Photos with your phone
Maybe it’s an age thing; oh alright, it is, but there was a time when photographs were the preserve of cameras and (tele)phones were the apparatus of verbal communication. Well, that’s history, and with the advent of the smart phone and ever-updated “tech”, high quality images and videos are obtainable for anyone with a mobile phone in their pocket.
Now this is not an earth-shattering, recent or unique realisation but it is an undeniable fact that people are less reliant on, and increasingly not even bothering with, a camera. Why would you if you can get a high-resolution image instantly with something that is almost invariably “at hand” and without having to carry (let alone learn how to use) another device.
As a photographer and someone who has carried (and learned how to use) many cameras, lenses and related paraphernalia over the years, not least those that involved loading film, I don’t think I’m alone in having some reluctance to “rely” on a phone to capture that image. Moreover, there is an inbuilt assumption that if I want a quality image, especially one for publishing and printing, a camera (and ideally a decent one) was the only option. Inherent with that is the need to learn and apply technique and skill so that you are content with the result. With that of course comes the satisfaction, pride and back-patting smugness of achieving a good result, especially if the effort is rewarded and recognised by others.
With the immediacy of mobile communication and social media it is of course possible, and indeed probably expected and assumed, that gratification will come in the form of a “like”. So, the positives outweigh the negatives in view of the ability to instantaneously capture a moment, a view or an occasion and, almost as quickly, receive comment and gratification.
My use of my phone to record, and yes often “publish” an image, has for the most part been a consequence of, either not having a camera to hand when I should have done, or a keenness to get a quick snap of a moment so as to retain a memory and/or communicate that moment to others. The obvious and oft used example of this is that plate of food delivered to your table in a restaurant. That moment, before cutlery gets involved, when you want to celebrate the culinary and artistic skills of the kitchen, you want a record of something enjoyable to look back on or even use in a review, and of course you want to “share” to inform, recommend, tempt, or (be honest) smugly impress others.
Prompted by a couple of recent outings where for mainly practical reasons, such as walking with our dog, a camera was not being carried, I have looked back over the last couple of months to discover photos that were taken with my phone. Now my phone is a competent Samsung Smartphone although it is not the latest incarnation or state of the science version, but I have frequently been impressed by the quality of the image. Maybe not in the depth of pixel quality but certainly in the handling of light and exposure.
I have prepared a small slideshow of few landscapes recently captured with my phone. Just click on the link or the picture below and have a look. Undoubtedly there are some (and many not exhibited here) that have impressed and even surprised me to the extent that I have downloaded them as part of a catalogue of photos. Even if some might prompt me to think “ if only I’d taken a camera with me…” it means I have a record of the event which is worth keeping and which, if necessary, I could edit or tidy up.
On the subject of “tidying up”, my proficiency with Photoshop CC has enabled me to apply a crop or straighten an horizon for example or even some undertake some raw adjustment techniques to try and get the best out of the image. So, in a funny way using my phone instead of my camera(s) has lead to me learning and applying more photo editing skills, so there’s another positive.
I will nonetheless continue to prefer to take photos with a (proper) camera, and so will have to make a point of carrying a camera. Let’s face it, the advent of digital DSLR’s has meant that you can freely click away and experiment without the fear of using up film or opportunity. It’s easy to be lazy and the mindboggling advance in phone camera technology does little to persuade you to not rely on the phone as “all you need”.
Foodie Phone Photos
It has to be said, I will also continue to use my phone camera to record those dishes delivered to my table that are worthy of recognising and reviewing culinary talent. It would seem rude not to.
Watch this space for another slideshow of foodie phone photos…
Coming soon from terrymorganphotography.co.uk. ©
In the meantime, please let me have your thoughts on this topic and of course feel free to get in touch if you would like some help in tidying up an image.