Mobile Phone

Mobile Photography Part 1: Return to Innocence

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Recently I've been wondering which projects I should take up in 2022. I don't know if I am the only one but I've found it a bit difficult to get started in photography this year. What does one do when there is the will but a lack of opportunity? Or vice versa? What should one do when you feel like you have hit a creative block? I've certainly felt "stuck in a rut" recently. It happens to all of us every once in a while, but the recent mix of the pandemic and general downturn of 2021 has left some of us with very little creative energy. My approach to photographer's block has usually one of the following:

  1. Change direction by buying new gear - while a fun idea, it is not always feasible or fiscally responsible;

  2. Set yourself a mini project or try something completely new from a tutorial ;

  3. Go back to basics

In this case, I decided to combine options #2 and #3. In the past, I've always considered mobile photography to be frivolous at best. I'm old fashioned so my phone was mostly for making calls. The substandard camera was solely for taking photos in case of an accident or getting a number on a billboard when I didn't have a pen. But much like DSLR cameras, mobile phone capabilities have moved beyond the grainy 0.35 megapixel images. There exists a number of lenses and lighting equipment available specifically for mobile phones. This brings a powerful tool into the hands of more amateurs without a need for much "technical know how" or jargon. So where does that leave the old fashioned enthusiasts and professionals? I don't think that the mobile phone is ready to replace the creative flexibility of its DSLR/mirrorless counterparts. But I do think both seasoned professionals and amateurs alike can find a lot of worth in improving their skills in mobile photography.

For some of us who started shooting digitally, we might have started on a point and shoot camera. Technically less complicated and mostly unassuming, that camera fueled our personal curiosity into the image making process. I know most purists will consider using mobile phone to be a step down from "real photography". I definitely do not agree. The real art in photography is not necessarily the priciest tools, but rather thoughtful composition and crafty storytelling. Technical ability is also key. I would rate those well above gear any and every day.

Going back to my project, what rules did I set for myself during my project? It was simple. First, shoot only on mobile phone (which is the point of this entire article). Second, edit only on the same device using a free photo app like Snapseed. Unofficially and lastly, edit within an hour of taking the shot. What happened, you asked? Well, I honestly had fun with it, way more than I expected to. Most importantly, I have changed my mind on mobile photography now. One of my favourite photography quotes says "the best camera is the one that's with you”.

I'll let you judge the results. Feel free to share your own tips and photos with me. More to come...

How I Got The Shot - Adventure In Welchman Hall

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One of my favourite bits of photography wisdom is "the best camera is the one you have with you". After all, the world won't wait until you go home to grab your Canon, Nikon or Sony, etc. to have that perfect shot. Personally  I'm not an avid mobile phone photographer. I'm more inclined to grab my phone to snap a notice or a sign that has information I might need later. But even the most faithful purists must admit that mobile phone cameras are improving at an intensely rapid pace. 

As much as I love my DSLR, I must admit that it pays to step out of your comfort zone. This realisation brings me to the story of this shot. Back in November 2019, my dear friend Sid came all the way from Edinburgh (Scotland)  to spend some time with me and my mum. Sid is the person who started me on this journey and even went with me to go and buy my very first DSLR. One of our photography outings was in the gardens of Falkland Palace (you can see a few of those images in my very first blog post). So I knew one of the first places that I wanted to take her was to Welchman Hall Gully.  Why? It's the perfect walk in nature with tons of plants and sometimes the wildlife comes by to pay a visit. It’s also next door to the famous Harrison’s Cave which is another spectacular attraction.

Every epic vacation needs an epic photo in an epic location. The gully has an abundance of trees, including towering bamboo, nutmeg, and prickly palms, as well as cave-like limestone formations. Wherever there is a healthy canopy, you can always expect some beautiful shafts of light if you look hard enough or happen to be in the right place at the right time. While on the designated footpath, we came to a side path that had fallen into disrepair. At Sid's suggestion, we stepped off the main path to go and explore a collapsed cave. And the light was amazing. So I grabbed her phone and the rest is as they say, history. 

In case you're interested in getting into mobile phone photography, here is the link to an article that I found with some great tips and examples to help you get started.

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/good-pictures-phone-tips 

Camera and equipment details:
Camera: iPhone
Lighting: Natural Light

Until next time.... 

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