Like Polaroids from yesteryear, the iPhone is very much a camera about subjects. Certain subjects tend to lend themselves very well to iPhone photography while others? Not so much.
Trees make for interesting subjects, the iPhone can take pretty good portraits, and it’s really good at what I like to call “unexpected photography,” stuff like unusual camera angles and odd perspectives. They make great skies. You can get people to open up a bit more into a iPhone since it doesn’t feel like a “real” camera and you can take it into places where “real” cameras are somewhat frowned upon. I’ve love to see iPhone shots taken inside a movie theater, for example. Or a grocery store. Or Vegas. Or a strip club. It’s only a matter of time before somebody mounts on atop a moving car or vehicle (if they haven’t done this already, I’d be surprised.) The thing about the iPhone is that it’s really all about the subjects. It’s the ultimate in dorm room photography for the masses, the best way to kind of let your hair down a bit as a photographer, let loose, and just have some fun. Ski slope anyone?
The iPhone doesn’t appear to do really well with night or long exposure photography, but it does work in subdued light fairly well. At least, it can take shots indoors. The more you think about it, the more it really does start to sound a lot like a Polaroid.
Come to think of it, why doesn’t Polaroid have an iPhone app already? Or maybe they do and I just don’t know about it yet? Either way, it’s bound to happen at some point, right?
If you’re thinking about starting an iPhone photography project, it’s probably best to think about what kind of subjects you want to shoot. Pick a fun subject, with a wild fresh point of view and your project is bound to be a success. Since I did a lot of buildings and architecture with my Polaroid, it’s only fitting that I do the same with my iPhone. I’m also doing a series of drinks served in restaurants. These are both sort of interesting subjects that the iPhone can really sinks it’s teeth into a bit, and it’s bound to be fun exploring these themes for me. That’s really the best way to get a successful project from the iPhone. Think about what you like to do, think about what the camera does best, and artfully blend the two.
For something that some people consider a throw away, it’s not just a toy anymore. It’s taking some serious snaps.
Until next time…
