On My Radar- Eight Apps for a Desert Island with WiFi – Fiona Christian from the United Kingdom
We have another brand new section here at TheAppWhisperer called ‘On My Radar’ and this time we are asking a selection of highly talented mobile photographers and artists, which apps they would take with them on a unique desert island, that has wifi! We want to know exactly what apps are really on their radar and why. As well as eight apps, we have also allowed each artist to select a book and a luxury object on this luxury journey. Kicking us off with our eighth issue of this section, is non other than the highly talented Fiona Christian from the UK.
To read the others in this series, please go here.
“Firstly, a huge Thank You must go to Joanne, for inviting me to consider the prospect of being marooned on a desert island that has WiFi.
It sounds idyllic!”
Book
Selecting just one book was incredibly difficult. I’d actually live in a bookshop if they’d let me! After much deliberation, I’ve chosen The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett. It is the last in his discworld series and literally the end of an era. His passing has left the world a poorer place.
He once said “No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away”
I’ve started re-reading all of his other books, to keep those ripples going but will keep the last one for a special occasion. What could be more perfect than sitting on an island with the waves lapping around my feet as I embark on his final literary journey.
Luxury Item
My luxury item would have to be my bed. I’ll take a memory foam mattress over a hammock any day!
I might also smuggle in a few extra books.
Apps
I’m allowed 8 apps on this island, which in itself is a bit tricky as I have a few hundred on my phone to choose from.
Hipstamatic
My first and most important pick would have to be Hipstamatic. It was the first photo app that I ever got, back in 2010 and is still my most used app today.
It was a cold day in mid December. We were snowed in and going stir crazy. I came across the app and started playing with it, taking pics of the garden. I was amazed at how great the lenses and films could make it look and was completely hooked immediately. Then I googled it and found a few Facebook groups. The rest, as they say, is history.
Repix
Repix would have to be my next choice. It’s so versatile and can create a wide variety of effects that are unlike anything I’ve been able to do with any other app.
I’ve recently been working on a series of abstracted landscapes created by swirling a random image around in Repix until it resembles something.
This pic started life as a can of paint and somehow became a wave!
DistressedFX
DistressedFX or the updated version DistressedFX+ is another highly useful app that not only adds texture and light filters but also has a few extra additions such as birds and trees. It’s great for creating a painterly look or for adding a bit of grunge to unify a previously edited image.
There are so many options and variations that I would relish the opportunity to learn all of it’s intricacies without the distractions of everyday life.
Skylab
My desert hideaway will no doubt have ceaseless blue skies which is all very lovely… for a while. So my next app is Skylab. It’s a very useful app for turning grey skies to blue, or even blue skies to clouds. There’s a whole assortment of options including night skies, plus a variety of people and even pets!
Juxtaposer
Juxtaposer is next. It’s an invaluable app for adding just about anything to, well… just about anything! The options are endless and should keep me occupied for quite a while. Any elements can be saved as a stamp and each element can be flipped and adjusted as required. It has a wide variety of adjustments that I’ve always meant to get to grips with. I’ll have all the time I need!
Aquarella
I’m keeping my selections as varied as possible to give me plenty of editing options. So my next choice is Aquarella. It turns any pic into a watercolour painting with lots of different washes, papers, tones and colours. All of the details are fully adjustable, giving an endless number of options. A handy ‘random’ button also helps when inspiration is nowhere to be found.
Circular
To keep me amused I’ve chosen Circular as my next app. A wide range of surreal compositions are possible with this, limited only by your imagination. It creates ‘round worlds’ and tunnels or combinations of the two, all fully adjustable, allowing zoom and rotate options. These can then be enhanced further by adding other filters or objects, again fully adjustable in size, position and opacity.
Zen Brush
Zen Brush is my last choice. (There is also a Zen Brush 2 which has a red brush option)
It’s something that I’ve had for a long time yet rarely use. I’ve always wanted to be able to draw, yet have never found the time to devote to it. My island retreat will give me all the time I need.
I love the simplicity of this app, having long admired the Japanese Sumi-e ink brush paintings. I find it remarkable how so few marks can create such detail.
A variety of background papers and a fully adjustable pen are all that are needed to create your own bit of Zen in an otherwise hurried and overly complicated world.
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