The iPhone Diaries
“The best camera is the one that’s with you.”
Chase Jarvis
Linda McCartney, one of my major influences in photography, embraced the Polaroid camera. With a Polaroid, she captured priceless images of Paul, her children, her animals, and everyday life. Some of her Polaroids can be seen on her website.
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam carried a Polaroid camera, capturing priceless images of the band, and in early videos, frontman Eddie Vedder can be seen taking Polaroids of the crowds at shows. Some of these captures can be seen in the book Of Potato Heads and Polaroids.
Portable, instant, charming, and easy to use–the Polaroid camera made photography accessible, without the need for a darkroom, or sending rolls of film off for processing, or specialized knowledge of photography. Polaroid pictures are iconic, instantly recognizable with their thick, white borders. Their quaint aesthetic is endearing. And while cameras have come a long way, there’s something about that instant gratification in photography that remains.
Enter smartphones. While the price tag on a smartphone far exceeds that of a Polaroid camera, I think the idea is relatively similar. Smartphones are always with us, in our pocket or bag. Portable. With one tap on the screen, a picture appears on our screens, satiating our high speed desires. Instant. And the phone’s camera is smart, analyzing the scene and making adjustments for exposure and shutter speed. Easy to use. The only thing lacking is charm, and well, maybe that’s up to the person taking the picture.
When I first started taking pictures, I was acutely terrified of a “real” camera. The hulking Nikon DSLR my dad gave me was incredibly intimidating and honestly gathered a fair amount of dust. (Figuratively speaking, of course. It was safely in a camera bag.) I couldn’t figure out all the adjustments and buttons. But, out on walks, or hikes, I always had my iPhone in my pocket. And at home, it was always within reach. So, I began using it to capture the beauty around me. Using my phone, I began learning basic composition. Without the pressure of a “real” camera, I was loose and free to survey my surroundings. And make mistakes. I eventually picked up the DSLR, obviously, and now understand aperture, shutter speed, and the other workings of photography. But I can’t forget that the iPhone was my gateway.
It’s still sometimes the most convenient camera because it’s always with me. And I still use it as a camera all the time. My camera roll has over 36,000 images on it. Photography is about seeing, and then capturing what you see, whether you use a Polaroid, a DSLR, a point and shoot, or a smartphone camera. Hence, I’ve started a new page on this website: the iPhone Diaries. Here I’ll post snapshots of everyday life, things I see that bring me joy, or pique my interest. A scrapbook of life. A visual journal of the journey.
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