Water cooler: Youtube has plenty of resources for camera and smartphone photographers

There is one form of art that is accessible by almost anyone these days – photography. Now that cellphones have probably become the most ubiquitous form of camera there is, it means that most everyone owns one.

If you are looking for a way to get creative during quarantine, ideally using a tool you might already have, learning about and practicing photography is a great option.

Not only is photography an accessible way of expressing how you see the world, it is also an amazing tool to document your experience during these uniquely challenging times.

Although the cellphone cameras are limited in terms of manual functions, you can still use them to learn a lot about composition and light, as well as practice the general theories and forms of photography.

If you have access to a camera with manual functions, then this is a great time to practice the nitty-gritty of all the settings a camera has to offer.

YouTube has a wealth of photographers and channels willing to share their knowledge and approach to photography. Here are some places to start.

The School of Photography: Not only does this channel provide photography tutorials, but it has whole playlists on Photoshop, Lightroom and equipment as well. One of its most recent videos specifically talks about ideas for making photos during the coronavirus pandemic. Another of its videos titled “All the Idea, No Gear!” teaches you how to create photos without anything but a camera and a reflector.

Chris Bray Photography: Learn the ropes from an Australian wildlife photographer. Start off learning about different types of cameras and what they can be used for. Then learn about camera settings and how they are able to manipulate images to get the photo you want.

The Art of Photography: Created by photographer Ted Forbes, this channel is for those who truly want to nerd out. The playlists are endless, and they cover subjects of photographer history, cameras from specific brands like Canon or Nikon, how to use color and composition, developing film, lenses, medium format cameras, shooting color photography and even smartphone camera reviews.

Pixel Village: This channel is dominated mostly by in-depth gear discussions and reviews, but it also has a great series of videos with mobile photography tips, including how to shoot in low light, shooting portraits, where to stage people for photos and tips for composition.

COOPH: This channel is all about DIY tricks and tips. Its playlists have ideas for shooting photos at home, food photography, how to take better landscape photos, tips for self-portraits, as well as a whole playlist dedicated to smartphone photography.

Social circle

Brain train

Test your knowledge with today’s trivia question

Which of these is not a Hogwarts house in the Harry Potter series

• Slytherin
• Lullenton
• Ravenclaw
• Gryffindor

Wednesday’s answer: Pacific blue tang

Book worm

For book lovers that are missing getting together to discuss all things literature, here are some podcasts that range from the light-hearted to deep dives.

Backlisted: Presented by John Mitchinson and Andy Miller. This podcast aims to give “new life to old books.” Every episode features a guest, most often writers, who chooses a book to discuss that they feel deserves more recognition. Find hidden gems and learn why they seem to stand the test of time. Available on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud and Overcast. https://www.backlisted.fm/

The Stories That Change My Life: Where life stories meet literary stories. This podcast hosts guests that share how certain works of literature have touched their lives. It prides itself on sticking to “old-fashioned storytelling” and being accessible to people with no literary knowledge. If you enjoy a good story as much as the next person, you’ll enjoy this podcast. Available on Apple Podcasts and Acast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stories-that-changed-my-life/id1439572345

Freedom, Books, Flowers & the Moon: A weekly podcast by the Times Literary Supplement focused on culture and ideas. The title is inspired by Oscar Wilde’s question, “With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy?” Available on Apple Podcast and Acast. https://play.acast.com/

Literary Friction: Hosted by literary agent Carrie Plitt and writer Octavia Bright. Every show features book recommendations, author interviews and discussion, all under a specific theme. A great way to get familiar with up-and-coming authors and enjoy lively discussions. Available on Apple Podcasts and Acast. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/literary-friction/id1000387053?mt=2

By the Book: Comedian Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer live their lives following the advice of self-help books.

MuggleCast – The Harry Potter Podcast: Can’t get enough of Harry and the crew? This is the show for you. Hosts dig into nearly every aspect of J.K. Rowling’s series.

Also: The Book Review – The New York Times, Chilling Tales for Dark Nights.

Take the stage

Iconic musical theater clips you can find on YouTube

“EVITA 1980 Tony Awards,” posted by MrPoochsmooch: This became the first British import to win for best musical. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QtZxxbStjs

“70th Annual Tony Awards ‘Hamilton,’” posted by BroadwayHD: Hamilton won 11 Tonys that year, just shy of the 12 Tony record won by “The Producers” in 2001. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5VqyCQV1Tg

“I Believe from the Book of Mormon Musical on the 65th Tony Awards,” posted by Kevin Price: It won Best Musical and eight other Tonys in 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVJgmp2Tc2s

“Anything Goes – 1988 Tony Awards,” posted by kyleorlando: After running Off-Broadway from 1962-1987, “Anything Goes” was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won Best Revival of a Musical at the 42nd Tony Awards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVsD0rltRr8

Idina & Kristin – Tony’s 2004,” posted by AGillingham: At the 58th Tony Awards, “Wicked” won three Tonys, including Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Idina Menzel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5V9KwppMfs