In this two part video set, I'm going to challenge the way you think about camera gear
and creativity as a photographer.
In fact - I am going to do my best to convince you that the most important piece of gear
you own is your smartphone!
Don't worry, I haven't lost my mind and I promise you - if you have ever felt creatively
frustrated as a photographer - you need to watch these videos - stay tuned.
Hey gang!
I know you saw the title of this video and are probably thinking that I have finally
crossed over to the dark side - sold my Nikon gear - skipped Sony completely and decided
to become a full-time iPhoneographer.
No way!
I love my Nikons, I have mad respect for Sony and all of the other brands that are out there…
- even Pentax!
So then why would I say that the most important camera that you own is your smartphone?
Simple… its the camera that you always have with you - sometimes a little too always - but
always.
Your smartphone possesses the ability to help you improve your understanding of photography,
increase your creativity and in part two of this set, I will prove to you that it can
even dramatically improve the way that you use your DSLR or mirrorless pro cameras - yeah,
with your smartphone.
Look if you have seen any of my previous videos or read my blog articles, you know that I
preach the idea of practice.
It is impossible to grow and develop your photography skills to the point where you
are capable of turning out consistently great photographs without LOTS and LOTS of practice.
Smartphones allow you to do just that - easily without hassle.
So of course I am not saying that you should ditch your pro cameras.
And I am not saying that smartphones are going to replace pro cameras, I am saying that the
best way to improve your ability to see light, create good compositions and make interesting
photographs is to always be looking for opportunities to create an interesting image - of any kind.
And your smartphone makes it easy to do just that.
You know we always hear that phrase that the best camera is the one you have with you.
Actually it's not - but that quote is a way of saying - learn to work with what you
have because the better gear doesn't make better photos unless you know what you are
doing as a photographer
It has also been argued that photography is not creative.
Indeed the act of taking a photo - thats not creativity.
Creativity is coming up with a unique concept and solving a set of problems to be able to
take a photo that is different or unique and stands apart from the crowd.
So why am I talking about all of this?
During my livestreams here on YouTube and on Facebook, I frequently talk about the idea
that I take photos practically every single day with my iPhone.
Sure, when I was younger I was the camera geek that took my camera to school, to dinner,
to the mall, to pretty much anywhere I went - because you never know what amazing photo
opportunity could present itself.
So I always had a camera handy.
But now - who wants to carry that much camera gear around all the time?
Hence the smartphone.
Recently I had a few people call me out about these statements and challenge the idea that
I actually take photos or even think through photos every single day.
So I decided to provide proof and I started a second Instagram account called joe.edelmans.iphone.
You can find a link to it in the description below.
I hope you will follow me.
TIMEOUT….
I want to make something REALLY CLEAR….
I am NOT a fan of doing the 365 day photo challenges.
I find these challenges to be the equivalent of New Years Resolutions - you know when you
are celebrating and you're drunk the resolution sounds wonderful.
A few days later when you've sobered up you realize just how much work is involved and
now the fun is gone which also means the creative buzz is squashed.
And I won't lie to you - since I made this commitment to prove this to people and not
just think about a photo but shoot a photo - it is work.
Fortunately for me - I love my work.
So don't start out on a 365 day photo challenge to prove something - it will take the fun
out and kill the creative joy at the same time.
Instead take or think through photos every day because you are passionate about developing
your skills and passionate about the process of making cool photographs.
What makes this fun for me - is that I don't shoot portraits and beauty shots and models
with my iPhone - I shoot bright color and abstracts and I tend to shoot a lot of macros.
In other words - things that don't count professionally.
There is no client.
There is no money.
There is no pressure.
There is just creative exploration.
It actually takes me back to when I was eleven years old and got my first camera and took
pictures of pretty much EVERYTHING - just because I could and thought that it was so
cool.
So how does this help me as a photographer and how can it help you?
Creating a great photograph requires a LOT of skills.
Regardless of the type or genre of photography.
There is the technical side - understanding the gear, then the physics part where we get
into the exposure triangle and the need to understand light and the inverse square law
and depth of field.
Then there is the creative side that requires us to have unique thoughts and ideas and then
solve problems to show things in a different or unique way.
That is a pretty long list and it is a list that frequently overwhelms new and young photographers.
Also, just like an athlete, because of all of the skills that are required to create
consistently good photographs, great photographers need to practice and master these skills and
then just like an athlete they must practice and use the skills daily in order to keep
them sharp and readily available.
Now, I've had people ask me - how is doing a macro shot of a leaf with an iPhone going
to help you the next time you shoot a portrait in your studio?
If I find an interesting leaf - I will rarely spend more than five minutes photographing
it but during that time, I am using my skills and considering composition, lighting, depth
of field and a list of other photographic techniques.
Not to mention that I always shoot raw files with my iPhone so I will have to process that
image, considering brightness, contrast, highlights, shadows, saturation, ambiance, color temperature
and, well, a lengthy list of items - ALL of which are things that I have to consider when
I shoot that portrait in the studio with my Nikon DSLR.
Sometimes I take the photos while I am walking my dogs.
Sometimes I take the photos in a restaurant while I am waiting for my meal to be served
I take pictures from the back seat of a cab
and especially in airplanes… this is a set of photos that i did while I was particularly
bored on a plane.
Any idea how I did them?
An almost empty cup of soda.
An iPad with some bright colored designs in the image gallery and I held the cup over
the iPad and the phone over the cup.
No macro lens - just the iPhone.
When I teach my college course on Creativity - I make all of my students photograph an
egg - with their smartphones.
If you don't know what the big deal about the egg is - be sure to watch this video - there
is also a link in the description below.
OK - hopefully I have your attention and I've sparked a few ideas.
But the moral here isn't just practice and take photos with your smartphone - I promised
you, I could prove to you how your smartphone can improve ALL of your photography even with
your expensive pro cameras….
THAT will be in part II.
Along with all the details that I know you want to hear about what my favorite apps are
and how I process my smartphone images.
So for now… go and pick up that smartphone - or your Sony or Nikon or Canon and yes - even
that Pentax and Shoot something!
Because your BEST shot - it's your NEXT shot, so keep learning, keep thinking, keep
shooting.
Adios!
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