It was quite awhile ago since I posted any photos. At the same time, I’m having a little project at my Facebook-page with “One Image a week”. So I thought about this brilliant idea to use the at both my Facebook page, and here. 🙂
This photo was taken at lunch time this Saturday. I spent the weekend in Vemdalen, a ski resort in Sweden, and the wind during these days were hard, to say the least. This is taken at the top with an iPhone 5S.
What I enjoyed with the scene was the contrast between the wind and the sunny sky, at the same time as the snow passed by, creating those small white dots that almost looked like stars.
While you’re at it; do you see the face in the clouds?
Apple is marketing a new app each week. An app that will be given away for free for a limited time. This week the free app is Spark Camera. After Thursday it will be back on normal price level ($1.99)
Description from App Store
App Store Best of 2013 and Apple Editors’ Choice
Spark Camera supports iPhone 4S and higher.
Shoot, edit and share beautiful movies in seconds with Spark. Here’s how it works:•Press & hold anywhere to record, release to stop
•Do this as many times as you’d like to create multiple clips
•Slide to change filters during playback
•Tap the music note to add a song from your library
•Tap the save button to save to your camera roll
•Share on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, iMessage, or email!Spark lets you to record, enhance, and share life’s best moments through beautiful HD videos. What ignites a spark in your life? A gorgeous sunrise, an afternoon with friends at the beach, a kid’s smile… whatever it may be, the world is full of inspirational moments; capture them with Spark Camera.
Features:
•Take as many Sparks as you’d like
•Create HD 720p videos
•Add music from your music collection
•Apply high quality filters
•String together up to 45 seconds of footage
•Share via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, iMessage, and AirDrop
•Delete the last clip captured if you want to reshoot
•Have unlimited Sparks in progress
•Save to your Spark gallery as well as your camera rollFinal Cut
• Import videos from camera roll
• Rearrange clips
• Delete any clip
• Trim beginning or ending of clips
During the time of this blog I’ve now and then written reviews about best photo apps for iPhone / iPad. Some of the apps have been about the editing part, while others have been filter apps and so on. There haven’t been one app that has it all.
     
Now we’re close to that; the new version of Photo Toaster brings together almost all of my apps into one.
The apps that I’ve used most frequent has been Photoshop Express, for reducing noise, and handling levels like exposure, temp, tint, saturation and so on. 645 Pro for B/W. Snapseed and Photo Editor for harder effects and so on. All these features are now available in one single app – Photo Toaster.
Even though I think that Photoshop Express still is better at reducing the noise, Photo Toaster is “good enough”, and I guess I can say that about all those features. The benefit of keeping all of those features into one app is higher than the workflow of using several apps.
And on the topic of workflow. I really like that shortcut to the “recent edits”. Great small feature which saves a lot of time.
The app is currently priced at $2.99 and I think that it may be your best $2.99 investment at the moment.
Since my on/off button is broken which leaves my out of an easy way to take screen dumps, I’ve just attached the app’s own preview.
Best wishes for Saturday
This is a really good beginners tutorial of the basics in photography and fits well if you’re interested in photography, and want to improve your photos to the next level.
Link to the article – 11 composition tips for taking great photos with your iPhone
Yesterday I were in Norrtälje, together with some friends. On our way there, we walked along this road, and this view, with the trees that’s preparing themselves for Winter, the road and the small typical Swedish houses was amazing. Really looking forward to best time of the year when it comes to photography, the autumn.
On top of the photo I’ve added some filters, and then added the “painting like” effect.
Joshua Tree (album of the year 1987) was the first album where I really discovered this supergroup, U2. Many U2-hardcorefans holds their third album – War – higher than this, the fifth – Joshua Tree, but I count this as the best. U2, formed in 1976 was named after a word game with “You Too” as well as the name of a U.S spy aircraft. The name was first not liked by Bono, but slowly accepted.
Musically U2 has its roots in post-punk, but later incorporated more popular music and with this album many other influences (more about that later).
For me U2 is all about a clean crisp sound, but most of all, a clean crisp sound that’s absolute unique. With “The Edge” (David Evans) on guitar, Adam Clayton on his solid base, Larry Mullens drive on the drums, and of course Bono’s (Paul Hewson) voice. Things can’t be much better, and more unique.
During this “Best Album Of All Times”-trip I’ve read quite a lot about the artists, and each album. What I found fascinating with this particular album was that U2, before this album described themselves as root less. Roots that they searched before making this album.
Realising that “U2 had no tradition” and that their knowledge of music from before their childhood was limited, the group delved into American and Irish roots music. Friendships with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Keith Richards motivated the band to explore blues, folk, and gospel music and focused Bono on his skills as a songwriter and lyricist. U2 interrupted the album sessions in mid-1986 to serve as a headline act on Amnesty International’s A Conspiracy of Hope tour. Rather than being a distraction, the tour added extra intensity and focus to their new material. Later that year, Bono travelled to San Salvador and Nicaragua and saw first-hand the distress of peasants bullied in internal conflicts that were subject to US political intervention. The experience became a central influence on the new music.
Source: Wikipedia
The search for roots is also  described in this interview with The Edge, and the live recordings with the Gospel Choir; for the song With Or Without You (watch video down below)
After releasing the “Joshua Tree” album U2 quickly got two number one singles in U.S: “With Or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m looking For”. Two epic songs at the time, and still is. The tour after the album Joshua Tree was portrayed in the movie “Rattle and Hum”.
What I truly enjoy with U2 (and many of the best bands) is their strive for perfection, and at the same time passion and honesty for what their music/work is about. I’ve always believed that there are no shortcuts for success. It’s all about hard work, and I think that U2 truly reflects that opinion. I hope you like this album as much as I do.
Rare clip with U2 and Bruce Springsteen – Still Haven’t Found What I Was Looking For
Full album
Interview with U2, 1987
For more parts, click the You-tube link
From iTunes
Lapse It is an award-winning full featured app for capturing amazing time lapse and stop motion videos. It is easy, fast and intuitive.
No need for expensive photography equipment, you just need Lapse It.• Featured on the English TV Show “The Gadget Show” http://youtu.be/QjjayQVHnrk
• “Looking to do time-lapse with your mobile device? Lapse It is a very appealing option” by Erez Zukerman, PCWorld
• “Lapse It is by far the best time lapse application I’ve come across so far” by Robert Iagar, AppStorm
I previously had a post about my purchase of the Olloclip Macro lens for iPhone. I really start
to appreciate the small format, but at the same time I also appreciate it’s form which makes it easier to find in the pocket (compared to previous lenses).
If you are interested in finding more photos from Olloclip, you can find them in my instagram feed at http://instagram.com/pedrohansson
This will be my first post in a series of two where I try one of the three lenses in total that comes with the Olloclip package. It can also be found on my more technical site: http://lifeinsumpan.com
With my previous iPhones I really enjoyed using those small macro lenses that could be attached on the phone by using a simple cover (Tested in a previous post). Now I’ve bought a similar lens for my iPhone 5, from Olloclip.
The price tag differs quite much from the old lens. For this lens Apple Store want’s $100, which I think is rather expensive and I guess that it could be found for far less money than that in other stores than Apples own store.
This lens is attached to the phone by sliding it over the edge of the iPhone 5, and over the camera lens. The first impression of this solution is that even though it’s nice to use a lens like this without attaching some kind of magnet, or using a complete cover it doesn’t feel tight enough. It really feels that the lens might slide off someday.
With all that said it’s really easy to bring the lens, and maybe I will use this more than the previous one for the iPhone 4S.
Summary – Olloclip Macro lens: I really enjoy the possibility to be able to take macro photos with the phone, even though it’s hard to keep the subjects still and get a sharp image, but the possibility in itself, to see nature and other things better than it’s possible with the real eye is a real thrill sometimes. So if you have $100 lying around somewhere, and enjoy the creative part in getting up close with things, you’ll have a good time as long as you don’t drop the lens due to the light fixing.
If you’re interested in tech, gadgets, cars, f1 and so on you might like my “tech-blog” http://lifeinsumpan.com. While this blog is aiming at thoughts, life’s great mysteries and of course Photography, http://lifeinsumpan is more on the shallow parts of life.
I guess that these blogs together might illustrate life in general; we’re all not just one-sided. Everyone has many sides depending on where you choose to look.
Hope to see some of you over there as well.
Best wishes for Saturday
This is quite a long story, but I really think that it’s worth reading.
I hope you enjoy it.
The image is taken with an iPhone 4S with a Macro lens
In the Far East the emperor was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided to do something different. He called young people in the kingdom togetherone day. He said, “”It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you.” The children were shocked, but the emperor continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today–one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor.”
One boy, named Ling, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it, carefully. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Ling didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by–still nothing in Ling’s pot.
He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn’t say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But his mother asked him to be honest about what happened.
Ling felt sick at his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful–in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other children laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, “Hey, nice try.”
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the emperor. “Today one of you will be appointed the next emperor!”
All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. He thought, “The emperor knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!”
When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. “My name is Ling,” he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, “Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!”
Ling couldn’t believe it. Ling couldn’t even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?
Then the emperor said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds that would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!”Â
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
So, be careful what you plant now;Â it will determine what you will reap tomorrow.
This is an image from Tuesday night in London that I shared on Instagram.
I don’t think that I’ve posted my address on Instagram before. If you wanna follow me there; you’ll find me on pedrohansson.
It would be great to know your accounts there as well, feel free to leave your user name in the comment area.
One of my first posts on this blog was about which iPhone Photo-apps I preferred. And since then I now and then have posted and reposted that list.
(link to app-store) – From my previous post
If you like filters and sharing images with the rest of the world you’ll love Instagram (my nickname on Instagram is @pedrohansson). I’m surprised how creative and actually really beautiful images that are shared at Instagram. And many of those just using their iPhone (1) What I think separates Instagram from many other “filter-apps” is their strength as a company. You can feel the quality.
© Pedro Hansson – iPhone-Image using Instagram-app
Upplands Väsby Sweden
(1) A portion of the images at Instagram are shot with professional equipment
One of the downsides with “phone-photo” is usually noise, and dealing with the small sensor. With this app I’ve rescued many images that sometimes get to dark, with to much noise, and so on.
It’s not a traditional photo app with ton’s of filters and picture bending operations, but it’s a great tool to use to enhance images.
Link to the company:
I think that almost everyone that’s interested in taking pictures with the iPhone have come across this app. In my opinion it’s one of the easiest out there to use, and it comes with quite a lot of features as well.
Here’s a youtube review of the app:
Link to the company: http://www.snapseed.com
Link to app-store:Â https://itunes.apple.com/se/app/snapseed/id439438619?mt=8
I downloaded Snapseed quite a long time ago (in technology terms) and I immediately liked the GUI. Professional and really easy to use at the same time. I can’t say that this app is the best in terms of amount of filters or in number of parameters you can change, but I think it’s one of the best apps in quality and GUI.
(link to app store) – From my previous post
I guess Adobe don’t need any further presentation. In the image-industry they are one of the biggest, and the Photoshop-software have been around for quite awhile. With Photoshop Express you get one feature that I think is necessary if you’re keen on getting the noise out of your pictures, Noise Reduction (this feature is actually the single feature that I use in this app but Noise is almost always a problem when you’re using mobile phone cams so I use it on almost every pic I share).
Below you have the same picture, with and without the reduce noise function in Photoshop Express.
iPhone-image of Visby sunset without reduce noise function (Click image for large version)
Same picture as above, but now with reduce noise (Click image for large version)
A note to using this function is that, when you reduce noise, also loose details so the result will, as always, differ depending on what you want to show. Photoshop is free but you have to spend a few bucks on getting the Reduce Noise Function
Link to the company:Â http://www.eyeapps.com/Home.html
Link to app-store: link to App-store
One of the apps that I’m using the most. The iPhones built-in functionality for HDR is quite good but this app is so far ahead in terms of control and image quality. If you don’t know what HDR is and are interested in getting some new ideas for your photographic session I suggest that you look into it. In short HDR is using several exposures (over- and under exposed) to create one image. By using several exposures you can use the lighter information in the under exposed image and vice versa. HDR-apps can also being used for creating motion and ghost-like effects.
Another side-effect with HDR is that you can find colors that otherwise aren’t possible due to over- and under exposure-difficulties.
A side effect of using two images is that you need keep the camera absolute still, otherwise you get some blurry effects.
© Pedro Hansson – iPhone HDR-image of
South Kensington Station in London
I hope you can use some of the app-tips above. Happy for comments. What is your best photo-app and how do you use it?
Link to the company:Â http://www.eastcoastpixels.com/cgi-bin/product.php?p=4
Link to the app:Â https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phototoaster-photo-editor/id433671262?mt=8
This is, together with ProHDR and Photoshop Express the photoapp I’m using the most. I started off with using the “junior-version” but upgraded to the full version later. What I really enjoy with PhotoToaster is that it has some really nice filters to enhance the picture without making them look “too funky”. Focus on many of the filters are almost like a pre-set Photoshop app.
Link to the company:Â http://powercam.wondershare.com
Link to the app:Â https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/powercam/id453180850?mt=8
The last app on this list is PowerCam. This is app that I only use when I wan’t to do Tilt-shift images. With Tilt-shift I don’t just mean the effect when things will look like a miniature world. I use it more frequently when I wan’t a nice bokeh (from Wikipedia: the blur,or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image). This app does that better than any of the other I’ve tried on the market.
It was a cold and moist evening in Stockholm. One of those evenings when the sky is pitch dark, and the lights hit, in contrast to the sky, the ground with that magical reflection. While walking at Söder, towards Medborgarplatsen I thought that the lighting, and the people walking to their next destination felt really special.
If you can’t get someone out
of your head, maybe they are
supposed to be there
I saw an old Autumn in the misty morn
Stand shadow less like silence, listening
To silence.
– Thomas Hood
Every day there are so many stories posted on Facebook, and I thought that I might share a few of those on this blog. Unfortunately I don’t know the origin of this story but I think it’s a great one. I hope you have a great Wednesday
Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil. The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me . . .
I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring . . . I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”
And so she grew.
The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts . . . what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”
And so she waited.
A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.
Moral Of The Story. Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.
As I’ve written in the Photography section I’ve just arrived back home after a few days abroad together with a colleague of mine. On these journeys there is always an opportunity to talk about things that there otherwise isn’t time to talk about (during normal work weeks). On this journey I think the main topic was being upright, and why people so often choose the opposite.
First of all, I really need to point out that no one is perfect, and there are certainly times when I don’t live up to this myself; and of course sometimes you don’t have the possibility to tell everyone everything due to keeping a secret for a friend/family, directions from the board or there are just plain simple business secrets that prevent you from being as upright as you wish.
BUT, those things aside I strongly believe that being upright will make a person (all others aspects alike) more successful, in their lives. When you experience the opposite – Â people that doesn’t speak up for their opinions, I sometimes wonder why they aren’t.
We started talking about this when we had a discussion about a customer project, and we’ve always felt that this company is so easy to work with because they are always telling their opinion, and when we know their stand point it’s really easy for us to decide whether we have the possibility to be a good supplier or not. The company in mind is a really successful one, and I think one of the reasons is actually that they are “hard” in many peoples minds because they always speak up their mind, but I think the opposite.
Over the years when I’ve been in the fortunate position of being a customer I must say that I’m sometimes surprised how many sellers/business men react when they’re meeting an upright opinion about their product, their services and so on.
In my personal life I think this is as important as in the business life, BUT of course when you speak about personal matters (which might as well be personal matters in your professional life) there are so many aspects that needs to be addressed that it’s often harder to just being upright. If you don’t pay respect to the other parties person, you might end up on a difficult route.
I think I could write about this for pages, but as this is just a thought so far, I’m leaving the subject here. This is more of a moral, and actually business compass for myself. When we’re choosing and working with our partners, suppliers and customers (yes we’re choosing customers as well to make sure that both parties can achieve success) this is one of the key components.
What’s your opinion on this matter?
I hope you all have a great start of the week.
Here in Sweden the autumn is really getting a grip of mother nature. The nature is in it’s most beautiful state, on the other hand the days are shorter, and the winds are getting chillier for each day, but maybe the Swedish society is starting to getting warmer?
The last months we’ve had some debate in Sweden regarding our responsibility as citizens to help other people out when something have happened to them. The debate here in Sweden started after a guy fell down on a subway track and a few minutes later was robbed (!!), lying there helpless. The robber took his cell phone and wallet and let him be run over by the subway train. Totally unbelievable! For those who wonder what happened to him; he amazingly survived!
After this I’ve really started to see a change in Sweden. For those of you who have followed this blog, you know that this is a close topic for me, and I guess for all the people that moves from smaller cities to larger ones since the difference in anonymity is huge. (Previous posts here:Â https://saarimner.com/category/about-personal-thoughts/)
Today, while I was out buying some fresh bread for breakfast, preparing for the Korean F1-race, I noticed three cars that had stopped to help a woman lying on the side of the road, and I guess there were like 10 people helping the woman out! It may sound strange to reflect on this, but I actually think that positive things start to happen, and maybe the story about the man on the subway track was a start for something new? Last week Swedish police (yes, the Swedish Police posts things on Facebook 🙂 ) also posted a story about a woman who have helped a helpless man against two young robbers, and she was all over the news the next day.
Can all these events be start of something new? A warmer and more caring society as a whole? As I always state my political view as naive, I will keep on believing that we one day will have that great society where everyone is seen.
.. and maybe, maybe things are a changing?
This has been a really long day, starting at 03.30, and will end at 00.30. I’ve always enjoyed those early morning flights, watching the sunrise from above.
Today I took another seat, on the other side of the plane and instead was able to watch the full moon. This is a pic of the moon from the plane window. The filter that’s been used is magic hour.
Time to board our flight back…
Since I’m working in the middle of the city I’m often walking around town to meet customers and colleagues. These little walks are almost always a good time for reflection both business wise and personal. Last week, during one of these rounds I passed a church and couldn’t help noticing the sun light on the street.
Many times when I take a photo, I often think about form and what “that square” can express; like happiness, spring time, pollution, racing, spare time and so on.
Maybe it’s because I’ve lived in the city for too long, but for me this image represented calmness. Those first leaves of summer, on an empty street, sunny but still in the shadow. What I liked the most was the form. Repetitive, and not absolutely square.
I hope you all have a great start of the week!
Summertime in Sweden, the sun rises early. Here in Stockholm the sun rises at half past three, and in the northern parts it never sets. This time a year I sleep a lot less than the rest of the year, due to all the light, and I guess it’s the same for many Swedes. At the same time the energy level is really increasing.
Recently I’ve started a new habit, to be at work a couple of hours before everyone else, get rid of all those administrative tasks, get a cup of coffee, and then head out for a little walk in a city that’s waking up. The most cosy part of the day, if you ask me.
This is a pic from the office, right after reading the news paper and I’ve had my first cup of coffee of the day. Really liked the light in the room when I got back from the coffee machine.
I hope you all have a really nice day!
It’s been WAY to long since I wrote a post on this blog. I guess there’s been a lot, and I think I just needed a break from it all. It’s really strange sometimes; when I receive the most cheerful wishes and, in this case, suddenly attract so many viewers than ever before It’s so easy to start to feel pressure, and with pressure it’s so easy to loose motivation. Strange huh?
Anyway, I will go back to write the things I care about, the things that matters and things that I find important, beautiful, noteworthy and of course things that I think about. In short, things that I would like to share on this blog, together with all of you who read this.
Recently I, once again, started a little project with my iPhone – Summer through my iPhone (as part of the iPhone Photography project – What I see through my iPhone lens). The project will be all about sharing some pics from the summer of 2012. I hope you enjoy it.
The first picture in this series is a picture I took on friday in a harbor in Skärholmen, south of stockholm of a “Jinny Joe” taken with my iPhone and my new little fellow friend, the Macro lens.
So.. let’s talk soon again 🙂 In the mean time. Best wishes to all of you who might read this blog.
Last week I read a post on the internet about a macro lens for iPhone. The post was really positive even though the hardware had a cost of €20! I thought it sounded really strange. Can a macro lens for an iPhone be of any good, and can it cost you only €20?
So during this great easter holiday in Sweden I thought that I should try it out so I bought one two days ago. When I first held it my hands I thought it was some kind of a joke. Could these tiny bits really produce anything?!
Of course, if you compare it to normal Macro lenses you will get really disappointed, but if you look at it as a fun gadget to bring you around (and I can tell you it’s addictive!!) it’s great!
These are some shots I took during my first day with the lens, and at the bottom you’ll see what they look like in real.
One of my first posts on this blog was about which iPhone Photo-apps I prefered. Well, those things change when apps get updated and new apps are developed, so I thought I’d share my best apps at this moment.
Snapseed
I downloaded Snapseed quite a long time ago (in technology terms) and I immediately liked the GUI. Professional, and really easy to use at the same time. I can’t say that this app is the best in terms of the amount of filters, or in number of parameters you can change, but I think it’s one of the best apps when it comes to quality and GUI.
Photoshop Express (link to app store) – From my previous post
In the image-industry Adobe are one of the biggest players, and the Photoshop-software have been around for quite awhile. With Photoshop Express you get one feature that I think is necessary if you’re keen on getting the noise out of your pictures, Noise Reduction. This feature is actually the one ingle feature that I use in this app, but since Noise often is a problem when you’re using mobile phone, I use it on almost every pic I share.
Below you have the same picture, with and without the reduce noise function in Photoshop Express.
iPhone-image of Visby sunset without reduce noise function (Click image for large version)
Same picture as above, but now with reduce noise (Click image for large version)
A note to those that will use this function is that, when you reduce noise, you also loose details so the result will, as always, differ depending on what you want to show. In the images above I’ve tried to show this. Photoshop is free but you have to spend a few bucks on getting the Reduce Noise Function.
Instagram (link to app-store) – From my previous post
If you like filters, and sharing images with the rest of the world, you’ll love Instagram (my nickname at Instagram is pedrohansson). I’m surprised how creative, and actually really beautiful images that are shared at Instagram. And many of those just taken with their iPhone (1) What I think separates Instagram from many other “filter-apps” is Instagrams strength as a company. You can feel the quality in all their software.
© Pedro Hansson – iPhone-Image using Instagram-app
Upplands Väsby Sweden
Pro-HDR (link to App-store)
Pro-HDR is one of the apps that I’m using the most. The iPhones built-in functionality for HDR is quite good, but this app is so far ahead in terms of control and image quality. If you don’t know HDR from before, and are interested in getting some new ideas for your photographic sessions, I suggest that you look into it.
In short HDR is a technique where you are using several exposures (over- and under exposed) to create one image. By using several exposures you can use the lighter information from the under exposed image, and vice versa. HDR-apps can also be used for creating motion and ghost-like effects.
The hard part, when you’re HDR is to keep the camera absolute still, otherwise you get some blurry effects.
© Pedro Hansson – iPhone HDR-image of
South Kensington Station in London
I hope you can use some of the app-tips above. Happy for comments. What is your best photo-app and how do you use it?
(1) A portion of the images at Instagram are shot with professional equipment
Saarimner.com 
