Back to the Basics

Two months ago I lost my Nikon D90.  Too many flights across too many countries and somehow it was gone--stolen? forgotten? I'm still not sure.  All I know is that eighteen hours later as I gathered up my things in the plane, my camera bag was nowhere to be found.  Three thousand dollars worth of lenses, body and gear disappeared into thin air.

Knowing it would be quite a long time before I'd hold a replacement camera in my hands, I did the only thing left for a photographer to do.  I picked up my phone, wiped the tiny camera lens off on the back of my jeans and filled the frame with something I loved.  Point, click, shoot.  No comparison to choosing f-stops, changing lenses or messing around with the ISO, but photography just the same.  

My phone took on new meaning, and I started to actually enjoy what I could do with basically only one tool left in my toolbox: composition.  It took me back to the very beginning, when the only thing I focused on was what to put in the frame.  I felt energized at how simple the whole process was.  And I started shooting even more than I had with my D90.  The camera--I mean, phone--was on me every single day anyway.  Anything and everything I ever wanted to shoot was fair game.

I still don't know when (or exactly how) my next "real" camera will come to me, but I'm starting not to care. This little phone in my back pocket is revitalizing my love of our craft, and I honestly don't think after this, my photography will ever be quite the same.

Do you use your phone to shoot?  Share your favorite on the fly images in the comments below.  And if you're not sure where to start with this new emerging genre, check out Stephanie's The Art of IPhoneography.  You'll be inspired to get out and make a whole new world of images.

Comments

[{leah}]

Beautiful. So sorry for the loss of your camera! But love how limiting your tools have revitalized your love of photography!

[WorthIt!]

I shoot with my iphone all the time - precisely because it is with me every day. I'm still getting the hang of it but love the spontaneous moments I can capture with a simple click.

Here's one from a walk on the beach I took last week.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/5672236711/in/photostream

[Jennifée]

So sorry to hear about the loss of your gear; sounds like a nightmare. But glad to hear that you found your way into iPhoneography because of it.

Me, I have an Android phone, and I'm using it more and more, almost to the point of addiction. I'm even getting what one of my flickr contacts termed phonekeh - who would have thought that such a tiny lens could manage to fake bokeh effects?? :-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5672227621/

[Sally]

I can't imagine losing my camera. I hope you are able to replace it soon, but also, how nice to be simple! Another good book on the subject of cameraphone photography is "The Best Camera is the One That's With You" by Chase Jarvis.

[lee-ann]

Ouch! That loss would have been painful. I have a d90, too. I also, carry around my Blackberry and shoot with it all the time. I love it!

[Deb Crecelius]

Wow; a shock I'm sure.
I understand about reviving your passion for photography
because of my photography history.
And, I recently blogged about (my) reverse situation (04/21/2011).
My passion for photography was rekindled with a point-and-shoot digital camera.
I've thought of buying a DSLR, but wonder how much I would use it.
My little Canon has been in my purse for the last 4+ years
ever since my first Project365.
It is always with me.
How much would I actually use a DSLR?
That's the question for me.

[Nikki]

How neat to have such inspiration from a simple camera phone...awesome!

Have you thought about looking into claiming the loss through your homeowners policy? You might want to contact your insurance agent to see if that would be a possibility.

[Stephanie]

I'm so sorry to hear about your camera! I know I would feel like I lost a good friend if my camera disappeared. But I do agree the phone makes a handy backup. I don't have an iPhone but I use the Vignette app for Android. Here's one of my faves: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/5446562571/in/set-72157625264076502

And I love the Tilt-Shift option: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/5134338585/in/set-72157625264076502/

Oh what the heck, here's my whole set on Flickr!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/sets/72157625264076502/with/5134338585/

[hi kooky]

First, I'm incredibly sorry for your camera loss. ouch!

As for simple, I've always "preferred" it because (truth be told) that's as far as I've gotten, technically. I use manual settings on both my point-and-shoot and dslr, but I pretty much don't mess with them unless I have to. I do not possess great technique.

I haven't used my phone camera much because I don't think of it. I'm not a multi-tasker and it's hard to remember that my phone is. :)

Here's some wintry, scrabbly simple for ya.

http://hikooky.blogspot.com/2011/03/hello.html

[SuddenlySusan]

Oh ... I felt sick to my stomach thinking about losing a camera!

[Sandee]

On a trip to the Cataldo Mission last fall, my camera battery went dead after taking just a few shots at the river. In desperation, I pulled out my phone & started taking shots with it. It's not a smart phone, not an iPhone or Droid, but it took some pretty decent pictures. I even got some sun flare in this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34977978@N05/5091243043/

[kristal]

The thought of your camera being gone is making me feel a little sick inside. I'm so sorry! :(

Thanks for the reminder about composition. I've been using my phone recently because I would see something I wanted to take a pic of and feel sad because I didn't have my dslr with me. So I challenged myself to use what I had. I've been enjoying the process.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28532904@N07/5673181712/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28532904@N07/5628099393/in/photostream/

[Emily M.]

i love love LOVE iphoneography! i probably take about 50% of my photos with my iPhone, and often choose it over my D90. here is my one of my more recent iPhone shots: http://www.aperfectpieceoftime.com/2011/04/28/baby-doll-love/

[Katie]

We had to take my truck to the shop to have it worked on, and had to leave it over night. Unbeknownst to us, we had left our son's favorite sleeping buddy in it. He survived the night, but when I went to pick up the truck the next day, I took this picture and texted it to my husband as a sort of "proof of life" photo.

We learned our lesson from that: always check to make sure all sleeping buddies are out the truck before leaving it! : )

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fayettevilleaustins/5620086192/in/set-72157625732914398

[georgia]

i don't have an iPhone, so i can't share anything. but my brother just recently discovered all he could do with his iPhone when it comes to photography, and now you can't get him to do anything else {wink}. so instead of sharing my own photos, i'll share a link to his iPhone work on flickr {his new favorite "toy"}.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathanh22/

so sorry to hear about your d90. that is the same camera my sister owns. i can't imagine how frustrating that must have been to lose all that invested money into something you love. but it's great that you have a positive outlook on it... and have found a new passion in a different unexpected place. now, just don't lose that iPhone! =)

love the photo. i look forward to seeing more. {btw... thanks for the link to the iPhone book by stephanie. i sent a link to my brother... he'll LOVE that!}

[elizabeth]

Did you see this site that Photojojo shared on Facebook? Not sure exactly what good it would do, but it might be interesting to see if it works to find the general location of your lost camera... http://www.stolencamerafinder.com/

It is good that you found some silver lining out of the whole thing though!

[Sierra]

First off I'm sorry for the loss of your camera, a devastating realization I'm sure!

However My Cell has been my primary camera for sometime! It pleases me to see that this type of art is accepted in the photography world! I have often felt as though I wasn't actually creating such art because I'm not using a high priced Nikon Camera....my style of photography is point and click! I have been told many times I have a great eye for composition, but the truth is I don't even try! Also my love for Photography started with a cell phone!

[Heather]

Sorry to hear about your camera ;-( I have a great point and shoot I love for the macro and far away shots and other ones but what has brought a total love of photography and seeing the beauty of ordinary things is the iPhone.. I have to say 95% probably of my photos i have taken this year have been with my iPhone.. A few of my very fave ones

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toliveinspired/5651014965/in/set-72157624427457454

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toliveinspired/5438527669/in/set-72157625599641081

[Becky Sue]

Oh, so sorry to hear about your camera but glad that you are now embracing your iPhone.

I recently got an iPad and I'm having fun with the camera and Instagram. Here's one that I was able to give a unique frame.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/5655036231/

[Leslie]

I recently shot the Bone Marrow Donation that my husband and father in law went through in Baltimore entirely on my phone and with the Hipstamatic application. I love the results:

http://www.lightsandletters.com/writing/2011/4/18/bone-marrow-transplant-the-big-day.html
(Note that the 2nd photo of the hotel is a cheat, I took a photo of the promo photo from the book about the hotel)

I also shot with my phone at the Baltimore Aquarium:

http://www.lightsandletters.com/writing/2011/4/27/the-national-aquarium-in-baltimore.html

What I love about it is the simplicity and the imperfections.

[Bogdan]

Having insurance helps...
But nonetheless, point well made. It made me think of Tarkovsky's polaroids...

Cheers!

Bogdan

[autumn sun]

so sorry to hear about your camera. that must have been a sick feeling when you realized it was gone. but i'm glad it didn't keep you from sharing your vision.

I love shooting with my iphone, much of the time I prefer it. and the cool apps make it even more fun.
love the tilt shift app
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5183142871/
and the new one I downloaded the other day. 360º - so much fun
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5601322404/

[Lindsey]

Although I would die without my Canon Rebel T3i, I understand that you found love for photography in a different form. I knew that I would be a photographer the moment that my Canon PowerShot SX 130 IS was in my hands. Then I moved up to my DSLR and have never taken more heartfelt and personal pictures. But being that I have an iPhone 4, I do find myself using it often to shoot on the fly images. Best of luck with your camera situation. Go Canon next time! :-)

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