Although it didn’t look like it at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris on Friday, a heat wave continues in most parts of the world. If you’re wondering where to escape, consider dipping your head in cold water, like the White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus). Then, with a cool head, enjoy the next issue of our Photography News.

Remix is an AI engine that generates images you can do something with immediately. The gateway enticement is Magic Camera, a snappy app that lets you shoot a selfie, add a text prompt, and simply be amazed. Even if you’ve become weary from reading about AI this and AI that, go to Magic Camera (it’s 100% free) and give it a shot. Magic Camera Link here.

Remix AI is a generative AI app that lets you create images and videos from app-generated suggestions, text prompts, photos or other image forms. Remix AI then invites you to share your creations, much like a social media application. Magic Camera is a free web version accessible via a browser. Smile at the camera on your smartphone, tablet or laptop, take a selfie, and enter a text prompt. The results are remarkable—and often hilarious.

If you get hooked (we did) download the app and set up an account. Everything is free, but you have the opportunity to upgrade to the Pro version for a fee. Remix AI is not recommended for youngsters under 12.

Partial Backstory
Remix AI was created by an elite team of executive alums from OpenAI, Instagram, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft. These folks obviously know what they’re doing because the app ticks every box.

“Generative AI represents an inflection point for creativity akin to the advent of the camera or the internet,” Remix AI CEO and Co-Founder, Mike Dougherty, told Shutterbug. “Anyone can now create images, video, or audio, in seconds, from their ideas and imaginations. We designed Remix AI so anyone can try generative AI creation, right from their browser, for free. This fun and frictionless experience allows you to experiment with prompting, and even AI selfies, to explore the potential of this new creative technology.”

Yes, But Are My Pictures Safe?
We asked Remix AI if users need to worry (or at least wonder) about their personal images being used inappropriately by the wizard behind the curtain.

This is the reply from their team: “We store images made temporarily so we can display them on the web link, so users can see the history of that link. Once a user sets up their account, we then store the images for them forever. We don’t use the images for some other purposes.”

Key Features
Remix AI bills itself as “The AI app for creating and connecting with friends.” This is the path of differentiation they have taken, and from what I see in today’s typhoon of social media indulgence, it was a genius move.

Other features of Remix AI Pro include AI Filters, Turbo, Loops, 3D, Inpainting, Facemix, Text Overlay, 3mix, Upscaling, Background Removal and support for video and audio.

The Negatives
Occasionally, an image leans toward the stark side. Some might be scary for sensitive viewers. So heed the warning and limit access to people 12+ YOA. I did not push the limits or test the boundaries of their submission guidelines, so I may be crying “wolf” here just a little.

Images download from Magic Camera have a Remix AI watermark and are in WebP format. These files can easily be converted to JPEG or PNG by right-clicking the image and selecting the Quick Actions/Convert Images function on a Mac. Regarding the watermark issue, I think Remix AI has every right to include it, so I am not going to suggest you screen-capture the image instead of downloading it. Most Shutterbug readers have already thought of that, anyway.

Downloaded images are all named “result.webp.” Depending on how your computer or smart device is set up, you may overwrite previously downloaded files. My request to Remix developers: please append a date/time code or other unique identifier to the “result” filename. And while you’re at it, why not seize the branding opportunity and name the file “remix_result”?

On a few of the dozens of selfies I remixed, the app elongated my forehead to an extreme degree. I think it had something to do with the angle of my iMac monitor. Or maybe it determined I have more Neanderthal DNA than the average bear. At least it ignored the unsightly, turkey-like waddle of sagging skin under my chin, although it didn’t make my ears any smaller (dammit!).

Get The App
Download Remix AI from Google Play.
Download Remix AI from Apple’s App Store.
Not convinced? Open Magic Camera and give it a fling. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s free.

Want to Become a Better Photographer?
Begin by taking more pictures. Carry a camera everywhere you go and shoot even when you’re 100% sure the picture won’t turn out. Review all of your images with a critical eye and share them with others—and that includes posting the best on our Gallery. Subscribe to our newsletter (see sign-up form on our homepage) and bookmark Shutterbug as a Favorite on your browser so you can check back often. We’re in this for the same reason you are—we love photography, and we’re learning more about it every day.

—Jon Sienkiewicz

One year ago, I decided to sit down with some of my fellow writers at Photography Life and talk a bit about photography. What about in 2024? This year, I definitely wanted to get hold of Spencer, Libor, and Nasim, and get them to reveal their secrets about how they approach photography!

This tutorial takes a deep dive into the practical aspects of ISO, one pillar of the familiar Exposure Triangle (the other two being aperture and shutter speed). In less than 11 minutes you’ll gain a firm understanding of this essential setting and learn how to apply it when shooting different types of images under various lighting conditions.

The video begins with this claim by a successful Australian pro: “Understanding ISO and knowing when and how to adjust it can make the difference between getting the shot and ending up with a complete dud.” This is especially true when shooting in the field under challenging light,

Instructor Ben Fewtrell says he’s passionate about landscape photography and helping other shooters increate their odds of success. In this episode he demonstrates why the ISO setting you choose not only affects exposure but plays an important role in image quality as well. You’ll also learn techniques for reducing noise and achieving sharp photos in low light.

Methods for balancing ISO with aperture and shutter speed are also part of the discussion. You can download a free and very useful Camera-Settings Checklist by visiting Fewtrell’s website at the address he provides.

Fewtrell has enjoyed a long and fruitful career, and he places ISO in historical context dating back to the heyday of film photography when we simply set ISO (or ASA) to match the specific film in use. “So if I was shooting sports I’d grab an ISO 400 film, but If I was shooting other images in bright sun ISO 200 would often be my choice.” On the other hand, when his goal was “being “artsy, 800-speed b&w film was often his go-to option.

Of course things have changed dramatically in our era of digital photography, and that’s the emphasis of this particular video. Fewtrell provides several practical examples, along with important shooting techniques for manipulating ISO settings on your DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Experimentation is often the key to mastering a new approach to shooting, and Fewtrell suggests a few ways to practice the benefits of setting ISO in different ways that will greatly expand your understanding and help you capture more compelling photographs. So how about making this approach your weekend assignment?

If landscape photography is one of your prime interests we strongly recommend that you check out the how-to videos on Fewtrell’s popular YouTube channel.

And don’t miss the recent tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who explains how to capture dramatic b&w photographs on the street with an attention-grabbing minimalist look.