My Top 5 Camera Apps

Ever wanted to take a photo and curse your decision to leave your camera at home? If you've got a smartphone, you don't have to worry because you can use it to get the photographs you need! To quote Chase Jarvis, "the best camera is the one with you." Remember that the camera is a tool to capture images. It doesn't matter if you have an expensive camera or a camera phone--as long as you get the perfect shot, your image will work.

Last weekend, I was in Boracay to cover the Century Superbods competition. But during my downtime, I didn't want to bring my SLR around because it was too heavy and I didn't want to get neck strain. So I opted to use my iPhone for taking photos.

Nowadays, smartphones are not uncommon. Here are some camera applications on my phone that I suggest you try.

1. Hipstamatic - iOS only
Price: $1.99

This is my camera application of choice. Yes, you have to buy it, but the P100 payment is worth it. If you want the free version, I suggest you get the D Series application. I like this app because, for me, the most difficult image to frame is a square frame, and it challenges me to frame my images properly.

Another thing I like about this app is that I can interchange the lens I use and the film I use. By interchanging the lens and film, you get a different image every time and the effects
you get are different for every frame and film. If your phone has a built-in flash, you can also change its color. It gives your digital images an analog feel. Also, just like analog cameras, your images tend to be unpredictable.

2. Pudding Camera - iOS and Android
Price: Free

I love the Pudding Camera application because there are a lot of options with this app. You can choose your camera of choice and the film you want to use. If you are into lomography, I think this is the best camera application you can use because it has options like Motion 4 and fisheye.

3. Pixlr o matic - iOS and Android
Price: Free

Pixlr o matic is one of the apps I love to use to add effects to my photo. A great thing about it is that it stylizes your image, giving it a vintage feel. There is a wide variety to choose from, and I'm sure you'll have a blast trying out different effects.

4. Instagram - iOS and Android
Price: Free

Here is an application that makes photo sharing easier. After all, it was bought by Mark Zuckerberg, and it's easy to see why--you can definitely see this app's potential. Instagram provides different kinds of effects, and with just one click of a button, you can share your photos right away. You can also use this app to view your friends' photos.

5. Little Photo - Android
Price: Free

This is a good alternative for the Hipstamatic application in iOS. It's a breeze to swipe through effects you can apply to your photos. Another good thing is that it can be used with mid-level android phones.

(Photos by Mike Dee unless otherwise indicated. All photos were taken using smartphones.)