Author Archives: Crystal Akins

What makes #teampixel click

The #teampixel community on Instagram recently reached 35,000 members—people who have tagged their photos with #teampixel in their travels around the world, on a quest to capture the best shot. We've been so taken with the range and diversity of Pixel photographers' work that we dug a little deeper to learn more about what makes you tick... er, click. Here's a snapshot of what we learned about #teampixel's favorite places and subjects to shoot:


1. They’re globetrotters:#teampixel has been to 196 countries.
2. With a few favorite locales to capture: The top countries for #teampixel photos are the U.S., India, the U.K., Canada and Australia.

3. #teampixel lives for the city: Cityscapes are shared twice as much as photos of nature, and most of those shots come from New York, London, San Francisco, Toronto and Los Angeles.

4. But nature calls, too:Though the tall buildings and crowded streets of the city may be a muse for some photographers, others are drawn to nature. In #teampixel nature shots, trees are most popular (10 percent of all nature posts), followed by sunlight and beach (6.8 percent), then mountains (4.7 percent).

5. They’re dog people:Dogs were posted twice as often as cats. Sorry not sorry.

6. They’re foodies—with a sweet tooth:Food is the most popular subject of #teampixel posts, and people post shots of baked goods four times as much as other foods.

We'd love to see what makes you hit that shutter button, too. Follow our feed on Instagram and don't forget to tag your photos with #teampixel. We might feature your photo here next!


Team Pixel is in bloom this spring

Our community of photographers is on the rise, and the #teampixel tribe is officially 35,000 members strong (and counting)! This week’s highlights range from colorful plum blossoms in Sakura, Japan to a confetti-filled wedding.

If you’re looking for a daily dose of #teampixel photos, follow our feed on Instagram and keep spreading the loves and likes with fellow Pixel photographers.

135 countries and counting: travel the world with #teampixel

Wondering what our community of Pixel photographers has been up to lately? Check out this week’s selects, from a dancer’s impeccable form (yay burst mode!) to finding love in the streets of Spain. #teampixel photos have been geo-tagged and posted from 135 countries and counting—shout out to our community for their amazing work! ? ? ?

We’d love to see more of your Pixel photos, so keep tagging them with #teampixel and you might be featured next.

#teampixel photographer Dave East heads to Iceland

This week, #teampixel heads north of the equator on a trip with photographer, Dave East. Check out his photos from Iceland (shot in subzero temperatures!) that captured everything from giant glaciers to epic waterfalls, and hear about why he loves his Pixel camera.

Can you tell us about your recent trip to Iceland shooting on Pixel 2 XL?
Iceland was absolutely surreal. It is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. The landscapes feel like another planet. Shooting on the Pixel 2 was just so easy, the camera is so good that  when we were in a hurry I didn't even take out my DSLR because I knew the shots were going to be just as great on the Pixel 2.

What are your favorite features on Pixel's camera?
The portrait mode is amazing, it really gets the sense of depth perfectly. I also just think the photos are so crisp, it feel not like a phone camera at all.

What piece of advice do you have for capturing great shots?
For landscape work, check that your horizons are straight and that there is some depth to the shot or leading lines that draw your eye to something in particular. And make sure that you are shooting in a good time of day and that it is not too bright.

Anything else you'd like to share with us and the #teampixel community?
Just keep shooting, keep creating and keep exploring. My favourite thing in the world is travelling to new places and seeing new things.


It’s about to glow down … with #teampixel

This week, #teampixel took a shot in the dark (with the help of HDR+ which makes Pixel cameras really good at capturing photos in low light). Check out our after-dark series that range from neon signs with silly sayings to vibrant splashes of color that light up the night, all captured by our community of photographers, #teampixel.

#teampixel community member Austin Cameron is living for the city

Happy New Year, Team Pixel! There are so many picture-worthy moments ahead. Helping us get started on 2018 photography is Pixel enthusiast and photographer @ustincameron. He’s a regular #teampixel contributor who’s working through a personal goal of shooting a photo a day for 1,000 days—with more than 700 already under his belt!   

He has a talent for shooting in low light, so we reached out to get some tips and find out more about his approach to shooting the nation's most popular cities.

“Cityscapes are a fun challenge,” Austin says. “For most people, the skyline is already iconic, so I like to try and make them do a double take by showcasing it from an entirely different perspective than previously recognized.”


@ustincameron’s tips for shooting in low light situations:

  • Do your best to prevent light pollution from entering your frame.
  • Make sure to set the focus on dark areas with details you want to bring out.
  • Don’t be scared to lay on the ground for the perfect shot!

Keep tagging your photos with #teampixel and you might be featured next.

#teampixel lights up the holidays

Season’s greetings! With the holidays around the corner, we’re highlighting #teampixel pics that remind us why this time of year is so magical. Join us in kicking off the celebrations with photos ranging from a frosty day in Austria to enjoying sweet treats in Pike Place, Seattle.

We also can't wait to see what Team Pixel captures in the coming year. Be merry, have a wonderful holiday and see you all in 2018! ✌️

Ready for your close-pup: the pets of #teampixel

Can you say "shake"? This week we’re making the introduction to some of #teampixel’s furry friends who always make the day a little brighter. From fabulous felines to a French Bulldog in PJs, scroll through this week’s “pawsome” picks and get to know the pets of #teampixel—13/10 would portrait mode again.

Want to get your Pixel photos featured on The Keyword? Make sure to tag your photos with #teampixel for the opportunity to see your photos here next!

Zip up your jacket for this week’s #teampixel adventures

Wondering where #teampixel went this week? Some braved the cold temperatures in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon or at Yosemite National Park, while another got toasty with (several) warm beverages.

If you have a Pixel and want to show us the world through your lens, tag your photos with #teampixel for an opportunity to be featured next.

Lights, shadows and silhouettes by #teampixel

Shadows don’t always have to be scary—they can be downright magical. This week, #teampixel is sharing everything from a solitary lemon’s shadow to palm trees silhouetted against a vivid sky in Venice, CA. Come chase shadows with us and see what you find.

If you’d like to be featured on @google and The Keyword, tag your Pixel photos with #teampixel and you might see yourself next.