Shooting with your phone...

My friend recently told me that photography as a profession is coming to an end, be it wedding or portfolio or capturing a beautiful sunset. That is where I came up with this topic to understand and realize that photography is just evolving just like any other profession. There is a continuous change and its better we change accordingly.

Phones have come a long way, me being in a generation where I saw conventional phones, where you had to literally dial and wait for the dial to move back, to smart phones where everything is at the tip of your finger. Similarly cameras have evolved a lot from Film cameras, where you had to take picture completely on your knowledge of photography, to the latest digital cameras. So did the size of the cameras from huge medium format cameras to cameras on your phone.

Even though things have been rapidly changing the concept and the characteristic of photography remains the same, such as Aperture, shutter speed or ISO and the way the lights play an important part in your image. It is just that, it has become more convenient to carry a few grams, rather than few Kgs of equipment. I personally call my phone a professional camera (pun intended), because with your camera you can now take an image, edit it with an app and share it on social media within a few minutes, which is not possible with conventional DSLR cameras or even latest mirrorless cameras.

These days everyone is happy taking pictures with their phones, as long as it looks good on the screen and on their social media profile. Gone are the days when people loved to see hard copies of the picture and treasure it for generations to see. Along with that, we have also lost on those special moment when we used to take pictures and wait for it to develop. These days it seems people take pictures at every step. You walk on the road its picture time, you eat a snack its picture time, you sit in a rickshaw and it’s still picture time. We have lost the true meaning of photography that is to create art. This is all due to the portability of carry your camera where ever you go, on your phone.

Taking pictures with your phone does have its own benefits and drawbacks compared to your traditional cameras. I will explain in detail how phone are good as long as you do not use them for more than just uploading on Social media.

Phones vs Professional Cameras:

• Expensive: These days some phone are more expensive that a DSLR camera, but overall phones are cheaper than a DSLR camera.

• Portability: Phones can be carried everywhere in your pocket compared to DSLR camera which will need a camera bag at least.

• Ease to use: You will need to learn the basic to shoot a DSLR camera, while the phone is just a point and shoot.

• All in one: You will not need a special software or invest in one on your phone, whereas you will need special software to edit the pictures taken on your DSLR cameras.

• Equipment: You will not need to invest huge amounts on lens while shooting with your phone, unlike professional cameras.

• Angled shots: Being small and compatible you can shoot different angled shot with ease you do not need a ladder or more equipment to be carried along. You can change image outlook with different perspectives with ease.

Professional Cameras vs Phones:

• Print: If you need huge prints for advertisement, using a phone and not a good idea, this is due to the sensor size of your phone compared to the camera.

• Clarity: In case you doing wildlife photography and you need to zoom in on a bird or animal, and you think you will take a picture on your phone and then edit it in post. The picture will be either blur or not clear as compared to a professional camera.

• Shoot Professionally: If you claim to be a professional photographer and try to take picture with your phone (Which I have seen myself) will not look very good in front of your client as they expect quality.

• Depth of Field: It is very hard to get the desired DOF from a phone as it most is automatic and all the settings at done by the camera, which gives you very less control on your image outcome.

• Shooting at night: You will have more control of the lights at night with your DSLR camera compared to your phone, as the phone will pump up the ISO to compensate for low light and have a lot of noise.

Finally It is on you, what would you like to use for your images, and who would you like to be seen as a phone photographer or a professional photographer. Also if your only concern is to upload your daily routine and minute to minute activity on social media- the phone is the right choice for you, but if you really want to learn the art of photography and the nuances, you will need to invest in a good DSLR camera.

Whatever you shoot with, be creative and have loads of fun…