I credit Lisa Wiseman (and CultofMac.com) with watering the seed in my brain that had previously been planted when they labeled the iPhone as “the new Polaroid”. That’s exactly what the iPhone has become for me: a “trial and error” photographic medium, just like the trusty Polaroid camera of my youth.
I have never been one to take posed shots of friends, arms around each other in front of some historical monument or colorful sunset. It’s not my thing. I prefer spontaneity. Back when I had my Polaroid, I don’t remember ever using it to photograph my family in front of a Christmas tree or anything of that nature - I used it to see how far I could push the medium; to see what might end up looking interesting once the mirky emulsion cleared. I’d zoom way in, past the point where I knew it would safely stay in focus. I took photos through the light on my lava lamp (no, I’m not THAT old… this was in the 80’s). I played around… with extremely mixed results.
Fast-forward 25 years and I’m back at it, taking photos with my iPhone in the exact same way. Playing. Experimenting. Trying to turn its weaknesses into strengths. Using the multitude of photo-based apps to see what I can accomplish next. This is not your typical camera phone (in good or bad ways)… the iPhone is my new Polaroid, and it makes me happy in that same way. If only they could recreate the definable “zzzzkkkchingggg” sound.
Photos created with my iPhone, CameraBag (iTunes link) and CameraKit (iTunes link) with no post-production.
