itunes challenge: Skiing 2010 [supplies]
There have been numerous posts about iphone apps in the blogesphere, and internet in general, and my rendition is long overdue.
I started purchasing and downloading iphone applications to my phone over Christmas when we were spending a lot of time skiing here in Colorado. It's tough to ski with 2 little ones at the best of times without adding in the issue of carting along your DSLR, not to mention a lens or two. I can't even begin to imagine changing the lens of my camera on the side of a mountain in sub-zero temperatures. Not even going there.
Enter my iPhone. Small, compact and definitely up to the job, especially with the help of my handy apps. These mini applications can be downloaded from itunes to your iPhone to aid in, not only taking better pictures, but also editing those pictures too. The editing function is somewhat rudimentary when you're used to having full-fledged Photoshop at your finger-tips, but when you don't have your laptop with you, they work amazingly well. Mostly I take the pictures and share while I'm away. Editing is done on my return home, time permitting of course.
Photography apps range in price from being totally free to costing you a couple of dollars. Some are more but I've noticed most of them costing $1.99. Generally, as in most things, you get what you pay for. The higher the price of the app the better the functionality.
Some of the iphone apps I have and use:
Photofunia
A fun and free application that allows you to get creative with you photos. Plug your photos into any of the existing photo templates for some cool results.
True HDR
This application is great for the shots where your *scene* has very light areas and very dark areas. The iPhone will either meter it's exposure based on either the light or dark area. Either the camera properly exposes the light area, so that you lose all detail in the dark areas, or vice versa. If your taking a photo on the side of a mountain for example, the iPhone will create an image that *blows out* the sky and snow to capture the detail in the trees, or expose the sky properly with detriment to the detail in the tree line. This application allows you to take one of each image and them merge those 2 photos to create a High Dynamic Range image, i.e. an image that is perfectly exposed.
I haven't used this app as much as I would like, due to circumstance as opposed to the quality of the application. You can see some great examples here.
Camera Bag
A great *go to* app currently offering 12 filters, such as Helga, Fisheye and Cinema, that can be applied to photos stored on your iphone or take a photo and then pass it through a filter. I like that you can run through each one to see which you like best.
The original:
Cinema Filter:
Shake IT Photo
Also known as *Polaroid for your iphone*. This nifty little app has the added fun factor of being apple to *shake* your phone as you watch your image appear in polaroid format and comes complete with sound effects all for $0.99! This is definitely one of my favorites.
Tripod
This app is particularly handy for taking *straight* photos and combatting the *camera shake* that is so inherent with the iPhone camera. Really handy!
Hipstomatic
Digital photography never looked so analog! My current favorite iPhone app. Love the easy-to-use interface and the the resulting photos that look like they've had some *acid wash* filter applied, not to mention each image is already framed and ready to use.
There are of course many other iphone apps on the market.
10 Useful iPhone Apps For Photographers
11 Must Have Photography Iphone Applications
Photography iphone Apps Review 2010
5 Must Have iphone Camera Apps
You should also know that the iPhone Store has over 300 photography apps to choose from.
It's OK to leave your DSLR at home on occasion and get snapping with your iphone.
No-one one will ever know.
