Keep color in mind!

Color is a very important aspect to consider when taking photos. A good way to make your photos "pop" is to to use complementary colors to make the subject stand out from the background. Complementary colors appear opposite each other on a color wheel chart. For example the blue background and the orange guitar. Other examples of complementary colors are purple/yellow and red/green

Another way to make your photos more interesting is to use analogous colors, or colors that are similar in hue and tone. This was a very common technique with Impressionist painters. The second example shows a dark green guitar on a light green background. This allows you to set a tone for your image depending on the colors used. Blues and greens give your image a cool tone while using reds and yellows lend a certain warmth to your photos.

Hipstamatic 200 for the iPhone

Before I get started, I'm testing a new blogging app for the iPhone so I apologize for any weirdness that may happen in advance.

Hipstamatic has a new update for their super-popular app. It includes the ability to shoot up to 9 photos in rapid succession while the app is saving photos in the background. This is a very welcome fix, because if you use hipstamatic you know how long saving at Hi-Res can take.

Also included in the update is a new free-pak, the Mac & Milk. It includes the Chunky lens and another useless camera skin. The Chunky lens attempts to emulate light leaks, but doesn't really come off that well. It looks mostly bad especially in brightly lit photos. In low light the effect is subdued and looks better. Using it with a black & white film like Claunch 72 however yields much better results.

I'm posting some quick photos for you to compare (with this new blogging app I can't post text in between photos).

Personally, I think Plastic Bullet pulls off the light leak effect better than any other app available. So if you're into that effect I'd recommend going that route.

Toy Camera for iPhone

Toy Camera is a cool little app that unlike a lot of other toy camera like apps allows you to choose the effects. The app also has a random feature that applies the effects, well, randomly. Furthermore, if there's an effect that you don't like you can turn the filter off so that it doesn't show up when using the random feature.

The effects are OK. The filters aren't necessarily the best I've seen nor do they have an organic film look like Plastic Bullet and Hipstamtic seem to capture. Additionally, you can choose the image output to be the standard 2:3 ratio or in a square. The main problem with shooting square is that you have to guesstimate what's going to be captured in the frame.

Bottom line is that it's a good app, especially for people that want to fine-tune the look of their images.

Come in at an angle!

If you want to add a dynamic touch to your iPhone photos try coming in at an angle. Showing your subject straight forward can make the shot static and boring. Adding a bit of a twist will make people take notice of your photos!

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Plastic Bullet!

Plastic Bullet is one of the best camera apps that has been released for the iPhone. It's not quite as gimmicky as Hipstamatic and truly creates images that look like they were shot with a plastic camera. The effect is completely random and the app allows you to refresh until you get a variation that you like. Then you just tap on the heart to save.

The effects are very dream-like and almost surreal at times and unlike Hipstamatic you can use existing photos and it doesn't take forever to save at hi-res.

Check it out at Red Giant Software.

Using leading lines will lead to more interesting photos!

A quick way to add some interest to your iPhone photos is to use leading lines. Leading lines draw the viewers eye through the image and create a dynamic tension within your images.

Getting close up with your iPhone!

Without a doubt the best accessory that I have bought for my iPhone is the Kikkerland Close Up Jelly Lens. For $7 you can't beat this little lens!

One of the easiest ways to make a great picture is to get close up and fill the frame. Close up shots let you show your subjects in a completely different way and they never fail to impress people.

The Kikkerland close up lens can be used with any of the apps, but I find that it works the best with apps that make a square image. Sometimes you can see the edges of the lens in the photo so the square format crops that out. My favorite app to use with this lens is Hipstamatic. Plastic Bullet also works really well for cool looking close up shots (the heavy vignetting effect obscures the lens edges).


 
Taken with Hipstamatic / Helga Viking Lens / Blanko Film



Taken with Plastic Bullet


Taken with Hipstamatic / Salvador 84 Lens / DreamCanvas Film





Taken with Plastic Bullet