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9 Years Ago
“The ultimate beauty of iPhone — it has made photography not scary. It has removed technology and made it just an act of creation.”
http://om.co/2015/03/06/standalone-camera-shot-dead-by-iphone/
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9 Years Ago
Yes, Marlene, you're the iPhone pioneer around here I think. ... and your art is on walls.
If what this article says is true, there is evidence that InstaPrints just might see some new traffic. All you need is your Instagram account to login After that its just like being on FAA / Pixels, same bio but new gallery page.
"Instaprints.com has revolutionized the way that Instagram photos are bought and sold around the world. With a few clicks, artists and photographers can import their Instagram photos to Instaprints.com and sell framed prints, canvas prints, greeting cards, and more to a global audience of art collectors. Instaprints fulfills each order on behalf of the artists - taking care of the printing, framing, matting, packaging, shipping, collecting payments from the buyers, and sending profits to the artists. Each print is manufactured at Instaprints's production facility and delivered "ready-to-hang" with a 30-day money-back guarantee. "
9 Years Ago
If I had an iPhone I'd use it every day; to make calls with. But I have a Nokia. I think people talking to me sound the same on them.
9 Years Ago
My name is Abbie and I only take Android photographs. Addicted I am and make no apologies. I have a 20.7 mp phone :)
Even better than an iPhone I think?
9 Years Ago
Several years ago I got a really small digital to carry when I was in the city. I used it to record people/things I might want to paint later. The iPhone has solved that for me.
9 Years Ago
Actually, no, Abbie, from what I have read....too complicated for me to repeat accurately, but in essence, the article said that the higher megapixels can only make the camera's output better to a certain extent....the newer models of all smartphones are probably comparable, regardless of the mp number.
Frank, I see a bigger issue here regarding the general public....since anyone can take a 'decent' picture and post it as an instagram, instagram pictures are diminished in the buying public's eye.. That makes for a hard sell.
I'd rather keep my images on a fine art site, where the products of my fine art eye resides.....
9 Years Ago
I have an iPhone and I forget it has a camera.
I use my camera when I want to take pictures.
9 Years Ago
Abbie,
It still depends on the censor.
My mentor was telling me a story last week that had him chuckling. Some years back he went into a NYC
photography shop. He wanted to price a full frame camera.
The guy before him at the counter was pricing a mirror censor camera. The sales person suggested a full frame
camera, but the objections from the customer were loud. It seems the full frame camera had more pixels, so the
customers thought it was work poorer. My mentor and the sales person gave each other a knowing smile and let the
dumb customer get what they wanted. By getting a smaller censor working with a mirror the censor pixels or whatever
they are called, the pixels were smaller and closer together. The larger full frame censor chip gave each pixel more size. Better
in other words.
Dave
9 Years Ago
I think Samsung has a much better sensor than Apple. I have used both.
Much more control with the Samsung too.
9 Years Ago
I will say this, as soon as the sun goes down cell cameras are next to useless for art photos. As any landscape artist knows, much of the best light is before sunrise or after sunset.
Don't even dream of doing astro photography with a cell.
9 Years Ago
Yeah, Dave, I think it's true that when you go into a 'camera shop' or big box store they push MP ... and when you go into the pro photo store they push sensor size.
What I don't get is why does the iPhone have an 8MP and the iPad have 5MP .... more so, why does some iPad's have 8MP and the iPad mini a 5MP. Don't you think the smaller size device would fit better for making pictures?
Abbie ... your phone camera is 20.7MP ... really?!
9 Years Ago
JC Frank,
You guys are threading on ever changing ground. A censor today will be small tomorrow.
And the density thing my mentor was alluding to wont be an issue in cell phones eventually if not now.
Density used to be problematic. Tech changes. Who knows if it means anything today.
Dave
9 Years Ago
Look at this, the Nokia / Lumia 1020 as a Zeiss 41MP sensor with flash camera.
Here are some images on Flickr which has the most uploads for Nokia.
https://www.flickr.com/cameras/nokia/lumia_1020/
9 Years Ago
Here you go, Marlene, images from the 6+ on Flickr. It's almost worth it, as you get with it image stabilization and the 8MP sensor, compared to the slightly larger iPad mini with 5MP sensor.
https://www.flickr.com/cameras/apple/iphone_6_plus/
9 Years Ago
"Frank, I see a bigger issue here regarding the general public....since anyone can take a 'decent' picture and post it as an instagram, instagram pictures are diminished in the buying public's eye.. That makes for a hard sell. "
Yes, Marlene, you might be right. I think that is the market for InstaPrints then, for the "Instagrammers" ... however, there are some incredible ones on that site, I might add.
9 Years Ago
Small point and shoot cameras are being killed by the newer cell phone cameras but DSLR's are still safe. I'm getting great images from my Samsung Note 4 and have even posted a handful on FAA. I simply limit the size of the prints available to compensate for the smaller file sizes and lens quality. And JC is 100% correct about the twilight and evening photography although who knows what the next generation of cell phone cameras will be capable of capturing.
9 Years Ago
It's all about composition and whatever pleases the buyers' eyes.
I have sold a few iPhone prints multiple times from my iPhonography gallery
For example,
- Richard Reeve
ReevePhotos.com
9 Years Ago
Frank, I have the Sony XPeria, best mobile phone camera on the market to date. I got it FOR the camera as it outdoes all the others. Guy wanted a quick sale and I was in the right place at the right time when my last phone was stolen a couple of weeks ago
9 Years Ago
Intersting, Abbie, being an iOS junky I didn't know Sony was in this category too. What model do you have, by the way?
https://www.flickr.com/cameras/sony/
9 Years Ago
Admittedly it was an IPhone S4 I used. I was seriously underwhelmed. I researched a lot before getting my current phone and I see the S6 now about where the Galaxy S3 was a few years ago. (Which is not bad mind you.) I do like the IPhoneophile crowd though as they are 3x more likely to buy a cell phone case from me shot with my Galaxy.
Technology continues to evolve so perhaps someday I will shoot only with my phone but I doubt it. So long as you have good light AND want the native zoom, 35mm in the case of the S5, they do OK, but still no where near as well as a ten year old Canon full frame 5D.
9 Years Ago
Somewhere I have a cell phone - it has about 10K minutes on it - I 'think' it even has a camera - I know how to call my dear wife and a few other people on it - I've never answered a call on it. It's an OLD Motorola. I seldom ever talk on any 'phone' much less a cell - never in that kind of emergency situation.
My dear wife thinks I should get a 'new phone' - - - for her. I was looking at this one
9 Years Ago
My name is Thomas...and I take lots of cell phone snapshots.
I've tried to take art shots with them...and quickly grabbed my 5dMKIII.
I may or may not be a gear snob.
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9 Years Ago
Excellent Frank!
This whole discussion reminds me a lot of the world of high performance cars, which I have spent a lot of time in during my younger days. There was (and still is) the camp of "muscle heads" who were die hard big block V8 enthusiasts who never gave a second look to the "ricers", those hopped up little Japanese 4 bangers you see in the Fast & Furious movies. Yet both groups of enthusiasts have produced some amazing results with their given passion. Just like I own a small economical wagon and a 1/2 ton pick up. Yes, I can haul some things with the wagon. But I can't tow a 5000# travel trailer or load of gravel with it either. Then again my truck doesn't get 35 mpg on the freeway either.
Different tools to accomplish different things under different circumstances.
9 Years Ago
Mine's a GMC K1500 also (yours is older than mine, I have an '08), but pretty much stock. I do prefer it most of the time, it's just not always practical. Sort of like a dSLR!
9 Years Ago
Hey Frank- I don't think anyone is saying that you can't take beautiful photos with a phone/tablet camera, just that there are lots of photography techniques that are impossible with them. Personally, I don't really like the photos my Samsung Galaxy S3 takes (it's not just quality but also the wide lens), and I wouldn't sell prints from it. But I might change my mind the next time I upgrade my phone.
9 Years Ago
LOL JC I have that tripod... I tried doing a nighttime long exposure with my Galaxy S3 with it. It didn't come out too well... If I can dig it up when I get home later I'll post it here.
9 Years Ago
Toby -- thanks for your feedback. That is what I mean, that the camera in the iPad is noisy but I still ' souped ' them and posted them for sale anyways to see what happens. To my surprise they received comments from who I consider notable artists on FAA. One sold too by the way.
9 Years Ago
I didn't go back to read the big skip, so I am not sure this was covered. I apologize if it was. Should it be noted that the posted image in our gallery was captured with our cell phone?
I just purchased an iPhone6. The images are beautiful. I have posted some images in my gallery taken with my S3 but like JC mentioned, they are limited in size.
9 Years Ago
Arlene ... I have an iPad Art Photography gallery on my page, but each picture description I personally don't think it matters. I created the gallery in the event it might cause interest in buyer attraction. A digital camera is a digital camera I think, whether its a DSLR or a cameraphone.
... it seems to me from this thread that us photographers are 'focused' on perfection ( technology ) instead of using whatever tool we have in our hand and being creative with it ... to share our vision ... as is the subject of the article in my original post.
9 Years Ago
Arlene
I no sooner say I shot it with a cell phone than tell people the price of my Canon L glass. 1. People don't care. 2. To me it can only hurt, either way.
Frank, NO ONE is saying that that I have seen. Frankly many on here embrace the cell phone shot. What we are saying is there are a LOT of things those small cameras simply cannot do. That means that your initial premise is not a good one. We use what we have but the dslr is far from shot dead by the current cell camera technology.
9 Years Ago
Thanks, JC, that is what these threads are for ... to share our thoughts, etc. What I meant is, and should have said this first, is I see repeated something like " I use my cameraphone but not happy with the quality to post it for sale ". I say process it, post it, and see what happens, and Marlene illustrated this with the first post in this thread. Don't look what the small cameras/sensors can't do, but look at what they can do and move with it.
EDIT: JC -- Have to say your sharing images from you cameraphone shows that you're moving with it. So, I didn't mean to exclude you in the sentence above. I do think though you should sell your cameraphone images larger at the size the website says they will print, if I understood that you are limiting that.
9 Years Ago
JC, my sentiments exactly.
When I first joined FAA, I was embarrassed to mention the camera I was using. I was told my work was good and that I was headed in the right direction. I had wonderful mentors who were patient and so willing to help me improve my skills. I was using a point and shoot.
I was invited to go on "shoots". I found every excuse in the book to avoid going on a shoot with an FAA photographer that I highly respected because I was embarrassed by my equipment, or lack there of. Interestingly, those "point and shoot" images are the ones that have sold here on FAA.
I have always used what I had at hand (or in hand as the case may be). Now I have a decent camera and lenses. I certainly use them when I go on shoots, but I don't always have them around my neck. I will be posting work from my i6. We all agree that there are limitations to what we can capture with a cell phone, but I don't want to miss a shot.
My artistic vision is what I see. The camera simply captures it. I can easily screw it up with the wrong setting, which I do all too often. But my phone simply captures what I have framed in the screen.
9 Years Ago
Frank,
On many sites I have repeatedly said and written "An artist's eye is an artist's eye, regardless of the tool in his hand."
I was, of course, talking about me being a painter and not a photographer, but it encompasses a much larger scope from what I have read in this thread ;)
p.s. for two years I told no one I used a cell phone...then I started getting juried into shows, placing in competitions and selling. ah well..
9 Years Ago
". I do think though you should sell your cameraphone images larger at the size the website says they will print, if I understood that you are limiting that."
NOT a good idea for so many reasons.
First and foremost they would not pass QA review. FAA doesn't send an email saying hey, it won't print at 60 but might at 30. That means the customer that might well have bought a 30 now gets nothing and I lose $175.
The second big issue is it is my reputation on the line. Even if it passed QA and the customer didn't return it I know it is not up to my standards at the larger sizes. I just can't do that.
9 Years Ago
Thanks Arlene and Marlene for your thoughts.
JC -- The reason you SHOULD sell your work big is that the buyer may like the look. For example, look at my image at this link here on Flickr https://flic.kr/p/ryehN3
It was made with the iPad and has all sorts of noise. Yet it got a wonderful comment and several favs from photographers who I admire and think are remarkable artists.
I also posted this image on Instagram at this link [ https://instagram.com/frankjcasella/p/0DLetIRmd_/ ]and it got an even greater response. I intent to sell it on FAA at the largest size the website says it will print, if QA contacts me okay but I won't know if I don't try.
9 Years Ago
How many painters do you know that paint with those plastic bristle brushes you buy at the dollar store 40 for $1.
I mean...I'm sure they could....but why don't they?
9 Years Ago
Thomas -- if they don't, then I suspect they're not thinking out of the box ( what marketers want us artists to think ) like a Picasso or a Warhol.
I mean, when I shot film, before digital came around, it usually was Agfa and the consumer grade compared to my colleagues who where shooting Fuji Reala and Kodak Porta.
It's what I did with my camera and then in the darkroom that made the difference. I've made a living on my photography for over 30 years.
9 Years Ago
This comment isn't meant to disparage anyone who is selling their shots from their phones, please don't take it that way.
I take a great deal of pride in the work I produce, especially when its printed large. The shots I have using the best equipment I can afford oftentimes has more noise than I want present. There is CA...sometimes they aren't perfectly sharp like i want, ETC. However, when printed large, they all meet my standards of looking really really good, at least to my eye.
So that is why I can't bring myself to put photos for sale taken with a cell phone. I would put stuff out there from my Canon S100 if i ever get something worth selling, but none of my photos from a cell phone would meet my standards. I could just print them smaller, like JC, but for whatever reason, I don't like that idea either.
To me, its like trying to paint my masterpieces with a plastic bristle brush. When I am making art, I am using the best tools I can. If I don't have my tools with me, well.....then I am a dummy.
Just how I view it, and i am perfectly ok with others doing whatever they want with their own cell phone photos, and in no way do I view art photographs taken with a phone to be inferior, its just not my medium.
9 Years Ago
And to your point Frank, you got results you were happy with because of your darkroom processes, so you were happy.
Like I've said, I've messed around some with phones trying to make some fine art photos, I was never pleased with the results.
9 Years Ago
Here is my perspective one last time.
Top photo, taken with phone. I mean its cool, and I've edited it, but I couldn't sell it. It isn't sharp at full res, has artifacts, noise, etc that I am just not happy with.
Bottom photo, taken with DSLR. Now the DSLR shot isn't perfect, and of course they are different because of the shallow DOF I chose to use. I didn't have my tripod here so it was an HDR done handheld at a relatively higher ISO, its not perfect sharp, its got a little noise, etc. But it looks awesome 30", and I'm sure it would print good bigger than that too.
The cell phone photo just doesn't meet my standards.
9 Years Ago
"Like I've said, I've messed around some with phones trying to make some fine art photos, I was never pleased with the results."
Fair enough, Thomas. Regarding your two images above, I truly like them both. But, I'm looking at each one separately and not together as you presented them.
I once felt as you, that 'it' didn't meet my standards. One thing I learned though, and my wife was a big help in this, is too give myself permission to make my standards based on what the customer sees and not what ( the flaws that make it not perfect ) I see. I have no question that both of your examples will sell for their own reasons .... the customer sees something in it that you and I don't see.
To me, the difference between art and great art is communications of a message. Though it is not only communication that makes art great, but communication that helps us understand reality in a deeper and more profound way. All art communicates, but great art does more; it takes us deeper and helps us understand our humanity in ways that surpass words. I'm not going to argue with a customer who likes my noisy and pixel-ated photography if it speaks to them in ways that surpass words. Make sense?
EDIT: I'm not talking lack of quality, but artistic vision.
9 Years Ago
Well the difference to me is one will look great at 40" across, and the other will look like crap....and I can say that because they are my photos LOL.
9 Years Ago
To you they look like crap, but maybe not to the beholder .... I guess that is were you and I agree to disagree. No worries.
9 Years Ago
But its my photography, if its not to where I am happy with it, I am not putting my name on it and selling it.
I am a brand.
9 Years Ago
I agree totally, Thomas .....
Oh boy, now we're going off topic and this could be subject for a new thread.
9 Years Ago
I'm with Thomas. Even if I could get decent shots with my phone, they would never meet my quality standard. Heck, I'm very picky about the shots I put up with my DSLR. I have shots that many people would think are good enough to put up but I don't think they are good enough. You never know what picture a customer will see first. If my phone pic was the first seen, someone might judge my work on that shot and decide not to look any further, and I already have a hard enough time selling here. So far I have had no returns for what little I have sold and would like to keep it that way. Phone cameras are strictly for candid pictures and for sharing as far as I'm concerned. Someday that may change, but not for a while I think.