Rian Johnson, known for directing films including Knives Out and The Last Jedi, has launched a new camera application for iPhones called Chromagraph Camera. Priced at $13, the app was developed in collaboration with cinematographer Steve Yedlin and aims to give smartphone photography the visual characteristics typically associated with professional film production.
Johnson’s interest in smartphone photography dates back years, beginning with early mobile devices that featured cameras as a selling point. While he maintains a strong attachment to analog photography equipment, including a Leica M6 that frequently accompanies him on film sets, he recognized the practical appeal of always having a capable camera readily available. His initial approach involved shooting with the iPhone’s default camera and then editing images using third-party software, but this workflow proved cumbersome and time-consuming.
Yedlin, Johnson’s longtime collaborator, had previously developed color grading scripts designed to give films the organic appearance of celluloid while working in digital formats. He became convinced that with appropriate algorithms and settings, digital and film images could appear virtually indistinguishable. This expertise translated into the foundation for Chromagraph Camera, which allows users to capture photos directly through the app or import previously shot RAW images for processing using Yedlin’s film-like color pipeline.
The application features controls for exposure, burst mode, and color adjustments, positioning itself as both a camera and an editor. Since its release, the app gained significant social media attention, with early users commenting favorably on its output compared to standard iPhone photography. Despite the app’s success, Johnson continues to pursue various photographic techniques, including experimental work with wet plate photography and recently establishing his own darkroom for ongoing analog exploration.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI