Hipstamatic
Encyclopedia
Hipstamatic is a digital photography
application for the Apple iPhone
. It uses the iPhone's camera to allow the user to shoot square photographs, to which it applies a number of software filters
in order to make the images look as though they were taken with an antique film camera. The user can choose among a number of effects which are presented in the application as "lenses", "films
" and "flashes
". Several of these are included with the application, while others need to be purchased separately.
Hipstamatic is part of a "retro
" trend in photography
, which has seen a rise in the popularity of cheap and technically obsolete analog cameras (such as Lomography
and Polaroid instant camera
s), as well as software filters
and smartphone
software that emulate such cameras. Other "vintage" photography applications include CameraBag and Instagram
. Like Hipstamatic, they often include social networking features to facilitate the exchange of photos via the internet.
Reporting on the application for pocket-lint.com, Libby Plummer remarked that the story of the plastic Hipstamatic 100 may well be viral advertising, because she was unable to find any internet sources confirming the existence of this camera apart from material written by Synthetic.
In December 2010, the Wausau City Pages newspaper of Wausau, Wisconsin
reported that the story "appears to be a myth", as reporters were unable to verify any part of the story of the Dorbowski brothers in local records.
used it in 2010 to illustrate a front-page story about the Afghanistan War
. Winter's images gained recognition by receiving third place in the Pictures of the Year International photojournalism competition.
Digital photography
Digital photography is a form of photography that uses an array of light sensitive sensors to capture the image focused by the lens, as opposed to an exposure on light sensitive film...
application for the Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
. It uses the iPhone's camera to allow the user to shoot square photographs, to which it applies a number of software filters
Photographic filter
In photography and videography, a filter is a camera accessory consisting of an optical filter that can be inserted in the optical path. The filter can be a square or oblong shape mounted in a holder accessory, or, more commonly, a glass or plastic disk with a metal or plastic ring frame, which...
in order to make the images look as though they were taken with an antique film camera. The user can choose among a number of effects which are presented in the application as "lenses", "films
Photographic film
Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...
" and "flashes
Flash (photography)
A flash is a device used in photography producing a flash of artificial light at a color temperature of about 5500 K to help illuminate a scene. A major purpose of a flash is to illuminate a dark scene. Other uses are capturing quickly moving objects or changing the quality of light...
". Several of these are included with the application, while others need to be purchased separately.
Hipstamatic is part of a "retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
" trend in photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, which has seen a rise in the popularity of cheap and technically obsolete analog cameras (such as Lomography
Lomography
Lomography is the commercial trademark of Lomographische AG, Austria for products and services catering to the Global Modern art community of Lomographic photography. The name is inspired by the former state-run optics manufacturer LOMO PLC of Saint Petersburg, Russia...
and Polaroid instant camera
Instant camera
The instant camera is a type of camera that generates a developed film image. The most popular types to use self-developing film were formerly made by Polaroid Corporation....
s), as well as software filters
Photographic filter
In photography and videography, a filter is a camera accessory consisting of an optical filter that can be inserted in the optical path. The filter can be a square or oblong shape mounted in a holder accessory, or, more commonly, a glass or plastic disk with a metal or plastic ring frame, which...
and smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
software that emulate such cameras. Other "vintage" photography applications include CameraBag and Instagram
Instagram
Instagram is a free photo sharing application that allows users to take photos, apply a filter, and share it on the service or a variety of other social networking services, including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Tumblr, Flickr , and Posterous...
. Like Hipstamatic, they often include social networking features to facilitate the exchange of photos via the internet.
The "Hipstamatic 100" camera
The application's styling is based on what its creators claim was the Hipstamatic 100, a cheap plastic analog photographic camera. According to Synthetic, the company distributing Hipstamatic, that camera was developed in the early 1980s by Bruce and Winston Dorbowski, but was a commercial failure, selling fewer than 200 units.Reporting on the application for pocket-lint.com, Libby Plummer remarked that the story of the plastic Hipstamatic 100 may well be viral advertising, because she was unable to find any internet sources confirming the existence of this camera apart from material written by Synthetic.
In December 2010, the Wausau City Pages newspaper of Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
reported that the story "appears to be a myth", as reporters were unable to verify any part of the story of the Dorbowski brothers in local records.
The Hipstamatic app
The application has enjoyed substantially more success than its purported plastic predecessor, selling 1.4 million times as of November 2010. It received additional publicity when New York Times photographer Damon WinterDamon Winter
Damon Winter is a New York based photographer who specializes in documentary, editorial, and travel photography. He received a Pulitzer Prize for feature photography in 2009 while with The New York Times.-Background:...
used it in 2010 to illustrate a front-page story about the Afghanistan War
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. Winter's images gained recognition by receiving third place in the Pictures of the Year International photojournalism competition.