Since watching photographer Jack Hollinsgworth on Creative Live sharing his passion for iphone photography (aka iphoneography) I have become increasingly attached to using my iphone as a camera on a daily basis.
Here is why:
1. My iphone camera is (nearly) always with me
I may have a better camera at home, but as they say “The best camera to use is the one you have with you”, and I don’t know about you, but I am rarely without my iphone.
This photo was snapped with my phone walking with my son home from school.
{Bonus – I am much more likely to remember to bring my phone with me now, and much more likely to hear it ringing as I keep it accessible!}
2. I can capture those everyday moments of life
It isn’t always easy, or approriate, to whip out my DSLR or Point and Shoot Camera, but in just a moment I can use my mobile phone camera to record that instance – a beautiful sky, a blossom, a kid’s first homework certficate…..
Here are daily photos taken with my iphone during February 2012 (I use an app Photo 365 but this isn’t necessary)
3. I can capture the unusual
Knowing that I always now have a camera with me has made me more aware of my surroundings, and I find “art” in unusual places…… I have developed a passion for photographying supermarket shopping trollies!
4. I use it as a reminder
Instead of writing down the dimension and prices of curtains, I now take photos of the labels and prices. It is espeically useful in Ikea for all those weird and wonderful names of items! Menus in restuarants, websites and opening hours on signs…..I photograph them all!
5. I use it to connect with others via social media.
At the push of a button and the swipe of a screen or two I can easily share an image on twitter, facebook, instagram or the world! No longer is it a matter of taking a photo with my camera, downloading it to my laptop, and uploading it to facebook/ blog - almost instantaneously I can have an image and an update posted.
6. I use it to share and promote my own business (http://www.janmarydesigns.com)
As long as used selectively I can take a photo of a piece of jewellery I am creating and share it via social media on twitter, facebook etc. Often I can actually have sold the item to a follower before it has even been completed!
Here is an “in progress” photo
And here is the completed crocheted necklace, which I had sold to a facebook friend within a couple of hours.
7. I can connect with others and create a community
I am a huge fan and user of Instagram – not as my camera app or to edit the photos, but as a great way to share my photos with other Instagrammers locally and world wide.
It is great to get “likes” and comments and to have conversations with other iphone photographers around the world. I love to share images of the countryside and towns/cities here in N Ireland.
{A whole separate post on using Instagram coming soon!}
8. I can be more creative by using various apps to edit and create images from my photos – there are ways to add filters, effects, text, borders, frames……….
{another post just on apps, which ones I use and how I use coming soon!}
9. It is unobstrusive
Nothing draws attention and kills the action or the conversation than whipping out a DSLR and saying “just pretend I am not here and continue as you were!” However with an iphone, I can easily take a photo without interrupting and impacting on what I am trying to photograph. This is particularily true for street photography.
10. It can remind me where I was!
As I can turn on the geotag option so WHERE the photo was taken will be recorded.
Have you any other reasons you can add to this list?
Which reason appeals most to you?
You can find me on Instagram (I’m Janmary) or see my images on my Webstagram site.
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Homegrown Learners
21/03/2012 at 8:35 pm (3 years ago)I was just thinking (at the beginning of your article) how much my iPhone came in handy at IKEA, and then you said it!
Great post – I agree 100%!
Kecia
21/03/2012 at 10:06 pm (3 years ago)Wow, which iPhone do you have?? I have the iPhone 4, and my photos never come out as good as these! Great job…and I love the idea behind this post. Pinned!
janmary3
21/03/2012 at 10:44 pm (3 years ago)Thanks Kecia. I just have an iphone4 too
Come back next week for tips on how to use your iphone camera!
janmary3
21/03/2012 at 10:45 pm (3 years ago)Thanks Kecia
I just have the iphone 4 too
Come back next week for my tips on getting better images with your iphone!
Ray Berard
21/03/2012 at 11:06 pm (3 years ago)I am just getting into blogging and also reading them as well. I have to admit I did find this interesting and liked the part about taking pics of your jewelry while you are working on it. Now that gave me some ideas
And the
shopping trollies lol I just love the name here they are all grey handled and called shopping carts. No variety! My roots are in Ireland as my grandfather was from there and maybe on day I might get to visit. Great article!
Janmary, N Ireland
21/03/2012 at 11:29 pm (3 years ago)Thanks Ray for stopping by.
That’s what I love about Iphoneography – by sharing the everyday details you now know that our trollies have different handles depending on which supermarket they are from (Tesco’s are blue, Asda’s are green, Sainsbury’s are orange…)!
What appears normal and unremarkable in one world can be fascinating in another
Laura Jane
21/03/2012 at 11:50 pm (3 years ago)Great list! It’s so true that the best camera is the one you have with you. I especially like reason #9. Sometimes it’s awkward to bring out the DSLR.
Candi Elm
22/03/2012 at 12:02 am (3 years ago)What a great post. I am hoping to learn more about photography with my android
Heidi Christensen Currie
22/03/2012 at 1:29 am (3 years ago)Great post Janine! I always have my iphone with me but always forget to use the camera! Looking forward to your other posts about iphoneography!
Amanda
25/03/2012 at 7:09 am (3 years ago)Oh I love this post! This is exactly what I love about my smart phone. I take photos all the time and my phone is so much easier and quicker to use than my (much larger) camera!
Also, loving the crocheted necklace. I made a few of them a couple of years ago and have been planning on doing some more. How can I not pick up my crochet hook and wire now I’ve seen that gloriously colourful one of yours
Theresa S.
25/03/2012 at 11:27 am (3 years ago)I love this! I’m very self conscious when it comes to lugging around my DSLR, and I’m always seeing things I would love to photograph while I’m out. The phone camera is the perfect solution to that. I just need to remember to use it now
Janmary, N Ireland
25/03/2012 at 4:52 pm (3 years ago)Thanks for the visit Theresa.
Watch out on my blog for iphone tips and more coming soon.
Janmary, N Ireland
25/03/2012 at 4:53 pm (3 years ago)I’d love to see your crocheted jewellery.
Yes – the iphone is definitely the way to go for always having a camera with you
Melanie Anderson
05/10/2012 at 6:38 am (2 years ago)Great
ideas you have there. Your topic is very interesting as it shows all the facts
that could be given about iphone.
I hope to see more of your post