It's been quite a while since I've been blown away but technology. You'd have to look way into the archives to find me blogging about a gadget, software or a web tool. But I'm breaking that streak today. On Saturday I picked up the iphone 4 which if you live in Canada you realize that's quite an accomplishment in and of itself. But the phone didn't really grab my attention right off. I knew the camera was much improved from the 3G model which is the one I had and noticed the HDR icon on the screen. Not having a clue what HDR was, I simply knew it was taking 2 pictures every time I had it enabled. I couldn't see a big difference in the images so I started my research and happened upon this video.
Although he says the HDR Pro does not work with the latest iOS, it now does. So I spent the $2 to download the app. That's when the magic happened. During my walk tonight the fall colours were pretty spectacular as well as the sunset so I saw great images all over. Using the Pro HDR app, I snapped about 8 photos that each had me in awe. Outside of some heavy lifting with Aperture or Photoshop, you'd never be able to attain this…at least I wouldn't.
Although I've posted nearly 10,000 photos to flickr in the last 5 years I don't consider myself much of a photographer as compared to many of my colleagues. They may or may not be impressed with this but when I look at the photos I've taken over the past few days, I'm rejuvenated by the possibilities. I have no idea if this has any implications for the classroom but as someone who has been learning about imagery and photography, this excites me. I've not had this feeling since I learned how to create a flash button in Dreamweaver.
Another reason to consider a new phone. Still, I’m not sold on iPhone for some reason. It must be some sort of fundamentalism.
Very impressive. I can see doing this in Photoshop, but by just downloading an app to a new I phone, it seems too easy.
This is so cool- I saw that HDR whatsit and wondered what it was all about. (My new phone is not even a week old yet and we are quickly becoming inseparable.) Right- off to the app store I go!
Thanks for the clarification.
Awesome, Dean! I’m a little worn out by using someone else’s media (or seeing that happen elsewhere) to illustrate my points in a presentation, etc. With capacity for such great photo’s, we should be using our own creations to illustrate our own work (and encouraging the same from students)…
Nice shots, BTW.
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Thanks for the tip on this, Dean. I’ve been wanting to play with HDR for ages but it just seems far too complex on the big SLR. What excites me here is the ability to ‘play’, rather than having to ‘work’ at getting my initial results.
What I have found, is that HDR works particularly well when you want to take lots of detail in – city scapes from the top of a tower, blades of grass and photos requiring depth of field (like your golf ball), sandy beaches taken from down low to capture a view.
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