Photo Blog #112

Capsaicin.
I took this photo for Karla's new blog The Aztec Alchemist.

Plastic Bullet Review

Plastic Bullet is a new photo-manipulation app for iPhone developed by Red Giant Software (the app's name is a reference to their popular video color correction software Magic Bullet). Plastic bullet is intended to simulate the effects of cheap, plastic-lensed film cameras like the Holga, Diana, etc. intro screenWhen you open the app it prompts you to either select a photo from your camera roll, or take a photo in the app. After the photo is chosen or taken, you are presented with four randomly generated variations of the image.  variationsThe variations are based on a combination of color toning, contrast, saturation, simulated film burn, vignetting, blur, etc. If you tap on a variation you are giving the option to save it or go back. If you do not like any of the four choices you can simply press the refresh button to make 4 entirely new variations of your image.    I really like this app. The quality of the results are great. I also like the fact the it is selectionrandom, but you still have the choice of which random variation you choose. It's all the fun of shooting with a crappy plastic camera with none of the commitment. The one big downside to the app is it will only save images at 800x600 resolution. However Red Giant has said they will allow full resolution saves soon. I look forward to this update. Plastic Bullet costs 1.99 in the app store. Here are a few more images.

Questions? Comments? Contact me.

Related Posts
Everything you wanted to know about iPhone 3GS video
Convergence - a Review of Nexvio ReelDirector
Camerabag for iPhone. It makes the iPhone Camera Usable!

Intervalometry: Mobile Edition #1

Intervalometry is a feature on my blog that highlights time lapse video that I have created. Thanks to the iPhone app ReelMoments by Nexvio I can now create and publish time lapses using only my iPhone 3GS. These videos will be labeled as Mobile Edition. Here is the first one. I made it just about 2 hours ago at the Milchbuck Park.

View on YouTube

This blog post was also created on my iPhone using the new Squarespace iPhone app. All future mobile editions will be done the same way.

Pocket Cam: The Future of the Colony

Pocket Cam is a recurring feature on my blog where I capture unique scenes from everyday life on video. The word 'Pocket' implies that I am using one of my small, consumer quality cameras (Canon G9 or MinoHD). I like these cameras because I can shoot video no matter where I am. This edition of Pocket Cam is the first I have shot using my iPhone 3GS.

iPhone Friendly Youtube Link.

While on a walk I noticed an ant hill with many winged queens. After observing for a moment I realized they were all attempting to fly away, some with more success than others. These clumsy queens were the future of the colony. It was a very nice moment.

If you liked this video, check out This Puppet Thinks "You're Beautiful" or Sechseläuten 2009

Everything You Wanted to Know About iPhone 3GS Video

The iPhone 3GS feature that I was most excited about was video. The very first thing I did when I got my phone was shoot Technologic Overkill, so I could put the video camera through it's paces. In the process I discovered quite a few useful bits information about how the video works. Here is random list of that information:

• The video quality is surprisingly good for a cameraphone. In bright daylight the camera performs excellently. Like most small video cameras, it performs worse in low light. The iPhone will automatically lower the framerate in low light to compensate. The Frame rate will not go lower than 15fps
• The iPhone shoots 640x480 at 30 frames per second. It records to the h264 codec at about 3700 kilobits per second. This equates to roughly 28 megabytes per minute. That's not too shabby. Audio is recorded in Mono at 44.1 khz using the AAC codec.
• Compression artifacting is not very prevalent in good lighting. I think this is where a device like iPhone shines over other small video cameras. It has a very good CPU comparably, which allows for higher quality compression.
• You can select your focus point in video mode by tapping, but only when you are not recording. When you begin recording focus is locked to the point you chose. This means you cannot rack focus while recording. This is a small gripe, but if you consider most tiny video cameras are fixed focus, it is still a big improvment.
• Close focus is the same as in still mode -- 10cm. This is a great feature. When you are filming at a macro distance you can achieve a pretty decent shallow depth of field look.
• Where you tap on the screen also 'guides' the exposure of the video. However, as opposed to focus, exposure remains on 'auto'. If your scene changes enough the exposure will automatically compensate.
• The video works very nicely in iMovie, which is expected. One thing I noticed is that you do not have to convert the video to use the slow and fast motion feature. The codec Apple uses is already suitable for that.
• The "Jelly" effect that most small video cameras exhibit is prevalent in the 3GS. This is due to a rolling shutter.

Here is a short video illustrating some of these points.

iPhone Friendly Youtube Link.

One thing I keep thinking about is how the iPhone 3GS video compares to my Flip MinoHD. In resolution, the Mino beats iPhone hands down -- the iPhone is not HD. However, the other features of the iPhone 3GS might just compensate for its lack of HD. Let's compare and contrast:

Click to read more ...

Photo Blog #43: Bonus iPhone 3GS Edition

Each of these images was taken with my iPhone 3GS and processed by one of a number of different iPhone apps I own.

Click to enlarge.

 

Technologic Overkill: The First Music Video Shot on an iPhone 3GS

I present, the first Music Video shot on iPhone 3GS!

Technologic Overkill is the first music video shot on an iPhone 3GS. The song by XFYA accompanies the plight of a little blue robot and his attempt to be relevant in an increasingly technological world.

Youtube Link (click to watch on an iPhone)

UPDATE(July 3rd):
Many people have asked me where they can download the MP3 of this song. I am happy to say that XFYA has graciously allowed me to post it here as a free download.
Download Technologic Overkill MP3

Like what your see? Subscribe to my RSS or follow me on Twitter. Any Questions about this video visit my Contact Page.

CameraBag for iPhone. It makes the iPhone Camera Usable!

Those of you who follow me in Twitter might have noticed me talking about an iPhone app called CameraBag and noticed some unique shots on Twitpic. I had heard of this app for a while and finally decided to drop the $2.99 and buy it. It is now one of the apps I use most.
CameraBag is a simple app that processes photos from the iPhone camera or photo roll with one of 9 different effecst. All of the effects are meant to mimic vintage camera or development process. Such as Helga(a Holga Look), Instant(- Polaroid style), or 1962(a high contrast black and white look). Check out these examples:

Article continues.

Click to read more ...

Photo Blog #26

Lo Fi Reflections of the Rain. Sometimes the iPhone camera isn't so bad.

Photo Blog #14: iPhone+Poladroid=Fun

Playing around with Poladroid and the iPhone camera: