Back to the Future of Photography

June 22, 2011

The smartphone has become the camera of choice for millions of people. While the image quality of early cell phone cameras was often marginal at best, the cameras included in many phones today (such as the iPhone 4 and Android phones) rival or even exceed many dedicated compact point-and-shoot cameras. So now that we have smartphones capable of taking crisp, clear, well-exposed photographs, what is the major trend in phone photography? Making those crisp, clear photos look like they were taken with an old film camera!

If you spend any time on photo sharing sites like Flickr or peruse Tumblr blogs, you have seen these retro-style photos. From the beginning of the digital camera age, photographers have been using image-editing software like Photoshop to recreate film cameras and film processing effects. However, this approach is typically time-consuming and requires a rather in-depth knowledge of image editing software.

Enter apps like FxCamera, Hipstamatic and Instagram. These apps allow your digital smartphone camera to emulate a wide range of film cameras and effects. I just took this digital photo. Let's take a look at the possibilities.

Want to "shake it like a Polaroid picture?" 

Longing for a Lomo?

Craving cross-processing?

Want some Weegee?

Now, there's no need to scrounge for hard to find obsolete film formats or long gone items like flash cubes. You don't need a huge collection of classic cameras. Just pull out your cell phone and go back to the future.

-Jeff D.
Grandview Branch