learn how to clone yourself in Adobe Premiere Pro

Cloning is an editing technique in both videos and photos to give the impression that two or more look alike characters are interacting with one another or are seen in a scene.in this context, I will be talking about cloning yourself with Adobe Premiere Pro. Filmmaker Peter McKinnon has done a tutorial on how to create such an effect.I learnt this technique from him in his YouTube channel. Let's get started.

Cloning yourself looks complicated but very simple to do. To do this technique, there are a few things that you need to do to so as to accomplish it. First you have to shoot twice each video reacting to the other. Have your camera mounted on a tripod and do not make any camera movements while shooting the videos. Give yourself enough space between you.

Another thing you have to do while shooting is timing yourself and make sure the timing is correct. This can also be done by having a script. A script because you have are having a conversation with yourself and you don’t want to forget what you were talking about at the first video.

Next you want to make sure you’re lighting in consistent. This is done so as to have the same lightning in all the two videos. Different lightning may ruin your final output video.

After shooting and having your 2 videos, we head into the post production and start by importing all the two videos. Stack the two clips on top of each other. Make sure you have inserted them into a proper position. At this point only one video will be seen. Click on the top video go to the effects control and select on the masking tool.

choosing the pen tool and adjusting the masking feather and expansion to blend.

Draw a rectangular shape on one side (the side your clone should appear).

drawing to reveal the frame

this is done to reveal the frame underneath and after finishing the clone would appear.

However, there will be a hard line separating the two videos of which it’s supposed to be eliminated. To get rid of the hard line, adjust the masking feather and masking expansion making it to blend in. Adding to it you can create an adjustment layer to colour correct and add up your own luts.
That’s how you clone in Adobe Premiere Pro. Quite simple isn’t it? Below is a video I created.

THE CAMERA FOR BEGINNERS- Canon EOS 1300D

Hey guys, today I will be talking about my camera since many of you have been asking me about it. It’s the canon 1300D.

Canon 1300D

The Canon EOS 1300D known as the Digital Rebel T6 is the camera I use. Announced in March 2016, the camera is more evolution than revolution.

Being light and in expensive the canon T6 has an 18-megapixel Advanced Photo System type-C (APS-C) CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 4+image processor which simply means that it is good enough to give you a clear picture even in low light. It is equipped with a 9 point auto-focus system which allows quick auto-focusing on the subject that makes it a good camera and easy to use.

modes in the canon 1300D

Having 14 scene modes, the camera can shoot in any scene mode and take good photos depending on the scene you chose. The Canon EOS 1300D also has some fun and creative filters with which you can use .Various scene modes include Night Portrait, Food, Sports, Macro, Landscape, and Portrait presets. One of the scene modes being Night portrait, the camera automatically adjusts the light for a clear picture with less grain. ISO sensitivity range of ISO 100-6400 (expandable to ISO 12,800).

shot using Night mode

 It’s quite a good camera for beginner since it has the auto mode settings which the camera adjusts the basic settings and lets you take standard photos till the time they learn to control the camera manually.

Having the video mode, the camera lets you shoot high resolution videos up to 30fps. Video can be shot in 1920×1080 (full HD). Although the video settings are in auto, the camera gives good footages. It can be used as a blogging camera and because of it I prefer using it during my vlogs.

 A unique feature about the camera is that it supports Wi-Fi and NFC pairing. The system uses Canon’s Camera Connect mobile app to enable wireless image transfer and remote camera control. This makes image transfer easier and faster when one needs the photos the minute he shot it. You can actually control the camera through the phone including where to focus, adjust settings such as shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed and actually capturing the image through the phone.

I have always enjoyed using this camera and it has been giving me awesome results.Here are some recent photographs.

 

EDIT YOUR PHOTOS LIKE A PRO USING LIGHTROOM

Hello everyone, today I want to share how I use and edit photographs using Lightroom. I'll walk you through. knowing a few simple tools can help you understand the basics. Adobe lightroom is a great software that has the ability to bring out your photo editing skills in a creative and easy way. It has easen my work and recommend you to start using it.

Before and After being edited

First I import the photographs. After importing the photographs in lightroom, I simply start going to the right side and start editing the image. Basically I start with the basics panel and make little changes. It is mainly used making blacks blacker (or lighter), whites whiter (or darker). For example in this photo I lowered the contrast highlights and whites. I upped the shadows and the blacks a little bit. This settings can change depending on the photograph being edited.

Clarity takes the mid-tones of an image and enhances them, bringing sharpness to a photo and increasing the texture found there. The vibrance and saturation they both work to increase and decrease the intensity of colors in an image, but whereas saturation simply increases the intensity of all colors simultaneously, vibrance increases the intensity of muted colors.

On the tone curve panel I adjust the RGB mode. In this section I will only change the RGB, the red channel and blue channel. When you add one node in the middle of the curve and raise it, you're increasing the value of the specific channel (i.e. red green or blue) for every pixel in the picture.

On the HSL/color panel, I use it for color correcting editing each color on its own. HSL is a powerful color grading tool that targets specific hues in an image. For correct use of this panel,you have to understand each section.
Split toning allows you to add one color tint at a certain saturation level to the highlights and another at a different saturation level to the shadows. In this section you create the mood of the picture.

After adjusting the slip toning I move to the detail channel. It contains both sharpening and noise reduction tool which allows one to enhance the photograph by fine tuning it in an efficient way.

Detail panel

The camera calibration tab/ panel provides controls that are meant to be used to micro adjust and tune camera raw's color interpretation for a particular image. Adjusting the hue values especially can make a massive difference in the right way.

From there your image is edited and ready to be saved.

After editing

You can save the edits as a preset and edit your photograph by just one click. It takes you less time to edit your photograph using a preset.

Thanks for your time and for that here is a free preset for you.. URS PHOTOGRAPHY preset

The Disadvantage of SGR Cargo Train

Despite Easing the transport system to and fro Mombasa County, the Standard Gauge Railway has brought disadvantages to the companies and truck drivers in Mombasa County.There has been sharp decline in their fortunes as a result of government policies stating that to haul cargo only via the standard gauge railway.

Handling more than 40% of the port cargo transport business, the Standard gauge railway has brought up more job losses on truckers. Trailers do no longer have containers to ferry, clearing and forwarding company’s continue to count losses day in day out.

the SGR cargo train

Truck companies have been forced to shut down laying off thousands of drivers and turn boys. Godowns that used to store goods awaiting transportation have also been closed down. Truckers, container freight stations (CFSs), are getting more and more losses and clearing agents continue to count losses, with some logistics companies reported to have resorted to restructuring that has seen thousands of job losses.

Omar Bakari, a truck driver, says he could do three trips in a month and take a week off, but now he spends more time waiting for the goods than on the road. There is a reduction in port related businesses as a result of the Standard Gauge Railway services. He is thankful that his employer still gets some business, but knows of companies that are struggling to get businesses.

According to Mr Ombok, the government claims that transporting a container to and from Nairobi using the SGR costs Sh50, 000 but it does not consider that one has to pay Sh5, 000 handling fee, Sh25, 000 for ferrying the container from the SGR to a nearby CFS, and Sh10, 000 empty container return charges, he said. This makes transportation more expensive than using of trucks yet the government condemns cargo being transported by use of trailers and trucks which is more way cheaper.

The city has degenerated from Mombasa Raha (fun) to Mombasa Karaha (problems).

The Viral Corona Plague

Coronavirus is emerging in more countries around the world and there's currently no known cure.  According to the World health Organization, Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. SARS-CoV-R is the official name of the pathogen.

Originating from Wuhan china on 31st December 2019, the deadly virus has spread to the rest of the world within a very short period having more than 108,000 cases reported worldwide. In US,there is  564 cases of the coronavirus. According to the South Korean Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a total number of 7382. To date, only three cases of infection have been officially recorded in Africa, one in Egypt, one in Algeria and one in Nigeria, with no deaths.

 Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. It is believed the virus can be spread easily since the infected person contaminate their bedrooms and bathrooms, underscoring the need to routinely clean high-touch surfaces, basins and toilet bowls.

corona virus

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, and cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

One of the ways to prevent this virus is through quarantine. In Italy millions of people have been quarantine after cases emerged in the Lombard region. Washing your hands and maintaining social distancing from anyone coughing or sneezing. Avoiding touching the eyes mouth and nose. The hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick. Cases doubling up each and every day, people are urged to pay the closest attention to preventive measures.

THE CHRONICLES OF UNIVERSITY

Hello Everyone , this time we talk about my experience in the university.

Thinking back, I recognize how much I have grown in person as a Student in The Technical University of Mombasa. in a couple of months’ time, when I graduate, I will leave the Technical University of Mombasa not just as a mass media student but also with remarkable experience and lots of skills which has helped me grow as a media person.

Mwinyi Athumani

Time moves and has a habit of moving with us. I joined the university as a beginner. With less skills about the media industry since that’s where my interest was. The passion that I lived admiring has come to life, it's me that is now admired. I got to learn how to operate a variety of cameras which I never had used in my life. Being able to use the canon cameras and Sony cameras for practical was an achievement.

Not long ago looking into a person's eyes and saying something was a lion den for me, now looking at a thousand eyes is no big deal. I became confident enough to stand and speak about anything to any person or group at any time if I’m told to. This has gone so fast.

They say you will find the lifelong friends while at the university. Yes it’s true. Friends make you learn a lot of important life lessons and I’m thankful for the people I have met. In my lectures in the campus or during even practical’s. They mean a lot. They will always support care and appreciate you as a person. Friendship gets stronger and become part of you.

The gullible me back then vanished with the minutes, a self-ruled came to existence. Having no one to follow up on what you are doing during class was another thing. Pushing yourself beyond comfort zone. You decide whether to attend or not and no one will ask you about it. Remembering a time where I was chose to lead a group during practicals, it was at this moment where I knew I could lead a group of people to success.

To be honest life at campus has been great and has taught me alot.

LOVE -THE CAMPUS WAY

Hello everyone, today we talk about toxic relationships in campus.

In all human endeavours it is said that life is better shared. Everyone needs someone close to share emotional relationships with.  It is the field that gets worked on most to attain a healthy and mutual togetherness. Still some people find themselves in abusive relationships.

Not to say that only the weak are victims of this. Even couples that started off as the strongest bonds find themselves torn down to these toxic relationships.so holding on to toxic relationships at the end brings harm or even death.it is mostly seen in campuses where you get one student killing the other in the name of he cheated or did this and that.

Photocourtsey:lynda.com

student stabbed by ex lover
Standard Media

On 14^th April 2019, at the Pwani University, a student was allegedly stabbed several times by his ex-lover and left fighting for her life at Kilifi County Hospital student. It is said that the ex-lover travelled all the way to demand answers as to why Naomi returning Ksh 3200 he had sent her. Why try killing your ex-lover for re-sending back your money???A little mistake that affects the mind-set.

In an article posted by standard media, “The rush for getting into a relationship among campus students makes one fall in love with a stranger ”a person who is not into the relationship hence taking advantage of the one who fell in love. This type of relationship doesn’t work out and many at times one partner is being abused, either physically or emotionally but they can't leave.Sometimes it's due to fear of losing someone they love so much, or maybe because of what other people would think. Other times it’s because of co-dependency; where they both really hurt each other but they love each other and can't leave each other because they depend on one another.

How do you overcome this toxic relationships? First you have to decide on your decision.is it love or lust? Decision made what next? Stick to it. Know someone associate yourself with him or her and get to know each other. If he or she is toxic, stay away! Surround yourself with positivity and control yourself. That way you will be able to stay away from toxic relationships. Love the campus way…take care

That's for today. Thank you☝

WHY USE ADOBE LIGHTROOM IN EDITING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS??

Hy my name is Mwinyi Athman and I am a portrait photographer.Since I started using Adobe lightroom for editing,my editing skills has increased and clients have increased making me grow big. I'm a portrait photographer I'm always in the need to color correct and edit photographs to make them more cinematic  and lightroom made it easier.

Panels in lightroom cc

Adobe lightroom is a perfect software for editing since it comes with panels where it allows one to white balance in the basic panel,to edit using the tone curves,to increase the details and also noise/color noise reduction in the detail panel,lens correction,transform effects and camera calibrations.this enables the editor to work on each panel differently without interfering the other adjustments to the photograph.

Taking good photos is quite easy but you may not be satisfied with the background if it looks boring. This could be because the photograph looks too obvious.Adobe photoshop lightroom,comes with a color correction panel where one can color correct making the photograph more sensational. Lightroom has tools for correcting color not just across the entire image but also for correcting individual color.its in the hsl column where one can edit the hue of the photograph,the saturation of the specific color and luminance to give the edited picture a cinematic look.In the picture below it shows a before and after color grading the photograph giving it a cinematic look.

before and after

  

Presets I created while using lightroom

The software also allows one to use presets.A preset is a configuration of settings, designed to achieve a certain look or style of your photo. With just one click on a preset, your photo can be altered to have a film look or to achieve the tones you desired.on an article written by be art presets,he highlights that  It allows you to spend less time at the keyboard editing your photos while enhancing the quality of your work.lightroom also allows you to save your presets and use it anytime.it has easen the work done while editing making it editing simple faster and easy.

To conclude adobe lightroom is a great software that has the ability to bring out your photo editing skills in a creative and easy way.it has ease my work and recommend you to start using it