· Phone photography
Why phone photos look overprocessed (and how to fix it)
Why phone photos look overprocessed: HDR merging, sharpening and smoothing. Plus the settings that tone it down on iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy phones in 2026.
6 min read
The journal.
Film looks, grain and halation, phone photography and film cameras on iPhone and Android. New posts most days.
· Grain & halation
What is halation? The red glow around lights, explained
What is halation? Why film puts a red-orange glow around streetlights, how it differs from bloom and lens flare, and how to spot a convincing digital version.
5 min read
· Film cameras on Android
Film camera apps for Android in 2026: what exists, and what's still missing
The best-known film camera apps are still iPhone-only. Here's what Android shooters can use in October 2026, what separates a real film camera app from a filter app, and what to look for.
4 min read