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There's money in that there App Store!
If you're after a simple point, click, auto edit type of functionality, this is possibly a great little application for you. If you're after any degree of control over your editing, you're likely to be a little disappointed by it. Especially given its source... Here's my review/opinion for what it's worth.
Chase has long been established as not only a very good photographer, but a master in the use of new media for self promotion. has even given lectures for aspiring photographers, both professional and amateur, illustrating in quite some depth how he has gone about using tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, You Tube etc etc.
His latest venture, is the release of a new application to the iPhone with an accompanying book. This is being heavily promoted from the get go on Facebook and twitter and getting a very large response both in terms of people downloading the abdication and followers pre-ordering the book. Plus of course snapping and posting away, which is always a good thing.
Now at this point, I want to make something very clear. I'm in no way criticising his approach, as often use similar approaches myself. But, I do wonder if there comes a point where by the very approach one uses to market one's self (and let's be honest, it's for financial gain in the end) starts to have the opposite effect. I question this because I am seeing it with a number of heavy self publicists within the social media who are starting to irritate their followers by the continued onslaught of their messages.
First of all, something which grated me personally was the fact that he has trademarked the saying "the best camera is the one that is with you". Why does this grate me? Two very simple reasons - Firstly it implies it was some kind of idea or concept that he created with some kind of unique intellectual property; the second simple reason is that I have been using it for years and long before I had even heard of Chase Jarvis. And I'm pretty certain that I didn't make it up either. Although I couldn't tell you where I picked it up from if I didn't. I must clarify that my phrasing has always been somewhat different "The best camera in the world is the one that you have with you". And no, I won't be TM'ing that...
So, having got that gripe out of the way, what about the application itself?
Well on the surface of it, it looks like a really good idea and concept with masses of potential as Chase has apparently deeply researched the photography applications currently available from the iPhone, identified where they have fallen short, an integrated a new approach within his new application. Plus integrated the ability to instantly publish these images to your chosen social media - What's even more amazing, is that when it is published to your, well let's say Facebook account, it come pre formatted for you and looks like this... [You can change this apparently - Commenter below let me know - Thanks Dartanyon]
[Clarified by Dartanyon for me - Thanks!]
Obviously there is no reason why you would want to have your own title or gallery name within your own photo gallery. Why have a title of your own for your very own photo when you can have "Photo from Chase Jarvis' Best Camera" instead! This way you can have thousands of uploaded iPhone pics all saying the same thing, in the same place. And all with Chase Jarvis' name plastered all over them. Sorry, but this alone is a show stopper for me...
Before you get to the point of sharing (interesting omission of Flickr in there - Future aspirations perhaps? - you course first have to create. And like all other iPhone photography applications, you have a very nice little 'camera' button provided for you. Click, asked if you want to use the image or take another and then your rapidly returned to the app to start your editing.
Now before I give my commentary and opinion on the functionality, here's the enthusiastic demo from from Chase himself on YouTube...
As I eluded to in my opening paragraph - If all you are after is a simplistic easy to use, pretty much automated application for your iPhone then you'll probably really like this one - assuming the included enforced self publicity associated with sharing your images from it doesn't turn you off. [See comment below]
If however, like me, you're interested in a bit more control over your images, this I am afraid is likely to frustrate you. At least in it's initial form as no doubt there will be updates coming as feedback is received and digested. Why - Well, here's the key issues I have:
So, there you have it. I'm not impressed to be honest from such a "world renowned" photographer. It feels rushed and smells a little of cashing in from a fan base, especially given that the people who will initially buy it are individuals like me who are passionate about photography and have followed Chase and his work for a while. The whole, 'Chase designed it? - it must rock!' expectation just isn't lived up to. And the enforced 'self' publication on my images and profile is just plain unacceptable form a commercial application.
Expectation 10/10 : Reality of use 4/10 5/10
I'm disappointed! But, don't let that stop you giving it a go. I'm sure it will improve with time. And it is cheap.
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 09-10 Race Viewer 'Uniquely Singapore'
The yachts’ positions will be plotted every three hours as they race across the world’s oceans. You can see the winds they’re expecting to encounter, get expert commentary from the Race Office and replay the race so far. More
OK - So here is the latest update from 'our' Sally on the delivery leg of the Clipper Round the World Race 09-10... Apart from here, you can also read her updates on her squarespace account or of course her very own blog here with us at Ginkgo Studios...
Never in my life have I been so keen to arrive in Grimsby!
Grimsby lock, although it didn't look like that when we arrived.
It can hardly be reassuring when the Race Director tells you that the last couple of days will prove to be ideal experience for what will be faced in the Southern Ocean, and we were only off the coast of bloody Norfolk! I'm just glad the wind was with us, all 50kts of it. Remember the image from 'The Perfect Storm'? It looked like that!
Yep, yacht delivery from Gosport to Grimsby was an interesting one. With a gale force 10 predicted Skipper Jim went for a storm jib set up with a 3 reef mainsail (check me out with my nautical lingo!) i.e. a tiny sail at the front and the mainsail tied down to it's smallest triangle. All seemed alarmingly calm, a bit of chop, some rain, nothing too untoward....
Reaching Lowestoft by nightfall and we felt like a mouse tip-toeing amongst sleeping giants. A fleet of anchored tankers waiting patiently for fuel or cargo. A skippers' nightmare, especially when latecomers begin drifting through the overwhelming array of deck and nav lights. Cautious sailing ensued.
Out the other side and we're off again up the coast past my favourite seaside town of Great Yarmouth. The sky darkens all the more; the barometer needle continues to drop, as does the temperature inside my wellington boots. My feet were blocks of ice attached to the bottom of my slowly freezing legs. And then it came, the monster storm.
I'd love to say we saw lightening, heard the crack of distant thunder but no, the North Sea gives you no such spectacular light show. Instead we had grey, wet, freezing and miserable. The sea spray, an instant sandblast. The puddles, an excellent and effective method of numbing your bum cheeks and drenching you right through to your knickers. Huddled in the cockpit I don't think there were many of the crew that didn't feel nauseous, and any excuse to disappear below, even if it's to feel sick in the galley rather than sick on deck. It became a welcome opportunity to get out of the cold. I think I lost half a stone through shivering alone.
By the time we reached the Humber estuary we'd blown the reefing line, lashed and stitched the mainsail to the boom and tended to a crewmate who'd fallen down the companionway and hurt her back. Welcome to the North!
It's so wet crewmate Jen inflates prematurely!
We eventually arrived in Grimsby in time to get through the lock, moor up and hit the Cruising Association clubhouse for pie and peas. And like I said before I have never been so pleased to get there!
Crew quote for the week....
"We came, we saw, we delivered!"
Now it's party weekend before the start of the race next week. Repairs to be done, stocks to be replenished, clubhouse to be drunk dry. Shame I won't be here to enjoy it, or the race start. They'll be tears tomorrow as I say good bye to the crews, many of whom I probably won't see again.
It's been a life-changing summer. For many it will be life-changing 10 months. I'm starting to wish I was going now....
Singapore Sal x
As Sally Kettle nears the end of the delivery leg of the Clipper Round the World Race, here is a recent article from the official web site...
"Due to favourably strong southerly winds the Clipper fleet is speeding towards the Humber, as each of the ten competitors put their newly learned skills to the test to win the Pilgrim Race to Grimsby. The inaugural 175-nautical mile race from the UK’s south coast to the Humber is taking the form of a time trial and Clipper Race Director, Joff Bailey, explains the format.
“The Pilgrim Race is a time trial race, similar to the time trials that the cyclists complete in the Tour de France,” says Joff. “We have chosen a start gate near Ramsgate and a finish gate near the entrance to the Humber, a short distance from Donna Nook Firing Range. The difference between a sailing time trial race and a cycling race is that the skippers of the yachts can choose when they want to cross the starting line so as to
benefit from the best wind strengths and angles.
“This is a very tactical race and so the skippers and crews have had to study the forecast and choose the optimum time to cross the start line. The winner is not the yacht that takes line honours but the team with the lowest elapsed time. So we will not know who the winner is until the last yacht has crossed the finish line, which will most likely be early afternoon on Thursday,” he added.
The pressure will be on for Hull & Humber to win the relatively short race into their home port and the skipper and crew made the decision to delay their start until midday today in order to benefit from move favourable wind and tide conditions. They were joined by six others with only Team Finland, Spirit of Australia and Uniquely Singapore opting for an earlier start.
Speaking from Hull & Humber this morning, Piers said, “The crew is really excited and we hope that our decision to wait it out will pay off. The weather is nicely set and we plan to cross the start line around midday when the tides are at their most favourable. We could have gone for it six hours earlier but the wind wouldn’t have been as good. I’m confident we’ve made the best decision.”
The forecasted weather is expected to deliver some fast sailing conditions up the North Sea, with strong southerly winds of more than 30 knots propelling the fleet north at speeds of up to 18 knots. These favourable conditions have meant that the fleet is now expected to arrive in Grimsby onThursday afternoon and will begin to lock in to the Marina at Grimsby Docks from 16:30 BST.
In celebration of their arrival, a reception is being organised by North East Lincolnshire Council to formally welcome the 200 crew members to the port and to present the Pilgrim Cup to the winning team on the evening of Friday 4 September.
Over the weekend of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September the public will have access to a viewing point overlooking Humber Cruising Association’s marina, where the boats will be moored. There will be live music, stalls and fairground attractions and with the boats decked out with flags and banners it promises to be a lively and colourful occasion. The open days will run from 10:00 to 16:00 BST on Saturday and from 12:00 to 19:00 BST on Sunday. The public are also invited to attend a multi-faith service between 09:00 and 10:00 BST on Sunday."
Text and image from the British Journal of Photography Online
Leica has revealed the full specifications for its S2 camera, first announced at last year's Photokina trade show in Germany, and set to hit UK stores in October.
The first model of an entirely new system, designed to fill a gap between DSLR versatility and medium format's superior image quality, the S2 will be launched with a set of new specially designed lenses - although it seems only two will be available at launch, with a further two to follow by the end of the year, and a further four announced but not yet given arrival times.
Leica is making big claims for the camera, which has a basic body-only price of just under £16,000. 'The decisive advantage of the S2 is in the sum of its features: flexibility, durability and easy operation, combined with industry-leading resolution and image quality,' says the company in a statement. 'The S2 outperforms other camera systems in the medium format category, setting a completely new standard for quality.'
Continue reading "British Journal of Photography - All go on new Leica system" »
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