Scared of Comments?

There's no denying that cyber bullying goes around on the internet. Especially in a blogging community such as the book bloggers. Even though, I have barely seen any rude comments on others blogs, and everyone on here is extremely nice, and we all want to help out each other and become friends, there's always the voice in the back of my mind that brings out all the insecurities I have, and believes that email I get sent when someone leaves a comment says something about my insecurities.

I'm not so much as scared of a comment, as if it would haunt me, but what people think of me, and how they perceive me as a blogger. There's always a chance that there will be a troll, or someone that is just mean-or they are having a bad day and trying to make themselves feel better-and I always feel that rush of what if when I read comments.

Then there are the comments that I have only heard of from people in my school. The ones where because the majority of the teenage population don't know that their are stalkers, and they want to be popular, feel the need to get thousands of followers on instagram, facebook, and twitter. I have know right to call people out and say you are doing it wrong, but I think people should know better than to post photos of themselves everywhere they go of them, and their friends. It seems idiotic to me. The result of these people that put their entire selves on social media is that they create people to stalk them. I have proof that many people in my school have been stalked, and it just seals my point that there is a privacy matter that teenagers don't understand. Being stalked at thirteen is really sad. There is a part of me that thinks those things. The side that I might have put too much information that I should have.

So where am I going with this? I think that comments should be shared lovingly, and to critique. There's a difference from sharing your opinion and antagonizing people. How much you put yourself out there on the internet is on your shoulders, and sometimes we all need a reminder of that. My brief hesitation before reading comments may seem irrational to many, and I know that there are many people that get much worse comments online, but it doesn't stop me from reading comments. Feel free to leave a comment below, and tell me if you hesitate before commenting, or reading comments. Tell me/ask me whatever. 

App Review: Flipboard

Most of you that read my blog, are also bloggers, and that is amazing, but also a lot of work to stay connected with everything. I personally only have a twitter, and that's enough for me. (@Clarareads)

I found this app called Flipboard a week or two ago, and have fallen in love with it. I love the style it creates and the easy navigation of the app. Flipboard, is basically where you can read all your news, and social networks in one place. I find that because I use Flipboard now, that I don't need the twitter app. Of course, there are other programs/applications like this, for example Tweetdeck. Which I haven't used, but that's because I use my social networks more mobily, than on my computer, and stationary. If you're like me and you have a mobile device that can support apps, like Android or iPhone/iPad then I think this will definitely replace whatever your using now.

There are so many social networks that are optimized in this app. So many I can't name them all, but I'll try to name all of the ones that are most popular.

How to: Create Photo Frame for Book Reviews

I started this new image creating thing when I review books, and I'd like to share it with you. I don't use a professional camera believe it or not. (actually that's believable). I use my ipod touch camera and use several apps to perfect the photo.

First thing I do is I take the picture. Plain and simple right? Well, you have to get it in the right lighting and and take several photos to decide which one is the best. I usually take at least five pics for each pose I want the book to have, but lately I've gotten the hang of it and only need two to three. Lighting can be quite difficult during the rainny season or if you live in a place that rains almost 365 days a year. ;(

Next thing I do is pick the photo from the ones you have already shot. I decide on them by how crisp you can read the title and the lighting of course. I don't like to look at a book cover if it wasn't in it's best state. Just saying, :D. Then I have several apps that help me combine the three pictures you see in my reviews and how I crop and all that stuff.

From left to right: built in apple ipod touch camera app
, wallpaperHD, PS(photoshop) Express,
Intagram, Pic Stitch, Pinterest, Snapspeed

So, I have this folder on my ipod where I put all the apps I need for photos and anything that involves photography.

First off, after I pick my three photos I automatically use the built in photos app and use the auto-enhance tool because it's always good to have a starting basis that isn't that bad. This usually just makes it brighter and easier to read or look at.

Then I use the PS Express, it's not as great as the real photoshop that I use at school, but you know, you use what you've got. I many use this app for their exposure tool, saturation, and contrast. Sometimes  I may also crop my photos with this, but not often.

Next, comes the big guy. I use pic stitch as I think my main all around editor, cropper, and finisher. The main point to the app is actually combine photos together in a frame like manner. Though, I do use that for the frames I love the options they have for editing photos. I use many of their tools, such as: enhance (preferably auto or balance), orientation (if need), crop, brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. I also think that their draw tool can be useful, but I don't use it for my blog.

That is the majority of what I use to make the photo frames for my book reviews. All of the apps I use are free and I'm pretty sure they can be used with out internet. So, when I'm anywhere and waiting in line I'd take my ipod out and edit my photos that I had taken of for that week. I personally love to do these photos and I find myself editing a two or three photos in thirty minutes. Gah!

 Something that I'd like to share is the WallpapersHD app I found. It updates it's photos everyday and there photos are top notch. I usually don't have to edit them, but sometimes if I'm bored I will and make them mine. Many of my Writing to Wednesday posts are using those photos I've found on there. I love looking through their large selection and it is also something else I enjoy immensely.