“What is in this backpack and why do you need to carry it?” someone asked. “Camera, notebook, glasses, Airpods, wallet, tea, food, mics, rain gear,” I responded. “I can’t imagine something happening and NOT having my camera.” “And the notebook is just as important as the light tight box.” The default space in these moments is “I have my phone,” but this doesn’t work for me. I don’t like using the phone for photographs, and I don’t feel like I’m truly involved in a scene when holding my device at arms length in front of me. Never have, most likely never will.
This does not mean you can’t or shouldn’t do it. Whatever. My feeling is this entire conversation is based on laziness. It’s the same when I hear someone say they switched from using a camera to a phone. It’s almost always based on ease, and that is something I never want to creep into my world. And let’s be perfectly straight here, most people who switch see a dramatic drop off in quality of work. It’s not apples to apples no matter what anyone says.
You can change your shooting style to suit the phone, but that too is a tradeoff.
The one good thing is that we are now far beyond the novelty of the phone. Anyone leading with “I’m an iPhone photographer,” should know that is doing NOTHING for their credibility. I saw my first mobile phone photography book in 1997. Let that sink in. The same can be said for movies. Enough already. Great, you shot it on a phone. Great, it’s “cinematic.” Now, go and learn how to sell a story because this one is lame.
Thankfully, I had great parents who taught me work ethic. Never sit down on the job. Never quit. Never take the easy way. Good advice. Too many snowflakes today. Looking for quick and easy. Fake it till you make it clowns who wouldn’t know good if it bit them in the ass. Do yourself a favor and avoid this crowd. Don’t watch their nonsense. It only prolongs the trauma.
And finally, if I catch any of you turning to someone else and saying “Oh, I’ve GOT to show you this photo,” then scrolling endlessly through your phone to find some lost photograph, I’m going to hook kick you as hard as I possibly can. NOBODY wants to see your phone photographs. NOBODY. Not your friends, your family, strangers, prisoners, even your imaginary friends. This is a quick way to get someone to inwardly detest you as they grimace through a forced smile. Stop doing that. Just think of the phone mindset. “I’ve got all my gear, but I don’t want to carry it, so I’ll just reduce the meaning of this entire scene by snapping with my phone.” Ugh. For people who aren’t that serious about their work, well, fine, okay, done. No lost sleep. But for US. No, not…good…enough. Make it count. Take it serious. Make the effort. Repeat.
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I got stranded in California in the past due to inclement weather closing down the Tahachapi, on my way home to Las Vegas, and so I detoured to Carmel, California. I had my Fuji X-Pro3 and my old iPhone SE. Spent all day shooting street photos with both in Carmel. Had a beer at a restaurant that night and compared all the photos. No contest. The Fuji shots (I used my 35mm F2 Fuji lens) were clearly superior. And the x-Pro3 was more enjoyable to shoot with.
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It’s night and day. I’ve seen good work from iPhones but mostly the packaged, IG style work. When I see doc shooters trying to use an iPhone it always leaves me lacking. I remember when this hit the second Gulf War and Afghanistan. All that Hipstamatic crap that looks SO dated now.
I hate taking phone photos. I only use it when I can’t bring my normal gear into a place like an arena etc. It is handy for remembering where I park at those arenas however. 🙂
👍😭
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Yes, happy snaps and daily life stuff. Perfect for that.
Hmm. Where shall I start? Firstly, I don’t use a phone for my photography. When I think about the reason why, my main reason would be that the pictures are too perfect, and, let’s say, clinical and – sterile? On the other hand, it’s just another device which can take pictures and which has its own idiosyncrasies – just like “real cameras”.
What I mean to ask: What are your reasons to reject photography using phones? Is it the ease with which technically perfect pictures can be made? Does this ease of use preclude serious engagement with subject matter? Or is the reason that phone pictures are ephemeral, because they aren’t printed and are mostly lost as soon as the phone dies? These would rather be problems rooted in the mind of the photographer, and not so much in the gear. Again, I do not intend to start an argument or a flame war, I’m just curious to hear your point. Myself, I’m rather agnostic as to this matter.
Points in favor of phones: 1. “Real cameras” are becoming more and more expensive, and less and less approachable (e.g. an “affordable” Nikon Z5 is out of reach for many of my colleagues); 2. At least in my country (Germany), you increasingly run the risk to be confronted if you wield a “pro camera” with big lens; 3. The phone is always with you, whereas a camera often isn’t (bulk and weight).
PS: Anybody around here who knows about the whereabouts of Rob Campbell, who used to comment here? I’m a bit concerned …
Author
As I said in the piece, if someone is happy doing it, great, so be it. My reason for no liking it for PROJECTS or for people who are either full time or attempting to be full time, is that the work typically sucks. Too wide, over processed. Anytime you stand with a camera at arm’s length, well, it looks like it. My phone is $1000. Can get a GREAT camera for a lot less.
As usual I agree with most everything in your latest post.
Hundreds of years ago I was in a community college fine arts program and after being in Photography 101 where most of the students were still figuring out which of the camera to look through, Photography 102 was a breath of fresh air. Zone System, dedicated 4×5 Bessler enlargers, weekly critique of mounted new prints… in short much higher expectations.
Our instructor had 3 rules: 1: a minimum of 2 rolls per week (24 or 36 but fill the damn can), 2: if he caught you with your lens cap on you would be dropped a letter grade, 3: if he caught you without your camera he would flunk you.
To the best of my knowledge nobody ever challenged him on those.
He also had a comment on what today is called keeper rate: If you have one good frame every so often you’re a good photographer, if you have one good frame per roll you’re a professional photographer and if you have two good frames per roll you’re lying to yourself.
Ouch.
Words to live by then and I still do today.
Author
I know a lot of photographers who no longer carry cameras. Again, it’s about laziness. They KNOW they should but they don’t. What happens is they end up needing perfect situations before they break out their “real” camera. They miss everything in between these moments, and they also trivialize everything in between these moments.
There is another reason, which you have noted in other blog posts: sometimes people just don’t want images of them posted on the internet. Being a very private person myself and mildly empathic, I’m very aware of my surroundings and people around me. And I would often see different expressions on people’s faces when I walk around with my “large” mirrorless even when its simply hanging from the shoulder strap.
In my early film days when you asked someone to take their picture they would often say, “Sure!” or “No thanks…”. Nowadays the first thing out of their mouth is typically a guarded, “What for?”.
I recently started walking around with a small mirrorless camera. I had originally ordered an all black one but due to it being severely back ordered I took the first one offered and that one had a retro look to it. I originally ordered the camera to be more discreet, and it still is, but there was a side effect that I didn’t anticipate. Due to the retro look I don’t get many blocks without someone asking me if I shoot with film. And when I ask to take someone’s picture, many still respond “What for?” but more with curiosity than defensiveness.
The small camera makes me look like some old guy in cargo pants with a camera rather than a social media predator. I still use the heck out of my “large” camera. But I only take my “small” camera anymore on photo walks and casual shooting. Even for family gatherings there is more acceptance now that I have the smaller camera with me. I’m more relaxed and so are the people around me. They don’t need to know that my “weeny” camera as I call it captures a 40 megapixel image nearly identical to the “professional” camera I have at home.
This isn’t an infomercial in any way. But rather than simply complain about how things are or lament about how things were there are sometimes simple (albeit in this case expensive) changes we can make that might have a significant and positive impact on our photography.
Author
People are crazily suspicious now. Its’ been getting worse and worse. And you are correct. Back in the 90s, amazing access to just about everything and everyone.
Real camera are not becoming more expensive. Real “new” cameras are. You can get a professional quality dslr kit of any brand used for hundreds not thousands. Get a phone one generation older and you can save plenty of money for a camera that produced published professional quality photographs we still admire today.
2. No one said professional has to be big. 50s and 35s are not big. Safety is always a concern but a nice phone attracts attention as well, as do watches, shoes…research before venturing out helps.
3. It’s just priorities I guess, if you’re serious about photography carrying your camera won’t bother you.
I always find it surprising to see people shoot using the LCD back of a camera vs. the viewfinder. I can’t compose a decent shot that way, just the same way I can’t on a phone.
Author
That is a bad habit formed by using the phone as camera. Cant’ imagine doing that, unless for some reason I couldn’t get to a certain level and had to use the flip out screen.
I like the idea of a phone as a second camera. 99% of the time ‘real’ camera with a 28,35 or 50mm, but if I need to zoom in or out use the phone. Sounds like a good idea, but just can’t get used to the mechanics of it so I tend to think in terms of 28,35 or 50mm focal lengths even though there’s always others in my pocket. Occasionally I’ll snap a shot using it and think ‘nope, not for me’.
Author
Yep, good backup. But I see so many people trying to use it in replacement of their mirrorless while convincing themselves the work is the same or better. It’s not.
You’re dead right; it’s laziness and I am undeniably guilty of it. In fact, I hate carrying anything, including a bag. I’ve tried going out with a camera but I never use it. Just to say, I’ve been a working photographer for over 40 years, not sure if this has a bearing. It’s part laziness part not having a belief in thinking one is going to get a worthy photograph. Either way, it’s negativity. For me to take a camera out with me, I have to have a picture I’m seeking or know where I’m going to get it. Often I think pictures ‘are not worth the bother’ because who cares anymore? That’s a poor attitude I confess, but it’s a feeling that’s hard to shift. As for using the phone: it’s a good reference tool, but not really for taking photographs.
Author
You need to relearn the joy of making pictures for yourself. Who cares what anyone else thinks? Ditch the negativity. Life is too darn short.
Hi there,
Interesting ! I had nearly the same conversation about writing essays and else. A friend of mine was wondering why his relatives were not quiet interested at reading his beginning work. He was misunderstanding why he had to write. Just as you say, it is for himself first and not for others. I think there’s such an influence of social media ! As he wanted to be certified. Like we all know, if we want to produce a great body of work, we have to be/stay commited !
Myself first in this situation and not blaming anyone
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My family still thinks I’m a photographer. If I was waiting around for someone else to validate what I’m doing, I’d have gone crazy a long time ago. So much of what I see now is performance art. Done for others out of desperation.
My phone often disappoints me. With my camera I only disappoint myself. I prefer it that way.
Do you recall what that first mobile photography book was?
Author
Rob Clark. For Sony. Not sure the title. 1997 if I remember correctly.
Most of the pictures I make while arriving at an event I’ve been hired to shoot are made with the phone, because my cameras are still inside the bag and I’m not opening it and getting ready to shoot in the street (my « getting ready to shoot » takes a little time with all the holdfast stuff). So part of the « where are we? » photos I deliver are shot with the phone camera. As long as it’s not the only camera and you use it to complement a real camera, nobody notices, and sometimes it is even useful to have something wider.
Author
Not for me. Can’t stand it. But you have a purpose. What I’m speaking to here mostly is the laziness of photographers who use the phone becasue they are too lazy to carry their camera. Then they act like the images are the same and they aren’t losing anything all the while knowing they are full of shit.
Dan, do you have a protective case of some kind for the camera, or just toss it in the bag?
Author
I have a padded section inside the backpack. Pulled from another camera bag.