{"id":44722,"date":"2017-03-26T02:50:31","date_gmt":"2017-03-26T09:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=44722"},"modified":"2017-03-26T02:50:31","modified_gmt":"2017-03-26T09:50:31","slug":"10-reasons-why-your-smartphone-is-the-best-camera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/26\/10-reasons-why-your-smartphone-is-the-best-camera\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Reasons Why Your Smartphone is the Best Camera"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Garden<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I want to encourage you \u00e2\u20ac\u201d use your smartphone more for your photography.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First of all, what is the point of photography? The purpose of photography is to uplift your soul. To make meaning in your life; not photos.<\/p>\n

Therefore, I believe that shooting with your smartphone is probably your best tool for photography. Why?<\/p>\n

All photos included in this post are photographed on an Android smartphone, processed with VSCO<\/em>.<\/p>\n

1. It is always with you<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Honestly, we look at our smartphones 90% of the day. Why not use that to your advantage?<\/p>\n

When you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re bored, waiting for the bus, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look at your social media streams or check your email. Rather, look around yourself, and let your creativity wander. Let your boredom<\/a> encourage you to make photos of your surroundings, with your smartphone.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think when shooting<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you see something interesting, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think before hitting the shutter on your smartphone. Just point and click.<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t censor yourself while you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re making photos. Only decide which photos to choose afterwards<\/em> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d when you go home, and have a time to reflect on your day. Try to let your photos marinate<\/a> for a day or two before uploading them.<\/p>\n

3. VSCO is awesome<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I am a huge VSCO fan. I think their presets on the iPhone\/Android\/Lightroom are some of the best film simulations ever made.<\/p>\n

When I shot on my smartphone, I was a big fan of the color preset\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d preset. It looks pretty similar to Kodak Portra 400 to me.<\/p>\n

If you have a smartphone with VSCO, you have a full studio. You can process your photos, share them, and keep them backed up online to the cloud for free.<\/p>\n

And no; using filters on your photos aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t cheating. Treat it like marinating a steak \u00e2\u20ac\u201d a little bit of salt, olive oil, and black pepper enhances the taste.<\/p>\n

I also think aesthetically, having good presets allows your photos to have more emotion. A RAW photograph without any post-processing lacks soul<\/a>. You need to add some spices to increase the flavor. Who would want to eat their food without salt?<\/p>\n

Fun post to see: Smartphone photos processed on VSCO vs Medium-format film<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. No excuses<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We all make excuses that we can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make good photos because we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have that one expensive camera. But in reality, the smartphone is the best tool.<\/p>\n

We have no excuses with a smartphone. You need to focus on making good compositions with your skill, and your eye. You need to identify what is personally-meaningful to you in photography. A more expensive camera will not<\/em> make you more creative.<\/p>\n

To become more creative<\/a> in photography is to create<\/em> more. To make more photos. To make more meaning in your images.<\/p>\n

Also, the best way to become a best photographer is to study art. Study great art from the past, like the Renaissance artists (Leonardo da Vinci<\/a>\/Raphael<\/a>). Study the masters of photography<\/a>. Study sculpture, study music, study literature, history<\/a>. Study the Art of Poetry from Horace<\/a>. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t put any limits on your creativity.<\/p>\n

5. No genre in photography<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pigeon-hole yourself to a certain genre in photography. Rather, let yourself be promiscuous. Dabble in any and every genre of photography.<\/p>\n

For myself, I became pigeon-holed in just street photography. That hurt me, because if I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t in an urban area, I felt like I couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make good or interesting photos.<\/p>\n

Now, no more limits. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve cut the chains of the genre, and I feel free. Like a dove once in a golden cage\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I can now fly free.<\/p>\n

Now, I photograph anything that is interesting to me. I photograph my friends, family, strangers, trees, plants, leaves, landscapes, the sky, clouds, or abstract shapes.<\/p>\n

There are no longer any \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bad\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photos. Only meaningful photos and un-meaningful photos.<\/p>\n

6. What if you have an old smartphone?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What if you have an old smartphone or you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have an iPhone? My recommendation: shoot monochrome<\/a>. Colors on older smartphones look ugly. But the grit and grain in monochrome actually makes the photos look nicer.<\/p>\n

So shoot with a black and white preview in your camera, or just process them into black and white afterwards with VSCO or Snapseed (both free).<\/p>\n

Learn more: How to make good photos with a shitty camera<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. 1,000 photos in a day challenge<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the only way to become a better photographer is to make more photos.<\/p>\n

So as a practical assignment, try to shoot 1,000 photos in a day with your smartphone (if you suffer photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s block).<\/p>\n

Then at the end of the day, just choose your 1 favorite photograph. Then a day later, share it on social media.<\/p>\n

8. Composition tips on the smartphone<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Also to make better photos on your smartphone, focus on the edges of your frame. Start off with a simple background (just pure black or white), and then add your subjects afterwards.<\/p>\n

Also for more dynamic compositions try to add more diagonals and curves to your photos. Tilt your camera and use a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcdutch angle<\/a>.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

Also just focus on details. For example, do a project on just photographing hands, just photographing eyes<\/a>, or teeth.<\/p>\n

Learn more: Composition ><\/a><\/p>\n

9. What if I want to show off?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Okay, if you only shoot with a smartphone, unfortunately you cannot show off. You cannot show off having that huge lens, or having that new exotic camera.<\/p>\n

But really\u00e2\u20ac\u201d do you want to show off your gear? Is it because you are insecure?<\/p>\n

If anything, it is more impressive to show off your photos, shot on just your smartphone\u00e2\u20ac\u201d then proving you have a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcreal\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 camera.<\/p>\n

I know I respect photographers more if I know they shoot with a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcshitty camera\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d than if they had a $10,000 camera.<\/p>\n

10. JUST SHOOT IT.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t overthink photography. If you see something interesting (to you)<\/p>\n

\n JUST SHOOT IT.<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think of composition,<\/p>\n

\n JUST SHOOT IT.<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think about how many likes you will get on social media,<\/p>\n

\n JUST SHOOT IT.<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And when in doubt,<\/p>\n

\n JUST SHOOT IT.<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Always,
\nEric<\/p>\n

\n

How to Shoot on a Smartphone<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The best camera is a smartphone.<\/p>\n

If you want to learn how to shoot street photography on your smartphone, read the articles below:<\/p>\n