When I'm not playing with, working with, or writing about technology, my passion is photography. There's nothing that I like better than to grab a camera, a couple of lenses, and maybe a tripod, and disappear off for a few hours of happy snapping.
But then there are times when I don't feel like be burdened down with tons of camera gear, and it is at these times when I turn to a camera that is permanently within arm's reach – my iPhone.
The camera inside the iPhone 5 is a very capable bit of kit. The 8-megapixel iSight camera might not be anywhere near as versatile as my
Photoshop Touch
What can I say about Photoshop Touch other than it brings many of the features I use the most to my iPhone.
Not only can I draw, edit, crop and add text, but I can also adjust levels, add filters, work with layers, and much more. I can also send files back and forth between my desktop version of Photoshop using the 2GB of complimentary Creative Cloud storage.
Photoshop Touch is a very powerful image editing tool, and has quickly become my go-to app for carrying out edits while on the move.
This app is expensive at $5, and initially I was skeptical of paying that much for it – especially given how dismal the Photoshop
iTunes link | Price: $4.99.
Filterstorm
This is another image editing tool that very quickly after installation became a firm favorite and a go-to app for transforming mediocre snaps into great shots.
Filterstorm gives me the power to work with layers, manipulate curves, tweak color, reduce noise, sharpen the image, add vignette effects, and carry out custom black and white conversions, all with a few taps and flicks of the finger.
iTunes link | Price: $3.99.
Fast Camera
I like the iOS built in camera app, but one complaint I have is that by the time I've fired up the app, found the button and take a snap, what I wanted to take a snap of has skidaddled. Fast Camera reduced the time taken to take a shot by starting to snap high resolution photos as soon as the app is opened.
And Fast Camera is fast, capable of taking up to 800 shots per minute, far faster than anything my DSLR can manage.
iTunes link | Price: $1.99.
Snapseed
Another app that allows me to take a run-of-the-mill photo and transform it into something special.
Snapseed, from the makers of the excellent Nik plugins for Photoshop, brings a whole array of powerful photo-processing tools to iOS. Using this app I can take an image and convert it into black and white, add a grunge look, add drama, create a tilt-shift effect, and much more – all while on the move, and for a $0 price tag.
iTunes link | Price: free.
Tilt Shift Effect
Tilt shift is a photographic effect that can create some very interesting effects. While its origins lie in film photography and originally required special lenses, you can achieve the same effect digitally.
The app that I turn to for this effect is Tilt Shift Effect, and it allows me to create some odd – and sometimes quite stunning – effects with little effort.
iTunes link | Price: $1.99.
