My Random iPhone Notes. Day #1

Dali Film Stills

 

"Witness" The Line up

Wandering around one of my flicker accounts this weekend (yes I have two) I saw this amazing technique done by flickr member, allstrippeddown. I'm a movie nerd and love taking pics of film stills in some of my favorite movies but it never occurred to me to use my hipstamatic app to do it. The "Dali" lens in combination with the Salvador "Dream Canvas" lens really adds another set of dimensions to this ongoing collection of moments in films that I personally find iconic. The stopping of time reveals many things.

Hipstamatic Lenses (My Faves so Far)

Roboto Glitter

 

 John S.

Bettie XL

Kaimal Mark II

Dali

The Lucifer lens is characterized by deep dark moody purplish tones and I haven't had the opportunity to use it very often. The Dali lens which just came out a few weeks ago is one I'm still getting a handle on. It really pushes the boundaries of the Hipstamatic format translating images and composition to more of an "art" form by using producing random double exposures and deep dreamy tones. You don't get a lot of control here but it's fun just to shoot and see what happens. The least impressive of the lenses in my opinion are the Helga Viking and the Jimmy. I still have yet to understand the look of the Helga Viking. It just doesn't really seem to have a distinct character to me, at least not yet. And the Jimmy lens just makes everything way too yellow for my taste. But I will continue to experiment with both all my favorites of course. And as always I will continue explore the work of other Hipstamatic addicts for inspiration and tips.

Hipstamatic Addict

Different Lenses

Today I bought an iPhone. Not so fast! The 3GS. Not the G4.  The main reason I wanted the iPhone, really the only reason, is the Hipstamatic camera app that includes many retro print filters which I fell in love with months ago. After much research to be absolutely sure the app was not available for my phone and after seeing way too many compelling hipstamatic pics on flickr I knew I had only one choice. Not a hard one to make since I've always loved iPhones anyway but a bit of a challenge with all the G4 hoopla going around making me feel kind of lame for not wanting to run out and get it like everyone else. But the bottom line is, I was not in the mood for disappointment, I am broke and I don't need a G4. But do I need Hipstamtic.

So I coolly made my way over to the AT&T store near my job during lunch this afternoon and bought the last 8gig 3GS they had! Fate? I believe so.  I am loving it. LOOOOVING IT! Okay, how can I explain this to people who don't spend every day taking pictures? I don't know if I can. Basically hipstamatic is the digital equivalent to carrying around a ton of analog camera equipment.  Hipstamatic allows you to change lens, film and frames for variation of analog compositions reminiscent of your old family pictures from the as far back as the 30s. I mean it can look anyway you want it to look but generally the idea around Hipstamatic is to recreate an essentially analog film look.

Again I have to remark on how fucking ironic that is! All these technological advances, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, touch screens and face chats and they make an app that sends you right back in time. I LOVE THAT KIND OF SHIT!!!!

Fun is waiting...

Anyway, I took so many pics when I got home, not to mention the ones I took at work that I had to charge my phone a few hours ago. When that's done, I'll be futzing around with it for few more hours. There's something about old pictures that make me feel all warm and melancholy and indescribable inside. I think that personally, this is the result of a feeling of loss in these times of something, anything sacred. Somewhere in that yellowing, washed out tint, in that haunting vignetting is the remembrance of a feeling, an idea albeit illusive that comforts me, charms me, sets me down.