Tag Archives: iPhone 4S Camera

iCrane Fly

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Crane Fly

Crane Fly

What looks like the great north-wood’s huge cousin to our local mosquitos, is in fact another insect altogether. It is the crane fly and is relatively harmless. It doesn’t bite. For some species of adult crane flies, their lives are so short that they don’t even eat at all. Yesterday, I took this picture at the Laumeier Art Fair. Few of the artists at such fairs appreciate people taking photos of their work and some openly object to it. I respect these wishes. [Well, so long as my lovely bride is not posing in front of one of them.]

This crane fly was posing on the pedestal of one artist’s display and since I figured that he didn’t own any intellectual property rights to the fly, I took its picture. The photo is an iPhone photograph. I know that I am always railing against iPhone photography, because so much of it is crap, but I had some new toys to play with. A while back, I bought a 3-in-1 lens pack that works with the iPhone. A little plastic lens holder slips over the iPhone and holds the lens of choice in place. For $10 it actually works pretty well. There is a wide-angle, fisheye and macro lens in the pack. I used the macro lens for this shot.

Last week, I had heard on NPR about a low-cost, back-bush diagnosis regime for River Blindness. This disease is caused by very small worms. The diagnosis regime uses an iPhone and a strap-on microscope, similar in concept to my 3-in-1 lens set. On Amazon, they go for about what I paid for what I already have. I was almost ready to impulse buy one, when I decided that I should exercise some more what I already have, before I go out and get something new.

Marking Time

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Marking Time

The above photo is original, but the idea behind it is not. Still, it seemed easy enough to implement. We had eggs for breakfast on Sunday, so I had the opportunity. I practiced on a few of the extras, so I got the means down pat. Finally, it was such a great idea that I had plenty of motive to copy the idea.

The above YouTube video was sent to me by Christian of Depth of Real Photography. It is one of a genre of similar YouTube videos, some claiming to be the only real “People Are Awesome” movie. Essentially, they are compilation videos. The notes on this movie lists all of its contributing videos. Two things impressed me about this video, first, the photography is excellent. The time-lapsed segment of the Milky Way is a great example. Second, some of the action sequences are truly awesome. Dave tells me that it is Kobe Bryant, of LA Lakers fame that jumps the sports car, plus the car belongs to Kobe. I must defer to Dave in this matter, being totally ignorant of this aspect of pop-culture or why a multi-millionaire would ever do something so stupid, but the individual looks a little too short to be an NBA center.

So, I’ve started to play around with the camera a little on my new iPhone 4S. First off, there are actually two cameras. The second one points towards the user and is most useful for video phone calls. I’m sure it works with the generic App, Skype, but it also works with the Apple/AT&T varient, Facetime. So far, I haven’t used it. Dave won’t accept my Facetime calls and the only other person I know who could is KW, and I’m sure that that would just freak her out. 😉

Anne with Jess, Drew and Megs of the Living Dead

Reviews say that the 4S has 60% more megapixels, but they don’t specify whether that is over its most immediate predecessor, the 4, or what I’m use to, the 3GS. Anyway, it is sharper and clearer than my old one. As far as I’m concerned though, the jury is still out on the supposed improvement in tonal quality. I’m not saying that it is not there, but I just haven’t found it yet.

Dave, Joan and Nink - No HDR

The iPhone does have two new camera features, one hardware, one software. The new hardware feature is a flash on the outward facing camera. It is bright enough to create red-eye, but not color correct enough to put the red in the eye. You end up with white eye, which is an interesting novelty effect. The other new feature, the software feature, is HDR photography. While somewhat subdued compared to full up HDR, its effect is noticeable in a side-by-side comparison. Bottom line, I am intrigued with the new iPhone camera and plan on exploring it more in the future.

Dave, Joan and Nink - With HDR