Re: "Big Daddy Hosta"

[Lea Murphy <lea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marco,

You raise some really valid points with your comments and I appreciate them.

I used to struggle with the fact that I use my iphone to make photographs but I decided to get over that simply because it is a camera and it does take photos and it can take reasonably good photos.

I wish I carried my 5D or my 5DM11 or my Leica D-Lux 4 around with me everywhere but the reality is that I don't. However, I barely move five feet without my iphone and I've begun to really get a handle on what subjects suit it best.

I had just finished mowing my grass when I was walking up the steps to go inside. I saw the hosta, was impressed with the texture and the whorl, whipped out my camera and snapped the photo. My hands were grimy, I was sweaty and if I hadn't take the image with my iphone I wouldn't have taken it at all.

Part of what I like best about the thing is that it's like a box of chocolates...you never know quite what you're going to get. You can hedge your bets in your favor (good light, still subject, etc.) but even then you just never really know. Using apps to 'process' the images adds quite a lot of fun to the whole process.

It's what I consider my 'charming little' camera and for that it's just perfect.

Thanks for your comments.

Lea

On May 9, 2010, at 7:44 PM, Marco Milazzo wrote:

I've been arguing with myself for a couple of days about this photograph.  On the one hand, it's a classic subject -- like something Imogene Cunningham would have shot, (and I love that kind of photograph).  On the other hand,  it lacks technical quality -- the colors are strange, It's not sharp overall, and it could use more DOF.  On the third hand, it's wonderful that these days, people always have a camera with them, every minute of the day.   Think of the photographs  we MIGHT have had if that had always been the case.

 

But I can't get past that quality issue, which has I think has something to do with the classic subject.  We simply expect this kind of image to be sharp, to have beautiful tones, total DOF, and plausible color, if it is in color. 

 

I think that the I-phone camera does have place in photography, but it's more along the lines of candid shots, street photography and "informal" stuff like that.  Best leave these kinds of subjects to the large format guys.

 

I'm not saying that this shot shouldn't have been taken.  We have to try things out to see what works for us.  But this one doesn't work for me, except as an exploration.

 

Marco Milazzo

 

PS:  I'll post some stuff next time around, so you all can "get even."

your kids . my camera . we'll click
www.leamurphy.com