Impressions on the Apollo App for iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus Users

Lately, I've been shooting more with the smart phone.  So I recently got theApollo Immersion Illumination app, which is advertised as adding new light sources to an image to make it look like 3D.  The app does allow one to control how the light falls but it's nowhere near 3D.  Still, I find the results pretty impressive.  It only works on the iPhone 7 plus and 8 plus using the portrait mode.  

The app has even evaluated by dpReview so I wont't try to regurgitate what they wrote.  Rather I'll just mention a few bits on my first impression.

The learning curve is steep.  That is why it has received quite a few grumpy comments.  I think the trick is to know where the original light is going.  Once this is identified, then the light that is being added should ideally be consistent with how the original light fell as in the original image below.

Inside the app, I added two light sources (indicates as two hollow circles below).  In this case, I don't want the third light on the back so I left that alone.

  

The next step is to play around with the settings - adjusting the spread and distance of light.  I find the result to be magical.  It still needed some fine tuning so I exported the image to Photoshop and adjusted the contrast and the shadows.  

The app has its limited uses.  But at $1.99, it's a cool toy to play with.  That is whenever it works.

Redecorating MOCA

It was too early to drive home from Downtown Los Angeles, and we wanted to avoid the traffic, so Rose and I went for a walk on Grand Avenue after finishing the bottle of Greek wine at the Otium Bar.  The image above is part of the sculpture outside the Museum of Contemporary Art building.  I find that the piece too dull looking to represent modern art so I decided to take creative license and colorize it in post-production.   In truth, I have never liked modern art.  I find them pretentious.

Not sure what is the building in the background.  Maybe somebody can tell me.

Hope your day is going well.

Red Silk Apparel - Wash Cold and with Dark Garments Only

If you wear red tonight
Remember what I said tonight
For red is the color that my baby wore
And what is more, it's true
Yes it is ...

Yes it is, Lennon-McCartney

I have been using the iPhone 7 plus camera more than my other cameras that I think I may end up giving them away.  Not.  Just kidding.  Although I like the portability and the picture quality of the iPhone, it still will never replace the other professional cameras that can shoot with various lenses.

The Merchant of Venice (starring Jeffrey)

I learned quite a bit from Jeffrey in just a few days hanging out with him.  It wasn't by choice that I hung out with him though.  He keeps looking for me.  He never stopped talking.  I think he was in dire need to an audience.  One of the most useful things I learned was not to pretend you are wiser or better or faster than anyone else.  He would at times play the victim - which he was very good at.  So people assist him a lot.  He always carried a cane and walked slowly.  Most people are sensitive to that so they always give him a break.  I did see him dancing on the boat one time.  Without the use of his cane on him.  Cheeky little rascal is he.

  

Creme Brûlée

My current go-to electric guitar.  An American made Fender Stratocaster Deluxe.  I think I had it for over 2 years now but wasn't really playing it as much.  In fact, the last couple of years, I had not been musically creative.  Not as much as I would want it.  Except for banging the drum kit every day - which I hardly would call musical.  (I finally got rid of some of the kit parts.  But I kept the snare and the two cymbals - in case I get frustrated with things I can't control.  I do have a control issue.  Always has.)

In retrospect, I never had any intention of posting this image.  Shot on my iPhone 7 plus so I can remember the setting on my guitar while I was writing a song.  But lately I was having sleep issue since I cut down on my alcohol intake.  (The doctor recently warned me of this.)  So one night, when I couldn't sleep right away, I decided to edit some images.  Then I saw this.  To my eyes, it has potential.  So here it is.  Meet Dolly, my Creme Brûlée Strat.