A client required an icon for their iOS / Android application. It operated along the lines of iOS's Shared PhotoStream feature (though was being worked on prior to that feature being introduced). As such, the design of the icon needed to reflect the twin features of photo albums and easy sharing with friends.
Below are several of the designs presented. You should be able to notice the moment when iOS 7 was presented at WWDC, as it completely shifted the design of the icon.
This first icon was a meld between the idea of photography and easy wireless sharing. While it worked, it was also a bit generic, and didn't capture the “album” concept of the app.
This icon followed in the footsteps of iOS 6's iBooks app -- which was heavily endowed with wood. This icon reflected the notion of a photo album as well as the easy sharing of that album with others using the same mark as the prior icon.
Upon the revelation of iOS 7, we knew the direction of the icon needed to follow suit. This first option was intended to follow the design language used by the Newsstand folder.
On the other hand, this icon aimed for the hint of a photo (notice the pixelized content) and also sought to reflect iOS 7's blur (the background of the mark). This is very close to the final result as picked by the client.
This is the final icon as determied by the client. The notion of photos is reinforced by the addition of the photo icons (though these are really only visible when one pays attention). The circular motif fits in well with the iOS 7 design language as well.
