I recently dusted off my old cameras and went out shooting again. It took me 6 months to fill up two rolls of film on my Holga and Honeywell Pentax, but I wound up the film and sent it away to get processed. While I was waiting to get my pictures back I found out about a few iPhone apps that replicate old cameras. The world works in mysterious ways. $2.99 and 20 minutes later I had a bunch of pictures that looked like they were taken with a Holga, Poloroid, or even the Diana. I was left wondering if I should just ditch my old cameras.
Two weeks of waiting at the mailbox and $50 later I finally got my photos back. When I saw my invoice for the processing, printing, and shipping I thought about the apps again. It wasn’t until I put the iPhone pics next to my photos that I was able to justify still using my antique cameras. The quality of film with the random vignetting and light leaks, and the depth-of-field just feel right. Though, I am going to have to figure out a more affordable way to continue to shoot film.
ShakeItPhoto ($0.99) and Hipstamatic ($1.99) are both great apps, and the pictures really stand out on Facebook. If I am out with friends just having fun, I will definately use the iPhone. If I am trying to take a serious picture, something profound or amazing, I will go for my real camera.
In the end it might not be fair to compare the two. Clearly these apps are not trying to replace the cameras they imitate. Even further, I don’t think the Universe would allow the Holga to be replaced with a Holga app. I just can’t imagine kids two generations from now taking digital photos with vignetting and fake light leaks.
I also can’t imagine photographers displaying smartphone pics at galleries and musuems (very Andy Warhol, right?). Although, there is certainly a case to be made for the first TwitPic of the plane that landed in the Hudson.
EDIT: I might end up with my foot in my mouth pretty soon. I just learned the term iPhoneography and found a website showcasing iPhoneographers.
