Instagram

It's been a year since I evolved into the smart phone world. My iPhone has become an additional appendage. I keep a better eye on my phone than I do on my children. It's never far from reach. I am most proud that I have not dropped my iPhone in a year and shattered the glass face. I was very nervous about going with an iPhone for this reason. I was notorious for placing my cell phone between my legs while driving - don't ask me why. I know I am not alone in doing this - and then forgetting it was there. I would get out of the car and my phone would crash and slide across the parking lot. I have trained myself to leave my phone on the center console.

I have become a gatherer of Apps - free Apps mind you. I would gladly spend $6.00 on an over priced coffee; however, I have a very hard time spending even $1.99 on an App.

Crazy - I know. 

A while ago I purchased (for free) an App called Instagram.

I have heard people talking about Instagram (especially in April when Facebook acquired Instagram.) I definitely had seen a few photos posted on Facebook that were edited in Instagram and they appealed to me. Instagram allows users to take a photo, apply a digital filter to it, and then share the photo on a variety of social networking sources. I downloaded the App and buried it away in my iPhone.

A couple weeks ago, I found the Instagram App and started to play with it.

Instagram is my new addiction of the present moment - slide on over Draw Something.

So here is how it works...

Take this photo as an example of my Brown Eyed Girl.

This photo was taken on the day that my Brown Eyed Girl announced that she was a Cowgirl. A moment forever etched in my heart. I really do love the photo just as it is - with the exception of her outfit.

Now take a look at three versions of this photo. Each version changes the mood and feel of this photo.

 

Pretty fun. Right?

What has amazed me the most is how you can take a pretty average photo and crop it into something fabulous. This is especially beneficial to the mom of two very active kids. You should see me take pictures of them. I snap twenty photos in hopes of capturing at least one decent photo where both kids are smiling and looking at the camera at the same time. I feel like the paparazzi. If I get desperate, I actually do have career plan in place to fall back on. Hope Handy Man doesn't mind moving to California.

I have no idea how we ever survived without digital cameras. I can only imagine how many rolls of film I would spend money on if today were twenty years ago. 

Here are couple of my most favorite photos that I have edited using Instagram. 

This is the perfect example. Mr Blue Eyes has his eyes closed and is looking like a goof ball in mid chew of his breakfast. Suitcases and an exploding diaper bag for a background. My Brown Eyed Girl looks cute. I almost deleted this picture simply for the reason that it was not a great picture of Mr Blue Eyes.

And then walked Instagram into my life and I was able to turn this picture into this...

B-E-A-utiful!

There is no other way to describe it. 

And the expression in her eyes - magical. 

I now have an amazing photo that I plan to develop, frame and hang on the wall.

This is a great photo of Grandpop and Mr Blue Eyes. There really isn't anything wrong with this picture. 

However...

 Look at this handsome little devil!

Mmmwaahh. I want to just squeeze and kiss those cheeks. 

Here are a few more before and after pictures. 

Pretty neat. Right?

So if you are a smart phone carrying citizen, I highly recommend you checking out the free Instagram App. It will make you feel like you are professional photo editor. I promise. 

I added a few more photos below for you to peek at that I have had fun creating.

But along with a couple of the ones above, this is one of my favorites that I plan to print and frame. My two beautiful kids. Sitting quietly. A beautiful horizon before them.