Calling all Canberra Photographers

Disinformation said :

martyo said :

I challenge you to tell the difference between a DLSR/SLR photography and one taken by an iPhone – take a look http://www.flickr.com/groups/iphoneography/ & http://www.iphoneography.com/

That’s kind of meaningless. Artists create with the tools that they have. Sure, anyone with a camera can capture images. Smartphones can capture decent enough general image quality. As soon as conditions are mediocre or the action starts, smartphones quickly lose out and the more capable cameras appear. I’ve seen professional photographers (and not so professional) create some really nice work with smartphones. However, none of them use them for professional work.
There’s a reason for that. They’re just not flexible or capable enough. While they’re phones, they never will be. What they will always be is the camera that you’re most likely to have with you. That is their overwhelming advantage.

Yeah while the cameras in phones are more than capable, if you gave a camera phone to a novice and a pro, the pro would get a better pic than the novice. Give them both a dSLR and nthe pro would get a better pic than their cameraphone shot. The novice is likely to get a similar photo.

As soon as the light starts to fade a cameraphone/compact camera becomes next to useless, for decent photos.

Having said that I’m just as bemused by the debates had over camera brands. Far less difference there compared to cameraphone vs dSLR.

Disinformation said :

martyo said :

I challenge you to tell the difference between a DLSR/SLR photography and one taken by an iPhone – take a look http://www.flickr.com/groups/iphoneography/ & http://www.iphoneography.com/

That’s kind of meaningless. Artists create with the tools that they have. Sure, anyone with a camera can capture images. Smartphones can capture decent enough general image quality. As soon as conditions are mediocre or the action starts, smartphones quickly lose out and the more capable cameras appear. I’ve seen professional photographers (and not so professional) create some really nice work with smartphones. However, none of them use them for professional work.
There’s a reason for that. They’re just not flexible or capable enough. While they’re phones, they never will be. What they will always be is the camera that you’re most likely to have with you. That is their overwhelming advantage.

Oh so small minded and arrogant but above all stupid. Saying “they never will be” is just stupid.
3 years ago people didn’t see dSLRs being used for film making. Now there’s a couple of hacked dSLRs out there that shoot video as good as the Red One. 5 years ago people didn’t see phones as more than talk/text devices, now they’re used for internet more than a phone call. 10 years ago people didn’t see digital cameras replacing film or pro bodies costing less than $20,000, now you can buy them for $3000. 20 years ago, people didn’t see kids taking tablets to school or a families having a computer and a TV each.

Trying to make grand statements predicting the future is fool hardy at the best of times. Trying to do it when you’re ignoring history is silly.

martyo said :

I challenge you to tell the difference between a DLSR/SLR photography and one taken by an iPhone – take a look http://www.flickr.com/groups/iphoneography/ & http://www.iphoneography.com/

That’s kind of meaningless. Artists create with the tools that they have. Sure, anyone with a camera can capture images. Smartphones can capture decent enough general image quality. As soon as conditions are mediocre or the action starts, smartphones quickly lose out and the more capable cameras appear. I’ve seen professional photographers (and not so professional) create some really nice work with smartphones. However, none of them use them for professional work.
There’s a reason for that. They’re just not flexible or capable enough. While they’re phones, they never will be. What they will always be is the camera that you’re most likely to have with you. That is their overwhelming advantage.

astrojax said :

what is google plus, but? can someone help out an old luddite?

It’s a rather lame version of facebook, but it’s useful if facebook is blocked where you work! A few people left facebook in high dudgeon, declaring FB was BAD and they were off to Google+ which is for more intelligent people (and I notice a few people who woudln’t go near FB on Google+) but after a while, they came creeping back to FB as they got lonely and bored at Google+. That’s the potted version.

martyo said :

Ben_Dover said :

Questions? – Forward any questions you may have to Martin Ollman

I have a question. What the hell are you talking about?

LOL – it’s all the rage!

These new fancy phones everybody has – actually have amazing cameras in them. So lot’s of clever and creative people are using them more and more to capture amazing images – these walks are all about human interaction, getting to know people in your community with like minded interests etc…in this case Photography. Often the aim is to practice and improve one’s own photography skills.

Also…despite everybody bagging out Google+ for being late to the social network craze – they have actually managed to entice most of the worlds photographers to the network – and it is producing some amazing collaborations and connections – see http://plusonecollection.com/

I’m not sure that ‘most of the world’s photographers’ are on Google+ … but I understand many are. However, I can’t stand the bloody thing … and yes, I’ve persisted in trying to navigate it, figure it out, make it useful to me, but all it does it piss me off and in the end, I don’t have the time in my day to ‘figure out a website’ ……. plus, it thinks its clever and wants to link up to everything else. Then again, I just hate social networking full-stop .. its not how I conduct my IRL relationships, so I find it foreign and irritating.

However … iPhoneography, for what its worth (and want of a better word), is definitely gaining groundswell. I’ve been taking and editing photos for around 2 years now, using my iPhone 3GS and seeing how far I can push the device and the apps you can download to edit your photos. I’ve loved it … its got me out of the house, its got me seeing the world around me through new eyes and the best thing is – its always with me (as the saying goes, about which camera is the best).

As for those that don’t see it as ‘real’ photography … well, I get really tired of ‘real’ photography only being something that people can gain access to if they have plenty of money to purchase the gear. All that gear and such doesn’t necessarily make for a better photograph … it is the photographer. I like the idea that iPhoneography opens that up to everyone … but I can see how some ‘photographers’ wouldn’t like it 😉

To see what can be done with a mobile phone camera and associated apps, click on some of these links … there really is some beauty to be found here, by amateur and professional photographers alike.

http://web.stagram.com/n/ampt (quite a few aussies are members of this group – check out @kungfuroll, @bindyboo, @nickwhite73, @k8karsten). All photos strictly taken with a mobile phone.

http://pixelsatanexhibition.com/ – this is an international site that showcases iPhoneography and combines it with real-life exhibitions and art sales (US based) from contributors to the online site.

Ben_Dover said :

martyo said :

LOL – it’s all the rage!

These new fancy phones everybody has – actually have amazing cameras in them.

I don’t have one. I have a Canon 60D though.

can i txt you on that?

but as others have noted, a camera is a box with a hole in it. the skill of photography is in the vision of the photographer (then sometimes having particular equipment to enact that vision – but mostly not needed) that said, i still miss dark rooms and real film [ok, i know photoaccess exists – just my ‘access’ to it given life’s pressures makes it essentially untenable…]

what is google plus, but? can someone help out an old luddite?

in ideal conditions the camera doesn’t matter much.

but when the subject is moving and the light is low the quality of the camera most certainly comes into play.

Mysteryman said :

Good equipment is very helpful but there are loads of great images being made with less than stellar cameras. Any camera can help practice the honing of the eye in the search for good shots. And a small, portable camera can make being in the right place at the right time much easier.

Couldn’t agree more. Your camera really doesn’t matter: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm

And a modest example (of mine), taken down at Weston Park on the weekend, using a phone camera: http://situlalux.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/painted-with-light.html

Keijidosha said :

martyo said :

These new fancy phones everybody has – actually have amazing cameras in them. So lot’s of clever and creative people are using them more and more to capture amazing images – these walks are all about human interaction, getting to know people in your community with like minded interests etc…in this case Photography. Often the aim is to practice and improve one’s own photography skills.

Practicing and improving your photography skills by using a smart phone is like improving your driving skills by playing video games.

I think that’s pretty far from true.

I think the most important element of capturing a great image is having an eye for it (seeing the shot before it’s taken). Second is being in the right place at the right time. Good equipment is very helpful but there are loads of great images being made with less than stellar cameras. Any camera can help practice the honing of the eye in the search for good shots. And a small, portable camera can make being in the right place at the right time much easier.

martyo said :

LOL – it’s all the rage!

These new fancy phones everybody has – actually have amazing cameras in them.

I don’t have one. I have a Canon 60D though.