Flare for mac from the mac app store is a great image application for editing images.

I noticed the small app in the mac app store, although I use photoshop daily I was intrigued with this program. I downloaded it and started using it for quick edits to photos, it has a number of presets a bit like instagram for the iPhone. It’s a simple drag-and-drop process then you can apply the presets to your images, you can then tweak these individual presets to your liking, then save and export the image.

You can also export directly to Flickr which is very handy for the quick uploads – it maybe me but I couldn’t find a way in which to batch process images.

Choosing the image -

Choose a preset for your image

Editing the presets

Flare is available from the Mac app store or you can get it online from here.

Or visit the Flare website

“Flare is a fast, easy, and beautiful darkroom for your Mac.

With Flare, you can apply photographic effects to your photos, then save them to your Mac, upload them to Flickr, or send them in an email. Flare comes with over twenty presets that create different kinds of effects, but if the preset you’re looking for doesn’t exist yet, you can tinker with the presets or even build your own from scratch.”

My main reason were it’s Christmas coming up and we as a family do lots of calendars, something missing from the new iPhoto and something that Apple forgot to mention about the new iPhoto. I see now that they have last night issued another update that adds calendars back into iPhoto – more on that from TUAW.

You can also read a review of iPhoto11 on TUAW.

Still no reason to go back now, for one iPhoto new interface is a step backwards it awkward to use and very clunky. When you edit your photos in the original iPhoto you had this option to copy the last settings of say levels to the next photo, so you could go through lots of them changing them as you went. Not anymore, that feature has gone. Emailing photos is pretty bad and I can’t think why they did it this way when it just worked before. Producing books and cards is also much harder than it was before, I found it slow and cumbersome to get a book going. All this for just a few new layouts and cards. Read all the issues other users are having on the Apple support site…

And another thing, I have had a mac since 2004 and not once in the UK have I ever had a coupon code for buying books, cards and photos NOT ONCE. I have a mobile me account which I renew each year and still no coupon code or offer, sure this isn’t the case in the USA!!

Here is a quick guide to downgrading iPhoto this helped me and only works if you have a backup of your previous iPhoto – http://appletoolbox.com/tag/iphoto-09/

Check out a set of black & white photos of Southwark Street in London.

www.foz4.com

It basically polarizes the photo then allows you too add a tag, the finished product looks like polaroid snaps.

“Want to add a funky retro look to your photos? Polarize will do the job for you! Polarize is the only iPhone application that will do a series of pixel-by-pixel modifications to your photos, getting that true look. No cheezy overlays are done here.

Polarize gives you:

-A great unique look to your photos

-The ability to write at the bottom of your photos with a custom hand written font

-Any size photo is accepted!

-High resolution output”

Why not give it a go, click here for iTunes link or check out his site apps beacon

The use of photography is well done, and the site is great inspiration on how to combine these elements.

You zoom in to see more information.

Looking for some cool videos

www.patagonia.com

designed by the good people over at The Royal Order of Experience Design

This was an HDR time-lapse from Twin Peaks. It was a glorious moment because mother nature was behaving, unlike the last 2 early morning efforts where I was too fogged in. I was also shooting with my new Nikon D700 and a new 14-24mm ultrawide which is just a great combo since the D700 is a full frame camera!

Twin Peaks San Francisco Sunrise (HDR time-lapse) from Chad Richard on Vimeo.

Another great site developed for Oakely UK. Nice use of flash and photographs of there sponsored sports people, from Skateboarders to BMX riders.

www.oakley.co.uk/kye/

Need to download/backup your entire Flickr photos, then this is the tool for you.

Download Flump here

If you’re perfect Mother’s Day gift involves a nicely printed photo book filled with family memories, then you may want to fire up iPhoto or Aperture and get to work. Apple is offering a 20% discount on all photo book purchases between now and May 11, 2008.

All you have to do is enter the coupon code: LoveMom at checkout.

Apple recommends that you get your orders in by April 20th, 2008 for standard delivery and May 4th if you’re going the express delivery route.

If you’d like more information on the deal, you can click here and check out the official page on Apple’s website.