iPhoneography - Part 1: Introduction and Capture Apps

by Carol H.

When the term iPhoneography was coined it very simply meant “the art of taking pictures with Apple’s iPhone.” However as other smart phones containing a quality camera have come to market, I feel that today iPhoneography really means the art of making images using the camera AND apps in our smart phones.

And the apps are key. Of course there are purists out there who feel that editing the picture is somehow “cheating,” but editing pictures has been a part of the image creating process since the dawn of photography. Photographers have manipulated film exposure, film processes, and print processes. This effort is the difference between the snapshot and an image. It’s all fair game. Whatever we can do to bring what we saw, not only in front of us, but with our mind’s eye is what we, as photographers, are driven to do. The app tools have gotten better and as a result, we have crossed the threshold from the picture taken, to the image imagined.

There are tons of apps out there, of course, but I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites with you and invite you to share your favorites with us as well.  Over the course of 5 blog posts, I will focus on apps & accessories in categories: Capture, Process, Special Effects Apps, App Stacking, and Sharing / Continuing Education.  Since I am an iPhone user, my posts will be focused around the iPhone. However, if you have another smart phone, please share with us what apps you have found for your device. We hope the discussion generated here will provide helpful search criteria as we all research the best tools to use in our mobile photography. So on to capture apps:

iPhone Native Camera (the camera that came with your phone) Specifications – Since I am not an Android user I am unable to speak to the specs of it, but am hoping all you Doid users will leave a comment about your native camera specs. The iPhone camera has a 28 mm f/2.4 lens w/ 2400 x 2400 pixel capture. Now, unless you want to create a billboard sized image, this is plenty big enough for basic printing needs. It does have zoom capability but that does add a lot of noise to your image. Best to zoom in with your feet! The 4s and 5 also has a panorama option.

Besides the native camera, there are many other capture options. Many of the processing apps also offer an image capture option but here I am referring to those apps whose primary purpose is to capture the image. Here are 3 of my faves:

TrueHDR – This is a current favorite of mine. Capture your image in HDR (high dynamic range). When you push the shutter, the app will take 3 pictures of your scene; one for highlights, one for mid tones, and one for shadows. The 3 images are blended together to create an image with incredible tonal range. This app also has some fun fx options with controls to adjust warmth, contrast, saturation, and brightness. Pros: Natural or enhanced mode under preferences + multiple capture modes  + nice filters that can be tweaked. Cons: cannot revert to non-filtered images after choosing a filter. Sorry – no Android, but users might want to check out HDR Camera+, which is rated quite high for the Android.

  
645Pro – This app feels like a little DSLR right in your phone! The in-app user manual guides you through all the controls you have, including the ability to set image control, spot metering, shooting format and film modes. Pros: Significant control, also great image file quality control. Cons: The user manual is 32 pgs long so a bit daunting, also I have found the control panel on the left a bit difficult to manipulate. Practice, practice! Not available for the Android, but users might check out Shot Control as an alternative.

Hipstamatic – This app is, well, hip! In many ways it reminds me of the good ole days. You select what film you are going to shoot, what lens you are going to shoot, and maybe what flash you are going to use. There are so many lens and film options with this app that it can feel a bit overwhelming. Fortunately there’s a blog that offers a film/lens combo to try for each week, and invites people to post their impressions of that weekly combo. If you are interested in exploring this app in depth, this blog is worth exploring. Here’s the link: http://web.stagram.com/n/hipstaroll/ Pros: Engaging retro effects and retro interface. Extra lens/film purchase options. Cons: Cannot apply effects on any photo already in the camera roll. Unfortunately not available for the Android right now but you might want to check out Retro Camera Plus. It’s rated quite highly as a good Hipstamatic alternative for Android users.

What smart phone do you use? What are your favorite capture apps? Show us images you have created using your mobile phone and capture apps. Post your mobile moments to the Focusing On Life Flickr group, or on Instagram and tag #focusingonlife. 

 Part 2, posting on 3/13/13, will be on processing apps.  Until then . . .