What you can Learn from your Camera Phone
Text and images by: Jammie Graves.
First let me say that I am NOT advocating that you ditch your main camera. I am suggesting a self assignment to learn more about photography and yourself. Let’s discuss some advantages of having a camera phone.
It’s convenient! A small compact package that is easy to carry with that instant feedback package known as a digital screen. Camera phones go places many other cameras are not allowed but be sure to understand the rules where you are going to shooting!
Having a camera phone will teach you about keeping batteries charged and lenses clean because if you don’t you won’t be happy with the results. None of us would let our phones die would we?
Your camera phone will allow you to learn all the controls well, since they are simple and few, then experiment with different settings. This will be the same methodology you can follow to learn to use your main camera. Reading the book, learning the controls, taking bad pictures, and then creating great pictures. You will learn what effects the different ISO’s produce, how white balance settings can create different color palettes, which ultimately will let you anticipate which settings you want to use for that next great image.
I like to take my camera phone to places that are tough to photograph such as night scenes, twilight, or indoor settings.
Having mastered the controls, I can focus on composition. By using the large preview screen I can see how moving the main subject from one grid point to another in the rule of thirds changes my outcome. I can anticipate my final lighting as the changes are automatically shown in the preview screen and then I can analyze the results once I create the image.
Oh, I guess you want to know what camera phone I use – HTC EVO 4G. This a high definition camera phone but any camera phone will work for this self assignment. I have used a Motorola Razr and small disposable phones as well. So drop that call and snap more pictures!
Jammie Graves write: an engineer and part time pro photographer. I started my photographic journey in college through industrial photography. My website is http://www.jamkat59.smugmug.com.
20 Responses to “What you can Learn from your Camera Phone” - Add Yours
December 13th, 2011 at 6:32 am
I recently used my iPhone 4′s camera to photography my visit to gatorland because I didn’t want to lug around my big canon eos 5D.
Here’s an example: http://TrevonDonoho.deviantart.com/art/Pathway-to-another-Dimension-271025324?qo=0&catpath=gallery:trevondonoho:30051486&order=0&offset=0
The only editing I did was straighten the picture.
December 13th, 2011 at 7:09 am
Wow, even though I’m really not a photophone fan, I have to admit the first two photos are awesome, very dreamy.
December 13th, 2011 at 7:25 am
It amazes me when I post my pics up on Facebook, and people think I am using my “real” camera, when in fact I am using my terrible 2 Megapixel LG cell phone camera.
Like this one:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150509506465100&set=a.45543360099.79163.686430099&type=1&theater
December 13th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Every Sunday I post a new photo taken with my iPhone 4S
This one is probably my favorite to date – http://www.phogropathy.com/iphone-photo-sunday-the-roots/
But of course there’s a lot that the iPhone can do as well as all the various editing apps like Camera+, Instagram and Snapseed
December 13th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
i’m huge fan of cameraphones… i’m using my old sony ericsson K800i and i’m really amazed by quality of this old cameraphone all the time.
this is a portrait a took few days ago during the night on the street: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matabum/6483556811
and here’s one older portrait (natural light): http://www.flickr.com/photos/matabum/6014874877/
December 13th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I got interested in photography due to my cameraphone. And I still capture pictures with it. The only problem is that it does not have autofocus, flash and is only 2MP, but that dosen’t stop innivation and creativity and only helps in learning more.
This is one of the good pictures taken by this camera http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjay101/6312218505/
December 13th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
I used to have a 5 megapixel camera in my phone but the phone i gone. It was very handy to use in unexpected situations.
http://blogs.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/2010/09/traffic-stoppers.html
December 13th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
This article is inspiring and motivating me.
I have been taking pictures from my mobile for more than a year.
http://raghavendra-mobilephotography.blogspot.com/
There are few tips to be covered like avoid zoom, to know your mobile well, white light options
for more
http://raghavendra-mobilephotography.blogspot.com/2010/07/basics-and-tips.html
December 13th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
This article is inspiring and motivating me.
I have been taking pictures from my mobile for more than a year.
http://raghavendra-mobilephotography.blogspot.com/
December 13th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
I use my ipod’s camera from time to time, shooting some small things.
It was nice to read this post. thanks.
December 14th, 2011 at 12:58 am
I love Taking pictures with Phones. This is a very true and inspiring article.
I took these pictures a year ago with my camera phone. I had the 1st iphone that came out and installed an app called camera + and another called tilt-shift. these two apps help me create this 3 pictures. Enjoy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malmontephotography/6505101283/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malmontephotography/6505101481/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malmontephotography/6505101117/
December 15th, 2011 at 5:59 am
I love using my cameraphone. It has come in handy when I don’t have my Nikon with me.
December 15th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
My phone is the camera that I always have with me.
It’s a Nokia 6700 Slide so I don’t have a lot of settings to change but that takes the distractions away and makes me look at my composition.
It gets to places other cameras cannot reach!
It’s a new way to explore photography
December 16th, 2011 at 9:15 am
Great thing about the iPhone, which lacks ISO settings, is that it forces me to focus on composition.
December 16th, 2011 at 9:49 am
http://www.cellphonephoto365.com
December 16th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
On our most recent anniversary, I was given an iphone.
It was so I could play… with Hipstamatic! Love the app, lenses and film effects… so many choices.
December 19th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Thanks everyone for the great comments! I am impressed by everyone’s images too. I will be submitting more articles in the future if you liked this one.
Jammie
December 21st, 2011 at 2:13 am
I love my camera phone. I have a 3.2 MP Nokia 5530 and it works great. Noise is the only problem i encounter. Here are my clicks.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66046610@N02/?saved=1.
December 24th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
I use my ipodtouch4-(0.7mp)
perhaps the lowest of megapixels of its kind XD
the great thing with mobile photography is that you can concentrate on your composition alone rather having to adjust aperture, shutter, iso, etc.
Until I can finally afford a “decent” camera, I’ll stick to this one and hone my composition skills.
After all, “The best camera is the one always with you.”
January 13th, 2012 at 3:15 am
Good to recon with a camera phone, then if you like it….. pop back with the DSLR? I know it’s not always that simple lol
Leave a Reply