Does Photo Gear Matter?
No…and yes!

Gabe, Drew, and Isaac came for a visit

By now most people have heard the adage in reference to taking pictures that “it’s not the camera.” Or, “cameras don’t take pictures, people do.” Etc.  Those remarks are usually in response to the common comment made to photographers, “Nice camera! You must take really good pictures.”
There’s even a well known joke about the photographer who goes to a woman’s house for a scrumptous dinner. Afterwards, she says, “I like your photos! You must have a nice camera!” And he says, “Thank you! And I could tell you have a nice oven.”

Anyways, what do the photos in this posting have in common? I’ll tell ya…they’re all shot with an iPhone camera. They’re not necessarily great photos, but I did “see” them in the context of the camera phone…and knew what kind of image I could get. NOT the same as what would have resulted had I used my big, heavy single lens reflex. So, I like them all, but I know that much of their character is due to the fact that they were taken with the phone and using iPhone apps for additional processing, etc. where needed or wanted. And I had to improvise a bit with regard to lighting, backgrounds, etc. In a way, I had to be more creative with some of these even though the phone is more limited than a fancy shmancy camera and lens in many respects.

Here’s an example: This guitar was/is actually not a guitar. It’s a two inch tall glass decorative piece. I backlit it using an LED flashlight that I got at the hardware store for $1.99. And I used an app to “swirl” the background, which was actually the carpet in the living room.

Rock Concert

Fun, eh?
And I wouldn’t have done that with the 35mm camera.
Conversely, I don’t think I’d shoot a formal portrait of someone with the iPhone.
I actually like to think that my iPhone photography has helped me with my overall “seeing of images” just as my 35mm camera has helped me learn to visualize my iPhone photos.

The Beatles

Leaves in the rain

So, I guess I am suggesting that the camera does matter! It should have an impact on the final image. But ya still need to look in the viewfinder (if there is one!) and know when to click the shutter, what to put in the frame and where, and how to light the subject.

Ryan Field-NU

Denver Scenery

Santa Monica

And you may have already noticed that there are many pro photographers doing excellent work with their camera phones. It’s become quite common. Who would’ve thought that just a few years ago?

In case you’re interested, these are the photo apps that are on my iPhone. And I always play around with them for about 10 minutes or so when I first get them so that I can have an idea of how they work and think about where they can be utilized most effectively.
In no particular order: Camera, Camera+, PerfectlyClear, Hipstamatic, Instagram, Camera!, ToonCamera, Snapseed (I use this one a lot!!), Lo-Mob, Plastic Bullet, Accu Camera, Filterstorm, ColorStrokes, PhotoStudio, PS Express, Photogene, Slow Shutter, BlurFx, Pencil Illusion, MobileMonet, ArtistaOil, Paint it! Now, Noir, Perfect B&W, TimeLapse, DOFMaster, LongExposure, PicTapGo.  And there are many more becoming available all the time.

Dress in a Window

Self Portrait w/Guitar

Dinner at Lucy and Gary’s

Feel free to post some of your iPhone images in the comments! And let’s follow each other on Instagam (though I don’t use it as much as I should…how about you?). Instagram: sml_phot0

Summer Scene

Bowls

-Stephen M. Levin
“My Mind’s Eye”
www.stephenmlevinphotos.com