The best camera is: The one you have with you when you need it. It’s an old saying but, nevertheless, true.
Today many of us have a decent quality camera with us at all times. It’s the camera in our cell phones. The smart phone camera especially. A couple of years ago I read an article in a fine art magazine that considered the question, “Can cell phone photos be considered fine art?”
The article examined the work of photographer Dan Burkholder who was shooting extensively with an iPhone and experimenting with many different “apps,” or editing programs designed for smart phones. Dan asserted that these cameras and apps had advanced so much that “fine art” photos could be created with them.
The article offered several examples of the work that Dan had produced in support of his argument. Several of them were beautiful and sophisticated street photography images taken in NYC and then edited on the phone during his commute to the suburbs. They were posted to social sharing web sites before he reached home.
I was impressed by the quality of the images and the immediacy of their distribution for others to enjoy. I got my own smartphone soon after and began my own experiments. Although I have not produced any great fine art with mine, I’ve had a lot of fun experimenting with this revolutionary technology.
I won’t be giving up my DSLR or advanced point and shoot to go totally cell phone, as some have predicted. But the cell phone camera has its place with me and I rely on it a great deal, especially to quickly post family photos to social sharing web sites.
The photos accompanying this article were taken with an older Android cell phone. I primarily use three apps on my pictures. Two of them, Pixir Express and Photo Editor are basic editing apps. You can adjust color, contrast, saturation, sharpening, and add text and effects. The other app is Camera Fun, and it is just for fun, although you can come up with some interesting effects with it too.
Most apps are free or very low cost. Camera Fun was the most expensive at $4.99. I’ve taken 1,396 Camera Fun photos and have had as many laughs from it. In all I’ve taken, or made, 2,699 photos with this phone camera. Perhaps none of them are fine art but a few of them are priceless to me.
Kings Park Photo Club: Meets the third Thursday of every month at the Kings Park Library at 7 PM (next meeting is on February 20, 2014). Check out our members’ work on display at the People’s Bank, on Indian Head Road, and the Nissequogue River State Park Administration Building.
Thanks for reading, if you have any suggestions for topics please post them in the comments.
