iPhone Photography...?

Do you use your cell phone's camera much? Since I've gotten an iPhone, I have to say, I use it more than my dSLR. For one, with a 16 month old running amuck inside and out it's easy to slip it into my back pocket. I always have it with me. So I can capture just about any moment of her life on camera.

Why, would you ask, would someone passionate about photography be using their iPhone? Well, for one, the  special camera apps make it FUN and very CREATIVE. Not that my dSLR isn't fun and creative, but with the iPhone, it's instant gratificaton: open up my favorite camera app, Hipstmatic, choose a "lens," a "flash" if desired, and "film" type, set composition and volia = a photo for keeps. Such as this cute shot while playing peek-a-boo the other day.

Secondly, there are some pretty cool photo editing apps offered through iTunes. I must have about 20 editing apps that I use not only with images I've taken with my iPhone, but with images I've taken with my dSLR. The editing apps are so easy to use and offer amazing effects! I don't have any fancy photo editing software on my computer and quite frankly, with my busy daughter demanding so much of me, I don't have the time to learn  PhotoShop or Aperture. But I do have a few minutes to add an effect or two to an image using, say, SnapSeed, PhotoStudio, PhotoForge 2 or ArtistaOil.

This frosty table image was taken using the iPhone camera and then I did a little editing in one of the apps. I really like how it turned out. Before I edited it, the image was muddy and boring. But in a few minutes while sitting in a waiting room at my doctor's office, I turned it into something with pizzazz. The mobility of the iPhone makes editing possible just about anywhere.

The image below I took using my Hipstamatic camera app. Some of those faces may look familiar to you.

Below I took that original image and edited it in the WordPhoto app. This image was on the posters for the staff "Get To Know Us" exhibit this past June.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this is the only way to go. It's just the only way I know. And I'm using it to its fullest capability. Maybe when life slows down a bit, I'll finally learn how to use Aperature or PhotoShop, and that is if I can afford them. Another plus with the apps - they range in cost from free to $10. But I've never paid more than $2.99 for a camera or editing app.

The image above was taken at Raystown Lake. I had just purchased the SnapSeed editing app and I was playing around with all the different effects. This crazy dreamy image is the result of my creative muse.
Maybe you've heard of Dewitt Jones? Here is a blurb from his website:
Dewitt Jones is one of America’s top professional photographers.He is also one of the nation’s most sought–after keynote speakers.


A master of the platform, he combines stories from his years with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC with his extraordinary photographs to teach both creativity and vision.


Each year his words and images inspire thousands to ‘Celebrate What’s Right With the World’!

Here is a nationally known photographer who recently started using his iPhone and the different photo apps as a way to expand his creativity. His images are spectacular...and they were taken with his 5MP iPhone and edited beautifuly with varies apps. He recently did an article in Outdoor Photography, take a look at it.

If you don't have an iPhone and have a Droid type phone, fear not. I bet there are neat camera and editing apps for you to purchase.

On Thursday this week I'll be camping at Lake Tahoe, CA...deep in the heart of Sierra Mountains, my home-away-from-home. And you can bet I'll have my dSLR in one hand and my iPhone in the other.

Grace & peace on the creative journey,
deAnn