Greetings everyone. Hope everyone is staying warm and healthy. Up here in Alaska it’s been very windy lately, especially in the Valley (Wasilla). Winds gusting up to 60 mph & higher! And it has been doing this for several days in a row now. This usually happens 2-3 times a year, usually in early/mid/late winter.
I headed up north yesterday (Saturday), to photography some southern views of the Alaska Range and Denali again. This time I had company – again, it’s always about the people we meet along the way. I was joined by Scott Slone from Alaska HDTV. Here are some links to his work.
Great guy, passionate about his art & very tech savvy. It was fascinating watching a professional cinematographer at work. He travels light and usually works with a very small crew (read: 2-3!) and yet produces beautiful and inspiring footage and shows that most big production companies would be envious of. As soon as you get a chance (that means, as soon as you’re done here 
) I highly advise that you check out alaskahdtv.com and watch a couple (or all…) of their shows. If they don’t get you excited about visiting or traveling within Alaska – you may want to check your pulse.
The high winds stirred too much glacial silt into the air at my usual locations, and obscured a clear view of the Alaska Range. Rather than heading home empty handed, I shifted my focus from the grand landscapes to the minute – those of ice formations. I love these kinds of exercises, macro work for me is very relaxing – more contemplative. It’s difficult to go on a shoot without any preconceptions, especially with something like Denali and the Alaska Range looming just a few miles away. It’s all about keeping an open mind and understanding that there are thousands of shots (if not more) all around you if you remember to keep your eyes open.
Ice Patterns on Frozen River, Alaska
“But Dave. What’s this? A new logo?”
Guess you’ll have to stick around to find out more in the future. It’s an exciting endeavor though, and I hope you’ll be a part of it!
And now on to the feature presentation!
iPhone Apps for Photographers
The iPhone has changed how I run my business, how I live my life & how I interact with others. Yes, I’m an Apple Fan Boy. Guilty as charged. Apple is one of those rare companies that listens to it’s patrons and answers their questions with stunning results and amazing technology. The iPhone has been out for a couple years now – since January of 2007. But what really created the paradigm shift was the App Store. Apps designed by everyone, from large design studios down to 1 man/woman shows. Apps designed that have real uses – and as photographers, there are a plethora of options. A veritable buffet. A smorgasbord of choices… ok, I’ll stop.
Here’s a list and explanation of the iPhone Apps I use in my work. Some are specific to photography, some aren’t – but all are game changers. These are not photo manipulation apps, these are resource type apps.
The main iPhone screen upon startup
What can I say? I love this app! Evernote is a multi-platform tool and is a very versatile note-taking tool. I use it to take all of my mobile notes; text, photo, voice. One of the great things about this app is that it syncs with “the cloud” whenever you get back into 3G service (or immediately, if you are already there). Evernote is also a web app. So you can see/edit/organize your notes from any internet connected computer. You can also install their free desktop app that syncs with “the cloud” as well. It’s a very flexible app and can be used any way you want to. I use it for jotting down my writing ideas, and for major writing projects (because it is always backed up). You can install a plug-in for Firefox, Safari, and Explorer that allow you to keep still clips of anything on the web with the push of a button. Have an article (like this one?) that you really want to read, but don’t have the time right now. Easy, just click the Evernote Clipper button in your web browser to save a copy to your Evernote desktop app. It’s also immediately available on your iPhone as well (as long as you have a web connection). Leaving your laptop at home, but you might have access to a coffee shop or internet cafe with community computers? It’s available immediately through the Evernote web app! Really a great tool, for photographers and mortals alike. Free app.
What can I say? Weather forecasters & weatherpeople in general, are the only people that can be soooo wrong soooo often and still come back for work the next day. Weather apps are exactly the same. I have a couple loaded on my iPhone all the same. I tend to look at them all and then average the forecasts for a location. All apps free.
Astromo - the Ephemeris Screen
I honestly don’t use this app as much as I used to (see the next app), but I do check out the Ephemeris screen from time to time – simply because it has planetary data such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn. I don’t use it a whole lot. For $9.99, I would recommend skipping this app, as Focalware (see below) offers much more.
Focalware
This is my go to data center for sunrise/set & moonrise/set data. As I don’t trust the built in digital compass on my iPhone, I first orient the iphone with my real Suunto compass. Just set you current location or any other location and immediately view the sun/moon rise/set data for that location at the bottom of the screen. Need to see where the sun or moon will be at any time above the horizon for that location? Just drag the sun/moon on the dial to match the time of the day you are interested in and WAMMO, that’s where it will be. It also displays the elevation above the horizon and (if it’s the sun) the length of the shadow or (if it’s the moon) the phase it is in, in percentage of fullness. You can create your own list of locations to have easy access to frequently visited spots. Just click the “+” or “-” buttons near the top of the screen to adjust dates. This is a great app & I highly recommend it. $9.99
iBird
iBird Explorer Western
I haven’t supplied a link here, because the designer has 9 options available. Just do an iTunes search for iBird & choose the option that works for you. I purchased the regional version “iBird Explorer Western” for $9.99. I am not an ornithologist, by any stretch of the imagination. But this app really helps with that. When I see a bird that I don’t recognize (which is a lot up here in Alaska 
) I just use the search function in the app. Enter whatever details you can identify: location, shape, size, the habitat you are in, colors (primary & secondary), bill shape/length, wing shape… well, you get the picture. Put as many details in as you can and the app will narrow down the possibilities, then give you the option to view photos/drawings to aid your identification. Once you I.D. a bird, you can view a map of it’s typical range, how to identify it further, sample photos, sample audio tracks of the bird’s call, facts and a link to it’s Birdipedia entry. Lots of data here, useful for anyone with an interest in our winged friends. There is a “Backyard” version that costs $4.99 and the regional versions all run $9.99. There is also a “Plus” & “Pro” version available for $19.99 & $29.99 respectively.
Anti-Apps
There is also a great built in feature on the iPhone that many users forget is there. The “Bookmark” feature that adds a web link to your iPhone desktop. I use this feature to have immediate access to specialty websites such as webcams that offer live views of scenic places throughout Alaska, I can get a feel for how the weather is shaping up in real time, before I get there. I also use this feature for a quick access to the University of Alaska, Fairbanks GEDDS website that provides updates on solar activity that helps predict the aurora borealis.
A suggestion? Please, someone develop a “SPOT” like app for the iPhone – a personal tracker that automatically syncs with Google maps and utilizes the gps built into the iPhone. Don’t make me buy another device to have to carry and pack, build it in. Hikers and backcountry enthusiasts like the reassurance of the SPOT gps tracking device, and so do their loved ones. This tool would work best if it would automatically activate (at an interval set by the iPhone owner) to “check in” with loved ones back home. The gps location could be sent through an email or available through Google Maps either on a desktop or another mobile device. It could also automatically send a message as waypoints are met. In trouble and need emergency services, just click a button on your screen to send them your location. Why isn’t this available yet?
Desktop Apps
The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) by Stephen Trainor
This is a great melding of technology. It’s an ephemeris built into Google Maps! Great for researching any location world wide to plot sun & moon locations throughout the day, for any day. I’m still getting a feel for all that is available in this program – but it is very powerful & easy to use. I received an email from Stephen Trainor back in May, when I first started trying out an earlier beta (it has now gone out of beta and is fully released!) letting me know that he was going to be working on an iPhone version as well. Can’t wait to see how that turns out.
The only downside to this program is that it requires an internet connection to run. I have found a workaround, it takes some time, but has worked well for me. Plot each date & location you are interested in, then use your favorite screen grab program (I use “Grab”, built into every Apple) to capture the data as a picture and save it as a jpeg. Then just have a folder of those images on your iPhone so you can recheck your data on the road.
I would also love to see this technology expanded to the sky. True, there are many programs that do this (I use Stellarium), but I don’t want to see the sky projected on a generic landscape, I want to see how “the stars will align” over MY landscape. Very useful for predicting planetary alignments and Milky Way photography, as well as constellations. That’s right Stephen, it’s time for version 2.0 . The Photographer’s Ephemeris is free, runs on Adobe AIR, and is HIGHLY recommended.
Alright, so there’s my list. Did I miss something? I’d love to hear what you are using. Please comment below and help the photographic community.
Hi David,
Great list. I’ll be checking these out.
What’s your favorite iPhone app for storing and accessing files on your iPhone (as you describe for offline access of JPEGs for Ephemeris)?
Many thanks!
Rik
Thank Rik, glad to be of help! Great question! Couple of options, I’m on a mac computer as well, so you can import the photos into a new folder in iPhoto & then sync those photos to your iPhone through iTunes. Just be sure to keep the image size at a reasonably small size, large image files (file size) can cause the iPhone photo album app to slow down or even crash. The other option would be to use an app like “Files”. With “Files” (or a similar app) you can transfer any supported file type (pdf’s, movies, jpegs, etc.) to your “Files” app for viewing.
Another great trick that is built into the iPhone is the screen capture. You could do all of your research on your iPhone, and then whenever you have a screen that you need to save for future viewing when you aren’t connected to 3G, Edge, or wifi service – just review your iPhone screen grab. All you need to do is press the narrow silver button on top of the iPhone and hit the main button on the bottom front of the iPhone. If you do it right, you’ll hear a camera shutter sound and the screen will flash. Then the new screen grab photo you just created will be in your iPhone’s “Camera Roll” Photo Album.
David,
Thanks again for the very complete answer. I was not aware of the iPhone screen capture!
Rik
My pleasure Rik, let me know if you have any other questions.
Star Walk and pUniverse are great sky watching apps. Each a little better than the other in some areas.
Both feature augmented reality viewing – so point your phone at the sky, and what you are looking at is identified on the screen. Star Walk actually gives over-laid images of the constellations.
Thanks Mark – I downloaded Star Walk. What a great app! I’m hoping we’ll see some clear skies soon so I can put it through it’s paces. Great suggestion.
Just wanted to comment on the pic…it’s beautiful. Ice is fascninating stuff. As for the iphone? I’m still not in the 21st century…but Verizon is adding the iphone next year so I may re-visit this post.:)