Though my Nikon D700 is my main workhorse camera these days, my trusty iPhone is always fun for family and quick on the go pictures. One of my favorite photo apps for the iPhone is the Hipstamatic.
The Hipstamatic is an app that simulates old analog cameras. The app comes with several analog films and some lenses. You can also purchase different film and lenses straight from the camera. The app even has the look of an old instant camera.
Once you select your lens and film you are ready to shoot. It does take a few seconds for the image to “develop” which I think is part of the magic of Hipsta. Also your image is final, meaning as of this writing Hipsta saves the “developed” image and does not save the iPhone image. This means you are stuck with the image you shot. If you chose to process further you will have to use another app.
With so many films and lenses you have thousands of combinations of photo styles to create. That being said Hipsta has its own “camera roll” within the app and you can match settings to a previous picture. I use this often.
Hipstamatic also includes many sharing features such as sharing to facebook, Flickr,twitter, email as well as ordering prints. There are also Hipsta contest from within the phone.
Hipsta has been an iPhone top app so I’m sure new features, films and lens will continue to be added to the app.
Hipstamatic Folklore?
The story behind Hipstamatic is somewhat cloudy. The app’s creator says the original Hipstamatic was a real camera invented by his two brothers back in 1982. They wanted to create a cheap 35mm camera anyone could afford. So in late 1982 the brothers began creating small plastic Hipstamatic cameras in a small cabin. In 1984 both brothers were killed by a drunk driver after getting a new building to manufacture Hipstamatics.
There has been some research to the validity of this story. So far no one can find where any of this story actually occurred. Also no one can seem to find any of the 100 or so Hipstamatics built. The family had the that were destroyed in a house fire.
Whether the beginnings of the Hipstamatic was actually in 1982 or created a few years ago with a good back story the Hipstamatic is a great app.
Hipstamatic App
Hipstamatic Story
Check out some Hipsta prints straight from my iPhone.
Hipstamatic captures the rich colors of the fair.
Hipsta and BW at the fair
The Hipstamatic even goes with me to the beach
