iPhone Photo Challenge: Is It Possible to Take a Great Pic With the iPhone?

July 19, 2010 · 21 comments

in Tips & Tricks

When we post an article featuring some great photos taken with an iPhone, we always tend to generate a discussion on the validity of the photos. Comments range from skepticism to calling these photos complete fakes.

Well, today I’m here to see if whether it is possible to take great photos with the iPhone… Of course, with the help from a few photo applications.

The iPhone applications I’ll be using are: PhotoForge, PhotoStudio, MoloPix, CameraBag, Hipstamatic, Tilt Shift Generator and Pudding. They’re inexpensive and most of them have a free sample version so you can try before you buy.

The challenge

Within  48 hours, take some great photos with my iPhone 3G. Manipulate them only with applications found on the iPhone.

The results

Used: Hipstamatic

Used: MoloPix and CameraBag

Used: CameraBag

Used: CameraBag

Used: PhotoStudio

Used: None

Used: PhotoStudio

Used: Hipstamatic

Used: Hipstamatic

Used: Hipstamatic

Used: Pudding

Used: Pudding

Used: PhotoStudio

Used: Hipstamatic

Used: Hipstamatic

Used: PhotoStudio

Used: PhotoForge

Used: Tilt Shift Generator

Used: Tilt Shift Generator

Used: PhotoForge

The conclusion

I thought this challenge was a lot of fun and definitely was impressed by how some of the photos turned out. I admit, it was sometimes a bit of a hit and miss. What would’ve looked great if it was taken with a normal camera, didn’t quite look right when taken with the iPhone.

Nevertheless, I feel that with all photography, it’s definitely about lighting, composition, the subject and colors. You can take some great photos with the iPhone and with the help of some apps, make those photos even better. Look, you can’t compare these photos with ones taken with a dSLR and edited in Photoshop. However, I hope you’re able to appreciate what can be achieved with such a small device.

Before you’re quick to judge, give it a go yourself. I think you’d also be quite content with what you can come up with. 🙂

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Have a great iPhone photo?  Get your Hipstamtic & Instagram prints mounted and transformed into beautiful gallery quality wall art.

Tagged as: app, apple, camera, camerabag, challenge, hipstamatic tilt shift gneerator, iphone, mobile, molopix, phone, photo, photoforge, photograph, photostudio, pic, picture, pudding

Article by

1 part ad agency. 2 parts freelancer. An avid urban photographer, traveler, and streetwear lover. Geeky curator of all things awesome. Sustains on Vegemite, meat pies and lamingtons. Follow me on Twitter or Flickr.

Yi has written 69 awesome articles for us at Photoble

  • Don

    I love shooting with my iPhone. I don’t even have phone service on it… use it for camera and music… and to show portfolio. I have published two books with iPhone photographs… readying a third now. And those books were from the 2G iPhone… LOL

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yi

    Great stuff Don, would definitely be interested to check out your books. Let me know the title if you don’t mind.

    Cheers

    Yi

  • Don

    I love shooting with my iPhone. I don't even have phone service on it… use it for camera and music… and to show portfolio. I have published two books with iPhone photographs… readying a third now. And those books were from the 2G iPhone… LOL

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yiie

    Great stuff Don, would definitely be interested to check out your books. Let me know the title if you don't mind.

    Cheers

    Yi

  • http://twitter.com/bmeaker Brandon Eaker

    Some nice pictures there, I’ve also heard good things about the Camera+ app.

  • Tyler

    I can give further proof that it’s a great camera with my Facebook gallery. All photos were taken and edited on the phone with various photo apps.

    http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?id=515300884&aid=125654&s=160&hash=0bf05b5ab50237defa6a97f9c41291a8

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yi

    Thanks Brandon, will definitely check out that app too.

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yi

    Love the photos Tyler, thanks for sharing!

  • http://twitter.com/saltesc Jared

    Honestly? Doesn’t do it for me. As you mentioned, it’s often hit and miss, but it’s a good cheap alternative with some fun. I have both an iPhone and Nexus One with different App Store and Android Market camera apps, but nothing comes out even close to the real thing.

  • http://twitter.com/junklight mark john williamson

    Since my girlfriend appropriated the DSLR I’ve been only using my iphone:

    http://junklight.posterous.com/

    Plenty of limitations – only having a very wide angle lens being the hardest – but I think you can get some nice results with it . And I *always* have it with me.

  • http://twitter.com/bmeaker Brandon Eaker

    Some nice pictures there, I've also heard good things about the Camera+ app.

  • Tyler

    I can give further proof that it's a great camera with my Facebook gallery. All photos were taken and edited on the phone with various photo apps.

    http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?id=5153008…

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yiie

    Thanks Brandon, will definitely check out that app too.

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yiie

    Love the photos Tyler, thanks for sharing!

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/K4Q7DLIFKBEVOMYVYNWQC4NBXE Ming Li

    I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success.

    acekard 2i
    dstti-adv

  • http://twitter.com/saltesc Jared

    Honestly? Doesn't do it for me. As you mentioned, it's often hit and miss, but it's a good cheap alternative with some fun. I have both an iPhone and Nexus One with different App Store and Android Market camera apps, but nothing comes out even close to the real thing.

  • http://twitter.com/junklight mark john williamson

    Since my girlfriend appropriated the DSLR I've been only using my iphone:

    http://junklight.posterous.com/

    Plenty of limitations – only having a very wide angle lens being the hardest – but I think you can get some nice results with it . And I *always* have it with me.

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yi

    Excellent photos! Looking forward to d/l the Boinx app!

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yi

    Yup, you definitely can’t compare the iPhone to a dSLR, or even a point-and-shoot. However, for what it’s worth (a phone rather than a camera), I still think it’s pretty neat for on-the-go snapshots.

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yiie

    Excellent photos! Looking forward to d/l the Boinx app!

  • http://www.twitter.com/yiiee Yiie

    Yup, you definitely can't compare the iPhone to a dSLR, or even a point-and-shoot. However, for what it's worth (a phone rather than a camera), I still think it's pretty neat for on-the-go snapshots.

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