There continues to be a feeling of guilt that comes from making images with the iPhone. It's like crossing some invisible line of what counts as art. At the same time, there is growing acceptance and recognition of camera phone art from within the photographic community. This evening, for example, as Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist David Hume Kennerly came to campus it was interesting to see him pull out his iPhone to make pictures of people. He showed a group of onlookers a picture he made looking out of the plane's window. Amazing. Here's another incredible thing that is happening -- something that connects to my original assumption about the camera phone and the Internet -- connectivity. Last week I sent a note to Hipstamatic to thank them for making the iPhone application that replicates the feeling of an image made with a "toy" camera such as the Holga. They found the blog "intriguing" and linked it to their Facebook page. Going back to the first days of the project, I made the assertion that there is a relationship between art, technology, and society. This is not a new idea of course, but what makes it interesting is the endless stream of innovations coming at us every day. Today, the Hipstamatic Facebook page has more than 2,500 fans, which there are thousands of inspired and spirited souls online and off line sharing a passion for making pictures. There are actually several projects just like this one -- a year-long exploration of life in images using the same software. The power of images in our lives cannot be underestimated.  Images, no matter the format, can empower, enlighten, and entertain us. Pictures, in many ways, are the material equivalents of our dreams, laughter, hopes, fears, and tears that are all brought together in a single moment.

 
 
Exhibit and shadow

Day of Silence

 
 
Schneider Museum exhibition

The Darkroom of Yesterday, Today

Introducing SwankoLab, a brand new darkroom kit from the makers of Hipstamatic. It’s a loving recreation of the pre-digital era classic. Choose chemicals, process photos, and experiment!
Buy SwankoLab on the App Store »

It’s the darkroom, only less messy and less dark

Complete with smells of photo chemistry and sounds of mad science being made, your SwankoLab comes with everything you need to turn any image into a retro misprinted masterpiece.

Relive the nostolgia of processing by hand

Agitate your print as it develops, and watch it slowly fade in under the warm glow of the safe light. Hang your print to dry while you examine the results of your latest experiment. You can even jot down your favorite chemical formulas in the included formula notebook.

Fully stocked with chemicals and photo supplies

SwankoLab includes eight magical photo-altering chemicals, a formula book, an embossed development tray, and a super cool hand-engraved box to store your photo supplies and prints in.

Standard Supplies

SwankoLab comes with SwankoDev A19, SwankoDev H1N, Fantabra Magic Warm, Noir, Grizzle Fix, Flamoz Fixer, Zero, Vinny’s BLO4 and Vinny’s BL95 chemicals.

Be cool like Uncle Stu!

As an added bonus, Uncle Stu’s Photo Emporium has offered up access to his amazing supply catalog which give you nine additional darkroom chemicals for a one-time subscription fee of $1.99! Thanks Stu! In addition, Stu will add more stuff to the subscription with each update (included free for all subscribers).

From the makers of Hipstamatic..

Highly recommended.