Photo Mash-up #2

Remember how I told you I was doing photo mash-ups with one of my Flickr friends? Well, after many days of lamenting at my own lack of creativity and trying to brush off my monthly (it might be turning into weekly) existential crisis, I was able to decide on which photos would be my #2 for No More Sideburn Bob.

NMSbB sent me his #2 (and #3) forever ago and I felt bad for not sending him one back. I sent him this pathetic sounding email saying "I'm trying to think of better shots for this project since I feel like most of my surrounding are a little boring..." Typical me. But that's part of my existential crisis - I'm thinking I want new surrounding. You know, like a new skyline perhaps??? We'll see.

ANYWAYS - NMSbB was nice enough to message me back with very kind words reminding me that he's not used to my surroundings and what I may think is boring, he will think is interesting.

Back to reality.  I thought about it and decided I'd send him shots from my photo walk last weekend.

Here was his #2 shot 


And here's mine


Here's my finished product


Here's NMSbB's finished product


I realized after I had processed this one, that this would've been so much better for the postcard effect than the last one. Don't get me wrong, the effect was pretty on the last one but I would have preferred to use it for this one. But you know, that's the beauty of this project: we can't get ideas for the photo until both photos have come in and we start processing them.

I used Image Blender, Cross Process and PicFx.  The effects turned out nice!  When I sent the photo, I had forgotten he had also done a facade so when I went to blend them, the bikes magically placed themselves on the grass.  How serendipitous!  And how weird are those phantom facades?  There's a road by my house that's been under construction FOREVER and I'm guessing these were demos for some development companies or something.  I'm not sure but they're weird and kind of pretty in their own way.

Here's a link to my set - which features the original and processed photos
Here's a link to NMSbB's set

Enjoy!

My attempt at the Cinemagraph

I don't know if you you know but there's this new(-ish) craze sweeping the Fashion-O-Sphere.  It's the Cinemagraph.  I'm kidding.  Of course you already know.
Part photo, part gif, the Cinemagraph was developed by Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg with amazing results at New York Fashion Week last year.
I first saw this Cinemagraph of Coco Rocha and fell in love


Since then, I've been seeing altered gifs resembling these photo / video hybrids.  Especially at a gif's favourite party place: Tumblr.  I've also read a few articles on them and how to make them.
While the technique seems easy enough, it's harder to come up with actual ideas for them.  My friends and I collaborated and we shot some footage for some but they just turned out as glorified gifs.  Bummer.  We really wanted to create images like this




I think because we were limited with our location, we ended up with this glorified gif:

Nothing too fancy or exciting but dammit, we did it.  I still need to figure out how to make it work properly but until then, this will do.
Naturally, because the Cinemagraph is super hot, there's an app for that.  No seriously, there's an app called Cinemagram.  You KNOW I downloaded that shit too, right?  Here are some of my gems:







This app kind of makes me want to get a nifty tripod / stabilizer for my phone just so I can shoot these ALL THE TIME!  LOL.  But seriously.

They're so pretty!  Once you get a proper idea into place, the results can be amazing!  And with all the lovely Cinemagraphs out there, this one is by far, my ultimate favourite:


Stunning.  I'm not sure of the source since I reblogged it on Tumblr but dammit this is gorgeous!

Have you attempted a Cinemagraph?  I'd love to see it!

Hipstamatic Disposable - Sharing cams is fun!

Hipstamatic Disposable - you are AWESOME!!  I love the filters and the customization of the amount of FX you can have on your photos!


You can have a little or a lot 

These two shots were taken with the El Mario cam that I was sharing with fellow Flickr-er Sideburn Bob. He was the one who prompted me to take part in the 366 Project for this year!  But I think it's an even bigger deal that I'm sharing cams with other friends because I'm giving him an Atlanta perspective while he's giving me a Copenhagen perspective!  I love that!  I love the aspect of sharing different parts of the world with each other!  Heck, sharing different parts of the same city is pretty awesome!

There are some downsides to this app, though.
There's no Flickr Sharing within the app.  *Sad Face*  Flickr Sharing would've been awesome!  I get that it's "base" is in Facebook and there's sharing that way but I'd prefer Flickr Sharing since I like all my photos there.

The other downside is in the Hipstamart


Some cameras are unlimited - which is AWESOME (unlimited Unicorn MG!).  Other cameras are limited.  Limited cameras range between 9 cameras for $0.99, 36 cams for $1.99 or 99 cams for $3.99.  While those prices aren't terrible, it kinda sucks that you get a limited amount.  I told myself I wouldn't get a limited camera but I kinda fell in love with the features of the Foxy X69.



Shallow depth of field? Sweet! I love that with the Loftus Lens. I'm glad it's an option with the Hipsta-D.  Yeah, I caved and bough it.  I might cave and get the others but I'm holding out for unlimited cams for all soon!  *Fingers crossed*

Anyways - I was thinking that I could maybe try spicing up my 366 project with the challenge of using a single camera and taking a photo per day for the first 24 days of that particular month but I won't be able to post them until the camera is finished.  This is where the Flickr Sharing would be extremely useful.  I'm still thinking about it...

All in all, the Hipstamatic Disposable is a pretty cool little thing.  I saw an article on their FB page about a band who shared Hipsta-D's for one of their shows.  Pretty neat! 

I feel like it's helping me think more creatively while sharing cams with other friends.  What types of photos can I take to make it fun for everyone?

Check out my slowly growing album on Flickr and let me know if you have a Hipsta-D so that we can share a cam!

Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

366 Project for 2012

It had not dawned on me that this year is a leap year until I was invited to a 366 group on Flickr.  I hadn't been looking to start another photo-a-day challenge until this realization so I'm feverishly back-tracking my photos to January 1st.  The only gap I can find is that I didn't take a photo on the 2nd and if I did, it's on my Unicorn Hipstamatic Disposable app - which I still have 15 shots left to take before I can see any photos!

Right now, I'm having mixed emotions with the app because, while I love the idea of sharing cameras, I hate that I can't see anything until it's done. I guess I'm feel more of that anxiety since I know I took some photos with it yesterday (while it was being all crashy-crashy) and I can't submit them to my 366 project until I'm done.  And who knows when that will be?!  Just kidding.  I guess I can take some filler photos to get them all out so that I can have those.  Ugh.  I hate that I have to do that.

I guess I should've thought about the 366 project first.  I mean, I had every intention to do it but I wasn't really feeling it - until I got that invite.  It was the push I needed to challenge myself this year.  And on top of that, I have some added pressure: the person who invited me to the group also invited me to share a Hipsta-D camera with him as well so...I'm feeling the pressure for some neat photos!  Not to mention I felt like I lost yesterday with the whole crashy business.  Not to worry though!  While I was recording some music, I had my phone updating in the background so I'm hoping to get some shots worthy of sharing very soon!

Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

Here's a link to the set on Flickr!

DIY: Bokeh Kit

Since I've been spending most of my time uploading videos today, I decided to take a gander over at Photojojo for some new goodies (like this time lapse camera I'm checking out).  The one item I kept going back to was the Bokeh Kit. I've been keeping a close watch on it and I finally declared: "I can do that!"

So, with videos running in the background, I got a paper cup that fit perfectly over my lens and cut it to a decent size.



Next, I grabbed some scrap paper from our plotting printer, cut the circle the same size as the bottom of the cup and cut a shape on the paper.



Luckily the scrap paper was already a dark colour on one side!

Next, I cut the bottom out of the paper cup and inserted one of my sweet cutouts




(This doesn't look quite as cute as the Photojojo kit but it works!)

I had to experiment A LOT to get a good idea of what it was supposed to look like and an office setting isn't quite the best for this...



I kept wondering if there was some sort of light source I could shoot that would give me the desired bokeh effect and it turns out - it was right in front of me (as always). I have a glitter lamp at my desk that I love to shoot all the time. I turned my lens towards it, messed with the settings and behold - little stars were appearing!



Then I messed with the flash!



Then I tired my Space Invaders cut out!


FAIL. So I went back to the stars!



I have no problem entertaining myself when I have to stare at progress bars all day!  Don't get me wrong - I'm totally working but I'm multitasking :)

AND - I'm not saying to not get the bokeh kit, I just wanted to see if I could do it.  I still might end up buying the kit (or asking for it for Christmas) but at least I know I can make them too!

EDIT:
I made a heart template!




I could do this forever...

Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

Look at this Fucking Hipster - The book. Yes folks, I'm a published photog

Okay - so we all know about the craze that's been sweeping the blog-o-sphere, right? The whole "blog to book" story? This Is Why You're Fat, Dear Old Love and my personal fave: Look At This Fucking Hipster - just to name a few.

When I joined Tumblr not too long ago, I never would have thought there would be so many blogs that were open to submissions! It was awesome! I was hoping that whatever content I submitted would be chosen to be looked at by millions of viewers - if it was good enough.
I started combing through all my party photos - looking for just the right submission to LATFH and I'd found it: a photo from 8/2/08 - the night that Sloppy Seconds got moved from the flooded MJQ to above sea level Graveyard.  It was rainy, crowded and unusually crazy.  There was this guy in attendance who was kind of hamming it up for the camera - any camera, so I clicked away at him to see what kind of ridiculousness I could get and it was enough ridiculousness for LATFH - the book!

I'm very proud of myself, I must say.  Some of the other photos are awesome and x100000 way more out there than mine!  And even though it may be a silly thing to be excited over, I still am.  It's fucking awesome to see my photo in a book!  Technically, I'm a published photographer!  Hell yes!  And it's all thanks to Joe Mande and Look At This Fucking Hipster. Oh and also the hipsters.

Look for the book in bookstores on March 30!  I got an advanced copy because I'm awesome like that.

Here's the photo in all it's book glory:

Here's a link to the FB album from where it came.

And, apparently, the guy in the photo is Cory Enemy - a DJ / producer from LA.  Exposure?  I think so - but I would like a confirmation, just to make sure the right person is getting credit.

Be sure to check out the book and laugh at the good times had by all!

Love and kisses,

Katzi

S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

The Big Hipstamatic Show!

I updated my fave app in all the land (my Hipstamatic, of course) and I noticed a new feature - if you flipped your photo over, there was a new icon: a little shield looking thing. What is it, you ask? Why, it's The Big Hipstamatic Show contest entry button!
The contest I have entered is Overindulgence - "Excess and Decadence" and my contest entry resides here. But looking at it won't get me votes - tweeting about it will!

Just tweet the following text:

'Saturn Chandelier' http://hpstm.tc/216 by @_katzi_ #hipstamatic

And that's it! That's all you have to do to get me votes! I will be ever so grateful if you did! I know they'll have more contests and I'll probably enter most of them (if not all of them) but I would appreciate all the Twitter love if you could be so kind. I mean, check out this effing Saturn Chandelier


How could you NOT vote for it?? so please, dedicate at least 1 tweet to me. Thank you!!

Love and kisses,
Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

An Ode to iPhone Camera Apps

It all started with an article on the Kidrobot Kronikle. The Hipstamatic, eh? What is all this then? $2? Sure, why not. Why not, indeed.
I use the Hipstamatic camera for everything. EVERYTHING. Passing by some flowers? Hipstamatic. Strawberries and champagne? Hipstamatic. Kidrobot toys? You guessed it. Hipstamatic!
It has replaced my regular iPhone camera for all photos. I have a set dedicated to all the Hipstamatic photos I've taken on my Flickr. It's great! It fooled one of Oni's friends, too. He had asked me about my Holga and when I told him it was an app for the iPhone, he got a little sad. Well, did you ever think something so digital could look so analog? (Hipstamatic's slogan: Digital Photography Never Looked So Analog) I didn't really think so unless it had some Photoshop mastery behind it, which made me a little sad because I had taken so many other photos with my regular iPhone camera that should have been taken with the Hipstamatic. But not to worry!
After joining a few Flickr pools dedicated to iPhone photography, I stumbled upon a user who used both Camerabag and Lo-Mob with her Hipstamatic photos. I had seen Camerabag and wasn't too sure of it but I did like what was happening with her photos using both Camerabag and Lo-Mob, so I downloaded them as well and spent most of last night treating my older photos with Lo-Mob. And I think I love Lo-Mob as much as I love Hipstamatic! It's so much fun!
I was never really one to experiment with photography much since I got out of school but now, it's great! I'm sure I sound like a freakin' iPhone app commercial or something but they really are great, especially for a photo novice like me. Well maybe "kind of novice" I guess. I'm not exactly the Photoshop master but I get by and I don't have to pay for my film to get developed - which is a MAJOR plus. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'd like to thank the teams who brought these apps to life (and the many more I haven't discovered yet) to do all the "arty" work for us. Thank you developers!

Here's a taste:

(PS - I shot those flowers at my local Target. That's right, Target)

Go to my Hipstamatic set on Flickr here!

I hope this year you find something that inspires you and gets your creative juices flowing! Don't stop believing!
Love and kisses,
Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.