by Todd Leban | Aug 31, 2014 | 1000 Words, Stories, Todd Leban
Welcome to the ninth edition of the GRRYO 1000 Words Facebook Showcase! Since the creation of the Facebook group, we have seen it grow and watched inspiring work being posted daily. We are happy to be able to showcase some of the outstanding work that is being shared.
GRRYO believes that mobile photographers/ artists tell stories through the photographs/ images and art that represents their families, their environment, themselves. This is important because of the level of communication that is portrayed in imaging today.
We want to support the mobile arts community by having a place for artists to share, discuss, and critique (if requested by individual). These dialogues help the individuals and the community to grow.
We look forward to you and your art. We thank you for your contribution to the mobile photography/ arts community. To submit your work click here.
Veronica Hassell
I have been exploring the water element this summer with my lifeproof shooting a lot of underwater shots and this was an afternoon when we just finished shooting. It was early evening and we were losing the last bit of natural light so as my model sat shivering, I decided to take a few more shots. I actually used the snappeed in app camera and used a preset in the grunge setting. I then used the tilt shift preset for some slight blur. Unionapp was used to add and blend the flowers, which I also shot in the snappeed camera and edited in grunge. This original shot was taken in a swimming pool with all those edges of the pool just beyond the models head in view. A little cropping and blending created more drama and the feel of some deep blue pool in Bali which is what I was hoping for.
This shot is part of a series on Flickr called “Skin Divers” which is from the writings of Anne Michaels.
I think as time goes by I’m realizing more and more that it doesn’t matter how many apps you use, sometimes beauty can be created with the most simple subject. It’s a challenge I’m enjoying quite a bit: finding beauty in simple moments.
// instagram // Flickr // Veronica Hassell//
Elaine Taylor
This shot was taken early Summer’s evening at one my boys’ favourite spots to play. A place where they automatically run, climb, jump and create little adventures together. No technology in sight (apart from my cheeky iPhone!). It’s what they enjoy doing more than anything. I love capturing those precious moments.
I took a few shots that evening. When I looked through the camera roll this one jumped out. I loved Billy’s hand; like he is beckoning his big brother. The original image felt a bit gloomy though, and didn’t reflect the actual moment captured. It seemed sad. Ominous. The boys with their heads down under a moody sky. It just didn’t feel right. So, I turned to Mextures to add something colourful to the sky; something uplifting.
My boys under a rainbow sky off on an adventure together to discover new and exciting things. That’s what I see when I look at this image.
Apps Used: Procamera7, Snapseed, Mextures, Union
Process:
I shot this with ProCamera7 on my iPhone5S. As I do with most images, I took it into Snapseed first: cropped and straightened it, then increased the contrast a little. Next step Mextures to create the rainbow colours in the sky (can’t remember the details – Mextures is still new to me so I would’ve been playing around for quite some time). Finally, I took the image into my favourite blending/masking app Union to bring out the original silhouettes.
Links:
// AMPT // Flickr // IG // EyeEm //
Erika C. Brothers
This image is one of hundreds I have taken of my kids this summer, in fact I could say that is my favorite of summer 2014. I really enjoy taking water photography and enjoy the results I get from the effects of water. This particular photograph was taken with the iPhone standard camera and edited on a iPad first using Camera+ to adjust contrast, after I used iColorama to highlight the effect of flow, and for final filter effects VSCOcam.
IG // FB //
Tommy Wallace
I don’t usually shoot cars yet here I was in the backyard of an abandoned farm house with three or four surrounding me. What was I to do? This shot was taken with the sun through the window giving a nice glint of light on the horn ring of the steering wheel.
Taken with the Camera-FV5 app on my Samsung GS4, I let this gem sit on my feed for months before I did anything with it. For editing I used HandyPhoto which is one of my favorite editing tools. This app is available on android and iOS.
It’s been awhile but I’m thinking on this one I first cropped then darkened the photo, while increasing contrast and sharpening slightly. I’ve really enjoyed working with textures and applied a few of them gently to get a darker effect and to give some vignette on the edges.
As I edited this I began to focus on the glow from the light reflected on that horn ring. I love the way the reflected light splashes across the steering wheel.
I try to title photos from personal experiences as well as something that is unique to the shot itself. The fuel gauge is setting on the “E” in this shot, of course. When I was growing up and started driving I learned a new phrase: “Flat on empty.” The car I drove was in that condition more often than not. As I’m old enough to have driven a car with a horn ring like this, I thought “Flat on E” was appropriate.
On Instagram, Eyeem, and Twitter I’m @pastortwallace. On Flickr just drop the @. You can also see some of my stuff at amptcommunity.com/profile/TommyWallace. I appreciate the opportunity to participate with the Grryo community. The storytelling aspect of photos is so powerful and I’m glad Grryo celebrates that.
Patricia Larson
Photo taken with iPhone 4s
This photo was taken on a trip to a beach in Texas, the picture was completely minimalist so I decided to play with the editing, it was a beautiful evening and it was not time of vacation so that the sea was in complete tranquility and could perfectly capture the photo.
Apps Used: Camera+, Circular
Facebook // EyeEm // Flickr // IG // phoneart.com
Andrea Koerner
There really isn’t any inspiration per say behind my photos it’s more an intuitive thing that I do. I just start with a photo and “play” with various apps until I get a photo that speaks to me. This one started out as two Hipstamatic photos that I combined in Superimpose. I then added more elements thru Superimpose and put the finished photo thru Brushstroke(I painted it and upped the Saturation). From there I took it into Elasticam and manipulated it to give the figure the effect of wearing a hood/cowl. Lastly I took it into Textures+ and added the graffiti effect.
// Instagram // Flickr // Facebook //
by Jen Bracewell | Aug 10, 2014 | 1000 Words, Stories
Welcome to our third themed Instagram 1000 words showcase! There are many talented artists on Instagram and we wanted to tap into their creativity and showcase their work here. I chose “Still Life” as the theme for this showcase. I’m very impressed with the images that were submitted. It was difficult to choose just a few!
Grryo believes that mobile photographers/ artists tell stories through the photographs/ images and art that represents their families, their environment, themselves. This is important because of the level of communication that is portrayed in imaging today.
We want to support the mobile arts community by having a place for artists to share, discuss, and critique (if requested by individual). These dialogues help the individuals and the community to grow.
We look forward to you and your art. We thank you for your contribution to the mobile photography/ arts community.
Welcoming Committee
Inspiration came to me for this image from 3 spherical shapes that stand sentry at my entryway. They rest in a concrete sculpture of a large rhubarb leaf that I created years ago. I love the peaceful face that hints at whimsy, and welcomes everyone who enters.
The editing process was very simple. Originally I thought I would take it to black and white until a Mextures formula seemed to bring it to life. Then I added a simple VSCO filter and it was complete. – Tricia
. . . and the call never came
On a recent venture, down a dirt road in rural Perry County, Arkansas, I came to a favorite place to photograph. This wasn’t my first time at the old abandoned farmhouse. It was a fantastic setting, complete with outbuildings, junk cars, and other ancient artifacts scattered about. I had only shot from the front of the house before but this time wandered around to the back. I took a few shots of the old cars and the back window of the house before sticking my head in the open door of an old shed. There it was. An old black rotary dial phone lay covered in dust and grime. The natural light coming in through a side window made this a great shot. Using the Camera FV-5 app on my Samsung GS4 I snapped a few angles of this great find.
Like some other “great shots” in my gallery, it sat there for months. Recently going through some old stuff I pulled this one up into the HandyPhoto app. I dropped the saturation to make it a black and white and adjusted contrast and sharpness slightly. I then decided to add some very slight cloud texture to give it a little bit of a dusty feel in the air. This photo reminds me of the days of my boyhood when rotary phones were the way we stayed in touch . . . or didn’t. – Tommy
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This image was taken a few months back on Isla San Miguel, Panama back when we had just begun our vacation. Now we’re back in Panama with only a few days before going home! It was a blast! Met many super people, saw some great places, bought a house, and can’t wait to do it again sometime! – Frederic
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This is a photo of Hopkins Marine Station located in Monterey, California. The original photo was taken in December 2013.
History: Hopkins Marine Station was founded in 1892, making it the oldest marine laboratory on the US Pacific Coast, and the second-oldest in the US. I work directly across the bay from this historic building and I have had the opportunity to photograph it through the changing seasons. On this particular day, I was watching some storm clouds approach and though it would make a pretty impressive picture.
Technique: Taken with my iPhone5, the photo is a two-exposure HDR rendered in ProHDR. The “looking glass” image was added using Juxtaposer and colorized using ColorFX. The dodging, burning and blur effects were done using PhotoToaster, and final touchup was done in PS Express- Jim
Still Life, Number One
“When I once read about still lives I happened to find out about Vanitas still lives.
Vanity might kill us all.
Or America.
Or we do it ourselves.
Or we live forever.
Or we buy space rockets and find a special box which has a glowing pink gem in it. The gem gives everybody on earth the power to fly while sleeping.
After the fourth flying dream all people got a letter in which they found a message:
“That would be such a senseless thing to be able to do! I never explain what I mean with my pictures.”
But here are two facts about the ashtray:
No. 1: my parents stole that thing years ago.
No. 2: since I can remember I loooooooooooovvvvve Coca-Cola so much – everyday!!!!!!!” – Michel
A Tattered Room All Undone
The last time I visited Bodie I was 19 years old but it has stayed with me till I returned last fall over three decades later. I can’t believe I waited so long to return. The last ten miles in is now very rough road, but worth every bump and all the dirt and dust. Pack light, but bring water and full tank of gas, no over night camping.
These rooms are fascinating and not open to the public. This photo and a series I photographed were taken by pressing my I phone against the windowpane and shooting. As I peered in the windows I was struck by fragments of life left in each room and the stories they tell, of family, friends, love, loss and history.
The park rangers and volunteers that look after this amazing old town refer to the state of affairs here as arrested decay, nothing is repaired or painted, but an occasional board to prop up a wall or roof line will be done as needed.
I remember reading a story about the little girl who moved to Bodie, she had written in her diary: “Goodbye God, going to Bodie” when her family moved there from San Francisco. Apparently back in the day – it was a pretty tough, and unforgiving mining town, and at one point boasted a lively population of 10,000 folks.
I had an amazing week in the beautiful Sierras, visited Manzanar, Lone Pine, Big Pine, Independence, Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, June Mountain, Bodie and Bridgeport – the 395 is a gorgeous stretch of highway filled with mountains, nature and history layered and inspiring on so many levels – a perfect brew.
Photo taken fall of 2013 / Bodie Ghost Town
About me – A Modern Maverick/Karen Baxter
I have a passion for the new, the old, different cultures and far away places. I am in love with the creative process, and consider myself an idea person with strong visual and conceptual influences. I am drawn to the underdog, the forgotten or voiceless and have been advocating on behalf of criminal justice reform, Brandon Hein and The Innocence Project for many years. I am motivated by my deep care and concern for humanity, social responsibility, planet earth and her environment. My favorite city is my hometown Santa Monica, California. My first love and influence was my Grandmother Martha “Mattie” Burkett Baxter born in 1890 in Oklahoma (formally Indian Territory) for her late night storytelling that lasted into the wee hours of the night, and throughout my life – she claimed as a child I did not care much for fairytales or storybooks, and that I often said “Grandma tell me only the true stories”….not much has changed since then. – Karen
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I hope my editing description isn’t too vague. I did most of the editing months ago and can’t remember everything I did. Haven’t been able to get out much to take new photos lately so I’ve been going back to older ones on my camera roll.
I took the original photo using ProCamera. I applied a couple filters in Afterlight. Then I used the blur tool in Filterstorm to blur everything except the flag. – Dave
Last Days
I shot this image just recently whilst on holiday in the Aveyron region in southwest France. I’d picked a big bunch of lavender the day before and put a few extra loose pieces in a glass on the windowsill. The old cottage we stayed in with its ancient rough-cut stone walls served as a perfect backdrop for many still life images during my stay. I chose to use the Tintype SnapPak from Hipstamatic as the antique feel of the lens and film complemented the stone as well as the faceted crystal of the glass. I was really happy with the amount of focus on the surface of the water and the light glinting off the glass. This hipsta combo is recommended for portraits but I shoot landscapes, still life and everything else with it. It’s very atmospheric! This image is unedited, so I guess it’s a purehipsta shot! – Jennifer
Protect the animals
This once majestic creature hangs high on the wall in a busy bar in North London, forgotten and surrounded by lights and human paraphernalia. In Native American symbolism the steer/bull head respectively stands for courage and protection. The ironic way this beautiful steer skull is placed, still and with no voice; in the busy bustle of a bar, haunts and inspires me to have a voice.
Apps used Hipstamatic (Lowy, Blanko BL4) Snapseed and Mextures – Karla
by Grryo Community | Aug 5, 2014 | Stories
Street Photography and the Cinemagraph by Matt Coch
A Cinemagraph is a still photo that contains a subtle element of video motion. The movement within the image continuously loops similar to the motion of a GIF. A really effective Cinemagraph will play with the viewers perceptions. Is it video? Is it a photograph? It’s both really.
I recently had the opportunity to play with the Cinemagraph app on the Nokia Lumia 1020 and had some interesting results. To shoot one you simply hold the camera still for a few seconds after you depress the shutter. The results can be quite fun. You can also tweak the images by masking areas you would like to see move or by erasing areas within the frame that contain motion you want to freeze. It’s that simple.
While shooting I found that certain scenes lend themselves better to the Cinemagraph than others.
Neon
In this scene the crowd under the neon sign are obviously moving as some are captured mid-step. Although they are frozen in time the neon sign continues to flash, strongly enhancing the strange illusion. Neon signs are good subject matter because the looping motion of the cinemagraph allows for less error.
Remember the loop or have a happy accident.
My first cinemagraph was of this street scene in Time Square. I took the picture without any thought of how the end result would look. I wasn’t thinking about the looping motion. It starts, ends, then repeats. So the result was the “Dissapearing Man” who vanishes just before crossing the street. Not exactly a good cinemagraph, but a fun little accident all the same.
Wind
Windy days are good for playing with cinemagraphs. You can shoot a frame that has lots of motion and then select the items you would like to freeze.
A little harder to achieve was this woman’s blowing hair and jacket. Trying to isolate all the people milling about while only masking what I wanted to move, took a little bit of work but I’m happy with the result.
Reflections
All kinds of reflections work well with cinemagraphs from windows and mirrors to puddles. This was probably the easiest one to achieve because the puddle had nothing else moving around it and could be masked quickly.
Subtlety
Some of the best cinemagraphs are so subtle you barely notice them for what they are. In this image of Rockafeller Center I kept the motion of the flags blowing and the water fountain flowing but froze the ice skaters, one captured mid-stumble.
Have Fun
There is a little bit of a learning curve with cinemagraphs. But as with anything a little practice and patience goes a long way. It helps to have a little foresight before taking the picture, imagine what the end result will be and then work towards achieving it. The most important thing to remember is to just have fun with it!
