Meet The Olloclip.

I have looked at lens options for my iPhone since 2008 when Apple released the iPhone 3G.  The release of this new phone and iOS, the app store began to fill up with wonderful photo editing and sharing apps.  My fascination with iPhone photography started with the original iPhone I purchased when it was first released.  I liked the LOFI look of the images.  Because I was also shooting with Lomo film cameras, in 2008 I created a site to showcase what I called iPhonelomo.  Quirky photographs shot without the intent of perfection and focused more on creativity.  It pushed me to think differently about photography and what I see around me.

This fascination made me look for ways to do more creatively with my phone.  I started my iPhone lens search with a Griffin Clarifi case that made close-up (not quite macro) photography possible with the 3G and 3GS.  It also allowed me to create artistic images without anything in focus.  I got a lot of use out of this case because it served two great purposes and didn’t require me to carry any accessories.

Photos taken with an iPhone 3G using the Griffin Clarifi case.
See more on my site, iPhonelomo.com

When the iPhone 3GS came out the camera gained a new feature – the ability to focus.  The addition of this new feature meant I no longer needed the case and went without any lens accessories for the next 2+ years.  I openly admit to being tempted by many other iPhone lens options that use magnets to attach or cases that had a bulky clip on a lens – but I couldn’t see myself carrying multiple lenses or using the rest of the phones features with the awkward cases.  At times I would have fun shooting the iPhone through my old TTV cameras or through an SLR lens to get creative results, but I didn’t have a dedicated lens that allowed me to feel safe carrying my iPhone as a primary camera…until the Olloclip.

This cleverly designed lens slips onto the corner of the iPhone 4/4S and offers 3 lenses in one compact device:  wide-angle, fisheye, and macro (when the wide angle is unscrewed).  At $70, this lens may not be for everyone, but I wanted to share why this accessory goes with me everywhere.  I have been using this lens for a little over a month now and am thrilled with its performance.  From artistic uses, to capturing my children, to shooting video walk-throughs of potential home options we visited, this lens has been a gem. It is really versatile and produces crisp images with great contrast and color. The one drawback that many people point out is that it cannot be used while the iPhone is in a case.  I can understand this gripe, but because I see my iPhone as a tool for my work and inspiration, I am not as worried about it looking flawless as I am focused on creating beautiful or interesting art.  I went from using a heavy duty Otterbox Defender case to being completely case-less. I couldn’t be happier (in fact, all of the cases I’ve owned have scuffed and scratched up my iPhones, but I may sing a new song if I drop and totally destroy mine because it isn’t in a case).

Now, back to the awesomeness

I bought this lens for two reasons: wide angle photography and using the fisheye to replicate a wide angle lens when shooting video.  This lens shines in both areas.  The iPhone sensor has a different field of view when it is switched from Photo to Video.  Having young children, I use the video feature on my iPhone all the time, but it is hard to capture the entire action when indoors because you can only back up so far before you run into something.  Even when you are outside, you have to remove yourself from the fun to get a wide shot because you have to step back so far – not to mention how much worse the audio gets.  The fisheye and wide angle lenses really give flexibility to shooting video on the iPhone 4S.  It also helps smooth out movement even more than built-in stabilizer.  This flexibility does come at a small price in image quality.   Distortion toward the edges of the image is pretty noticeable when using the fisheye.  I happen to like the look stylistically, so it isn’t a negative point for me personally.  For people that love really clean footage, the fisheye may not usable.  The following short video of my boys was shot using the Olloclip.

I’m a huge fan of wide angle photography, so I was really excited about this lens.  I’ve also been surprised how often I use the fisheye for photography if shooting in square format (Hipstamatic, Instagram, etc).  I received a lot of questions on social media about the lens and I promised a review after I had enough time to know if I would continue using it or if it was a gimmick that I stopped using after a week – it is not.  I took it out to shoot areas around Chesapeake and Norfolk, VA and was impressed with the images I was getting with the lens and iPhone 4S camera.  Two weeks later, I took my first trip ever to NYC for my birthday at the beginning of this month and I chose to take my iPhone as my main camera (I also carried a Polaroid SX-70 that I took about 30 shots with).  You can see how below how much fun I had without all the gear to carry around – I was able to see a ton of NYC in just a day and a half.  I have printed the images and am very happy with the quality and look I was able to get using apps on my iPhone and this $70 lens.  It was a very freeing experience.  It is interesting to note how much I was able to pay attention to what was around me because I wasn’t bogged down by gear and the need to overshoot every scene.  I also think the images are stronger because of the way that I looked at the city and being forced to be creative in the ways I could capture it.

Needless to say, the Olloclip has found a welcome spot in my pocket or bag.  There are not many days that I do not have easy access to it.  I would probably leave it on my phone if it had a button that would push down to turn my phone off.  I hope this non-technical review helps you understand how this lens could be useful.  If you shoot a lot of photos on your iPhone 4 or 4s, this will give you a lot more options.  Feel free to ask more detailed questions is you have any.

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Dino And Domi Ride The Norfolk Tide

Both of my boys like trains, but Dino really likes them. This Christmas we introduced him to Polar Express. I wasn’t sure what he would think because he is only 2.5 years old, but the next day I heard him muttering about losing his ticket. We quickly made him his own golden “Ticket to Ride” and he carried it around with him. The day after Christmas we decided we needed an outing.

This year Nofolk, VA finished their light rail system called The Tide and one of the few stops is just over a mile from our house. We jumped in the car and headed up to ride The Tide to the MacArthur mall so the kids could play on the playscape inside.. This iPhone video captures their ride.

For those interested in the footage, it was all captured on my iPhone using an Olloclip lens. It is a wonderful piece of photographic equipment for the iPhone that allows you to shoot Wide Angle, Fisheye, and Macro. Check the link to learn more. I bought mine at Best Buy because the Apple store was sold out.

Music
“Night Lights” by Learning Music (http://www.learningmusicmonthly.com/)

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An Interview with Michael Pritchard, Inventor of the Lifesaver Bottle.

Yesterday I had the privilege of interviewing Michael Pritchard, the inventor of the Lifesaver Bottle, for an upcoming video that Operation Blessing is putting together to show how we are using his technology to bring clean water to remote areas of the world. Not only was it great to be able to interview him, but it was also fun to create an atmosphere for the interview in our office space.

I had a few ideas going into the shoot about using black and the striking yellow Lifesaver jerrycans, but creative juices started flowing as I inspected the space. One piece in particular caught my eye and  changed our “set” for the better. It was an old light table that is usually unused and in our way. It became my third light source and put an interesting aura under the jerrycans. But lighting aside…let’s talk about the Lifesaver technology.

As an employee of Operation Blessing, I spend quite a bit of time out in the field and have had the privilege of using and distributing Lifesaver bottles and jerrycans. Their ultra filtration system removes viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other waterborne pathogens. It was great to hear his story about the creation of the Lifesaver systems and his goal to end water poverty. I thought I would use this inspiration to talk a little bit about my hands-on experience with Mr. Pritchard’s Lifesaver systems.

I carry a Lifesaver bottle with me on every trip I take because I never know what situation I will be in where I won’t have access to safe drinking water. Even when I have access to water in a hotel room overseas, it isn’t always safe for drinking. I’ve saved a ton of money by avoiding the expensive bottled water provided in hotel rooms. In disaster scenarios, it can be even more crucial. I used it daily when our team was in Haiti right after the earthquake and helped distribute Lifesaver jerrycans during the cholera outbreak. Operation Blessing was able to deliver safe water to the hardest to reach places because these systems are small enough to pack into 4 wheel drive SUVs that can handle the worst terrains.

Because the Lifesaver jerrycans are so portable, we were able to give one to every family in the water-locked village of Luben. They were completely surround by the cholera-infested water and these systems were a real “life saver” for this and other communities in the area that were unreachable with larger purification systems. Having been back to the village of Luben, months after the outbreak of cholera, I heard firsthand from villagers, like Wilna, who are using their Lifesaver Jerrycans daily to protect their families from the cholera that is still in the river where they get water. (See her video story below.)

Even though I am currently in the US and don’t personally have to worry too much about the water I am drinking, I don’t forget about the people who are less fortunate.  It was truly great to hear the passion that Michael Pritchard brings to his innovative technology because he cares about others and wants to bring a solution to this water crisis that over 1 billion people face. 

You can learn more about how the Lifesaver technology works at http://www.lifesaverusa.com/
To make a donation to Operation Blessing to give this technology to families in need, Click here.

Videos:
Waterlocked Village In Haiti Battles Cholera With Clean Water

Wilna’s Story – Surrounded By Death: Cholera in Haiti’s Waters

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My Father’s Day

Photo credit: Heidi Cece
Edited on the road using a 1st generation iPad with Snapseed app.

I was so excited to be with my wife and boys on Father’s Day! My wife and I had dropped them off with their grandparents in Michigan for a week that ended up becoming two because I had to go back to Joplin, MO for work. The trip to Joplin was really worthwhile because we were blessing a family with a completely renovated and furnished home (very much like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).

After two weeks away, I started to wonder how the boys would respond to seeing us again? Would they reject us? As you can see in the photo above, it was a wonderful reunion. I’m a very blessed man. I have a great wife, family, and job.

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Traveling light with my SX-70, G10, & iPhone.

So after I wrote the title it didn’t seem as light as I thought…I guess the lack of camera bags, lenses, hours of packing, and the little space they take up in my satchel allow me to feel ok about my choice in title. I’m on a short weekend trip with my familty and it wasn’t necessary to bring the “big guns” with me (In fact, I’m editing the photos and the blog on my iPhone at different points during our travels today). It is very freeing to have not have to worry about choosing what lenses to bring and leave behind – and there are times it can be a real struggle for me to let go and put lenses back onto the shelf. My brain tries to justify bringing all the lenses because “you just might need it.” In all honesty, there have been very few times that I’ve felt that or couldn’t accomplish what I wanted by getting closer or further away. It usually is laziness that starts that little bird chirping in my head.

But here’s the most important part about getting away from that type of thinking, it keeps me from exploring the creative options available with the tools I do have available.

When I stop worrying about what I don’t have or could’ve gotten with another lens I start to focus on creative ways to frame the shot differently or use blocking techniques to hide unwanted objects in the frame and always come away with more options than I would’ve had if I was able to get the one shot I originally envisioned.

When I’m not obsessing about the right gear, I can also focus on capturing moments. That is really important if I am shooting journalistic style memories. Not only are natural moments fleeting, but they are easier to capture without the obtrusive size of my larger cameras – especially when shooting photos of my own children. Bringing out my SLR is like hitting the off button on whatever moment is happening in front of me and if it doesn’t stop it, the moment is often over by the time I switch to the right lens for the occasion.

Lately we’ve been inundated with the idea that the Best camera is the one you have with you – and I am totally behind that theory and the use of the iPhone as a creative tool. In this same vain, we can use the limited tools we have to get beyond the creative blocks that occur when you allow ‘what you don’t have’ to limit your options.

There are many great ways to take a picture of the same object. Explore them. Explore the light, and angles with fixed lens options or cameras. How can you have fun and create something worth sharing? Let’s start creating!

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Really Questioning Things

I’ve wasted another day troubleshooting my Apple computer at work and the evening working on my MacMini that I just fixed a few months ago. It’s really brought me back to a place I was earlier in the year after spending a month in Haiti serving the people just days after the earthquake.

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One Small Step Forward

This drawing is not a unique idea, in fact it uses many of the same techniques as the drawing in my first post (just yesterday). What is different about this piece is the base layer. I am a scooter owner and enthusiast, so I used one of my scooter photographs I took with my iPhone on a recent trip to India as my starting point. I used Tiffen’s iPhone app, PhotoFX, to create an outline version of the photo in black and white. I used about 7 different filter layers to get it to the point I could use it to start my drawing. The last step in PhotoFX was the pencil drawing tool. See the process and final image below.

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Back to the drawing board

I find myself back at the creative drawing board looking for inspiration anywhere I can hope to find it. Unfortunately, my searching has left me empty handed and envious of the creativity I’ve seen elsewhere. I’ve become a consumer instead of a producer. The rut I’ve dug is very deep and has filled my head with questions. How can I take my passion for photography and video to new creative levels? How do I go beyond the rigid levels of safety I’ve begun to subject my work to? Where is the motivation to continue creating when there is much better work being created? These questions freeze me before I even begin a project.

Enter the iPad. It has many limitations, but it also opens creative avenues for expression that weren’t available to me before. It has the potential to spark my creativity like the iPhone did for my photography. This time it is a little different. While I have lost a bit of creative interest in the flooded photography market, I’ve become very intrigued by the possibilities I’m seeing for mixed mediums using the iPad drawing tools and photo apps. So far I’ve only begun to delve into the art software, but I’ve already mixed apps and loaded images to use as a base for the art I’m creating. I’m hoping this will bring back some of my creative interest in photography.

I plan to load some photos onto the iPad this weekend so that i can begin layering them with the drawing apps to create some interesting pieces.

The piece I’ve attached to this post is called: We All Are HOPE To Someone.
I used Qvik Sketch to start it, TypeDrawing to fill it in, Filterstorm to crop it, and Qvik Sketch to dirty it up some more.

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St. Marc, Haiti 2008

Day 4 of our trip to Haiti is almost done. Kumar went out with Humedica today to administer medical relief in the rural village of ….. I stayed back at the hotel to compress video footage and put it on our FTP server so that team members in America can take a look at it and use it for their news and packaged stories. I also uploaded audio files of interviews and pictures that could accompany any possible print stories. It was very stressful. The Internet in Haiti is not very fast. I was averaging upload speeds of 25KB/s, which meant that I had to really compress our video footage in order to get it on the server…but it still needed to be HD. After two unsuccessful attempts at compresion settings, I had the footage to a manageable 130MB. This took about 1.5 hours to upload. The other interesting factor was that you could only access wifi down on the patio by the pool and there was only one location with an outlet. Anyway, I think both videos uploaded ok.

We drove back to Port Au Prince in the afternoon, but made a quick stop at Water Missions to help unload our water purification unit. Once it was unloaded, we finalized plans for the journey tomorrow and went to the hotel where I was reunited with my luggage. It wasn’t that easy, but it’s not worth explaining on this blog. After an hour and a little more hassle, my luggage was finally here! Kumar and I enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner (our first “real” meal in two days) and then I immediately grabbed my swimsuit and went in the gorgeous pool at the hotel. The hotel is very nice and has many ammenities that we Americans take for granted (A/C, hot water, properly sealed windows, comfortable mattress, etc). The Internet is the only thing that is lacking and that appears to be caused by the weather. This happened the first night we stayed in Port Au Prince as well.

After my swim I went to the restaurant to grab a coke and struck up a conversation with another gentleman, Dan, who was here watching the Georgia football game. He is an American who has done humanitarian work in Haiti for 8 years. He was a wealth of information about the culture and people of Haiti. I am fascinated by the Haitian people more and more every day that I am here.

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Podcast setup

We are starting to do a podcast at work and I have been commissioned to take it under my wing.  I personally own the tools I need to do it, so I prefer to use my equipment until we get something comparable at work.  Because many of the people I will interview are in other states and countries, I am using Skype along with Call Recorder to host and record the interviews.  This was the setup I used while at home.  I did a similar setup at work, but without the Mac Pro.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/1650234]

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