I’ve had my iPhone for a little over 2 months now and have been experimenting with its photographic capabilities. I love the instant availability the iPhone gives me to be able to snap a picture wherever I am and easily share it via various social channels such as Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook. While the built in camera in the 3Gs is decent and the “touch to focus” functionality is a step closer to the control I’m used to with my digital SLR, the raw images from the iPhone camera ultimately leave a lot to be desired. Unless you’re in bright daylight and are usually a fair distance from your subject, your images end up looking flat.
Clearly one of the greatest strengths of the iPhone is it’s application environment and the thousands of developers busily working to get in on the action and on your phone. Many very talented developers have produced some amazing applications built to take the iPhone’s photographic capabilities to the next level by giving us tools to enhance our images. Some of the favorites are CameraBag, QuadCamera, Best Camera, Toy Camera, and TiltShift Generator. All of these apps are essentially post-processing tools that edit the photos hue, saturation, contrast, exposure (kind of), and maybe offer a couple of other specialized effects like vignetting and framing.
After trying these out and putting them through their paces, I found myself getting frustrated with the fact that these apps are similar enough to want to only use one, but different enough in the style of photos they produce that it’s hard to decide which one to use at any given time.
CameraBag for example gives you style presets such as Helga, Infrared, Fisheye, and Lolo, but with no option to fine tune those styles. Best Camera is from professional photographer Chase Jarvis and features custom, stylistic filters that you can add to an image and then rearrange their order for a little more creative control. That level of customization is really nice and the results generally look good, but again the filters are essentially “hard coded” and lack individual editing control. Best Camera does have amazing social integration with the ability to publish your images to Facebook, Twitter, and to The Best Camera community.
After more experimentation and an inspirational tweet by Kory Westerhold, I came across the magical combination of using TiltShift Generator and Mill Colour. TiltShift Generator is an app that at it’s core gives you tools to simulate the look of tilt-shift photography, but as you experiment with the controls you can easily move beyond the typical “miniature” look that’s synonymous with a tilt-shift lens. What I love about this app is that it helps simulate a stronger depth-of-field than the native “touch to focus” feature gives you and you can also get creative in where that focal point exists. From there the app provides color editing for saturation, brightness, and contrast which, regardless of being only 3 sliders, can dramatically alter the look of your photo. Lastly you have a slider for adding a vignette and then the option to save your photo to the photo library or export (I presume to twitter, but I’ve never used it).
At this point I move the photo over to Mill Colour, which I’m convinced is one of the best image/photo apps available on the iPhone. Plus, it’s free. Mill Colour is a color grading application built by the ridiculously talented people at The Mill. I usually start with one of the color presets and then adjust the saturation, lift, gamma, and gain from there. These kinds of tools are what professional color graders use in the entertainment industry. Granted, I’m not saying this app and an app like Autodesk Lustre or Apple’s Color are equal, but, in principal, you’re doing the same thing to an image. You’re creating mood.
This image above was done using the TiltShift Generator and Mill Colour combination, but with one additional step of adding a white border using Adobe’s recently released Photoshop Mobile for the iPhone. It’s an interesting app, but I really only use it to crop or add a border like this to my images.
Here are a few more images that I’ve created using this app combination:
The iPhone photography landscape is still coming into focus and these apps are young, but the future looks promising. I do have a couple of wishes such as the ability to save my own presets in Mill Colour and being able to automate my progression through these individual apps would be nice. This last wish I know is a platform issue and not something I see Apple doing anytime soon, but the idea of me being able to string together apps much like I create actions in Photoshop would save me the time it takes to open and close each app. Plus these “application workflows” (for lack of a better term) could be shareable with other iPhone users and promote apps that a user might not own but be enticed to purchase. The more the iPhone becomes a productivity device the more the idea of using multiple apps to accomplish a single goal will become a reality.
Love workflow posts…thanks for sharing.
Great post – thanks. Just bought Mill Colour and Tiltshift Generator as a result, and am going to give them a play. It’s amazing what such a seemingly weeny camera can do with the right software behind it – I particularly like the black and white bar shot.
Phil, well written insight. I´m also a believer of Chase Jarvi´s motto: the best camera is the one you have with you. iPhone camera is far from perfect, but you can use it to express your creativity and capture the moment. As you said, it´s a pity that the “applications workflow” are still pretty nonexistent. Maybe Apple or applications devs can make it better. We shall see.
Dude, not only is your photography brilliant, but your explanation of the apps you use is incredibly helpful. I’ve been experimenting with the Best Camera app, but found it came up short. I’ll definitely be checking out the mill colour and tilt-shift apps you’ve mentioned! Thanks bro.
I also discovered TiltShift Generator a few weeks ago. And I am really impressed with it.
As you say, the problem with most apps is that you don’t have control over some of the results. Frustrating sometimes ….
Mill Colour…. will have to test that one as well. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the detailed wrapup. I’ve been wanting to experiment with more photo apps on my iphone especially after seeing the awesome photos you’ve been posting via twitter.
I have been doing a very similar process lately and in fact challenged myself to take and post one photo every day. Thanks for the tip on the Tilt Shift app… gonna go get that one now!
I’m heading to check out Mill Colour now, but I have been most impressed with the Pano app which allows you to take multiple photos and assembles them into one large panoramic photograph. Very impressive app…check it out.
@Shannon – I’ve heard the Pano app is a good one. I use AutoStitch which does the same thing but in addition gives you the ability to make vertical panoramas.
Nice post and great point about using multiple apps to accomplish goals. (BTW – I dig your work, the story around the illustrations for Simpler-Web was great thinking).
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A workflow with a combiniation with different appz on the iPhone would be wonderfull.
Wow… thanx for the excellent tip… Been playing around with this combo and getting some cool looking pics.
wow, the sample shots look quite amazing … but i’m afraid i won’t be able to reproduce such quality with my iPhone 3G *sigh
Excellent post. I think BestCamera was developed for a similar reason that you are discussing – Chase Jarvis was looking for one app to do the things he was (at the time) doing via multiple apps. What about approaching someone to help you design the app you’re looking for? It sounds like it would be an excellent addition to my iPhone’s photo app page!
Just bought most of these apps…they’re a ton of fun…Is it weird that I’m now emailing photo’s from my computer to my iPhone for post production…sounds lazy and wrong…oh well
Just curious what you, or anyone else, uses to move the photos to Flickr following this work?
@Andrew – I use the Flickr app for the iPhone. The interface for uploading photos is slick and the app in general is solid.
Great post.
The underlying message that everyone is really sending is that we want real lenses with depth of field instead of the single built-in one.
I would trade my eye teeth to be able to instantly throw a background out of focus to better emphasize a portrait shot.
Does anyone have any experience with the clip-on lenses that are out there?
Nobody mentioned Photogene yet? Ah well, my little secret then.
http://www.i-photogene.com/photogene/main.html
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Phil,
Loved this post. In addition to finding out about a couple of new photo apps I left inspired by your images and am off to make a few of my own.
I was wondering if you might throw guys like me a bone (little to no post process nous) a couple of “workflows” that I/we could try?
Not asking for you to give away the farm of course but gamma, hue etc. in in-experienced hands…well it can get sideways pretty quick. Anything you would be appreciated.
I recommend Photogene, too. I find it much more useful than Photoshop for iPhone. However, I didn’t know about Mill Colour. Downloading now. Thanks.
Great article. Even better pictures. Beautiful, in fact.
Another vote for Photogene, very robust fine tuning options with pretty decent interface.
Thanks for the Mill Colour tip, never heard of that one.
Don’t forget about the great photo capture app Camera Genius. Includes zoom, anti-shake, shooting in bursts, guides, timer, and sound capture.
I haven’t used the default camera app since I downloaded Camera Genius.
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Thanks for the tip Phil. I just got the Mill colour this morning. I bought the tiltshiftgen, psmobile and camerabag quite a while ago. Thanks to you inspired photos and the mill colour app, i started to use em again. Wish i had your eye though.
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Great article and great photos! Wow!
Brilliant write-up my friend. I also agree & am a huge Mill Colour fan. All of which apps you mentioned have a group here within Flickr when you can post & promote your creations.
Myself as a beta tester of endless amounts of the iPhone photography apps have had the pleasure of working with most of the apps & truly love what the developers have accomplished.
As for an app you didn’t mention & might not have tried is “PictureShow” it is truly an amazing app & offers many things other do not. I highly suggest giving it a try. As well it has several updates & upgrades that have been submitted & I personally have helped incorporate into all future versions after 1.0. (sizing bug errors fixed in update already submitted & awaiting release). But the amount of amazing new features & functions I have help put forth for PictureShow with the developer are truly great.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=324243655&mt=8
As well an app that is just awaiting approval & comes in a FREE & Paid version is “Retro Camera” Watch this full 5 min absolutely amazing Demo video that in my opinion if it is as awesome as you will see… Will squash the Chase Jarvis “Best Camera” hype into pieces. Have a look, watch in awe a few times & then thank me later…. It’s just that good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuVQHU7vdzg
@ Andrew as for an amazing Flickr uploading app with ease & great functions & features…. “Mobile Fotos” app nothing else is this good. http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284393206&mt=8
Cheers SCW
Hi.. Interesting that you choose to use the Photoshop app for cropping. I’ve always just zoomed and panned an image while viewing it, and when it’s just as I want it I take a screenshot with home+power button, which places it in my camera roll… same result as crop no?
@Mp – That’s not the same as cropping with the Photoshop app. The iPhone camera outputs an image that is 2048 x 1536, so when using the Photoshop app you’re cropping from that size. The capture made by pressing home+power is only 320 x 480, so you end up with a much smaller image.
I’ve just started experimenting in earnest with my iPhone 3Gs, too (the camera on my 1st Gen iPhone was so pathetic I didn’t like using it).
Best Camera and Colour Mill are the two apps I’ve used the most. I also like CameraBag, largely as an adjunct to Best Camera. And for creating custom slide shows directly from the iPhone’s camera roll, I use Slideshow.
Some of my pics are here: http://www.pbase.com/davewyman/iPhonic
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Wow, I think you have created some great shots here. I only have the 3G not ‘S’ but off to see if I can find some of these apps for my version of the iphone, very inspiring post, thanks!
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Brilliant!
Have you ever thought of setting up your own work flow page that shows which app you used to create various images — just like the image at the very top of this post?
I’d use it…email me if you do.
I use Photogene for all of my exposure adjustments then use Photo FX (from Tiffen) for more options… diffusion, ND grads., lens effects and more. I also find Pano a lot of fun.
great article! that’s what iphoneography is all about.
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Fantastic article!
I’ve really fallen in love with the combination of TiltShit App and Mill Colour App. Thanks for this.
This is really a very nice and amazing picture quality.it look as original.I am very excited about this
thanks heaps man!!! i had an iphone but not a really good camera, and when i saw what effects a really good camera can do i was amazed. now my iphone can imitate that until i can afford to get a good camera!
Nice and amazing pictures.
I use 2Mpixels mobile camera (Sony or iphone) for my photographies. I love the imperfection, the poetry of this camera.
Mine are resize in square format.
thanks for this article. Very good
This was a great informational post. I have a 3G but will upgrade to a 3GS in January when I am eligible for an upgrade. I really want the video capability. That said, even though it’s only 2MP, I have really enjoyed my little camera for the imperfect photos I get…it gives me the feel of having one of those instamatic or toy cameras of old. (I really have a thing for that.) TiltShift Generator is definitely an app that I’m wanting to get, and I love CameraBag and Photoshop Mobile. Also Camera Kit. I’ve loved playing around with multiple effects across multiple apps. I just downloaded Mill Colour, and once I get TiltShift I will be trying your tips; those photos look awesome.
It’s great to see iPhone photography posts get such an enthusiastic response – clearly lots of people love it! If you don’t mind I’d like to take the opportunity to link to my very similar post from a few weeks ago which covers 4 of my favourite apps. I meant to write more but haven’t got round to it yet:
http://www.myglasseye.net/news/2009/10/these-are-a-few-of-my-favourite-iphone-photo-apps-part-1/
Includes a detailed look at Tiltshift Generator which I’ve been into since it came out. All his apps are great. I’ve not heard of Mill Colour but sounds to me like the aspect it lacks (ability to save colour settings) is something EffectsLab incorporates – check it out, perhaps! I haven’t yet but I keep meaning to.
Thank you very much for sharing. Your information always proves to be useful. I think your post is suitable for everyne, who is interested in valuable resources. I will keep following your posts.
Thank you for your contribution to my forex trading experience and helping traders like me get started. It’s very educating. I am very new to forex trading and I am looking forward to learn from your next entry.
Hi Phil,
I just discovered this great post with a google search! Thanks for taking the time to do this. You photography is stunning as well.
I have something you might be interested in- a really great auxiliary lens for the iPhone from Japan. It is tiny and I carry it everywhere I go with my iPhone. I did a short review with example photos if you are interested, here is the link-
http://www.luminanceflux.com/2009/11/gizmon-wide-macro-iphone-conversion.html
Cheers,
Will
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The standard iPhone Camera is really of no use to me, but I found this iApp, ProCamera which has so many features including a digital zoom, GPS image tracking, sound timer, virtual horizon, Photo Review, album (just shake your phone to review your albums) and features to allow you to continuously shoot photos without having to stop and save each individual image. This is an Super iApp! It’s also compatible with 2G/3G & 3GS.
Thank you so much Phil. I’ve been nerding on iPhone photography and I found this to be one of the more honest critics/recommendations I’ve found.
Cheers,
Ryan
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미중년박씨의 생각…
사진작가 Phill Coffman이 쓴 아이폰 사진찍기에 관한 한번 읽어볼 만한 글 iPhone Photography. TiltShiftGen + Mill Colour 조합을 추천하고 있어 한 달째 실험 중인데 결과도 만족스럽고 로모를 쓰던 때 만
For transfer iPhone photos to pc or even another iPhone, I strongly recommend you all Tansee iPhone Transfer Photo. It is one of the best transfer software that I’ve ever used. You can transfer your iPhone photos to pc or iPhone. Just a few clicks, you can finish all the steps. That’s wonderful! If you are interested in it, you can try: http://www.softwarebbs.com/index.php?title=Tansee_iPhone_Transfer_Photo
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Check out See-View, a great way so look at your photos in 3D. Have a look at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/see-view/id354683905?mt=8