Afterlight: The Broke Photographer's Favorite App

With Instagram being one of the most popular social media sites today, many users are trying to find new ways to set their pictures apart from the crowd. Gone are the days where you need to own a fancy camera or a Photoshop subscription to take impressive photos. However, regular Instagram filters just do not cut it anymore. I've tried using multiple photo-editing apps over time and I have to say that thus far, Afterlight is the best 99 cents I have ever spent. So what sets this app apart? It has all the standard features of your run-of-the-mill editing app including filters of its own, but it also comes along with a few added bonuses. Take a look at some of my favorite features of the app below, and make sure to try them out!

Fusion Filters

Do you suffer from FIS (Filter Indecisiveness Syndrome)? Have no fear, Afterlight's fusion filter will save you from all that time wasted. Instead of having to choose between filters, you can layer different ones on top of each other for a unique look to your photos. The best part? You can save your filter combinations for future use! Just "record" your actions as you edit a photo, and save your editing recipe under any name you choose :)

Light Leaks

When used strategically, light leaks add a little extra pop of color to an otherwise average picture. However, "strategically" is the key word. Too many times I've seen (and learned from failed experiences) light leaks being thrown into pictures just for the sake of differentiation. When thought is not put into the placement of this effect, it can look awkward and extremely unnatural. The trick is to figure out where the natural light's point of origin and direction is in the picture, and align your light leak accordingly.

Double Exposure

This is by far my favorite feature. I first learned about double exposure when experimenting with Holga film cameras in high school, and fell in love with the concept ever since. As the technique's name suggests, it is essentially two pictures fused into one. While there are many different ways to use this, my favorite implementation is in the creation of not-so-simple portraits. To do this effectively, make sure that your base picture (in this case, the picture of #119's co-editor Sam Isaacs) has a very simple composition and background. Then, overlay a pattern or another picture on top of your base. Choosing a complex base could make your end result could look too busy, so experiment and see what works best!

Have you tried Afterlight? Tell us what you think!