hungryshai

 @halfhalftravel / @danielcgold

 @danwme

 @beccasiegelphoto

We concluded the day with some brews and eats along with some really great conversation. It was awesome to meet such great people - I've never met an Unsplash user I didn't immediately connect with. Looking forward to the next one!

Photo by @jessemyfriend

Why I love uniform compositions.

PIXEL 2 // VSCO

Something that defines a lot of my photographic style is symmetry and leading lines (lines that lead you into the frame) - I like scenes that draw the eye towards the center of the image, and I like when there's a uniform quality to the overall composition. What's on the left is balanced by what's on the right. What's on top is balanced by what's on the bottom. Thankfully there's a few easy ways to ensure this uniform quality while composing your shots. The first one is the most basic. The grid.

PIXEL 2 SHOWN - STOCK GOOGLE CAMERA

Most if not all modern smartphone cameras as well as dedicated photo cameras have some sort of grid function. Usually it's a 3x3 or 4x4 - sometimes, like in the case of the Google Camera app you can select the "golden ratio" grid (my personal favorite). This will help you while composing to ensure everything is level, symmetrical and there's nothing distracting the eye. You want to make sure each of the boxes make sense. The center of the box should be your main focal point and anything in the outer boxes should be drawing your eye towards the middle. See below for an example of the grid in action.

Notice how the eye is immediately drawn to the person standing in the bottom middle block but the shape of them draws you upwards towards the center. All of the other surrounding blocks are also drawing you towards the middle. This also demonstrates how even in a "busy" composition we can still use the golden ratio to remain symmetrical and uniform.

PIXEL 2 // VSCO

We're surrounded by leading lines and symmetry in our everyday life - Most notably in architecture where this basic design principle is typically utilized to remain uniform and consistent. Perhaps that's why I enjoy shooting buildings and structures so much because it makes my life a lot easier when composing shots. The architects and builders have done the heavy lifting for me (quite literally) and all I have to do is frame everything properly.

PIXEL 2 // VSCO + LENS DISTORTIONS

PIXEL 2 // VSCO

Ever wondered why this shot of DUMBO in Brooklyn, NY is so popular? It's because of everything we discussed above. It's the symmetry of how the buildings line up with the Williamsburg Bridge and how the Empire State Building rests perfectly in its arches. It's calculated and planned. All you have to do is compose the shot from the right angle and you have a near perfect image.
This search of "DUMBO" on Unsplash demonstrates how many photographers have captured this gem of leading lines.

PHOTO BY ANDRE BENZ via UNSPLASH

My last tip for creating well composed symmetrical shots is to have someone or something in the shot beyond just architecture. Much like Andre Benz demonstrated in their shot of DUMBO above, having the woman walk down the street adds a whole new dimension to the image. It feels more alive with her there. If you can head out with friends when you shoot (and they are patient) have them walk across streets, down alleyways, and stand in as a prop for you when need them. Make sure you return the favour though as it can be a bit of tedious process of trying to line them up properly with their surroundings. At least buy them a slice for the trouble after ;) 

Here's some of my favorite shots that may seem unplanned or "lucky" but they are actually the result of numerous attempts of staging the right stride by, standing in the middle of the street, waiting for a stranger to walk in the perfect spot of the frame, and waiting for traffic or people to clear an area. With the tips of above, a little perseverance, and some patient friends - You can easily take shots like this with your own creative spin. The first thing you have to do though is just shoot it.

PIXEL 2 // VSCO + SNAPSEED

PIXEL 2 // VSCO

PIXEL 2 // VSCO

I've released all of my images displayed here on Unsplash for you to use as you wish. I've also incuded a few more from my archive. Enjoy.
- PT

Follow me on Instagram for more.  instagram.com/impatrickt
Watch me on YouTube for more tips and reviews. youtube.com/impatrickt

Street Photos in New York with the Pixel 2

Pixel 2 // VSCO

I've been spending quite a bit of time in New York City recently for reasons I will probably get into in a later post, but in my most recent trip out there I took some time to shoot some street photos entirely on the Pixel 2.

Pixel 2 // VSCO

The interesting thing about using your phone for street photos is that it's so low profile. I've always felt a bit awkward using my DSLR or even small mirrorless cameras out in public, especially when you're taking photos of strangers. Understandably, people get creeped out when a random person takes a photo of them - when you use your phone you can be quite sly and most people won't even notice you snapping a shot. Always be respectful of personal space, if you're in a public place you're allowed to shoot photos but use your judgement. If it feels weird. It probably is. 

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Pixel 2 // VSCO

After a few subway trips I ventured above ground in Chinatown and started shooting from the hip as we walked passed the fruit markets and restaurants.

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Pixel 2 // VSCO

Pixel 2 // VSCO

I always forget how much I love doing candid street photography. There's an art and a lottery to it all - You know what you want to capture, and you sort of know how to capture it... but ultimately the photo you get is often nothing close to what you were expecting. That's the beauty of it because it's not scripted or staged - you're deciding what to freeze in time forever out of the millions of things that are happening around you at every moment. It's very special.

For the curious I edited all of these in VSCO with my own tweaks to the M5 preset. As always I urge you to experiment and find a look a you really like and have fun. Don't forget to just shoot it.

See more of my photos in New York: instagram.com/impatrickt