A Day In The Life Of Catherine Restivo – An Unbelievably Talented iPhone Photographer And Self-Confessed Photo App Whore
Welcome to our very exciting new column on theappwhisperer.com, this section is entitled ‘A day in the life of …’ and we’ll be taking a look some hugely influential and interesting people in the mobile app world. Ones that we think you will love to learn more about.
This is our tenth installment to our new series, you can read the others here, if you have missed them so far. Kicking us off today is Catherine Restivo. Catherine grew up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on a small island north of Seattle, where her days were spent making forts in the woods or roaming the rocky beaches gathering shells and driftwood, and when she became a teenager, attending the obligatory keggers in someone’s barn or on the beach. 😉
After graduating from college (with, what Catherine calls ‘a boring business degree’), she spent two months roaming through Europe with her backpack. To this day she regrets not spending money on a better camera, instead of the weird, crappy, 110 film camera she had at the time. After her trip she moved to New York City, a place she had instantly fallen in love with when she first visited at the age of 19.
Catherine works for her best friends at their boutique PR/Marketing/Event Planning company based in Newark, New Jersey. When she’s not working she loves to spend her weekends gardening, hiking, camping, or walking the streets of New York City, working her way through it’s multitude of restaurants. She is a devout animal lover, with a secret dream of owning her own animal rescue sanctuary.
Catherine has always loved photography, and growing up as her family’s primary photographer, snapping away with their Kodak Instamatic. Her first “grown-up” camera was a Canon AE-1 that she used to capture life in New York. She purchased her first iPhone 3G in 2010, and since discovering it’s camera and the amazing world of post processing available in the palm of her hand, a creative door was opened in her life. She now spends most of her spare time taking photos, apping photos, sharing photos, being inspired by other artist’s amazing creations, and participating on the many online iPhoneography sites and blogs.
Her work has been featured at the Giorgi Gallery in Berkeley, CA; SOHO Gallery for Digital Art in NYC; First Annual iPhoneography Miami Exhibition at Artspace Gallery Miami; “iPhoneography: Updated Visual Dialogs” at the Lunch Box Gallery in Miami, FL; Mobile P1xels Show at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art; she was a semi-finalist in the 2011 IPA Mobile Art Grant; was included on iPhoneogenic’s list of the 50 Top Mobile Photographers/Artists of 2011; and has been featured in LifeInLofi, Faved on Flickr and Pixels: The Art of the iPhone.
Check out the full interview below…
We have included exif data, in as much as the app or apps that were used to create the final image. As many of the images were cross processed we have listed the apps in the sequential order they were used in the editing process, we have also provided links for each app to the iTunes App Store, just incase you’re inspired enough to try them out for yourself as well as accessories used. You can find all the links at the end of this article.
(If you would like to be interviewed for our new ‘A day in the life of …’ section, just send an email to [email protected], and we’ll get it set up.
First Things First…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Altered State in Real Time’ – Filterstorm, FlowPaper, Blender, ScratchCam, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
CR – I like to get up early, make some Earl Grey tea and drink it out in my garden, listening to the morning sounds. This scenario very often includes my cat sitting in my lap. I might pull a few weeds or take a few photos. In the cold weather, I’ll drink my tea indoors and catch up on my favorite online sites and blogs.
Magic Hour…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair"~Kahlil Gibran – Apps: ProCamera, BlurFX, ScratchCam, Iris Photo Suite
JC – When is your favorite part of the day for taking photographs, do you hanker for the magic hour or shoot whenever the opportunity arises?
CR – In a perfect world I’d be up at 5:00 am and out snapping away before heading to work, but my life doesn’t always work out that way. So I get my photos when I can. Mostly on the weekends, but many times while driving to and from work. I’m participating in a 366 Project on MobiTog and have become quite good at snapping a shot while stuck in traffic or stopped at a light. 😉
Photographer vs iPhone Photographer
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Anoesis’ – Apps: ProCamera, BlurFX, Juxtaposer, ScratchCam, PicGrunger, Iris Photo Suite
JC – How did the transition from traditional photographer to iPhone photographer develop? (pardon the pun).
CR – I have a Canon AE-1 that I received in 1988 as a gift. I loved it at the time, and had a lot of fun developing film and hand tinting photos. But I hated the technical aspects F-stops and apertures and bracketing, oh my! It took away from the creativity, way too much like math (ewww). I am also very impatient; having to wait until I shot a whole roll of film, then develop it just to see if maybe 1 or 2 came out was excruciating. I also don’t like to carry a lot of “stuff”, so schlepping around all the accoutrements became a chore. I had to schedule “shoot days” and remember to bring everything. So I moved to digital which gave me the instant gratification I crave, and a nice little slender camera to fit in a pocket.
Then came the iPhone [play angelic singing here]. At first it was basically an iPod that made calls. I was a bit of a game app and productivity app whore. Until one day I took a walk and snapped a photo, and ran it through one of the 3 or 4 photo apps I had at the time it was probably LoMob or PictureShow and was instantly and completely hooked. I could take pictures any time, anywhere, because my phone was always with me AND I could post process while standing in a checkout line. I have now deleted most of my game apps, and am a certified photo app whore, with around 200 to date. 😉
New Apps…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Arboreal’ – Apps: Decim8, FXPhotoStudio, Superimpose, 100Camera, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Do you like to download new iPhone photography apps regularly?
CR – Um, see above mention of “Certified App Whore, with around 200 to date.” 😉
Updates…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Art in Odd Places’ – Apps: Hipstamatic Loftus lens + Ina’s 1969 film
JC – How often do you update your existing apps?
CR – I’m rather anal, so I check regularly. Sometimes every day, or maybe every 2 or 3 days. I like everything to be up-to-date.
Location, Location, Location…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Empty Spaces’ – Apps: ProCamera, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Where’s your favorite place in the world for a shoot?
CR – I can find a photo op just about anywhere, but I do love New York City for it’s plethora of opportunities from people to store window mannequins to architecture…you name it. I’m also a nature girl so I love to be outside photographing Mother Nature’s bounty.
Tools Of The Trade…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Fallen’ – Apps: ProCamera + Olloclip Macro, ScratchCam, SnapSeed, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Do you also use iPhone photography tool apps, such as The Photographer’s Ephemeris?
CR – I have not used anything like that, but it does sound intriguing!
Favorite Apps…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Girl in the Blue Scarf’ – Apps: ScratchCam, Iris Photo Suite, Blender, ProCamera
JC – What are your favorite, at the moment, iPhone photography apps?
CR – Iris Photo Suite, ScratchCam, Pic Grunger, Pixlromatic, Snapseed and Hipstamatic are my staples. I’ve also just discovered PhotoWizard which is fast becoming a favorite. I love Camera+, PhotoForge2, PictureShow, FilterStorm and BlurFX. Juxtaposer and Blender are irreplaceable for doing montages. To achieve the painterly looks I love, along with Iris there’s AutoPainter, ArtistaHaiku, Painteresque, ShockMyPic and Moku Hanga. Flowpaper, ArtPad, addLib and Brushes are all great for abstracts or adding a special touch to a photo.
Sharing…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘"Grow old with me, the best is yet to be."~Robert Brownin – Apps: ProCamera + Olloclip Macro, ShockMyPic, SnapSeed, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Where do you like to upload your photographs? Flickr, Instagram?
CR – I use Facebook, MobiTog, Flickr, IPA and Pixels. I had been uploading to Instagram but found it to be a bit overwhelming and am currently on hiatus there.
Favorite Subjects…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘I Carry Your Heart’ – Apps: FlowPaper, LoMob, Iris Photo Suite
JC – What are your favorite subjects?
CR – If I had to pick (and I’m glancing through my camera roll to see what’s in there) I would say nature by far, and objects with lots of texture or form. I’m also attracted to doors for some reason, although most of those don’t make it to the “publish” file. I really LOVE old dilapidated factories and buildings, but they’re usually in neighborhoods that I’m not comfortable hanging around by myself (anyone wanna go on a dilapidated factory photo shoot with me?) Street photography is challenging to me; I’m a bit intimidated by taking photographs of people. It’s hard to be stealthy when I want to frame the picture just so, and take a few different angles. So I generally stick with inanimate objects. LOL. I’m also really enjoying creating abstracts.
Frequency…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Mon amour’ – Apps: Camera+, Pic Grunger, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Do you take photographs with your iPhone every day?
CR – Yes! I am really loving the 366 Project because it forces me to take at least 1 photo a day. I use Hipstamatic for the project because with all the great films and lenses, the photos come out pre-apped and that helps to make the project realistically attainable for me. Many times I use Hipstamatic as the capturing camera, and then run the shot through a few apps.
Top Five Tips…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘New York State of Mind’ – Apps: Iris Photo Suite, Pic Grunger, Snapseed
JC – What are you top five tips for iPhone photography?
1. Shoot lots and lots of photos.
2. Be App Happy! Try out new apps, see what they can do.
3. Join a photo group/challenge. Facebook has many themed groups, and MobiTog has lots of interesting themed challenges, all of which are a fantastic way to extend your creative boundaries. I think I’ve grown a lot in my photography because of this.
I just have 3 top tips…hope that’s okay!
JC – Of course, that’s fine Catherine, although we might add that readers should check out theappwhisperer.com everyday, of course 😉
Editing…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Pineapple’ – Apps: Hipstamatic John S + Float, Iris Photo Suite, SnapSeed
JC – Do you edit images on your iPhone or do you prefer to do that on a desktop/laptop?
CR – All of my photos are edited completely on my iPhone 4.
Videography…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Renaissance Man’ – Apps: ProCamera, FilterStorm, Pixlromatic, ScratchCam, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Do you enjoy videography with your iPhone?
CR – That’s one area I haven’t played around with much, but would like to try. I have a few video apps that look interesting FiLMiC Pro, Super 8, Film Director…
The Future Of iPhone Photography…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘I Am Touched But Not Broken By the Waves’ – Apps: FlowPaper, LensFlare, LensLight, Pixlromatic, ScratchCam, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Where do you see the future of iPhone photography?
CR – I’m hoping that iPhoneography will continue to grow and prosper and become a well-respected genre. There is so much amazing art being created by this community, it blows my mind, and I’m so very proud to be a part of it all.
Popularity…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘untitled (abstract 01)’ – Apps: ProCamera, PhotoWizard, Iris Photo Suite
JC – What do you think is the most popular area of iPhone photography?
CR – I have eclectic tastes and like variety street photography, montage/art pieces, painterly, B&W, abstracts, landscapes. I see all these styles in the places I inhabit online, but I have no idea which area would be considered “popular”. If I had to pick maybe street photography or landscape.
Where In The World…?
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘untitled (abstract 02)’ – Apps: BlurFX, TwistCam, PhotoForge2, Iris Photo Suite
JC – Do you think it’s country specific, are some nations more clued up?
CR – In my experience, I see amazingly talented artists from all over the world. In the groups I belong to there are people from literally every continent…it’s fantastic!
iPhone 5…
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘"Untwisting all the chains that tie the hidden soul of harmony." ~John Milton – Apps: Hipstamatic John S lens + BlacKeys SuperGrain, Iris Photo Suite
JC – What do you hope for in the iPhone 5?
CR – More megapixels!! (I’m greedy that way) And Siri…I hope she stays as I’m dying to meet her. It would also make me very happy that when you move a photo from your camera roll into a sub-folder, it doesn’t stay in the Camera Roll too. Because then I have 2,000 photos in the camera roll, plus 2,000 photos in sub-folders. That’s just annoying.
TheAppWhisperer.com
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Waiting For a Sign’ – Apps: Hipstamatic John S + BlacKeys B&W, Juxtaposer, Blender, Pixlromatic, Iris Photo Suite
JC – What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
CR – I absolutely LOVE Joanne and TheAppWhisperer!! It’s loaded with great information on all things iPhone my favorite topic! Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity I really appreciate it so much.
JC – Thank you Catherine, we are totally in love with you and your work too, thanks so much for contributing to our A Day In The Life series, it makes all worthwhile when we speak to such talented and wonderful people, such as yourself. Many thanks Catherine.
Complete Links To All The Apps And Accessories Used And Mentioned In This Article
Copyright Image, Catherine Restivo – ‘Wanton’ – Apps: Hipstamatic Melodie + Ina’s 1969, ShockMyPic, ScratchCam, Pixlromatic, Iris Photo Suite
Apps Used
Filterstorm
Flowpaper
Image Blender
Scratchcam
Iris Photo Suite
ProCamera
BlurFX
Juxtaposer
Pic Grunger
Decim8
FX Photo Studio
Superimpose
100 Cameras in 1
Hipstamatic
Snapseed
ShockMyPic
LoMob
LensFlare
LensLight
Pixlromatic
PhotoWizard
TwistCam
PhotoForge2
Accessories used
Catherine’s Favorite Apps
As well as the above also include:
Camera+
PictureShow
PhotoArista Haiku
AutoPainter
Painteresque
Moku Hanga
ArtPad
AddLib
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter, creator of the world’s most popular mobile photography and art website— TheAppWhisperer.com— TheAppWhisperer platform has been a pivotal cyberspace for mobile artists of all abilities to learn about, to explore, to celebrate and to share mobile artworks. Joanne’s compassion, inclusivity, and humility are hallmarks in all that she does, and is particularly evident in the platform she has built. In her words, “We all have the potential to remove ourselves from the centre of any circle and to expand a sphere of compassion outward; to include everyone interested in mobile art, ensuring every artist is within reach”, she has said. Promotion of mobile artists and the art form as a primary medium in today’s art world, has become her life’s focus. She has presented lectures bolstering mobile artists and their art from as far away as the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea to closer to her home in the UK at Focus on Imaging. Her experience as a jurist for mobile art competitions includes: Portugal, Canada, US, S Korea, UK and Italy. And her travels pioneering the breadth of mobile art includes key events in: Frankfurt, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Paris, Brazil, London. Pioneering the world’s first mobile art online gallery - TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com has extended her reach even further, shipping from London, UK to clients in the US, Europe and The Far East to a global group of collectors looking for exclusive art to hang in their homes and offices. The online gallery specialises in prints for discerning collectors of unique, previously unseen signed limited edition art. Her journey towards becoming The App Whisperer, includes (but is not limited to) working for a paparazzi photo agency for several years and as a deputy editor for a photo print magazine. Her own freelance photographic journalistic work is also widely acclaimed. She has been published extensively both within the UK and the US in national and international titles. These include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Popular Photography & Imaging, dpreview, NikonPro, Which? and more recently with the BBC as a Contributor, Columnist at Vogue Italia and Contributing Editor at LensCulture. Her professional photography has also been widely exhibited throughout Europe, including Italy, Portugal and the UK. She is currently writing several books, all related to mobile art and is always open to requests for new commissions for either writing or photography projects or a combination of both. Please contact her at: [email protected]
19 Comments
Janine Graf
I am completely in love with Catherine! She is not only a wickedly talented artist with such a broad range of styles, she’s also a great friend. Thank you so much for interviewing her! 🙂
Catherine Restivo
Oh Joanne, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This is amazing and I’m so very grateful to be part of your wonderful website.
You’e made my day!!!!! 😀 😀 😀
David
Great interview…wonderful images!! I need to see more of Catherine’s work…it’s amazing!
tillie
another great interview! i love learning about new artists and their techniques/tips. the information shared is so helpful…keep them coming.
penny palmer
Beautiful work!!
Veevs
Oh how awesome, such an amazing interview of an amazing and creative iphoneographer and good friend now too and fellow animal lover!! Cat, love your work!! xxx
Pleshette
This is so awesome Catherine! Great Job! Keep up with your amazing photographs. Your work is beautiful. 😉
Cara Gallardo Weil
Such a great read! Thanks Joanne and Cat! Fantastic! 🙂
Roger Guetta
I was in NYC for a Mobile Art Conference. I met Catherine. We talked for a total of 5 minutes before I got that ‘kindred spirit’ zap in my frontal lobe. That was about 6 months ago. She was good at appin’ then, now she is splendid to the max. We see each other’s work on a daily bases. She astounds me with her work and her very excellent personality each and every day. She is pure *positive energy* and I’m proud to be her friend. Did I mention that she is a admin and coolio challenge conjurer on MobiTog? No…well let it be known…she rawks da house there.
Hey….try this….scroll back up and view her works again….be wowed again…then do your chores or something. The vibes will linger and you will feel better for it!!
Cat….you are simply …great in every way!
Paul Marsh
I haven’t yet met Catherine, but I agree. Her work is awesome! So creative and unique. Love it!
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JQ Gaines
I am sooooo glad that I logged on to Facebook today and learned about this great interview on Cat, the exceptionally COOL and talented artist … what a wonderful read!!
I simply LOVE your art, m’dear 🙂
stacy ericson
Catherine’s work is inspiring and inspired and so wonderful to watch!
Sean Hayes
Catherine’s pictures have always been inspiring. Now we have her words too. Great interview.
Sara McCracken
Great interview of an excellent artist. When I next get to NYC I want to go looking for abandoned buildings in bad areas with her!… I, too, feel it’s not safe alone! All the images here are really excellent and I am very impressed by her abstracts too.
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Michael Restivo
Wow, my big sister’s famous – I’m not surprised at all!! Awesome work Cathy!
Joanne Carter
You have a wonderful and very talented sister Michael.
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