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88 | faces #4

Jul 11, 2011
18 Comments
1-8

88 | faces is a photographic project that hopes to capture 88 random people. Part social experiment but also a personal challenge to really capture the moment and the people behind the photograph. Stepping out of our comfort zone to take photos of 88 people that we don’t know in hopes to expand our every day living experience.

This project is largely inspired by the Sheffield 365 Project by Luke Avery from the UK. While his project required a photo everyday, we will try document 1-2 persons a week. We hope you enjoy the series!

(click on the image for a larger view)

Ashley

On a different note…

There’s a photography revolution going on right now dubbed “iPhoneography“. Basically, it’s photography using the built in iPhone camera and using the phone itself to post process the image. A quick search on Google will yield thousands of results and admittedly some of the photos produced by these phones are impressive to me. I don’t consider myself a photography ‘purist’ in a sense that I don’t believe iPhoneography is real photography, but I do see a huge limitation with using the phone as the main tool for photography. Small image sensors and crap lens are probably the biggest downside that I can think of, that’s not even including limited tonal range due to the small sensor and the list goes on and on. Despite all these shortcomings, it seems to be gaining a huge following.

The obvious advantages are size and ease of use. Not having to lug around an SLR or even a P&S, but having one very portable device to capture moments in your life is very convenient indeed, but you’re giving up a lot for convenience. To drive this revolution even further, more camera manufacturers are heading towards small body SLR’s with decent size sensors, i.e. m4/3s systems from Olympus /Panasonic and the Sony NEX 3/5 systems that are very popular. Although the m4/3 system is a real camera, the idea of having a small system, often mirrorless, seems to be the wave of the future, certainly in the mass camera market.

My question to you, is iPhoneography just a fad or is it here to stay? What do you think?

NR
Amateur photographer based out of East Coast, United States. I make terrible bios and marginally decent photos which I post on this photoblog. I love the outdoors, coffee, beer and ninjas.

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  • http://ginniehart.shutterchance.com Ginnie Hart

    This is perfect in B&W, especially for whatever she’s doing (painting, varnishing?).  And as for iPhone photography, I’m sure it’s here to stay but will just get better and better.  What’s easier than carrying your camera AND phone together in one small, hand-held format!  It’s not something for me but for the new generation, I can picture it!

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      With camera systems getting smaller and smaller, I think it’s only a matter of time before we see a legitimate ‘camera’ built into our phones. She was helping paint some of the public benches in Washington DC, it was some sort of program she signed up for a week, going around Washington touching up public areas. Thanks for droppign by Ginnie, I hope you had a great vacation back here in America!

  • http://everchangingperspective.wordpress.com John Holmes

    The phone cameras are here to stay, but so are the mirror-less APS and micro 4/3 cameras.  I see them all coexisting along with the DSLRs, but I think that the DSLR market will shrink as the casual shooters stop buying the entry level DSLRs as they move to mirror-less cameras.  And then there are others of us who like having different cameras for different purposes.

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      I would love to see  a m4/3rd type sensor built into a phone run by Android system. I would actually be very interested in something like that. Of course the lens would be bigger ‘issue’, I know the technology can miniaturize the PCB and components, but you can only compress lenses so much, even today’s pancake lenses are not nearly thin enough to be on a phone. I think the GF1 and the Oly systems are great examples of what can be done with m4/3.  

      Good point about the entry level DSLR users going to mirror-less, although the mirror-less systems give more than entry level performance in most cases.

  • http://despitestraightlines.com/ DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES

    So my take on this situation will possibly be a lone voice here, but hey ho.  I’m old school and rather dislike the way that the art of photography has been watered down with point and shoot compacts that promise massive megapixel resolution, only to be severely capped by poor sensors, and phones used as cameras.  There is naturally a place for them in my opinion,  but to me, the purity and skill with which a photographer composes, manually focuses, captures and displays his art is what photography and it’strue essence and meaning is all about.

    I believe all forms will coexist,  but for me,  there is no inconvenmience in lugging around a well constructed Lowepro backpack which carries my DSLR pro body and many lenses, all of which allow me to use the skills I’ve learned over the years to try and capture a scene or image with an eye to detail, clarity, and purity that no phone can do.  To me, a phone is to make calls, and a DSLR camera is for my passion in capturing a moment, and taking more than a moment to capture it.  I also do not believe that the DSLR market will shrink, because those of us who are passionate would not entertain a phone camera or compact in the same vein as those DSLRs. rather, use them as an addition if we so desire.  In the UK, real photography is the number one hobby and growing, and I really do not see those with the inclination and disposable income to lay out on top quality DSLR’s, choosing compacts, bridge cameras or phone cameras instead.

    To me the art is about the eye and the skill, and although, as an example,  Chase Jarvis can demonstrate to us how he can capture a great image on a phone camera, to me, the crux of his work, the real depth and quality is in the images taken with his DSLR’s and lenses.  Fast glass, quality lenses,  large full frame sensors,  manual control are all things that those with a passion can do magic and mastery with,  and the Exif data shows the love and passion, the eye behind the frame, the talent behind the image.  I will personally never accept point and shoot photography in the same light even though it has it’s place and merit.  Photography is not just about convenience factors in my humble opinion, which is why many passionate photographers still shoot on medium format and feel every frame,  and those on DSLR’s like myself fight this modern need for video in every damn DSLR body.  Everything has a place and a niche and if I weant a phone, I’ll buy one, if I want a video camera, likewise.    Either way,  I’ll stick with what I know and love and use a compact as an emergency backup if ever the case arises, for sighting, and a phone to order my piza.
    OK, so that’s my tupence worth… ha ha

    Another great shot in the series and a post that get’s us to thiunk and air our opinions which has to be a good thing.

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      I don’t think you’re alone Paul, there are a lot of people that feel very strongly about this like you. Even within the ‘iphoneography’ community, there are very strong opinions as well. 

      I think A LOT of old school photographers will fight this topic to the bitter end and rightfully so. The way these die hard SLR users learned photography and experienced it for the first time is very different from today’s new photographers. Some kids today have never even touched real prints or seen an actual roll of film. I’m sure they’ve seen a digital photo of a roll film, but never in their hands :) . That’s not to say they are any less an enthusiast, just different. 

      The spark that lit the passion for you is going to vastly different from someone just picking up a cellphone camera, snapping a photo and falling in love with photography. But the very basic fundamentals of photography remains the same, no matter what the medium. There is not substitute for talent, seeing a photo, the right moment and capturing it perfectly. You’re right, as of right now no cellphone can match the clarity and purity of an image that even an entry level SLR can produce.

      Funny you mention Chase Jarvis, he’s a larger than life photographer. I also see him as very contemporary, although I can’t really appreciate is iPhone work, I am a big fan of his regular stuff.

      Perhaps SLR level photograph on a cellphone body is an extreme example I’ve used, but it’s definitely food for thought. 

  • http://www.ottokphotography.com/ Otto K.

    Fine portrait. I understand your thoughts, but I do think that it is here to stay. The iPhone 4 is the top camera on Flickr right now.

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      That doesnt’ surprise me Otto, flickr has become a dumping ground for images these days. 

  • http://1ondoncalling.wordpress.com/ London Caller

    Nothing lasts forever.
    Sooner or later, iPhone will be replaced by something else…
    But the most important thing is your interest.
    Don’t let it change. ;)

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      LC! I think that’s one of the bottom line messages, photographic interest comes in many different forms, but if your passion is photography, that’ll never change. Thanks for commenting

  • http://catchthejiffy.com Adam Allegro

    Great idea for a project!!  I love that people commit to these awesome projects.  It is great to see their progression!  Can’t wait to see more!

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      This project takes a lot of dedication for sure, it’s also time consuming. At least my time is being consumed by something I love to do! 

  • http://www.thewakefultree.com/ Krunal Palande

    nice shot, looks great in B&W

  • Pingback: Daily Shot | exposedpla.net

  • Earl

    It’s photography no matter what equipment used — the rules still apply.  My first digital p&s camera produced 3mp images…phones are in the 5-8mp range now. Was that first camera not real photography?  Some people produce master pieces on an iPhone while others do snap-shots on DSLR’s costing thousands. Equipment will continue to evolve as will technique. Our phones may someday be a small DSLR. Isn’t it exciting!

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      I certainly think it’s a matter of taste and purpose that drives most people over which camera system they choose. I don’t think one type of photography is any less than another due to equipment, but certainly traditional photography has always been associated with SLR systems. I believe that it’s only a matter of time until mirrorless systems become as capable as the SLR counter parts.

  • http://www.martinaegli.com Martina Egli

    That is a very well composed monochrome, I love the beautiful depth of field and how everything seems to focus an what she is doing. Your watermark is excellent and really adds to the whole image.

    As for your interesting article about the changes in camera sizes and systems I’d like to add some thoughts… I own a Lumix GF1 as a second camera to my Canon 5D. The Lumix has been extremely handy as it is quite small and fits in every bag, so I carry it around all the time even when I’m not out to do photography. I’m able to catch moments that otherwise would have been lost, so I’m incredibly grateful for those new m4/3s systems. However, as you said they can never replace a conventional SLR but I find they are a good companion to the ‘big cameras’.

    • http://www.exposedpla.net NR | ExP

      That’s also the biggest draw for me when it comes to the m4/3rd systems is the ability carry it just about anywhere. I don’t like carrying my regular camera bags everywhere because to me it screams “Thousands of Camera GEAR INSIDE” and I’m always paranoid if I have to put it down. But with the 4/3rd, they are so small and produce such amazing images, it’s hard not to consider over a large SLR. 

      Also people that own full frames like the 5D know what the camera is capable of and it’s hard to think that a 4/3rd of a phone could ever replace a true SLR.