I am currently investigating the use of mobile phones as a means of producing photographic, video and sound work. I am particularly interested in what is left after an event, the mobile as a means to reflecting back on what has passed. My photographs provide selective images of the event, likened to selective memory. The mobile as a new space to view and share work. sharing photographs moves them into another space with another meaning to the viewer.Transforming the viewers mobile into a their own personal gallery space. I have included some short pre edited video clips
The mobile phone photography phenomenon has been going from strength to strength since the technology was first invented- the first camera phones were made commercially available in Japan in 2001, and by 2003, camera phones were globally outselling regular digital cameras. Even more remarkably, just three years after that milestone, in 2006 half of all mobile phones were camera phones, and by 2008 camera phones were outselling all other types of camera.
Since mobile phone photography has gone from cutting edge technology to a practically standard feature, how has the camera phone matured? Your standard phone camera has a resolution that is measured in megapixels, and is also capable of recording high quality video. Also, the screens of many new phones are easily comparable to the best digital cameras; mobiles such as the iPhone have a 3.5-inch LCD display.
Camera phones can now come with as wide a range of features as any other sort of camera- the new iPhone 3GS, for example, has a 3.0 megapixel camera that comes with an impressive list of functions to aid the budding amateur mobile photographer- auto focus, to keep those pictures sharp; auto white balance, which adjusts the colour intensities of the photo, to keep the balance correct; and auto macro, to keep pictures focused in close range. The iPhone OS even has a feature that can embed location information onto a photo, just in case you need reminding of where you were when you took your snapshots.
All of these features make mobile photography easier. But there are still certain basic techniques that need to be remembered. Firstly, light up your subject well- not all camera phones have a flash. Keeping still and having a steady hand will also help; some camera phones have an image stabiliser to reduce the effect of shaky hands, but this should not be relied upon for clear images. Importantly, keep your phone clean- it`s not unusual for lenses to get dirty when they get shoved in and out of your pocket all day.
One of the most interesting developments in phone camera technology is the ability to upload and e-mail photos and video directly from the phone. The iPhone was designed with this in mind; it includes software that makes uploading quick and straightforward- and combined with another increasingly common mobile phone feature- Wi-Fi- its ability to act as a mobile broadcast device is immense. This combination of features has had a very direct impact on the world- notable events that have been captured with mobile cameras include the London bombings and the Iranian election protests. It is perhaps not surprising then that many people are taking mobile photography very seriously, and `mobile blogging` is becoming more and more popular. Phone cameras have become a standard part of life now- so using them to record and share our lives does make sense; there are certainly a lot of people out there doing it.
be creative - use your camera phone
to tell a story and shoot artistic photo blogs
Camera
phone photos wanted
for a
new book on photo-blogging
Submit 9-12 related images with an emphasis on creativity
and quirkyness, any subject matter - no porn!
