Instagram

OK, I admit, I'm addicted to this little program. I am taking pictures with my phone all the time. I actually have to charge the phone in the middle of the day because I am running down the battery.

It's funny how this app affected me. I didn't think it would, but I really like this opportunity to take artsy photos that don't have to live up to my technical standards - most of them have too much noise and are over sharpened, but they look good small!!

I actually bought Magic Hour so I could edit the photos better.

Here's my favorite of the bunch:

Here are others:

Instagram Weekend

Spent all weekend uploading pictures to Instagram. I was really getting a kick out of shooting with my Galaxy Nexus. That is until I upload the pictures to my computer and looked at them on the big screen. The pictures are not as clear as they look on a 4" screen. Not as clear at all. Put the third party apps help me get a better picture than the original camera app. With the super quick focus that is a part of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.2), I can't get a single image in focus. The third party apps use the traditional slower focus which really helps since I have shaky hands (great for a photographer!).

I guess if I stop looking at them on my computer, I will be happy with them. They give me a chance to be a little more artistic. I have to work with a new square format and I'm shooting all kinds of things that I never really shoot. Here are some of my favorites from this weekend. If you can't tell, I spent the weekend getting free mulch, working in the garden, and washing my car. Oh, and for the first time in years, I ate a pop tart.

Instagram on Android

Yesterday, Instagram was release for the Android. I downloaded it immediately. I played around with it and wondered what all the fuss was about. I mean the filters are OK, but I have more fun with Retro Camera (and the super slow focus in Retro Camera seems to work better on my Galaxy Nexus). But they say it's the community that's amazing. Since it's only been two days, I can't say much about that. Here's what I've uploaded so far.

I also played around with Magic Hour, the free version. I like that. This image I uploaded on Instagram, but I manipulated it in Magic Hour. You have a lot more control in Magic Hour. But it looks like the image is smaller in final size. That could be because I'm using the free version.