Steve Jobs was often quoted as saying “the best camera is the one you have with you.” Certainly with the last product launched under his eye, the iPhone 4S, that’s true. The advanced optics continue to hold up in test after test against even the most photo-centric smartphones out there. Coupled with the seemingly endless supply of quality camera replacement and photo editing apps iPhone photography has officially crossed the line, in the right hands, from casual snapping to art.There’s even a term used to denote the particular looks achieved with all models of iPhone: iPhoneography. Now comes an art show that turns its lens on the best of the best.

The LA Mobile Arts Festival, which takes place between August 18-25 in Santa Monica, California is hosting a week-long display of what they describe as: “art originated through the lens of an iPhone and celebrating what become [sic] known as iPhoneongraphy. Much more than citizen photography, iPhoneography is true and real art.” If you live in Southern California or will be there later this month be sure to check it out

It’s fantastic that DSLR cameras are much more affordable nowadays, ensuring that amateur photography fans are able to pick such a camera up. The problem is that there is still a ton to learn about using them effectively. It’s a huge leap up from a compact camera and can get intimidating.

Fortunately, there’s a new app out that aims to make things easier and aid users in learning how to use a DSLR correctly. That app is PhotoLawn.

PhotoLawn teaches things a little differently from other educational tools. Focusing on the visual aspect of photography, the app presents photos from Flickr, while displaying the shutter speed, exposure, ISO and more, all in an easy to understand manner.

Everything is laid out as part of an animated grid of thumbnail photos from the popular photo sharing site, making it simple to see what’s going on and adapt accordingly. Even better, it doubles up as a great way to browse Flickr and be inspired.

PhotoLawn is free to download with further features such as favorites, mapping and social options, unlockable with a $1.99 in-app purchase.

FREE!

PhotoLawn: A Faster Way to Learn Photography

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-01-04 :: Category: Photography

Cooliris is an app for sharing and discovering photos on social networks, and it just got more social with Facebook and Instagram support. The interface displays photos in an angled grid that can be scrolled through horizontally to view more photos. Photos from the Camera Roll can be shared to Facebook, or shared through private Conversations with other Cooliris users, with the ability to send invites through Facebook and email.

With Instagram, it’s possible to view one’s own photos and popular photos. Support for viewing Instagram feeds is in the app, but wasn’t working when I tested it. Facebook integration brings the latest photos from the News Feed into the app, along with photo’s from one’s own albums. Cooliris even provides a unique way to search for images from Google in its interface. Photos discovered through the app in any of these methods can be saved to the Camera Roll for preservation or sharing in Conversations.

FREE!

Cooliris

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2008-10-24 :: Category: Lifestyle

The London 2012 Summer Olympics are upon us and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll have spent all weekend soaking up all the sport. Perfectly timed comes the release of Reuters Olympics London 2012, an app that promises to bring the best live photos of the Olympics, captured by the award winning photographers from Reuters.

The app is free and universal to download, and comes supplied with Apple TV support to ensure it’s immensely easy to view the stunning imagery through a variety of sources. All the photos are high resolution and beautiful to look at, with easy navigation through the archive.

Every sport is covered so it’s possible to view celebrations from the best runners to the winners of the water polo and volleyball. It captures the spirit of the events perfectly, while also showing off the luscious landscapes of Great Britain. Statistics are available in the form of medal tables and results of each event.

Reuters Olympics London 2012 is out now.

FREE!

Reuters Olympics London 2012

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-11 :: Category: Sports

There’s a new photo sharing app on the App Store and this one doesn’t even require the user’s friends to have the app in order to view photos!

DabKick is its name and it comes from gaming company GREE’s CEO, Naoki Aoyagi.

Working much like other apps, it’s easy to add photos from the camera roll album, but the really neat feature is being able to send them to friends instantly, instead of rely on them checking the app. All that’s needed is to have their phone number or email in the iOS device’s address book.

Users and their friends can swipe back and forth through shots that have been taken, without any need for viewers to download photos to their phone. It’s also possible to chat while looking at the photos, and even talk over the phone about them at the same time.

It’s an intriguing way of doing things and could really save some time, rather than having to jump between different apps.

DabKick is available now, for free.

FREE!

DabKick

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-07-26 :: Category: Photography

Shooting up the Free Apps Charts is Pimp My Hair, promising to be “the best thing that has ever happened to your face.”

I’ll admit this now, I’ve yet to meet the people who adore downloading so many of the countless Photobooth style apps, but clearly there are plenty of you out there!

Pimp My Hair offers users the chance to add 40 different hairstyles in 8 varied colors to their photos. They can choose to take a new photograph or use a saved one. The fun will no doubt come from sticking weird haircuts on the photos of family pets and eldery relatives.

Once created, users can add their own caption before sharing via Facebook or Twitter.

That’s about it to Pimp My Hair and I suspect I’m probably getting too old for such things but it’s bound to entertain many iOS device users in need of a new way to customize their photos.

Pimp My Hair is out now and it’s currently free to download.

$0.99

Pimp My Hair

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-07-06 :: Category: Entertainment