12 of 12 (v6.0) - January

Firstly - this is almost on time!

Secondly - November's, December's and the end of year review are all now posted.

Thirdly - towards the end of last year, I downloaded the Hipstamatic app for iPhone (I'd gone looking for the Rightmove one, and iTunes were doing their own 2010 review, with this as one of the best). I thought I'd seen some US photographer Blogs I follow, using it, so I thought I'd try.

It actually creates some awesome photos. Vintage feel, grungey, colour boosted or faded, funky borders (you'll see soon...). So as this 12 was a workday one and I wanted to leave my big camera at home, I went for a Hipstamatic 12 of 12. Hope you enjoy!

No times, as used iPhone. As you can change lens and film, I have put the info down as:

Lens
Film
Flash (if any)

1) My flat, Lewisham, London

My favourite skirt. Odd angle due to it using the mirror in my wardrobe.

Lucifer VI
BlacKeys B+W

2) My flat, Lewisham, London

My snowflake necklace - gets compliments every year. I was meant to go to a work Christmas party one year, so needed a dress, shoes, etc. I had no enthusiasm and only ended up with the necklace (from Next). I tend to wear it from about October to February.

Lucifer VI
BlacKeys B+W

3) DLR to Canary Wharf, London

Reading The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell, a new Scandinavian crime writer I've tried (new to me, I mean). Featuring Detective Kurt Wallander.

Jimmy
Ina's 1969

4) My office, Canary Wharf, London

Making a call. This is one of those films where the edges are different, as I mentioned in the intro.

Lucifer VI
Kodot XGrizzled

5) My office, Canary Wharf, London

Going down in the lift, to get a Starbucks outside. The lift is either your friend and doesn't stop, or you end up on one of those trips where someone for almost each floor gets in with you, and therefore the journey takes forever. Going down isn't usually as bad as going up.

John S
Alfred Infrared

6) Starbucks Canada Place, Canary Wharf, London

Getting my caramel hot chocolate, and a survey to fill in from the manager. Bit of a different composition of the photo this time (see my end comments about using the app), rather than my standard Starbucks cup photo.

John S
Alfred Infrared

7) My office, Canary Wharf, London

My workplace!

John S
Alfred Infrared

8) My office, Canary Wharf, London

Writing down a mini to do list on a Post-It.

John S
Kodot XGrizzled

9) My office, Canary Wharf, London

Taking minutes during a lunchtime telco.

Roboto Glitter
Ina's 1969
Berry Pop flash

10) Elverson Road DLR, Lewisham, London

On my way back to the flat.

Roboto Glitter
Ina's 1969

11) My flat, Lewisham, London

I used my Christmas money towards a Wii and Wii Fit, and I've done it every day since getting it (once for about 30 minutes when I tried before work, but usually 45-75 minutes in an evening). Here's day 14!

John S
Ina's 1969

12) My flat, Lewisham, London

I forgot to photo my meal, but as I had Wii Fitted a long time, I didn't feel like cooking, so had Quorn dippers with curly fries and mayo. Yes, undoing the Wii Fit and then some... But here's the arty photo afterwards (like another one I once took).

Check out the frame on this too - has a date added, 30 years ago.

John S
BlacKeys B+W
Berry Pop flash

Bonus - My flat, Lewisham, London

What I'm reading at the moment in bed (the Wallander book is a DLR commute read, as are two e-books I have on the Kindle app for iPhone). Charlaine Harris' omnibus of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. Good stuff.

John S
Kodot XGrizzled

So yes, the app is funky. It says "wiping off lens" when you first open it, then "warming up transistors" after you change a lens or film. You have to wait while it saves the photo. And if you flick the flash switch, you hear it whine as it heats up, just like an old camera. Though the viewfinder is small and deceptive - which easily leads to heads being cropped off for example, or you think you've got something in the middle of the photo, and it ends up being bottom right. Leads to some new compositions, as you saw with the Starbucks photo.

That's your lot this month - I'd love to hear what you thought of this Hipstamatic set. Thanks to Chad for hosting, you for reading, and make sure to check everyone else's posts out!

See you next month :-)