Ipad App: Emerald Observatory

Emerald Sequoia released an app for the Ipad called Emerald Observatory. This is basically a super duper watch for your Ipad. I won’t bother going over all of the features here, but you can learn more about this awesome app on their homepage: Emerald Observatory.

So what does this app do for us photographers? Well first it makes me wake up way too early! I am often referring to this app while on the phone with clients planning out shoots.

This accurately displays the beginning and end of civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight as well as the golden hour. You know…the time when we should be taking pictures because the natural light is the absolute-bestest-most-gorgeous ever? For me reading when sunrise was happening was fine. Seeing visually the progression of twilight and the golden hour has got me thinking about shooting during those times differently.

I am better able to judge exactly when I want to be shooting for my desired effect. Especially for the quickly fading twilight times for evening and night shots. It also shows the sun’s angle from the horizon. This is useful in the city when you want to know approximately what time the sun will be over certain buildings, etc… You can do projections for future planning. Its great!

Oh and the best part…. its ninety-nine cents!!!!!!!!!! $0.99 !!!!!!!!!!! When was the last great addition to your photographic craft cheaper than $100?!?!?! (aside from David Duchemin’s $5 ebooks!)

At .99 cents there is no excuse not to have this app!