Photography Will Never Be The Same Again

Photography Will Never Be The Same Again

• 12/08/2011
• Posted by Sephi Bergerson

You might not realize it yet, but this is as big, or even bigger than the invention of the digital camera.  In the pocket of your shirt or in the zipper of your bag lurks no less than the most inspiring and innovative imaging system in the history of photography. Under the innocent phone cover of your iPhone lies a powerful tool that is changing the way we work and think as photographers. For the first time we have a camera, a darkroom and and an online research directory in one small device. We can now shoot and process our images in the field, free from the burden of running home to our computers. We can instantly examine what works (and what doesn’t) to make our captures match our vision, as well as share them with our subject on the spot, or upload to the social media channels or your favorite online portfolio. There are not enough words to describe my awe at this marvel. It is called iPhonography, and I am in love!

Digital photography was a huge step but it made things too safe. I have grown a bit tired of my DSLR camera lately. It is so great I can hardly miss. There is no uncertainty in my work. I go out and I produce work that is pleasing and accepted by my clients. It’s almost boring. The iPhone reshuffled the cards for me. I’m not sure anymore and I keep being surprised by my own images. I feel more connected to my iPhone portfolio than I have ever been to any of my image portfolios.

Monsoon in Goa, Ramadan in Old Delhi

I’ve been using the iPhone camera more seriously for a little over a year now. The first time I used it exclusively was on a trip to Sinai in June 2010. I had the iPhone 3G at the time and I was blown away. I later upgraded to the 3Gs and now to the iPhone 4 which was my camera on the trip to Ladakh in June 2011. However, it was only recently in Goa that I finally realized how incredible the change is. I’ve been taking pictures here during the monsoon season and came up with a few images that look totally different from anything I’ve ever shot before. I feel closer and more intimate with my subjects in a way I’ve never been able to do with a larger camera. I am still shooting in Goa of course, but the images I came back with from Old Delhi this last weekend were the ones that finally rang my bell and made me realize the revolutionary effect of the iPhone camera. Not like in Goa where I am relatively new, I have been to Old Delhi dozens of times but somehow never made it look quite like this.  I can’t wait till the iPhone gets a 12mp camera and higher sensitivity and I will be happy to use it on a commercial assignment. The day cannot be that far. The world of photography will never be the same again.

The following images were taken using the Hipstamatic app.

 

 

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