Tuesday, September 1, 2009

My other camera...

During our trip to Glacier National Park, I got to play with a new toy - an iPhone, or, more specifically, the iPhone's camera. It's not a great camera, but can be used to great effect. I found that a number of artist are using the iPhone (and other small point&shoots) to take great photos. For example, check out Chase Jarvis or Greg Schmigel or even one of Flickr's iPhone groups. After seeing these and others like them, I wondered what I could do with my new iPhone.

During the trip I took a lot of photos on my iPhone. Starting out, the pictures were not so good. The first thing I needed to learn was of what this little camera was capable. For instance, this camera seems to have a very limited dynamic range, so scenes with a lot of contrast are problematic.
The Custer National Cemetery at the Little Bighorn National Monument in Montana.

There are a number of applications for the iPhone which allows one to edit a photo. Obviously due to the form factor, the edits are pretty minimal. This photo was converted to look like it was taken from a Lolo camera.
Traffic Jam on Going to the Road highway due to road construction.

The other aspect of the iPhone is that is relatively wide-angle. This greatly effects what types of compositions work.
Dead tree with tavertine from the Mammoth Hotsprings growing around it.

Given the wide-angle of the camera, and a panorama application, it is fairly easy to make decent panos.

Panorama of the Mammoth Hotsprings in Yellowstone National Park

Another thing I was interested was the ability to take a photo and immediately post via the phones internet connection. I posted a few photos to Facebook during the trip, but, I'm still looking for a good way to post to the blog from the iPhone. Of course this ability is somewhat limited due to my propensity of going to wilderness area (not many wi-fi connections in the boonies!)
Grand Tetons and Snake River

The iPhone's camera will never replace my Canon 40D. During the trip, I brought back about 600 photos taken on the 40D, but on about 50 on the iPhone.

However, it does provide another creative outlet and, hopefully, reminds me that making good images are made in the mind, not by the tools.

That's my world seen through an iPhone. Be sure to visit My World Tuesday.

12 comments:

chrome3d said...

Well, the Mammoth Hotsprings was more than a decent panorama. That place really made the iPhone shine.

Gaelyn said...

Not bad for an iPhone. But I'll bet the Cannon shots are even better.

Louise said...

I'm quite impressed with the panoramas. I really liked the first one of the cemetery, too. Maybe it was the lighting in that one. I think you figured it out quite well.

Jo said...

Russ, the Mammoth Hot springs and Snake river, in fact all photos are amazing through this new medium of yours.

VALKYRIEN said...

What an absolutely fascinating place! And your panorama shots are stunning!

Photo Cache said...

i love the dead tree image. i think you can never take a bad picture of this place.

Larry D said...

Wow, these are great shots for an iPhone!

Russ said...

Thanks everyone!

Photo Cache - Actually, I took plenty of bad ones! I just delete them :) Ya gotta love digital.

kayerj said...

pretty nice for a small camera, the photographer might have something to do with it though

SandyCarlson said...

You made great use of your camera. I like these very much.

Linnea said...

I love your iphone world!

Russ said...

Thanks! The iPhone camera has been a lot of fun!