iPhone Diva

New iPhone Photo Gallery

2012-02-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

iPhoneographer John Derby contributes a few of his favorite iPhone images to iPhone Diva. To create The Green Bar, he used these Apps: Snapseed, Pro HDR, Simply HDR, Grungetastic HD.

About Iris #4, John says: "I used only Pro HDR, and Snapseed (get the joke?) on this flower's pic." Love the selective focus here.

My favorite: One Suspicious Bull was created with Camera + for clarity. Snapseed for straightening, cropping, and detail. Pro HDR, Simply HDR, and Pic Grunger.This photo "was taken at my Granddaughter's house when we stopped to drop off some milk after our ubiquitous trip to Walmart. We live in the tiny town of Chadwick, Missouri, where the only two businesses are Kay's Country Store and the little one-woman post office. Euba is the name of the Post Mistress, and she is the closest thing we have to a mayor, leading the parade as she does each June for "Railroad Days". The old School Bus serves as the bull's shelter in bad weather."

Photo Sync is The #1 Transfer App

2012-01-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

Okay iPhoneographers, yesterday I posted about 2 of my favorite transfer apps. I closed the post with that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. However today is a new day, and I am changing my story, after hearing from the PhotoSync folks that their app also works via Bluetooth. So I tried it and I'm now happy to report that PhotoSync rocks over bluetooth! It is blazing fast and is now my only go-to transfer app. (Sorry, Photo Transfer. It was lovely while it lasted.)

Transferring Photos From iPhone to iPad to Computer

2012-01-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

One of the questions I am most often asked is "What's the best app for transferring photos back and forth?" Working on the iPhone itself can be a fast track to eyestrain especially if you are using a painting app, such as my fave Pixel Blend. Ideally, we'd rather "app" our photos on our iPad or optimize them on our computer. So we need a reliable and quick way to transfer our art.

Of all the apps I've tried, (and as an appaholic, I've tried a bunch), the one that gets my overall vote is PhotoSync. For $1.99, you can install it on both your iPhone and iPad. The computer version is free (of course, you have to have it installed on one of your other devices for it to work.)

It is unbelievably fast - I've never had it crash or had any problems with it. I use it everyday. There is only one caveat: you must have wifi access.

And, traveling around to photograph, there may be times - gulp - when there is no access (eg. in the Galapagos, or Yosemite or camping.)

For those situations, I depend on my previous favorite transfer app: Photo Transfer. ($2.99 in the app store.) Because (drumroll please), it also works with bluetooth. Just turn on bluetooth on both devices, open Photo Transfer on both, and voila, you are on your way. Go have a cup of coffee or chimp on your big boy/big girl camera for a bit, because bluetooth is a lot slower than wifi. But it's still magic.

The above image was transferred to my iPad or I'd never have been able to process it - the iPhone, much as I love it, is just too tiny for accurate brush strokes. This heliconia blossom was "painted" in Ghostbird Software's Photoforge app using the smudge tool, (way harder than Pixel Blend, but it wasn't available when I worked this) then combined with a sketch of the same image from Jixi Pix Artista Sketch app. The combining and blend mode was done using IRIS Photo Suite app.

So iphoneographers, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. The two best and most versatile transfer apps for less than the cost of a latte. You can't afford not to have them!

No iPhone Yet But You Have an iPad? No Problem!

2012-01-20T22:39:00.000-08:00

Photographer Carol Robinson has begun the foray into "apping" by bringing her big girl camera pix into her new iPad and the rest, as they say, is history. I predict an iPhone in her future as well - after all, the best camera is..wait for it... the one you have with you!

Apps she has been using so far include Picture Suite for the Star Magnolia, PhotoArtista Haiku and Blender. Me thinks I see a little pic grunger too. So no iPhone, only an iPad? No problem.

As Carol says: "Addicted is the word for sure..I feel a lot more free to play with these images.
I like the Artista Haiku [the middle photo] the best of the three. There are so many Apps , like so many colored pens. Hard to figure out what to do first."

Amen. Creativity to the max!

iPhone Art Around The World: Guest Gallery

2012-01-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

Favorite contributor Rik Cooke shares a unique iPhone view of Rodeo Drive during the holidays. Leave it to a National Geographic photographer to put the "best camera" to photojournalistic use. He used Pro HDR app and cleaned up the images in Lightroom and Snapseed.

And a new artist has offered her fresh and inspiring iPhone artwork: Vye Young. Like so many of us, she can't remember the apps that she worked on her phone and iPad. We just get carried away sometimes.

Photo 1 is a detail of the George Hotel - Lviv, Ukraine

About Photo 2, Vye shares: "Here is another app laden photo that turned from drab to pow with iPad apps. This photo taken at a Park near us on Vancouver Island. ps that is not snow!"

iPhone Diva's Fave App for Today: Pro HDR

2011-12-29T18:22:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm fickle. I admit it. My favorite app is most usually the one I've just finished playing with. And today my favorite is ProHDR, with a little Snapseed on the side. Without them, this shot at sunset on Papohaku Beach here on Moloka`i would have either a blacked out foreground or a blown out sky. Or with some HDR apps, a completely fake looking, super crunchy, overcooked HDR photograph. Instead, I get a result that approximates what I actually saw.! (Hint: I use the manual setting for Pro HDR so I get to pick the light and dark exposures that I want.)

Fabulous App Pixel Blend Pro for the iPhone

2011-12-15T11:09:00.000-08:00

Hallelujah! Pixel Blend app is now available for the iPhone! (Drumroll, please!) (Here's the review of the iPad version for those who missed it.) I know that many of you have been waiting patiently - I'm delighted to report that your wait is over. For fans of the SX70 - Polaroid Time Zero emulsion manipulation process, this is a must-have app! If you love impressionist painted-look photos, you'll also want to download it ASAP.

I manipulated this photo on the iPhone - and voila, it does look just like SX70 work I have done. The app contains temperature controls (mimics the heating pad we used to control liquidity and softness of emulsion), all the cool tools like crochet hook and knitting needles. The dental tool even mimics the scratches we used to get - you can choose white or black for these.

As much SX70 as I did in those bygone days, I did not realize that some artists put sandpaper or other textures under the photo when "mushing" it, giving a cool textural appearance. Textures are available here too, and I am thrilled with using them. I used the cracked paint texture for this photo. Yummy.

The iPad app, which has been out for awhile, has been updated - called Pixel Blend HD. I have to say that while I CAN do this manipulation on my phone, I prefer the iPad version - because I can see it better. (Yes, that's an aging thing, and no, I'm not going to mention how old I am.)

For a true, blue Polaroid look, I framed it in King Camera.

Ok, photo pals, start mushing. I can't wait to see what you all create!

Palm Reading - iPhone Style

2011-12-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

I've photographed the palm grove here on Molokai dozens of times and I never tire of it. Finding a new way of showing it can be a challenge, but it's one the iPhone and it's many apps can help me accomplish. Below are 3 views - 3 different ways of 'grungifying" for a vintage or distressed effect. Enjoy.

For this shot, I walked out into the water (only knee high for a long way out) and shot several shots looking back. Combined in Autostitch, I ended up with this pano. I used IRIS to fine tune saturation, contrast, and so on. The grunge effect is from Photoforge oil painting filter.

Kapuaiwa Palm Grove at sunset © lynette sheppard

I never really fell in love with Hipstamatic the way so many iPhoneographers do... until Teri Lou Dantzler (check out her blog - see link in my blogroll) talked about doing Hipsta stitches. I LOVE Hipsta now - for these off kilter artsy panos combined in Autostitch. Grunge effect applied with Pic Grunger.

Vintage Palms © lynette sheppard

I took the pano I shot and combined in Autostitch, then turned it to infrared look in Camera Bag app. Camera Bag has my favorite faux infrared. 2nd favorite is in Dynamic Light app. Grunge effect came from IRIS. I really like the look here.

Infrared Palm Grove © lynette sheppard

An iPhone Painter is Born

2011-11-16T16:31:00.001-08:00

Friend and sister Menopause Goddess, Monique Boucher, took her iPhone for an artistic spin on her long awaited vacation. Just goes to show you what a little time, a few apps, and a lot of talent can get you. Enjoy. Apps used were Autopainter HD and Camera+.

See The Light: Photo Seminar Reflections

2011-11-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like hanging out with a bunch of photographers at a seminar to get me reinspired and jazzed about image making all over again. I just finished a week at "See The Light" here in Moloka`i Hawai`i - taught by Dewitt Jones (aka my husband and soulmate, the Digital Dude), Jonathan Kingston, and Rikki Cooke.

I took a few decent shots with my big girl cameras, but the majority of my excitement came from photographing with my iPhone. Big surprise there, I know.

Here are a couple of my favorites from the week.

Window reflection with flypaper texture combined in DXP - Pro HDR app.

Closeup of ti leaves optimized with Camera + app and Perfect Photo. Pretty much a straight shot.

Photo of multicolored pigeons combined with flypaper and apped in 100 Cameras app. Frame from Camera +.

Thanks, Steve Jobs. You Changed Our Lives. We'll Miss You.

2011-10-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs has left the planet. But his legacy will be with us forever. My first computer was an Apple IIe back in 1983 or so. I fell in love with my first Mac and nearly every wonderful product Apple created. As I sit here typing on my Macbook Pro with my iPod playing soft Hawaiian music and my iPhone (actually my main camera) and my iPad lying next to them, I marvel at the world that Jobs and his cohorts invented. So in the midst of my mourning, I also smile in gratitude that such a being graced our lives with his vision. And his presence. Thanks again, Steve. I hope there's lots of geeky stuff where you are - and if not, I know there will be soon. Aloha.

iPhone Gallery: A Family Affair

2011-10-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Ruderman family practices iPhoneography together. Each is artistic in his/her own right and each has a unique vision. We are lucky enough to get a sample of their wonderful submissions to Viewpoint Gallery's cell phone only photo art competition.

This shot of daughter Rachel's cat might be one of my favorite straight iPhone shots ever. Just sayin'...

And her lofi view of one of San Francisco's hilly streets and iconic cablecar is terrific.

Daughter Ann has an eye for the abstract detail in cityscapes. Form, line, color distilled down to essence in these next two iPhone art photos.

Mom Victoria presents this quirky view of snorkel gear titled with tongue in cheek "Layer Masks".

Dad David caught this moody view of Cold Rain, Quebec.

And the second place prize winner in the Viewpoint Gallery competition? David's lovely "The Phantom Bell".

Hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Keep shooting, apping, and sending 'em in.

iPhone Art Gallery

2011-08-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

An exultation of photos are featured in this gallery by some of iPhone Diva's favorite contributors. These iphoneographs blew my socks off! OK, I wasn't wearing socks, but if I had been, they'd be history.

Jack Davis sent this lovely photo of "just a feather found on my lawn". The apps are a mystery, but knowing Jack, he probably used every app in the app store and a few he made up himself.

Bob Wright puts his own special spin on this photo using Pixel Blend app after the last iPhone Diva post. Way to go, Bob!

Judy Norton has this to say about her vintage garden shot: "Photoforge just updated to Photoforge2 and I love it! It has many of the elements of the original, plus a simulated Hipstamatic right inside the app with many film, lens, flash changes. I think I can entertain myself for days just with this app! This was originally a color pic from a garden in a community near here. I made many versions, but I like this one." I do too.

Robin Robertis immortalizes the spirit of our late friend, photographer and trickster, Jack Palmer, in this art photo. She apped it with Autopainter and Pixel Blend. We miss you, Jack.

Fab New App - Pixel Blend

2011-08-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

There is a fantastic new app out for the iPad (and coming soon for the iPhone) that I am so excited about. Back in the day, hubby Dewitt and I loved the Polaroid emulsion manipulation process with Time Zero/SX70 film and cameras. Basically, we'd use crochet hooks and other tools to "smoosh" the emulsion around before it hardened to create a painterly effect. There is a new Time Zero film out now and you could conceivably still do this process in its pure form.

Dewitt and I are hopelessly (hopefully?) digital these days and have tried a variety of apps to try to recreate the "smooshing" process we loved so. And were mostly unsuccessful. Until now.

Pixel Blend is an app whereby you can "smoosh" and manipulate your digital "emulsion". And there is a variety of tools to create painterly effects like the crochet hook, dental tool, and more. The old SX-70 emulsion moved more when it was warm or hot. And the creator of Pixel Blend, Michael Valdez, has included temperature choices so you can choose a more movable emulsion.

And if you have no idea what Time Zero, SX-70, or Polaroid emulsion manipulation are? No worries! Just think of this as the coolest app for painting your photos into impressionist works. Check it out here: Pixel Blend app.

I love shooting feminine window displays - I'm sure there's some deep psychological reason or maybe not. Maybe I just think they look pretty. At any rate, here is one of my SX-70 emulsion "smooshes" of a hatbox and pearls in a window. I think I shot it at Epcot Center in Orlando when our kids were little.

Fast forward about 15-20 years, and I shot this mannequin detail in a Seattle wedding boutique window.

I just finished "smooshing" this one with Pixel Blend. Oh yes, did I mention that you have a lot more control with the app than we did with the film? I can't wait to play with this app much, much more. Give it a try and send me your pix for posting. Happy smooshing!

Sunset Strolls With the iPhone

2011-06-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Summer is here finallly, though you wouldn’t guess it by the amount of snow on the peaks here in Tahoe. Still, it is warm enough for an evening stroll along the lake shore. ProHDR and Tiffen’s Photo FX optimized this photo (with a little added sharpening from Perfect Photo app.)

I couldn’t resist going a little app happy on this shot, so added the “stars” in IRIS (noise effect).

Jon Leland, a regular contributor to iPhone Diva, shares his own sunset strolls along Richardson Bay near San Franciso. ProHDR and Camera + were his go-to apps for these lovely shots.

Head on out for an evening walk with your iPhone. Even if you don’t get any shots you like, you’ll be sure to get some great mind photos or “neurochromes” as John Barclay calls them. And fresh air, and exercise, and stress reduction, etc. And if you do get some pix you like, send them along to iPhone Diva so we can take a walk in your neck of the woods.

Autopainter Turns iPhone Photos Into Paintings

2011-06-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

“What are you doing?” Dewitt asked as I sat staring intently at my iPhone. “Painting,” I answer.

Autopainter and Autopainter II are two “crazy good” apps for creating photo art paintings. You choose an image and a style of painting such as chalk or felt tip, click start, sit back and watch it work.

I admit that I feel a little like a dog watching a ceiling fan, but it captivates me as it underpaints, brushes, and details. And that’s not so different from those minutes in the darkroom spent waiting for the image to magically appear in the chemical bath.

It’s a little disconcerting at first to see how great an image it fashions from my photos with little to no effort on my part. Still, the best images require more tweaking and blending with the original. Thankfully, I still have some artistic work to do.

And even with all the advances in apps and equipment, there are still two things I have to do as a photographer; the two most important things: choose what is in the frame and when to click the shutter (tap the screen). Composition and decisive moment.

All the apps in the world won’t save a photo if composition is faulty or the moment is missed. Just sayin’.....

The images in this post were blended with the original in either IRIS app or DXP app. In this photo of the bird's nest, I created a mask and painted the egg back in from the original. Try it for yourself - send me your favorites.

iPhone Photojournalism

2011-05-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

Recently I accompanied my girlfriend Karen down to Kalaupapa peninsula here on Molokai. We hiked down the highest sea cliffs in the world to take the tour of the infamous leper colony, where so many Hawaiians were exiled during a most shameful period of history.

Karen was slated to write an article for the LA Times and I brought along my trusty iPhone. As always, the tour was moving and emotional, while the natural beauty of the place was jaw dropping. And the iPhone apps helped me enhance the feeling of this most spiritual place. The best camera is the one you have with you - and for me that's most often the iPhone.

When one of our fellow tour members suffered total camera failure, she heard Karen oohing and aahing over the pix on my tiny phone. She looked around the busload of people, then asked me, "Would you mind sending me some of your photos? This is a once in a lifetime trip and I'd love some shots for the memories."

They were in her email before she got back to the hotel. Now that's the power of iphoneography.

I double exposed a hymnal sheet with a shot of the St. Francis church and added texture in IRIS.

I used Artista Oil, Artista Sketch, and Pic Grunger to create a fresco look in this photo of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus.

ProHDR, Camera + and texture from ?Iris maybe to enhance the fragility of land and lifetimes.

Dare To Break The Rules With Your iPhone

2011-05-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

I love attending the Merrie Monarch hula festival and competition. It's sort of an annual Hula Olympics if you will. As the official photographer for our Halau (hula school or group), I used my "big girl" cameras to document the event each time we participated. And along with the documentation, I got to take loads of artsy pictures - slow shutter speed motion blurs being my favorites.

This year we did not go to Hilo for the competition - not enough young girls nor the substantial amount of funds to make it happen. So I was resigned to watching the 3 night extravaganza on television. This is no hardship, as you can actually see much better when the cameras are zoomed in on each group than when sitting in the stadium in person. Alas, no smell of flowers, no thrum of excitement in the crowd, and no photos. Or so I thought.

Karen Messick, a digital diva in a class by herself (see link to her iphoneography site in my links) took some photos off her TV of the royal wedding. She apped them beautifully. And that got me to thinking....

I fired up my iPhone 4 and began shooting the Merrie Monarch on my flat screen TV mostly with the Slow Shutter Cam app. I shot tons of photos. And loved a lot of them.

Then another great photo master, Tony Sweet, (see link to his site on Visual Artistry in my links) told me about a cool new site called Zapd - where you can create and upload a blog in minutes from your iPhone. It was love at first site. (Although to be a little picky, it crops to a square format, so I'm going to ask them if it might be possible to have one that is a rectangle.)

I uploaded several of my hula motion shots to Zapd - Click here to view the gallery. It took me just minutes. Most the photos were apped only with the Slow Shutter Cam app, with a little optimizing in IRIS app. Two were "painted" with the new Autopainter app. It's obvious which ones. Check them out and let me know what you think. Be sure to download the Zapd free app - what a great way to share vacation photos or family events quickly and elegantly.

As we say in Hawai`i: A`a i ka hula. Dare to dance. And dare to break all the photo "rules".

iPhone Guest Gallery: Other Realities

2011-05-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Exploring other realities, the world just outside our ordinary view, has long been a theme in my photography. Which is why I am so excited about these most recent submissions to iPhone Diva. These iPhoneographs are incredibly inspiring, allowing a glimpse into three distinct parallel universes. Enjoy!

Robin Robertis shares her most recent photo art piece entitled "Sisters". I'm waiting to hear which apps and will update this post as soon as I know. Right now, I'm just loving the image.

Shock my pic app enhances Brian Kavanaugh Jones's unexpected (and very cool) perspective in this photograph.

Duncan Berry's offering showcases the Average Camera app, which is one of my new favorites. It shoots a number of shots during which you can move the camera and create multiple exposure art. Love the enigmatic feel of this piece.

Ten Reasons To Make The iPhone Your Main Camera

2011-04-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

1. The best camera is the one you have with you. The shots that I used to miss when I left my big girl camera at home or in the trunk of my car remain embedded in my brain. And while neurochromes (as photo wizard John Barclay refers to mind-only pictures) make for wonderful memories, I sure wouldn’t mind having a few of the ones that got away. My iPhone is always with me.

2. The iPhone is completely non-threatening for people photography. Sure, you still ask for permission, but hardly anyone will say no to a tiny little phone. And you can email them the photo so that they have it before they get home. How cool is that?

3. The learning curve is blessedly flat. If you can download an app (or someone can download it for you), you can optimize or artify your photos I swear that with every new version of Photoshop, I feel like I’m going back to college for a new advanced degree. I love it, but it is daunting. The iPhone apps are so intuitive that I can just jump right in.

4. You don’t need to carry around a computer, card reader or cords, extra batteries and cards, lenses, etc. etc etc. (Although an iPad is very handy for working your images in a size that you can actually SEE.) There are apps where you can share photos between these devices in moments using wifi or bluetooth.

5. It weighs NOTHING!

6. You can share photos almost instantly via email, Facebook, Twitter, and more - usually directly from within the app you are working in.

7. The apps are so cheap you can’t afford not to have them. And so many of them are FREE! I have over 150 camera apps - I’ve spent less than 1/10 the amount it costs to purchase Photoshop on them. That’s without plugins!

8. You can make art in the moment. And you need never be irritated or upset again about having to wait in line at Costco or at the doctor’s office. I now see these little inconveniences as art breaks and actually look forward to them. No joke.

9. New ideas are stimulated about things you can do with photos in Photoshop, should you be unable to give up your DSLR or Point and Shoot. As my handsome photographer hubby, Dewitt Jones, says, “The iPhone is a great visual sketchpad.” (Watch for his new ebook on iPhone photography coming very soon to all major ebook stores.) Personally, I’d still ditch the big girl / big boy cameras. You know you have enough photo files to work on til the end of time.

10. You can do more than you dreamed of with the apps and more are flooding into the app store everyday. I foolishly tried to catalog all my photo apps with corresponding images to organize visually what they all do. It was a fool’s errand, as everything changed again in a week. Live and learn. I swear that my iPhone can do more than my CS5 with all my Photoshop Wow presets, Nik software, onOne software, Topaz plugins, Imagenomic, and so on. (Though I love them all dearly.)

11. You can work on an image and talk on the phone at the same time. Artistically, however, I do not recommend this. In fact, it irritates me when my camera rings. Don’t they know I’m making art? I turn off my ringer so as not to break my concentration.

Okay that’s 11, but close enough. I’ll see you all out on the photographic trail. I’ll be the one with a teeny, tiny camera bag - it once doubled as my eyeglass case. Actually, it WAS my eyeglass case.

Content Aware Fill - There's An App For That

2011-04-22T23:32:00.000-07:00

Yep. iPhone Diva has a new look. Every once in awhile, we all need a makeover, and this site was due. I hope you like it.

I have been on the fast track of learning in iPhoneography this past few months, thanks to an incredible group of iPhone fanatics who share their best with grace and humor. (Lots of humor). Expect to see lots of new apps and arty permutations in the upcoming months.

Some posts will be highlighting apps and what they do. Some may just be sharings of some cool iPhone photos. Some will illuminate some iPhoneography "pros" and how you can learn more from them.

This blog post concerns a terrific app called TouchRetouch. Adobe Photoshop CS5 users will be familiar with content aware fill. Basically, it takes out unwanted stuff like telephone wires and intelligently creates a 'fill' to keep the coherence of the photo.

Okay, photos are better than words. Check out the first image. Dewitt and I were hiking and came upon an old car, or rather the last remnants of a car. No roof, no seats or doors, hard to tell it was even an automobile, except for the gas gauge and instrument panel open to the elements.

I snapped a shot, but as you can see there's a huge white blob in the upper left and an annoying wire coming across the left of the gauge. Still, I loved the colors and textures of the rusted metal.

I selected the offending areas in TouchRetouch with the lasso tool and then asked it to work. The result below is amazing. I actually think it is magic.
To finish the photo, I sharpened it in Perfect Photo (my fave for sharpening and a whole lot more) and added PicGrunger for an antique look.
The grunge turned out to be a little too much for my taste; after all it's already grungy and old. So I backed it off and I like the rendition below best.

Flying High With the iPhone

2011-04-08T14:34:00.001-07:00

My pal, surfing instructor, and renowned Photoshop guru Jack Davis was flying high with his iPhone the other day and sent these terrific captures. He used apps
Instagram and ProHDR.

He calls this little portfolio: "What to do when you can't get a window view - steal someone else's!"

Bird of Paradise Appstravaganza

2011-03-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

I love to photograph our tropical flowers, especially the Bird of Paradise. And the iPhone apps make it possible to show them off in myriad ways. Here are four appstravagant views.

This shot was antiqued and framed in one of my favorite apps called Infinicam.

I turned this shot into a sketch with Artista Sketch app and combined it with the original in Iris app.
This shot was grunged and optimized in Iris and the lettering layer is courtesy of the FotoMuse app.

I shot a couple different frames of these birds with the Hipstamatic app using Dreamcanvas and John S. (Dreamcanvas gives the cool border effect.) I punched up the saturation in Photoforge. Then I combined the two shots in DXP. This is one of my favorites. But stayed tuned - the bird of paradise plants in my garden are always blooming. And new apps are out for photographers every day!

Off To The Picture Show: Picture Show App and More

2011-03-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Diane Rupnow shares a wonderful and inspiring double exposure. Here's how she did it:
"I took the pic of my kamaka uke on my phone. The layered image is palm tree bark. Apps used were dxp, Fotomuse, Iris (to slightly bump up saturation), and crop n frame."

And Jack Davis, our Photoshop guru and artist beyond compare shows off the new, improved Pictureshow app. Here's his take on it:

"PictureShow has been "updated" (major understatement!;) and now has added to it's already prolific arsenal, Cropping, HDR Effects, Tilt Shift selective blur, and Presets!!!"

He shares a couple teaser images with us below. I can't wait to explore this app in more depth. In my spare time, of course. Let's all go play with PictureShow and see what we come up with.

iPhoneography to the Max

2011-03-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, photo friends, iPhone Diva is back. I went on retreat for a couple of months, but my little phone/camera has been smokin'! I got invited to join a group of extremely talented iPhone (and all camera) photographers and my creativity has gotten a real infusion. Kind of like getting a drink of water from a fire hose.

Now I'm ready to share some of that inspiration - and to share the websites and blogs of these amazing professionals who teach iPhone photo art workshops as well as normal photo workshops. And of course, there'll be amazing new apps to showcase!

A lot of my new photo pals are very versed in an app called Hipstamatic. (Brian Kavanaugh Jones has been our afficionado on iPhone Diva - check out earlier posts for some of his amazing work.) Hipstamatic has a number of optional film/lens combos that you can buy from within the app for extra versatility. And you can mix and match film choice, lens choice, and flash if you like. When I discovered that, I bought my new favorite combo called Salvador and Dreamcanvas (referring to surrealist Salvador Dali.) Here are my very first shots taken with the combo looking down from a Waikiki highrise to the lagoon below. I love the look here.

Agave Dreams

2010-12-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

I love agave plants. And not just because some of them are responsible for tequila. I love their beauty, their form, and their succulence. And I love having them in the garden as subjects for photography and celebration. The other day I worked an iPhone photo of one plant with some of my favorite apps.

This one I believe was worked in Tiffen Cool FX app.

As was this one.
I got the texture from IRIS. If you don't have this app, drop everything right now and get it. You won't be sorry.
Then I did some color adjustments in some app, forget which one, and did the three photos in an app called Diptic - another must have.
Variation on a theme with differnt color - deeper saturation.
Finally added text and border effect in FotoMuse.

Sunset with the iPhone

2010-11-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

Brian Kavanaugh Jones does sunset with his iPhone. Check out these two great images.

And during our last couple of photo seminars here on Molokai, we were treated to some pretty great sunset action down in the Kapuaiwa palm grove. (Taken by me, iPhone Diva. Processed with ProHDR app.

Head In The Clouds and iPhone Too

2010-10-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

Brian Kavanaugh Jones has been traveling a lot lately. Time on airplanes, in highrise hotels and the like. He has his head in the clouds - and is capturing the view on his iPhone. The results are a cut above. Enjoy.

Summer at The Lake iPhone Style

2010-10-01T17:08:00.001-07:00

Jon Leland shares some of his iPhone art photos from Lake Tahoe. See if you can guess the apps!

Finding the Muse in a Flower, Foto Muse That Is

2010-09-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Judy Norton, one of our iPhone Divas, has done it again. Here is her straight shot of a rose on the iPhone 4. It's a nice shot. But iPhone Divas can't leave it alone. So using apps FotoMuse and PicMix, she worked it.

She worked this beautiful rose, too, with equal success.
This final image is a combo: blue flowers from Hawaii, a dead crab from her beach, and rain drops on a lake. Stunning.

India by iPhone

2010-09-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

Robin Robertis, our favorite globetrotting iPhone Diva, captured the multilayered melange that is India - in photo art on her phone! Apps included You Gotta See This, Diptic, Toonpaint, and FotoMuse. Namaste!

iPhone Photo Smorgasbord

2010-08-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

Brian Kavanaugh-Jones shares some of his latest. He used only one app to create all this artwork: camera bag. I seriously need to revisit this app!

Jack Davis Says: Ya Gotta See This

2010-08-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

My dear friend and reknowned Photoshop guru Jack Davis, author of the Photoshop Wow books and all kinds of DVD's and cool stuff has graciously contributed some iPhone pix for our viewing pleasure. The app featured below is called aptly enough "Ya Gotta See This". Sadly, it only works on the iPhone 4, so those of us who are anxiously awaiting the end of our contracts will suffer delayed gratification. Those who have the new phone will likely want to download it immediately.

Recently, Jack was teaching a workshop near Los Osos, California, which is close to San Simeon and Hearst Castle. I guarantee you've never seen Hearst Castle quite like this. Enjoy!

Going for my Collage Degree

2010-08-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

The iPhone Diva is hooked on collaging. Here are some random collages using either Collage or Montage to combine a series of images, or the same image resized over and over. Other apps used to enhance the final image are listed with each photo.

Picmix was used to layer color and black and white image and repaint the color back in in this shot combining prismatic view of Mono Lake tufas with a butterfly. Don't ask why, I just felt like it.

This is one of my favorite trees. I photograph it over and over. (It's on Papohaku Beach on the island of Molokai). Each tree image was worked in a number of apps, including Vihgo, Camera Bag, and Photogene. There may be others I can't remember.

At last, a simple one. Various rose images, turned black and white with tiffen's photofx. The sepia tone and edges are from the Burnt Paper filter in Art Camera app.

A multitude of butterflies, some inverted in Art Camera. Final touch was the Picasso filter in Art Camera app. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Paris Re View

2010-07-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

iPhone artist Jon Leland was also in Paris this summer with his lovely bride Karen. He shares the following images from his trip: ToonPaint app figured in prominently in many of these images. Vive la France! Enjoy!

Romance de Paris

2010-07-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

iPhone Diva here, finally over jet lag and joyfully going through images from a trip to Europe. The Dude and I were strolling along a boulevard on the Isle St. Louis in Paris when we happened upon a newly married couple and their photographer. We smiled knowing that he was working to get rid of all the distracting elements on the street to isolate their special moments.

Later, we were meandering, looking down at people picnicking along the Seine, when along came our bride! (yes, we began thinking of her as our bride by then. I snapped a shot with my iPhone.

As usual, I began to work with my apps. I used a new one called Timeless Photo to tone and edge this portrait.
This is another version using Timeless Photo. I like the feel of this.

An edgier, more avant garde rendition was the result of an app recommended by my friend and Photoshop guru, Jack Davis: addLib.

Cannes Do Photography, iPhone Style

2010-06-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

Brian Kavanaugh Jones attended the Cannes film festival in the South of France recently. (Yes, it was work!) He did have a chance to snap and work some iPhone shots. The four waterfront views are the same view worked with various apps - see if you can guess which apps he used - all of them have been featured here on iPhone Diva at one time or another. I like all four permutations.

These final three photos are unique Cannes moments. Enjoy.

When A Flower Is More Than A Flower

2010-05-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

Sister iPhone Diva Judy Norton created these beautiful images. Here's how she did the first one:

"In Fl we have a tree called the orchid tree; although it has no relation to what we know as orchids, the flower may look similar to some species. In this case the flower was deep pink. I coupled it in DXP with palmetto fronds and then played around with it in Ezimba. Love that app!"

About this second photo, she says:
"More messing around with Ezimba and a sunflower. I can't remember the order, 'cause once I start playing, I don't always remember where I've been."

Really? Gee, I always remember where I've been. NOT!!!

Inside A Cat's Brain

2010-05-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

Today's collage was created by the Digital Dude: my handsome hubby Dewitt Jones. He call's it "Inside Po's Brain". Our cat, Po, is a rescue cat and there are a few synapses that don't quite fire all the time. Like if we leave the room and she can't see us, she starts crying as if her little heart might break. It's a reverse game of peek-a-boo. If she can't see us, we're gone. So we have to yell out, "We're here, Po. We haven't left." And she calms right down. This photo may be closer to photojournalism, come to think of it.

Collage # 5 from iPhone Diva

2010-05-16T17:02:00.001-07:00

Here's the latest collage using Montage, FotoMuse, ArtCamera apps and a new cool app called TouchUp painting in an embossed look to part of the collage. You can bet I'll be doing more with this app, lots more.

Collages # 3 and 4

2010-05-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

Lightning Rose apps were Montage, Photo Studio, and Vihgo.

Ghost Trees apps were Montage, Photo Studio, Art Camera, Photogene.

iCreated Collage # 2

2010-05-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

My new goal is to create at least one collage per day on my iPhone and upload it here as well as to the iCreated online gallery, If you don't have this app (iCreated), download it. The art that people make with their phone is inspiring and gets those creative juices flowing. You can choose if you want to upload your own art photos or just browse the amazing images others are showcasing in the gallery. So here is last night's collage. I made it instead of watching American Idol. (Well, I taped it, of course. I'm not crazy.) I call this one Butterfly Blues. Apps used were Vihgo, Montage, FotoMuse, and Pic Grunger.

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose

2010-05-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

I love collaging and multiple exposure photos. Always have, always will. Here's my latest iPhone photo art using Collage, Art Camera, Vihgo, and DXP apps. And I downloaded an app called iCreated a while back with a gallery of cool iPhone art. Very inspiring. This is the first photo I have uploaded to their online gallery - won't be the last. Check it out!

Same Apps, Different Day; Two iPhone Artist Views

2010-05-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

Brian Kavanaugh Jones's latest urban life vignettes with Hipstamatic and Toonpaint apps:

And Robin Robertis is back using DXP and Juxtaposer to create these wonderful images. She says her new puppy dog inspires her (last photo).

Urban Landscape and Floral Fantasy

2010-05-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Brian Kavanaugh Jones does it again with an LA urban landscape rendered in Toonpaint. And in a departure from our usual iPhone format, here is Carol Robinson's SX70 photo of orchids, scanned and worked in Photoshop.

Surreal iPhone Art

2010-04-27T14:29:00.001-07:00

Brian Kavanaugh Jones loves photographing buildings and the urban landscape. Using fave apps hipstamatic and ToonPaint, here are his latest. Enjoy.

Shooting From the Hip With Hipstamatic

2010-04-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

Brian Kavanaugh Jones shares his latest iPhone art photo images shot with Hipstamatic app and worked in Toonpaint app. Way cool.

Multiplicity and iPhone Synchronicity

2010-04-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Just like with my "big girl" photography, I can be seduced by a particular area and want to explore it more deeply. As my friend (and amazing photographer) Rik Cooke asks "What's turning your head?" For me on this day, it was exploring deep, vivid hues with a spiritual bent to the multiple exposure images. DXP and Brushes were the apps.

iPhone App Art Smorgasbord

2010-03-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Diva Lucy Lamkin chose three of her favorite apps to showcase here. They are fun and easy apps to play with - the only downside is that the app has the control rather than the artist. Of course, that could be an upside too. Not everyone likes to spend 20 minutes creating one image on her iPhone like I do.

As my friend and photoshop guru always asks "Is it a bug or a feature?" Depends on your point of view.

This app is called Photo Sketch - I never thought of using it with portraits. I did trees in snow most recently with it. This is a whole new take on the app.

PaintMee seems to lay down thick oil paint to create a photo painting out of any photo. I really like the wave.

Gasp, a photo app I don't own! PhotoTropedelic renders images into 60's Peter Maxx like pop art. The two women came out very interesting.

Taking It Slow With The iPhone

2010-03-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

Sister Diva Judy Norton shares her latest iPhone art photos using Slow Shutter app. She photographed prayer flags in a strong breeze for the first photo and the same strong breeze moved these Hawaiian dresses on the laundry line to create a lovely abstract in photo #2. Photoforge app was used to lighten and optimize the final images.

Art That is Just Glowing

2010-03-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Digital Dude , aka my handsome hubby Dewitt Jones, introduced sme to a new app - yes, I know I have more than my iPhone can hold, but I fervently believe you can never have too many apps. This app is called GlowMe. It places a glow around the lines of your photo. While some apps have a glowing lines filter, this one not only gives a neon tube look to the lines, it seems to supersaturate the image. And it's very cool. Check these out:

Beachin' iPhone Art

2010-03-07T14:31:00.001-08:00

Here is a haunting series of beach images (and more) created by Brian Kavanaugh-Jones on his iPhone. Apps he used were Camera Bag, HDR, and Hipstamatic. Enjoy - I did.

Metamorphosis Through iPhone App DXP

2010-02-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

Still exploring transformation and metamorphosis through butterflies with DXP combining multiple images. These are the latest. I feel like I'm onto something. Maybe not, but then again, maybe......

Butterflies and Transformation iPhone Style

2010-02-17T10:19:00.001-08:00

Butterflies (and occasionally by extension, moths) are endlessly fascinating to me. I love to watch them. I love their energy (more floaty and serene than say hummingbirds.) And I love the mythic symbolism of transformation.

So I have embarked on my own exploration of transformation in the butterfly realm with my iPhone with these three images.

I ran a sink of water for dishwashing and answered a lengthy phone call. Upon my return, I found this moth had fallen into the soapy water and drowned. So I did what any humanitarian photographer would do - I took her picture. I used one of the filters in the Photo Studio app - can't remember which one, maybe sepia tone.

I took a photo of a butterfly, applied Toonpaint, and aged it in Pic Grunger.
I took the Toonpainted butterfly and combined it in DXP app with a Toonpainted photo of a mask to get this image.

In Toon with Toonpaint and Urbanity Revealed

2010-02-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

Digital Diva Robin Robertis is at it again - she is using Toonpaint to make a recognizable scene new to us.
Check out these three images from across the pond.

And here's how she did them in her own words
image inToonpaint then
Layered in dxp with orginal pict.
To bring some color back
Over and over n over

Fun fun fun.

Then she pushed the artistic envelope with these two images, done the same way.

Brian Kavanaugh-Jones was also traveling and created these gritty urban scenes with Hipstamatic app. All of these images illuminate why the iPhone is now my favorite of cameras. (And I have a lot of cameras.)

Spotlight on Toonpaint and Hipstamatic

2010-01-30T18:07:00.001-08:00

This moody shot was taken and enhanced by Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, our son. He used an app new to me called Hipstamatic. He calls it "Crazy Light on Snow". I love it.

Digital Diva Robin Robertis has been at it again using Toonpaint iPhone app. I downloaded it as soon as I saw her images. Sort of Roy Lichtenstein meets Shockmypic with a little Marvel comics thrown in.

The Buddha image below completely wowed me. Here's Robin's recipe for the manipulation:
Pict taken into ToonPaint,

Filterforge for levels and sharpening. Classic FX to adjust temperature. Save image. Start again with saved image by choosing day filter in Classic FX. Bring both versions into Juxtaposer to bring out colors.
Back into filter forge to auto enhance, oil painting, again in watercolor. Back into Juxtaposer to bring out a texture I like.

AppBerrant Behavior or Unnatural Acts with my iPhone

2010-01-14T15:56:00.000-08:00

This multiple exposure image begins with a shot of ti leaves mushed with GooeyFaces to a Georgia O Keefe style abstract (see this photo at Digital Diva / Digital Dude). I then combined it with a butterfly photo and a straight photo of ti leaves using DXP app with the difference blend mode.

I shot a wooden door that had a cutout of moon and star, lightened it in Photogene app to use it as an element in multiple exposure images. I combined it with several textural shots of grasses and weeds in DXP app using the difference blend mode to give the turquoise and deep magenta colors. The edgy framing is from Edgepix, an app no longer available sad to say. It is a combo of two different framing options.
This multiple exposure image combines a photo of a clear, plastic dragonfly with photos of a gong, a wood paneled wall, and grasses. DXP was the app. Frame is from Ezimba app.

Merry Appsmass and Appy New Year

2009-12-30T16:01:00.000-08:00

Thanks to dear friend and Photoshop Guru, Jack Davis, for the great 3 bears iPhone cartoon below:

And fabulous Digital Diva, Robin Robertis, shares her zen holiday tree with us all. (Looks like a little Pic Grunger app involvement.)

Inspired by the season, I used Photo Sketch on a shot of snowy everygreens, then added a fun touch with iPhone app called Confetti.

Meanwhile, Jon Leland shot this gorgeous sunset photo of a labyrinth, which we can see so well thanks to the TrueHDR app.

Appy New Year to all - keep shooting and sharing.

iPhone Tribute to Klimt

2009-12-21T18:48:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Digital Divas, Robin Robertis, has done it again. Check out her latest images.

This first one is her tribute to Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. Here's how she did it:

Taken with timelapse
Tweaked in filterforge With sharpen
Gave it a cool texture
Pulled in fx for color tweak
Colorsplash to take some color out
Took pict of some Klimt plates
Then used iclarity
Combined them in Juxtaposer
Framed by tape in photogene....

This bath shot was taken by timelapse
tweaked in FX and thrown into Pic Grunger....

This bath shot was created the same way minus the Pic Grunger.

Bird of Paradise iPhone Photo Art

2009-12-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

I took this photo of a bird of paradise bloom, backlit by the morning sun. The iPhone does a pretty good job. It's not a fabulous photo, though - mottled light on the grass in the background, not too interesting. But thanks to one of my preferred apps, Vihgo, I was able to turn it into a more artistic rendition. Paradise indeed.

This is either pencil or sketch filter in Vihgo. They are similar in effect - I check out both with a photo and pic the most pleasing effect for that particular shot.

I took the shot and applied the Xray filter (which is basically inverting it). It came out dark, so I opened the image in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) and lightened the exposure for a more pleasing image. It doesn't look "real" but those of you that know me by now realize that is hardly a problem. My friend Jack Davis of Photoshop WOW fame would say that "It's a feature, not a bug."

I believe that this is the Impression filter effect in Vihgo. Sigh, sometimes I work so fast and am so lost in the imagery that I do forget how I got to my photo art destination. Mea culpa, mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.

Thanks iPhone Style

2009-12-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

iPhone diva extraodinaire Robin Robertis created this terrific collage thank you card. She used my favortie double exposure app: dxp after she took a photo of some textured paper. She used Ransom app for the type.

DXP with various blend modes created this collage and Photogene provided the frame.

Digital Photo Art Fest With iPhone and More

2009-12-01T14:47:00.000-08:00

We have an embarrassment of riches shared in this post of the Digital Diva - iPhone art and digital photo art.

One of my fave iPhone photo buddies, Robin Robertis. shot this image on a recent trip to Japan. Here's how she did it:
pic is of a canvas bag i saw in tokyo
taken 1st into Perfectly Clear
then Photoforge and sharpened, then simulated HDR
topped off in Photogene for the taped corners ;)

And she took this amazing image - I love it! Here's her best recollection of the process and apps:
a color tweak in photoforge ?
and a frame in Photogene...
and a texture might have been pic grunger.

Lucy Lamkin created this wonderful piece - she wishes she could remember just what apps and how she did it. For now, we'll just enjoy it!

Rik Cooke, a frequent contributor of great art to the Digital Diva shot this photo of the recycling area at his retreat center home. This was NOT shot on the iPhone, but on his big boy camera. HDR and Topaz helped him get this amazing look.

Buddha Full iPhone Photo Art

2009-11-24T22:25:00.001-08:00

I found a wooden Buddha on the lanai at Hui Hoolana in Molokai, Hawaii, where Jack Davis and my hubby, Dewitt Jones, taught Photoshop for the Soul this month. Using my favorite collaging apps DXP and Brushes, I combined images for these Buddha full pix.

App Earances May Be Deceiving

2009-11-16T15:15:00.000-08:00

One of our contributors and a digital diva in her own right, Robin Robertis has been trying some new apps as well as some old faves. Here is a mini gallery of some of her latest work.

Using Shockmypic and FrameMuse, here's her Halloween/Day of the Dead iPhone photo art pix:

She used tiltshiftgenerator to correct for the architecture in London in these two cool pix.

Lastly, we got to play with apps and Photoshop at our Hawaii class with Jack Davis and Dewitt Jones last week - this photo titled "iPhone Buddha" says it all!

iPhone Apps That Blue Me Away

2009-10-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

More collages using DXP, the double exposure app and Brushes where you can also do some cool combining. Here's a blue series that leaves me tickled pink.

Double Explosure

2009-10-11T15:45:00.001-07:00

Using DXP, a double exposure program with blend modes, I manipulated these images. I finished them off with FotoMuse.

Creative Block With an iPhone App

2009-10-08T11:22:00.001-07:00

Cultivating creative block? You bet! One of my favorite apps is called ReNancyKPH. It creates a woodblock print out of a photo - you can choose the color of "ink" for your print, too. A strong graphic works best, otherwise the art just blocks up, pun intended. Here are a couple of examples:

Meeting The Muse - The Fotomuse That Is

2009-10-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

My new favorite app is called Fotomuse. With the right image, it can be evocative, moody, or dreamy. I like the layering effects and the borders. It reminds me of polaroid transfers. Here are my first explorations. (But they won't be my last!)

My Favorite Faux HDR App

2009-09-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range - an overly simple explanation is that you get detail in the shadows and highlights. (For a more complete understanding of HDR check out "Modern HDR photography, a how-to or Saturday morning relaxation" on a blog called Memoirs On A Rainy Day.)

With the iPhone, we can create a sort of faux HDR effect to recover detail in highlighted area (provided there is some info there to recover) and we can add fill light in our shadow areas (again provided there is some info there.)

Here's a shot near Baldwin Beach at Lake Tahoe one evening. Notice how the foreground is dark, without much detail. The iPhone exposed for the sky.

I used the Photoforge app which has an HDR setting that allows you sliders to open shadows and recover highlights. It's okay, but no matter how I move the sliders, it ends up being low contrast. That can be good in some cases, but I want a little more drama in this scene.

Here I use the iFlashReady app to open up the shadows - it has 3 flash fill settings and only works on adding light to the dark. Voila! Now it has the kind of drama I'm looking for. This is my favorite faux HDR tool so far.

Mardi Gras Magic

2009-09-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, Dewitt Jones (my spouse aka the Digital Dude) was bored and procrastinating today also. He found some old images from New Orleans and Photoshop play culminated in this remarkable image. Gotta love that avoidance stuff - gets the creative juices flowing.

I'm a Fan of the iPhone

2009-09-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

I was sitting at my desk, fanning myself, and procrastinating (read avoiding at all costs) doing my work. As I held a fan up toward the light coming through the sliding glass door, I was struck by its transparency. I grabbed my iPhone and took several shots. I chose one and used the burnt paper filter in the app ArtCamera. Artcamera is one of my favorite apps and I keep going back to it. The "old" quality works well with this image.

And I used the Picasso filter in Art Camera to create this look - I like this photo a lot. Sometimes procrastination leads to fascination leads to art.

UnBearably Fun iPhone Art

2009-09-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

Photographer Rikki Cooke is known to his students, fellow pros, and friends as the Aloha Bear. (Check out his blog of the same name). He has been having way too much fun with his iPhone as those of you who've been following this blog can attest. And his latest 'art' just knocks me out! Check these out:

This is one of the first panoramic shots he created on his iPhone using Pano app. Pretty good shot as is!

But then he brought it into Photoshop. Here's his processing in his own words: "I put it in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) where I used the graduated neutral density on the sky and the dodging brush to open up the field. Then Topaz Adjust, then Clean2, Simplify ( but not oil paint, as it didn't work for this image.) Then Topaz sharpen to emphasize the lines, then resize to a larger size 10x34 and Nik's Sharpener Pro with extra sharpening and structure and last a pass through Noiseware. Most of the painting effect was adjusted to taste in Topaz Simplify. And remember all of this is from a phone!" Be sure to click on the panos to see them bigger so you can truly appreciate the changes!

And how did he paint Old Blue - the Toyota Land Cruiser that has carried so many photo students out into the wilds of Moloka`i Hawai`i? Here's his photo path. "Full image from iphone 3g from iphoto, then processing (at same size) in Topaz Adjust, Simplify (most painting to taste) a little emphasis in Clean2, line sharpening in Sharpener, then resize to 15x20 and extra sharpening in Nik's and a pass thru Noiseware. After saving all of this, time to experiment in Sepia B&W. Last image, converted in Nik's Color Efex, then processed in Nik's Silver Efex, with added structure and tinting . Again the richness of this moment was recorded because I had my phone in my pocket as a dutiful husband always on call, actually I could have answered the phone while I was photographing, in the rain yet. Boy are we on to something here?"

This shot he calls "Laundry Basket Buddy." Here's how it came about:

"This is the full original image straight from iphoto. The thing that is different here is that I'm working from the whole iphone image that is about 4mgs, in the past I was working from an email from the iphone, that was about 1/3 the size and I had to enlarge to 1000 pixels to process in Topaz. After cropping and minor touching up and vignetting and full painting processing in Topaz, the final image is 15x20 and sharp. Again all thanks to having a phone in my pocket for that moment when the light happened to be perfect on the Buddha. I could have even been on the phone while I was taking the photo, talk about " multi- tasking"."

And finally, "here is an experiment in sepia after conversion in Nik's color Efex , and then processing in Nik's Silver Efex , Sharpener , Noiseware and done."

Seriously, we are beginning to wonder why we ever shoot with our Big Girl and Big Boy cameras anymore!

App Arition - iPhone Style

2009-09-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Robin Robertis does it again using the iPhone and a skillful blend of apps to create this haunting photo.

Here's how she did it:

"Used high con ( 1 of my 1st apps.... i never use... stupid really... i think)
then brought into FotoMuse and ran a layer on it...
opened it again in FotoMuse and ran the same filter.... is there a add
layer in that app ?
then of course back into Photogene for the tape on the edges."

Making Magic Photo Art With the iPhone

2009-09-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Rikki Cooke sends this colloborative iPhone digital art photo co-created with artist Lucy Lamkin. Here is the original iPhone photo which Rikki refers to as "dog doo" (not his exact words but you get the drift.)

The image was then brought it into Photoshop and they made the following adjustments: Sky adjusted with targeted adjust tool in ACR, areas around house and tree opened with dodge brush, then opened in photoshop and sized to 1000 pixel. Then visit Topaz Adjust, then Topaz Simplify and oil painting,then Topaz Veracity Sharpen, then size up to 8x10 in PCS4, then sharpen with added "structure" in Nik's Sharpener pro and save and done. Lucy then did some final adjusting of her own. WOW!

Art In His Life - Rikki Cooke Does It Again

2009-09-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

Pro photographer Rikki Cooke, also known as The Aloha Bear, has photographed a series he calls "Art In My Life" over many years. With his iPhone, he's gone to a whole new level of art in his life. He shot this image of his "Crocs" on the iPhone.

He then downloaded the image to his computer where he used Topaz Labs amazing Photoshop filters to create this extraordinary view of his ordinary shoes. Remember we can use apps to manipulate our photos, but we don't have to stop there! There are no limits when you're making art!

iPhone to Da Max

2009-08-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

This amazing iPhone photo was a collaborative effort between photographer Rikki Cooke and Brett James. Brett emailed the original photo of "Thailer sleeping in blind" to Rik, who then proceeded to process it. He explains below:

"Shot on iphone and processed from email, then Topaz , Nik's filters, Silver effects, Sharpener, Noiseware and printed 15x20. All from a phone? Loved Sierra work!"

Who says you can't print 'em big from the iPhone?

A Bouquet of iPhone Apps

2009-08-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

On my Menopause Goddess Blog, I've written about my midlife attention span shortening. I find myself flitting from thought to thought, project to project, like a butterfly flits from flower to flower.

I think iPhone apps actually encourage this trait - by offering so many delightful options and possibilities that I just can't help myself. Given that, here is my latest "flitting" in iPhone photography.

This shot of a butterfly on a daisy was taken across the street in my neighbor's yard. No manipulation yet.

Next I flitted to Photoforge to "paint" with my finger. I then added the Color Comic filter from an app called Cinema FX.

After saving the painted image, I went into Cinema FX again and added the a filter called Surveillance Cam. Interesting.

Finally, I added a filter called Japanese Memory, also in the Cinema FX app. I probably like the painted image best, but they all work for me.

The Digital Dude (my husband Dewitt Jones) and I are heading up to the High Sierra and White Mountains for the week - hope to have lots of fun, new images upon our return.

Modern Art iPhone Style

2009-08-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

Jon Leland shares his latest iPhone art project with us - using his current fave app Layers.

Sweet Dream Baby - An iPhone "Portait"

2009-08-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

My friend Jon Leland created this piece of art on his iPhone of actress Marissa Ingrasci. Her father came up with the title "Sweet Dream Baby". Jon used the Layers app, which I just downloaded. Can't wait to play with it! He says it is like digital fingerpainting on a photo on his iPhone and "good fun."

Sketch As Sketch Can - A Cool iPhone App

2009-08-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

iPhone artist extraordinaire Robin Robertis sends us two images made with iPhone app Photosketch. Check these out!

Agave Every Which Way But Loose

2009-07-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

I love shooting agave in our garden or next door at Hui Hoolana during a photography workshop. And of course, I have to shoot with my iPhone these days. Here is the unworked image and a number of permutations using iPhone apps.

The Straight Shot

This was done using the Burnt Paper effect in Art Camera, which is one of my favorite apps.

This is Frost - another effect in Art Camera.

Mea culpa, mea culpa - I can't remember which pencil sketch app I used for the two sketches below - I like the colored one a lot.

This app is called ReNancy KPH and makes a block print out of a photo - only works with strong graphic images - I like the effect here very much.

Here I inverted the image using Art Camera again - invert can look weird or cool depending on the image - I like it here.

And the piece de resistance? I used Symmetry app to make the following - and got the black frame from some app........

The Apple of Our iPhones

2009-07-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Robin Robertis has done it again - created a spectacular image using a simple subject matter. She used iRetouch on this photo of an apple - I love it.

Photo Paintings in Photoshop

2009-07-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Jack Davis of the Photoshop WOW books developed a painting technique in Photoshop that is really cool. My hubby, photographer Dewitt Jones refined the technique further, and I "painted a couple of columbine blossoms that I shot on the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk. Here they are. (The technique is a bit complicated - best way to learn it would be from Jack and Dewitt themselves - just so happens they are teaching an "invitational" week in Hawaii at Hui Hoolana retreat center November 7 -13. They gave me permission to invite readers of the Digital Diva. (Must be conversant with Photoshop.) Contact rrobertis@mac.com for details or to register.)

Scott Kelby Photowalk 2009 Lake Tahoe

2009-07-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, did the Scott Kelby photowalk this past Saturday - huge fun. And I actually took some pix with a camera other than my iPhone! The best part is getting out and hanging out with other photographers. The walk was hosted by one of my favorite professional photographers Jim Stamates. One of these days, I'm going to go on one of his Costa Rica photo excursions!

More images can be found at new site that I share with my hubby, Dewitt Jones: Digital Diva / Digital Dude. Check them out in one of the entries from Monday July 20.

Spirited iPhone Photo

2009-07-20T20:48:00.001-07:00

Robin Robertis has done it again! Check out this amazingly cool iPhone photo.

And here's how she did it:
Photo taken at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club yesterday, tweaked today
after working the all- nighter home.

photogene ( but i forgot what i did ) crop maybe
iflash ready
photoforge use HRD then sharpen
iretouch my new app ( on sale 99 cents by nick Drabovich, love his apps ) used brighten
photoforge use HRD then sharpen
cool fx in color i used the 8mm
edge pix to frame in rough paint edges (old app, dont really like cuz no preview given.... whats with that ? )
or something to that effect .

High On LIfe (and Digital Photography)

2009-07-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

The Diva is back from the High Sierra, where she was breathless from the spectacular scenery (and the lack of oxygen.) These are a few of the images from a week of beauty, peace, and the requisite mosquitoes. All these were shot and manipulated on the iPhone. Someday soon, I'll post some digital pix from cameras other than the iPhone.

Digital Diva is Off to the High Sierra

2009-07-10T11:28:00.001-07:00

I am off to the high Sierra for a week and will be unplugged. So I leave you with this smorgasbord of images to enjoy and guess the iPhone apps. Luckily, my husband, Dewitt Jones, has procured a solar charger for our iPhones, so there should be lots to share upon my return on July 17.

Full Spectrum Self Portait

2009-07-09T15:46:00.001-07:00

My husband, photographer Dewitt Jones, created this self portrait on his iPhone. "I'd never have gotten this photo," he said, "if I hadn't had my iPhone. By the time I would have gone to get a camera, the reflection from our glass front door would have moved away." He snapped the shot, then used Photo Forge to enhance vibrance and contrast, resulting in this mysterious image. The final touch was the addition of a custom frame in the Photogene app.

Self Portrait and More With the iPhone

2009-07-08T21:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, Robin Robertis has done it again - made an iPhone photo into an art form that is truly unique! Here it is - her "recipe" is below, with all the apps she used. This is my new favorite iPhone pic.

"Photo taken is self-portrait
iflashReady
Camera Kit changed in to sepia tone.
Face Melter, to close the eyes and tweak a bit.
Fitler Fordge to use my new fave, the finger tool.

Does anyone know if u can resize that tool ?

PhotoFX using the Day Night ( making blue copy/ layer)
Photogene levels and tweaking the color again ( another copy / layer )
Colorsplash to make another layer

Tryed Photoblend ( doesnt work for me 2 well, or i just dont get it yet )
Juxaposer to blend the layers together

topped of with some texture in Cool FX
and some lights from the Light app

blended again with the finger tool

or something like that...."

Old World Photo from New Tech iPhone

2009-07-07T15:27:00.001-07:00

I love this photo taken by my son, Brian Kavanaugh Jones, on his iPhone while in Prague (yeah,yeah, we should all be so lucky.) He used an app called Camera Bag to enhance the old world feel of this historic city.

Shock-ing iPhone pix

2009-07-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

One of the apps I love is called ShockMyPic. It works particularly well with strong graphic elements. Here are a couple of examples: one is a photo of ferns taken in Kamakou rain forest in Moloka`i, Hawai`i. The other is a sunflower closeup from a few days ago taken on my front porch. (The new iPhone 3GS has improved close focus capability.)

The Art of Holidays - Digital Art That Is...

2009-07-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

Living in a mountain resort town can have its challenges. July 4th in Tahoe is a HUGE weekend for tourism - and we residents can find ourselves a bit overwhelmed by the traffic and the crowds.

This July 4th, we beat the rush. We celebrated on July 3rd! Our dear friends (and amazing realtors) Don and Theresa Souers suggested a picnic on one of our favorite beaches with our respective families.

As usual, Don was cooking, the young people were playing with little Aubrey, Theresa and I were relaxing with glasses of wine, and Dewitt was making art. He found this colorful vinyl playhouse right on the beach and whipped out his iPhone.

After taking the shot, he oversharpened it and ran a faux HDR (high dynamic range) using the Photoforge app. The frame was added in Photogene, using the custom frame option. The end result is a painterly, graphic image. Today, the actual 4th of July, you may not see the playhouse for the people.

The Best iPhone Photo Art So Far

2009-07-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Robin Robertis shared how she took and manipulated yesterday's photo. "
Pict i took was with the old iphone ( just upgraded ! ) with the micro lenz
of our big pepper harvest ( 3 so far ! ) on a satin pillow Background color changed in photogene, then finger smudged in PhotoForge".

And then she sent me this photo, which I think is the best iPhone photo art so far:

Here's how she did it:
"This one is self portrait with timelaspe, color tweaked in CameraKit, then symmetry, then fire by 101 filters ( i think ) then
framed in FrameMuse."

Hot, hot, hot iPhone photo!

2009-07-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Sister Digital Diva Robin Robertis shares this hot iPhone image. Don't know how she did it, don't care because it is so cool. She and I and others are going to Hawaii this Nov. for Photoshop for the Soul, a fabulous workshop with author of the Photoshop WOW books, Jack Davis and National Geographic freelance photographers Dewitt Jones and Rikki Cooke. (There's still room if you are a Digital Diva or Dude (conversant in Photoshop and interested in the art of digital photography) to attend this invitational weeklong workshop- email rrobertis@mac.com for info.)

Double Exposures iPhone style

2009-07-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of combining images and shooting double exposures. So of course I had to try it on my iPhone. This shot combines two images - a tablecloth pattern and a photo of tropical heliconia blossoms.

As with film, and later polaroid transfer and digital images, I overexposed both images before combining them into a final frame. I used the Photogene app, a sort of Photoshop for the iPhone, and then combined the images with an app called BlendPhoto. I finished it up with a frame from Photogene. I like the dreamy look of the finished photograph.

Faux HDR Anyone?

2009-06-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's today's photos highlighting (pun intended) a faux HDR (high dynamic range - which just means detail in highlights and shadows.)

Before iPhone apps "darkroom" stuff:

And here's the same photo after opening shadows with iFlash Ready app.(our faux HDR), then sharpening, saturating, and adding the see through framing in Photogene.

And yesterdays 3 apps were Photogene, Edgepix, and Symmetry. Too cool.

Guess The iPhone Apps!

2009-06-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

Three apps created this photo from a straight shot of the inside of a glass bowl - can you guess which ones? (Answers in next blog posting.)

They’ve Got Me By The Apps: Confessions of an iPhone Slut

2009-06-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

I admit it freely, without guilt or reservation. I am an iPhone slut. I love, love, love my iPhone.

Now, I like that it syncs with my computer calendar and address database. I enjoy having music and movies right there on my phone. It surfs the web beautifully and lets me manage my email, blogs, and social networking accounts. And it is a perfectly good phone, especially now.

But I LOVE it for the apps. (And also now the NEW camera. which figures prominently into the app desire.)

My favorite apps are the photo apps. And yes, I have way too many of them, but I refuse to relinquish a single one. Making art on the iPhone is the digital diva’s latest obsession.

The original image for the above pic was a ratcheted zoom of lily pads in Monet’s Garden in Giverny, where Mark Lissick teaches a fabulous course in the French Countryside. (Co-taught by my photographer husband, Dewitt Jones, one week in 2010.) The iPhone app that gave it the nautiloid appearance is iDroste. I think it was free, but it would be worth paying for!