Thursday

Hipstamatic new magazine Snap









Hipstamatic has released a new item, a free monthly on-line magazine for the iPad called Snap.

Containing articles and monthly snapshots of the world through the lens of Hipstamatic. Snap showcases the driving forces behind global creative culture, and explores provocative new ways to interpret the beauty around us.

Do have a look at Snap and download the inaugural issue at iTunes.



Tuesday

Weekly Showcase




This week, The iPhone Arts ‘Weekly Showcase’ and ‘Curators Choice’ selections for the past week favorite images that was posted by iPhoneographers using the hashtag #the_iphone_arts. From the weeks selection, the best image is chosen as the ‘Curators Choice’. Selection process is from Monday through Sunday and then posted each Tuesday.


Curator’s Choice


I’m, sick today, so I look out the window . . .
Jessica - France (IG:#jes0808)




This weeks ‘Weekly Showcase’


I am walking . . .
Christiane - Germany (IG:#augenweide)




Allium
Diana - USA (IG:#roobydooby)




Untitled
Antoniette - USA (IG:#blommie1)




Berlin
Rainer - Germany (IG:#rainerder8)




Untitled
Kathy - USA (IG:#frptlady)




Rain - New York
Kwasan - USA (IG:#kwa3)




Reflect
Marc - Germany (IG:#marc2u)




Untitled
özgür salcan  - Turkey (IG:#ozgur_ce)




Early morning at the library . . .
Diana - USA (IG:#roobydooby)




          Would you like to have your photographic art appear here?

Key requirement is that the image must have been taken with an iPhone or other smartphone and it must then be tagged with #the_iphone_arts. 

We also urge that you familiarize yourself with previous ‘Weekly Showcase’ winning selections and read the ‘Submission Guidelines,’ where you will also be presented with a slideshow of examples.

Remember the purpose of the ‘Weekly Showcase’ is to present the new digital fine art that is possible with an iPhone or other smartphone. 


_____
* All images displayed here are copyrighted to the artist and may not be reproduced without the consent from the respective artist.




Thursday

Fifth of May adventures in Hipstaland


Three weeks ago I attended a Cinco de Mayo party at the headquarters of software developers Synthetic, also known as Hipstamatic, a popular camera application for the iPhone available at iTunes. One passed through heavy wooden hacienda style doors into a small reception area and then through another wide door into a waiting area that opens up to a large room. There the Limousines DJ’s had set up a sound system just in front the Hipstamatic marquee post sign. 




The area had filled quickly with guests and conversation ensued, and many pictures were taken with an iPhone to capture the moment.






A number of guests headed up to the roof patio, as it was a perfect night and a full moon appeared that evening larger then usual, as it was the closest to the earth all year.






On another lever, passed the Macintosh work stations is the conference room, where Hipstamatic had set up a staging area with two studio lights and plenty of south of the border props. 


Slideshow



Throughout the evening, guest ventured into the conference room for some silly fun, as others and myself took part in capturing the merriment.


People moved back and forth between the floors, the roof patio and back to the dance floor, which by now had filled up nicely.


     




Even during festive moments ones iPhone keeps others abreast of the evenings progress and though the iPhone’s camera was king, a few took the LoFi Lomography approach in recording the evening.




In the meantime, I head back once more to the dance floor, to further test the iPhone under constant movement in combination to low light conditions, something the iPhone and other smartphones fall short in providing acceptable results, mostly due to a major increase in grain.


     




I had a wonderful evening and it was a pleasure to see Douglas Lambert again and engage in conversation before duty called him away. In the meantime, have a look out for their free on-line monthly magazine for the iPad called , which is being launched this coming June.







All photographs by ©2012 Egmont van Dyck 




Tuesday

Weekly Showcase




This week, The iPhone Arts ‘Weekly Showcase’ and ‘Curators Choice’ selections for the past week favorite images that was posted by iPhoneographers using the hashtag #the_iphone_arts. From the weeks selection, the best image is chosen as the ‘Curators Choice’. Selection process is from Monday through Sunday and then posted each Tuesday.


Curator’s Choice


At the museum - Gerhard Richter - Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin
Cornelia - Germany (IG:#corneliaw)




This weeks ‘Weekly Showcase’


Corner of the garden . . .
Diana - USA (IG:#roobydooby)




Zeppelin airship 
Claudia - Austria (IG:#cforstyle)




Istanbul
Kevser - Turkey (IG:#koscakir)




bon appétit Cannes
Marc - Germany (IG:#marc2u)




Untitled
Rainer - Germany (IG:#rainerder8)




Untitled
Romeo - Japan (IG:#romeo0932)




          Would you like to have your photographic art appear here?

Key requirement is that the image must have been taken with an iPhone or other smartphone and it must then be tagged with #the_iphone_arts. 

We also urge that you familiarize yourself with previous ‘Weekly Showcase’ winning selections and read the ‘Submission Guidelines,’ where you will also be presented with a slideshow of examples.

Remember the purpose of the ‘Weekly Showcase’ is to present the new digital fine art that is possible with an iPhone or other smartphone. 


_____
* All images displayed here are copyrighted to the artist and may not be reproduced without the consent from the respective artist.





Saturday

Contact Sheet #001


A new and regular feature is being introduced with today's post at The iPhone Arts will be a series called ‘Contact Sheet,’ which will feature examples of a number of exposures required in obtaining the desired image, illustrating the various steps needed to achieve the desired photograph.


The various sixteen images in today’s contact sheet #001, are of three different sets using scissors as the main prop for a friendly weekly challenge #stilllifelounge, managed by Anna Cox and Ikebana Jen, who post on Sunday’s the following weeks theme.


Having numerous different styles of scissors, along with a good passion for creating still-life sets, I just had to see what I could come up with.



Contact Sheet #001 - click to view full size version


Though I still have all my studio lights, I now prefer to photograph using natural northern light and using fill cards and gobo’s to correct the light needed to illuminate the set.


As you can see by the contact sheet, the first row shows two exposures with a pair of brass scissors and a carpenters ruler, two elements that do not work and so another approach was called for. The next eight frames make use of an old magazine, Coronet from 1949, a tailors measuring tape and scissor.


In the ‘good old days,’ back in the studio, I would set up a tripod and move the elements for the still-life in front of the camera until the preferred composition was achieved. Even now when using a DSLR camera, I would have the camera on a tripod and styling in front of the lens. However as I am using the iPhone 4S to capture the scene, a tripod is not necessary and I can explore a variety of different angles, which we can clearly see in the second set of eight frames. From holding the camera above the set at an angle and then moving in very tight and a little back again, while maintaing the same approach to the set. 



Final image and ready for post production edit 


Though I had the image I wanted for the still-life challenge, I still had that itch that needed to be scratched and so a third attempt was made and this time I would strive for the a simpler and yet more complex approach in which only scissors would be used and no other props. This would allow me to focus on the various designs scissors come in, including feature my favorite scissor with brass handles.


Since the brass scissor was the larges one, all other scissors being employed in the shot would build on the larger on, focusing on the various handles, with the exception of the tailor’s scissor used in the previous set, it was meant to be a counter point, especially since it picked up the light so beautifully.



Final image and ready for post production edit 


It is important to note that during the photographic session, one must have a final vision in mind for each photograph, so that the post production edit enhances the images and not distracts from it.


The post production edits would mean that the photograph would undergo a few corrections within PhotoShop CS5, applying Levels, Curves and Black and White settings before introducing the images to Stage Two post production edit using Snapseed.


In closing, there are plans on the drawing board for another regular feature in which I share details to my post production edits. In the meantime, the remaining two images are as they finally appeared in my IG gallery, with the first one desaturated in order to compliment the older magazine from August 1949. While the scissors only shot, was made more nostalgic, focusing on the different metal textures and their reflective properties.



Version one - final appearance




Version two - final appearance




Names mentioned in the article and their respective Instagram gallery tag:

          Diane, #cforstyle
          Diana Parks, #roobydooby
          Anna Cox, #annacox
          Ikebana Jen, #ikebana_jen




Tuesday

Weekly Showcase






This week, The iPhone Arts ‘Weekly Showcase’ and ‘Curators Choice’ selections for the past week favorite images that was posted by iPhoneographers using the hashtag #the_iphone_arts. From the weeks selection, the best image is chosen as the ‘Curators Choice’. Selection process is from Monday through Sunday and then posted each Tuesday.


Curator’s Choice


Blond-Nocturnal
Dieter - Germany (IG:#ringuin)




This weeks ‘Weekly Showcase’


“Nice hat!” “Nice shirt!”
Amit - USA (IG:#amitsingh5)




Wiener Melange
Alexander - Germany (IG:#blende67)




Wooden Wheel
Dave - USA (IG:#clearreflect)




Open to the light
Eric - USA (IG:#ericprintzphoto)




After
Kwasan - USA (IG:#kwa3)




Untitled
Miguel - Portugal (IG:#miguelpate)




Way Home 
Dieter - Germany (IG:#ringuin)




The Equation-of-Time Curve
Diana - USA (IG:#roobydooby)





 Would you like to have your photographic art appear here?

Key requirement is that the image must have been taken with an iPhone or other smartphone and it must then be tagged with #the_iphone_arts. 

We also urge that you familiarize yourself with previous ‘Weekly Showcase’ winning selections and read the ‘Submission Guidelines,’ where you will also be presented with a slideshow of examples.

Remember the purpose of the ‘Weekly Showcase’ is to present the new digital fine art that is possible with an iPhone or other smartphone. 


_____
* All images displayed here are copyrighted to the artist and may not be reproduced without the consent from the respective artist.


Saturday

Street Photography



From the Chinatown series
Egmont - USA (IG: #egmont_the_artist)


I have had always a very strong interest in street photography from journalism reportage to documentary photography as far back as my teens when on a bicycle ride down Skyline Boulevard, I came across an overturned vehicle in a gully. Ambulance had already arrived and they were bringing up the injured person, while other bystanders were helping out. I, on the other hand, retrieved my camera and started taking pictures. This was my first experience with street photography.


Over the next five decades I have never lost the passion and drive to do what ever it takes to obtain the image. Results were never assured and that was part of the rush. Of course these days with digital photography, in which we can see immediate results, I find I continue shooting as long as the situation allows, but once I sense I am losing the edge, I depart. For the key to good street photography is to avoid confrontation at all cost, this alone is the best advice I can give to anyone intended on street photography. Also remember that avoiding any direct eye contact is another way to avoid any possible confrontation with the subject matter. Of course, depending on the situation, a smile never hurts and only you can be the best judge of what to do in a particular situation.


Earlier I mentioned that street photography is a form of journalism and documentary photography and the differences between the two is the photographers approach in what to include or leave out of the image, driven by the message the photographer wishes to convey with their photograph.



Berlin Charlottenburg
Cornelia - Germany (IG: #corneliaw)


When we look at Cornelia’s photo Berlin Charlottenburg, we are treated to form of ambiance. We are lead into the image by the elaborate stone work path towards an older building with a general store on the ground floor with a table and chairs for its customers, while the shopkeeper or peddler has set up his own table to sell goods and second hand clothing. There are also two boys idling about in front of the store. 



Untitled
Svetlana - Russia (IG: #prinny)


In this photo by Svetlana, the message is the same as with Cornelia’s photograph, it is ‘a slice of life,’ uncomplicated, charming and nostalgic. A form of innocence is present in these photographs, yet street photography covers a wide range of emotions, including that when we are confronted by it, we turn our heads away, pretending it does not exist as with Inebriated.



Inebriated
Egmont - USA (IG: #egmont_the_artist)


Yet even this image has merits on its own terms, documenting a situation that is all to real because it is part of life. 


Each street photographer has his or her own preference as to type of subject matter and location they are most comfortable wiring in and I certainly have mine, preferring crowded locations that allow me to get up close to my subject matter. Then there are those locations, like skid row where the lost, the forgotten and the degenerates can be found. A place most would prefer to avoid but I seem to be drawn to, mostly because of the variety of interesting characters one can encounter there.



Untitled
Tatyana - Russia (IG: #ttapioka)


We street photographers can exchange stories and plenty of advice in how best to capture an image, but there is nothing more important then what a guerrilla street photographer can pass along, then one about safety. What ever your favorite working environment in which to capture your street photographs, be aware of your surroundings, the changes occurring behind you by looking back often and always know the area you are in. 



Klatsch und Tratsch
Julia - Germany (IG: #sonnenstern)




Untitled
Alexander - Germany (IG: #blende79)




9:39 PM . . .   after a tasty dinner
Tatyana - Russia (IG: #ttapioka)




Untitled
Miguel - Portugal (IG: #miguelpate)




Untitled
Alex - Russia (IG: #ptitzin)




Berlin Kreuzberg Mustafas Gemüse Kebap
Cornelia - Germany (IG: #corneliaw)




At the Watercress Fair, Méréville
Valerie de Palma - France (IG: #zouc123)





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* All images displayed here are copyrighted to the artist and may not be reproduced without the consent from the respective artist.


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