iPhone photo of the week

I broke down and get a new iPhone 4. It was for the camera. No really. I played with the camera on a couple of folks and in the store. It's not just the flash. Or the ease of taking those one-handed head shots. The zoom is nice. But the biggest winner was the auto-focus, followed quickly by the clarity of the display.

This picture is from my Labor Day bike ride, so it's not really from this week. I didn't mean to go for a bike ride, but when I went down to my car to head out to the gym, I decided that I should ride my bike to the gym. When I got outside, I realized that I didn't want to go to the gym but instead enjoy the cool weather with a ride outdoors.

iPhone photo of the week

I meant to post this yesterday. I noticed the star on the ceiling while I was doing my morning situps. Definitely didn't see any light reflecting into my apartment this morning, but the sound of rain was sort of relaxing. 

I'm not going to move my blinds, because I'm pretty sure I would never be able to get everything just right to have the light reflect in that way again. 

Grabbing my iPhone, I laid back down and shot the picture. Then, I went to plug the phone into the computer to download the picture (and also sync my phone). Nothing happened. Not when I pushed the buttons. Not when I unplugged it and pushed all the buttons. Not when I plugged it in to the wall and pushed all the buttons. Not when I pushed all the buttons on the phone in random combinations throughout the day. So, I went to the iPhone store thinking one of two things would happen a) they could give me a new 3G because I had the extended warranty or b) I'd be leaving with a new iPhone 4. I didn't think it could be fixed because it seemed beyond the grave. The sales clerk plugged it in to one of their computers and, lo and behold, it starts to power back up. This phone is on notice - one more bit of refusing to work and it's going to be replaced by the newer model.

iPhone pic of the week

This is me today. Actually, this is me most days. A couple of the folks at my coffee shop know what I ordered when I come in - large skim latte. I used to drink one every day with the three shots of espresso, but I realized that this was probably too much caffeine. So, I try to go without a couple of times a week. Luckily, my coffee habit accounts for 95% of my caffeine intake.

Happy Independence Day

I don't know what you are up to this holiday weekend, but this is where I'm hanging out. Yep, that's the pool at my apartment complex. I took the photo with my iPhone yesterday during my break from my pool-side afternoon siesta. I'm not sure what I did to get the neat effect, though. Maybe I should try to recreate the photo this afternoon. Then, I might be able to tell you what I did. 

Enjoy your barbecue, potato salad, watermelon, beer, ice cream, lemonade, fireworks, etc. For those folks who have off tomorrow, no fair - I'll be at work.

Way back in Texas

I've escaped the pull of the black hole! So, I'm circling back around to all of the things that I've wanted to share with you over the past few weeks. Above is a quick photo story of my trip to Texas. I took pictures on my iPhone of many of the things I did over the weekend. Some events aren't fully represented because, well, I was an active participant.

I'm not going to give you a play by play of the photos, but I will tell you that the calf at the far left is named Buddy, that's my aunt and uncle in the mural next to Buddy and the pies in the picture are rhubarb and squash.

This was a nice trip to Texas, covering many of my favorite things. I enjoyed being back down there and seeing family and friends. It definitely recharged my Texas batteries, and seeing these pictures has topped off that charge. I might even wear my cowboy boots to the picnic later today.

Expect more posts over things that I've done in the past two weeks. Then, I guess I'll have to tackle new projects.

Brats and iPhone Photo of the Week

Happy Memorial Day! I hope that everyone had a chance to relax and enjoy the freedom that so many have fought to protect.

I made my contribution to the World's Largest Brat Fest today. Other than that, the weekend was full of sun and relaxation.

The iPhone photo of the week is actually the picture of the capitol and State Street. I went the farmers' market Saturday morning. Let's see, I got some flowers, bread, scones, rhubarb and lettuce.

With the rhubarb, I made made my first rhubarb and strawberry pie. I used the recipe from the back of the tapioca box. This is one case where you should measure. I didn't; well, I did, but then I poured what was left in the box into the bowl as well. I ended up with a yummy rhubarb-strawberry-gel pie.

iPhone photo of the week

I spent a good portion of this past week in Norfolk, VA for work. Wednesday afternoon, I had the chance to enjoy the weather, which had finally turned nice. When we got to VA, it was rainy and cooler than WI. This picture comes from the park near Nauticus and the USS Wisconsin, the battleship which fired the first shot in the Gulf war, according to one of my traveling companions. I also verified that here, if you want to know about the Wisconsin.

Thank you, Camera Bag, for the fisheye effect. The effect helped the sailing ship stand out from the building behind it.

iPhone photo of the week

I met these ducks and turtles in Northpark Mall in Dallas this weekend while shopping with Megs and BLady. That's right, I got to spend most of the last week in Dallas culminating in a weekend with the family sans little brother.

The ducks and turtles live in a fountain in the family area of Northpark, which is probably the best mall I've ever been to. In addition to live critters, there is real art - an Andy Warhol painting, sculptures, photographs. The mall itself is pretty austere - wide walkways with white bricks and a lot of natural light.

Northpark is also home to one of my favorite shops - Paper Source! Although I left with store without any new purchases, I am brimming with new ideas.

iPhone photo of the week

This week's photo comes from my office. Oddly enough, I haven't been spending all of my time sitting there lately. Most of the time has been spent running from one meeting room to another, and I'm about to embark on another meeting day with little chance of getting to enjoy my new art work.

I made this drawing when I spent my weekend in the country. It's based off a picture my friend had in her house, and I used colored pencils to complete the drawing. I especially like the background, which I created using about five different colored pencils - sky blue, periwinkle, purple, royal blue, robin's egg blue.

On the iPhone camera: I could've used more light. I didn't do anything to this picture to edit it, and it could use a little lightening. This could be because I never turn on my overhead lights but my window faces north, so I only get filtered sunlight.

iPhone photo of the week

This weekend, I house sat for some friends who live "out in the country." My time was divided between hiking and walks with their dog Jake, napping and reading magazines and a book. I also had to keep an eye on the chickens. I took this picture while, Jake, the chickens and I enjoyed the sunny hilltop.

iPhone photo of the week

Yummy. French toast with berries and whipped cream was on the menu for breakfast, thanks to Jenny Craig. I've been going to Jenny Craig for about a year and half now. Not only has it helped me lose weight, but it makes grocery shopping simple and food prep very easy. All I had to do was microwave the french toast, cut up some strawberries, and add a dollop of lite Cool Whip to have this yummy looking breakfast.


Now, the iPhone alone  didn't make the food look this yummy. I used the Camera Bag app for iPhone to apply a Helga effect to the picture. This is one of my favorite iPhone photo apps to play with because you can change the look of the picture by scrolling through the possible views. It recreates the look of different cameras and film. 


When I searched for a link to include above for more information about the app, I found that it is also available for desktops. I am going to have to think about getting this for quick photo editing.

iPhone photo of the week

Spring has come to WI! It really has, and I've seen it. Here, the young buds are set against the bright clear blue sky that was gray just an hour before.

Now for a critique of the iPhone camera for taking pictures. I tried to focus on the closest bud. Several shots did not capture the look I was going for. This is the closest one. The size of the screen also makes it hard to tell what you've captured exactly until you get it back to a computer. Reminds me a tiny bit of taking film pictures. It was (is?) exciting to see what you had captured after the moment had passed. I often found myself looking at a stack of pictures or negatives wondering what I was trying to accomplish with the picture. 

iPhone photo of the week

Travel. I do it fairly often. I'm at the beginning of a series of trips. This picture shows two of my companions for the next couple of weeks.

iPhone photo of the week

Do you carry a camera with you everywhere you go? I used to. In fact, I bought a new point-and-shoot camera a couple of years ago just for that purpose. It is small, perfect to fit in all but the tiniest of purses.


But, then I got my iPhone. Now, my little Canon, gets left at home quite often. From talking with folks, I don't think I'm alone in this. My cousin lamented that there will be a couple years of her daughter's life that are only documented in 2 megapixel iPhone photo glory, sans flash and, sometimes, a steady hand.


If the iPhone is good enough to capture my cousin's little cutie, then perhaps it can even be elevated to an art? There are a number of iPhone apps out there that can do some pretty neat things with a photo.


And, so is born a new feature for the table - the iPhone photo of the week. I'll take up the challenge to take some beautiful or quirky or just interesting photos with the iPhone camera.


Week 1

Foggy bit of country