Timing

Timing is everything. The most wonderful thing in the world can happen, but if it's not at the right time it doesn't even get noticed. This weekend was full of good timing.

My husband and I left work a little early so we could begin our annual abandon at the lake before rush hour. We didn't leave any earlier, because a hail storm hit town. We skidded and drove ridiculously slowly in a heavy rain and windstorm the whole way. About two minutes before we got there the rain stopped, completely! In the few minutes it took us to get a key and carry our stuff into the chalet, a gorgeous sunset appeared across the lake. We paused for a bit, enjoying the beauty after the storm.

There were several other surprises, like the gorgeous weather the next day, finding sales on things we'd both been looking for, and discovering we had two more delicious steaks than we thought we did. But, I shall leave you with the sunset.

Lake Sunset

2 Cinemagraph Apps Reviewed

Alternate Title: Animated GIFs for art sake 

Lately there have been several artists who are bringing back the animated gif as an artistic expression, mainly Beck and Burg (http://fromme-toyou.tumblr.com/tagged/cinemagraph). They created some amazing moving images that took hours to make. There are a couple apps for the iPhone that do the same thing in a few minutes. Will it be the same quality? No, but you can create something pretty cool and not too far off. Here are reviews of the top two I found.

Both:
Both take a short video and allow you to decide which parts are animated in the final version by drawing on the image with your finger. Neither one has a native iPad version, but they both expand fairly well on tablet screens. Both would benefit from using a tripod, unless your hands are very steady.

Kinotopic (free)

Pros:

1. Lets you pull video from your library.
2. If you record video in-app, the video can be about a second longer than Flixel.

Cons:

1. Takes a while to process video
2. Does not store final product locally. It processes the image using their servers and then posts it online. You can then go to your website and store locally. The website is public, but I'm sure there's a way to make it private. 

Here are my trial examples: http://kinotopic.com/mel_w

Flixel (free)

Pros:

1. Very easy to use. The interface and creation process is much easier than Kinotopic.
2. You can add filters to the video, Instagram style
3. Can save to your device as well as sharing directly to social media

Cons:

1. Video is about a second shorter than Kinotopic, which does make a difference in this medium
2. Can't bring in video from your camera roll

Here's an example:

24 Photography Apps Reviewed

Work asked me to review a few photo apps recently, and people ask me what photo apps I use for various pictures, so I thought a comprehensive article about the apps I’ve used so far might be useful.
These are not heavy duty design apps, just fun apps to perk up your Facebook. If an app was so bad I immediately deleted it, it’s not listed here. Also, though I list a price for each app, prices change and drop all the time, so you might find it cheaper. I don’t think I paid full price on any of these (except the free ones).
I’m sticking to iPhone/iPad apps for this review. Sorry Androids! You might find it in the Android store as well, but I can’t promise.

Favorites

Hipstamatic (1.99)

Basically: An old-school camera in your pocket. Very popular with the ladies.

Pros:

1. Switch camera, film type, lens type, and flash type. A filter for all your settings is automatically applied to the image.
2. The images you get look good.

Cons:

1. What I frame up in the digital viewfinder never seems to be what I actually get in the final picture. I want to frame up my image and know the end product will be the same. I would use the app a lot more if that single thing was changed.
2. Extra film types, cases, flashes and camera parts all cost extra

Instagram (Free)

Basically: The most popular of them all. This one is one of my favorites, because it’s fast.

Pros:

1. Easy. Ridiculously easy.
2. Tilt shift
3. Several different filters, frames and increased contrast
4. Posts to various social media and email
5. Saves to camera roll

Cons:

1. Tilt shift is not as self-explanatory as it was when first added, but still works
2. Facebook just bought it
3. Make sure you’ve updated lately, because the early resolution has been increased to something printable.

Camera+ (.99)

Basically: My other favorite. If an iPhone photo isn’t quite what I wanted, I go here to fix it first.

Pros:

1. The frames are a nice mix of grunge and classy, as are the filters.
2. Crop, rotate, add borders, effects and change lighting.

Cons

1. Bringing a photo in from your camera roll is a few more steps than it needs to be.
2. Some of the effects are in in-app purchase. They are worth it, but I wish they’d been included in the app price.

Snapseed (4.99)

Pros:

1. Several adjustable filters, textures, frames, tilt shift
2. there are no brushes, but all the effects are adjustable and look really good
3. Saves to camera roll or social media

Cons:

1. Took me a little bit to get used to the interface.
2. The price is high for what it does.

OldPhotoPRO (free)

Pros:

1. Makes photos look old really well, circa 1920’s. I’ve tried several of these and this one is the best for this particular effect.
2. 2 black and white effects are adjustable, with various torn edge and folded paper effects you can put on top.

Cons

1. The final version is fairly low resolution. It’ll be fine for the web, but don’t expect it to print on more than a 4x6.

Party Trick Apps

Magic Eye Color Effect Free (free)

Pros:

1. Changes the colors of eyes in your photos, several different types to choose from
2. The eyes in your photos don’t have to be wide open, or a certain distance from the camera. Each eye is at least partially adjustable.

Cons

1. The better eye changes require the pro version, which is not free
2. They push the upgrade with every other click.

Pho.to Lab (free)

Pros:

1. Puts your face in money templates, celebrity collages, magazine covers, etc...
2. Would be a fun party app, or for making a birthday joke card.

Cons

1. Sometimes it works great, sometimes it doesn’t. You have to choose a good face photo to make it work well
2. Several of the templates advertised only come with the Pro version.

Photo Booth Apps (multiple images timed and connected in a photo strip)

PopBooth (free)

Pros:

1. So EASY and fast. 6 quick filters to edit film strips
2. Takes 4 pictures in a film strip format, all timed like real photo booth.
3. You can buy a printed copy of the film strips (sent as a card for $1.99), 2 strips per card

Cons:

1. Can only share via facebook, twitter and email if you don’t want to buy a card

Pocketbooth (.99)

Pros:

1. Takes 3 or 4 pictures in a filmstrip format (your choice), all timed like a real photo booth
2. Lots of settings you can change! Such as: time between shots, border, paper stock, autosave.
3. You can export your shots to the camera roll, have them printed and sent as a card (1 strip per card for $1.99), or share via email and social media.

Cons

1. With more options than PopBooth, it is also a little harder to use.
2. I’m not a fan of the green/red light that appears in the middle of the camera area when you take a picture. It’s not there when images are developed, but it’s distracting.

The Others

PowerCam (1.99)

Pros:

1. Live filters that can be added to video or a camera image.
2. Unique filters, including special video filters
3. Can create small collages, tilt-shift, and color splash
4. More than just a party app, though it could be used for that.
5. Can save to camera roll, or share via email, YouTube, and other social media

Cons

1. Pictures and video must be captured from inside the app
2. Buggy - could not get some filters to apply at all.

Genius (2.99)

Pros:

1. Over 40 filters.
2. Crop, add borders, effects and change lighting.
3. Camera part has things like a timer, and shake reduction

Cons

1. Can’t save to the camera roll, but email is, so I end up emailing it to myself.

iPhoto (4.99)

Pros:

1. Made by Apple, so it’s part of the Mac ecosystem
2. Edit photos, including red eye, sharpen, various filters
3. Can edit and enhance with a brush, including desaturation

Cons

1. For the price, the app is not as advanced as cheaper options.
2. Controls are not intuitive at all to me. They may be easier if you have use iPhoto on a desktop Mac.

Photo Booth (free)

Pros:

1. Comes pre-installed on the iPad, so you don’t have to install it.
2. The filters are live, so you can see the effect before you take the photo.

Cons:

1. 9 filters, no adjustments after you take the image.
2. Saves automatically to the camera roll, with no other options available.
3. Can’t delete the app, because it’s a default app.

iBooth (.99)

Pros:

1. Normal, burst and timer modes on the camera
2. live filters, so you can see the effects before you take the photo.
3. There are more effects than Photo Booth, so the same ones plus a few extra
4. Adjustable image save size
5. iPad compatible

Cons

1. Can’t pull anything from the camera roll. You have to take the picture then to use the app.
2. I would not buy this app, but it might be fun for the kids if it comes up free.

picplz (free)

Pros:

1. They’ve added several tools powered by Aviary: blemish removal, adding text, drawing on the image, color edits, image rotation, and redeye. If you haven’t used it for a while, it’s worth checking out again.
2. Several one click filters with preview
3. Easy to use

Cons:

1. You can edit all you want, but you have to login to share
2. You can’t save to camera roll, but you can save to Dropbox and social media

ColorBlast! HD (.99)

Pros:

1. Remove saturation from portions of your photo easily. I know a lot of apps do this, but this one allows you to choose a color and only get rid of (or add back in) that particular color. So, it’s easy to make only the red hat in a photo red.
2. Saves to camera roll or social media

Cons:

1. Color is pretty much all it does. Several other apps have come out since this one that do color as well as other filters and features.

Snapbucket (free)

Pros:

1. Add filters, effects, vignettes, frames, or use a premade set of effects.
2. Easy to use

Cons:

1. Registration required and all snaps autosaved to photobucket.com when you share.
2. Can only share by email, Twitter and Facebook.
3. iPhone version only

PS Express (free)

Pros:

1. Photoshop Express is made by Adobe, so if you have a free Adobe account it can sync with that account
2. Crop, adjust contrast, add borders and effects to photos
3. Similar to the web version of the same

Cons:

1. Similar to other apps that do all these things just as well.

DMD Panorama (1.99)

Pros:

1. Creates a panorama image VERY easily. Just move the camera around in a circle slowly, following instructions as you go
2. Saves to camera roll as well as some social media

Cons:

1. No filters. That’s not what this app is for.
2. More of a caution than a con, but, you have to move slowly, and in a straight line, around in a circle or it won’t work.

Perfect Image (1.99)

Pros:

1. Several filters (41), effects and frames (25) that I have not seen in other apps
2. effects are somewhat adjustable. There is a brush for deleting filtered areas.
3. Saves to camera roll, as well as some social media and email.
4. iPhone/iPad support

Cons:

1. Could be cheaper.
2. No Undo button

My Sketch (1.99)

Pros:

1. Filter app with a focus on filters that make your photo look like a sketch.
2. Several filters with brightness and contrast adjustable

Cons

1. Many filters are just a black and white filter with a sketch style frame applied - not very realistic.
2. I didn’t and wouldn’t pay for it. If it comes up free, it’s worth a try.

Pix (free)

Pros:

1. For free, this is an amazing app.
2. 30 filters, 24 film layers, 16 frames... but... you can add multiple filters and effects in stacks to mix and match.
3. Saves to the camera roll, social media, Dropbox and various other apps.

Cons

1. The process times on the filters takes more than other apps.
2. Saves in a square format, like Instagram

100Cameras in 1 (.99)

Basically: lots of people reviewed this app favorably, but I was not impressed.

Pros:

1. Lots of filters
2. Easy to use
3. Can share via email and lots of social media.

Cons:

1. Many of the 100 filters have to be purchased separately
2. Filter names are amusing, but tell you nothing about the filter.
3. Saves in a square format, like Instagram
4. Does not save to camera roll

PhotoToaster Jr. (free)

Pros:

1. Change lighting, frames, color effects, vignettes, or use presets.
2. Crop and rotate available, with multiple undo
3. Easy to use
4. Can save to camera roll, or share via email and lots of social media.

Cons:

1. Filters are very subtle. In some cases that’s good, but in some cases I couldn’t tell the difference.
2. Have to purchase the full version for all options.

Google+ Review

I've started using Google plus (G+) recently and people have asked what I think. So, for my 365 today I thought I'd do a serious review. 

There are a few features that I really like and want to recommend straight-up: 

1. You can edit posts. Between Apple's autocorrect and midnight posting, this is REALLY handy.

2. You can post something for one "circle" of friends quickly, or choose which circles get the news. So, the people in my friends group get all the good news and my family gets all the boring stuff (no, not really, but you get the point).

3. You can read posts from just one "circle" of friends quickly. If I'm waiting for an important family event, I don't want to scroll through friends' pictures and events to get to it. Facebook used to make this easy and I almost left for good when they changed it.

4. Sparks! Sparks are like news feeds, but they give you news on a particular topic. I use Google reader to get the bulk of my tech news, but I have a spark for web design. It helps me find interesting articles from new sources.

To find out if G+ is ready for you, answer these questions:

Do you already have a Google/gmail account? 

Yes: Sign up. G+ will help you solidify all your Google contacts, Picasa images, chat and so on into one place (in a way Google Wave never did). I've had a Google account for quite a few years and it made G+ more fun and easy. I just dropped all my contacts into circles and was ready to go. Finding people is really easy as well.  

No: There are tools to move your stuff (pictures, videos...) over from other services (Facebook), but it will take some time. You may want to try a gmail account, to see if you like their tools, and go from there.

Do you like chat or video chat? 

Yes: The G+ hangouts and chat are pretty handy, but only if you know people already using the service.

No: You can still post like people do on Facebook or twitter and ignore the chat stuff.

Do you play Facebook games?

Yes: There are no G+ games yet.

No: There are no G+ games yet. Yeah!  Update: There are games, but they are easy to ignore.

Do you have a second account for your "real" Facebook friends? 

Yes: Why not move it to G+? It won't be long before Facebook recommends your alias to your mother anyway.  

No: Sure. That weird name isn't you. (I won't tell.)

Are you a business?

Yes: Google says, 'wait, we have something special in the oven for you.'

No: Awww. You individual, you. ;)

Are most of your friends young/tech savvy? 

Yes: A good portion of your friends are probably already on G+. They have probably started trendy conversations without you. Hurry. 

No: No rush. Everyone you know is on Facebook and still will be for some time. I'm keeping my facebook and G+.

Lastly, are there images you'd like to keep from friends' Facebook pages? 

Yes: You might want to ask for copies. If they switch, they may just ditch 'em all. (think MySpace)

No: Really? 

365 Project

I'm starting a 365 project on May 5th (this week). That means I'm challenging myself to create and post one photograph/video/artwork every day for a year, starting on my birthday.

The idea behind 365 projects is to create a new work every day for a year, pushing creativity even when it's hard. The project also keeps you looking for inspiration all the time, which usually leads to finding it more often. There are several of these projects online - for poetry, photography and even blogging, if you want to try it yourself. The official 365Project.org is a photo version.

If you already follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you should see all of them there as I add them, tagged as #365project.

I've been thinking of doing a 365 project for a long time, but carrying a camera around with me all the time seemed unreasonable (and I just can't seem to blog that often). Now that I have an Apple device (gasp) and smart phone, both with cameras and easy sharing programs, I don't have any excuse. It may not always be polished. Sometimes it'll be dumb. But, in the end, I will have 365 works of art representing a year in my life.

Feel free to comment on them, or give me ideas. I'm sure there will be days when I need it!

A note on love and respect

I know the title of this post seems connected to the recent flimsy-paper-heart day, but it really came from someone asking what I thought of their boyfriend. At the time, I told her as long, 'as he treats you with respect and love, he's OK with me.' I'd probably add now that he should treat others with respect as well, including himself. But that made me think… what is respect? It's fine to sing, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me," but if you can't put tangible evidence to it, how can you be sure you've got it?

I think Eliza in My Fair Lady said it best. "the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated. I shall always be a common flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me like a common flower girl, and always will. But I know that I shall always be a lady to Colonel Pickering, because he always treats me like a lady, and always will." Put simply, if someone treats you with respect, it brings out the best you have to offer. That's why respect is so important.

Theoretically, children should learn respect from how parents and family treat each other. In the world we live in, that's doesn't always happen and the lessons aren't always good. How does anyone learn to respect others if they've never seen it in close courters, or if they don't respect themselves?

Here are some real life examples (in guy form, but they apply to girls as well):

There is not enough respect if…

—He constantly talks badly about his friends behind their backs. It shows a lack of respect for everyone, especially if he is doing it to make himself look good. And, you can bet if he's talking about them, he's talked about you as well.

—He only tells his side of every story. If he can't see anyone's side but his own, he is not showing respect for other people.

—The guy asks your opinion, says that's a good idea, and then goes out and does the opposite. If he didn't like the idea, he should have been respectfully honest.

—He expects you to respect his space and home, but treats yours like a hotel.

—He hears a firm "no" and continues to push your buttons … for any reason… ever.

There is respect and love if… he shares the load equally. It's hard to imagine rough times when you are starting out, but when economic crisis or the loss of a child happens, you need to know you won't be crying alone. It starts with being able to share - not just his day, but his dreams, fears and hopes. Then when you share with him, does he listen and remember? This isn't flowers for your birthday type memory. When you are afraid, or hurt, does he remember the deeper cause or root of your fear and sooth it? Or, does he simply tell you to 'buck up'?

Also, when you are sad or sick, he shouldn't flee the scene. He should be able to stay and hold you while you sniffle. When he's sick or sad, he should let you hold him, so you can sniffle together. I think this is one reason couples should be together for a while before getting married. If you've never shared bad times together, it's hard to say how either person will react. I know a man who lost his wife to another man, because when they lost a child he was not able to be emotionally there for her. This could also be seen as courage rather than respect, but what is courage if not respect for one's self and others?

If I could boil it down and bring it back to the Eliza quote... If you feel like you are a better person (not just a happier person) when you are with them and afterwards, that is the natural response to love and respect.

For more on this topic, my husband and I can recommend Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs. The book focuses on love as a girl thing and respect as a guy thing (and is a lot longer than my post) but is a great read for any couple.

Saga of the Wedding Ring

Long ago (a few years), I was about to get married. To my surprise, we had no wedding rings and it was a few days before the wedding. After a quick shopping trip, we found something that worked for the wedding, knowing we would get something later. A relative gave me something that matched better, so I used that for a long time. The gift ring started to give me a rash and I recently gave up wearing it. My husband bought me a wedding ring for Christmas, but because of the saga I got it early. :) And now, you see the ring I'll always wear!