Another site will be shutting down

Please don't tell the photographers who've traded-in their backpacks filled with rattling bodies, lenses and accessories for a smartphone camera that it can't.

We like all the stuff. We enjoy using it and seeing the final product on our screens or walls. Most of the photographic community doesn't. But using a smartphone camera doesn't prevent anybody from doing great work.

For years, I've thought a story about a one-night stand with a porn star who was terrible in the sack would make for humorous reading...probably not in Reader's Digest, but in Men's Journal or Outside.

Then I read your post and realized, some readers might think I'm being serious.

If this study has any veracity, 13% of working pros use a smartphone for more than 50% of their professional work and another 24% use a smartphone for at least “some” of their professional work. Total=36% of professional photographers use a smartphone for “some or most” of their professional work. And that was in 2021. With the new generations of sensors, that number may have changed.

petapixel.com/2021/08/19/36-of-pro-photographers-shoot-some-work-on-smartphones/

Smartphones these days are a very capable tool and, apparently, 1/3 or working professionals use this tool in their professional work. If one wishes to not use this hammer but another, that’s fine. Personal choice. But fully 1/3 or working professionals are using a smartphone “hammer” professionally to help them make money. And, that doesn’t make them any less or more of a professional.

And, I will surmise that when these working pros publish/deliver their smartphone images nobody cares what the image was shot on. They only care that it’s “good and fit for purpose”. It’s no wonder to me why “forums”, (often) chockablock full of (some) old men who like to denigrate a younger person for using a tool of their choice to create their personal vision, are dying.

I have always been a cellphone rebel; I never had one until my father was on his deathbed in 2021 and my mother gave me his phone to communicate, and I wound up keeping it. The phone is so unresponsive to touch sometimes, that I can't tell when it is taking a photo, when sunlight is swamping the screen. I can't hold it steady to save my life, but I can use 1600 real mm with an APS-C camera, though.

Interesting. I’m forever pointing the phone/camera at my subject, composing the image, and making a competent picture. (Good only when I put the all pieces together correctly.) It’s possible to do, and while not ideal, the phone’s ergonomics aren’t as terrible as they’re often painted to be. I use a case that provides a good grip and allows me to attach a wrist strap or sling. I know that, at least with most of my camera apps, I can use the volume button as a shutter. For photowalks or travel sessions I often attach a grip/shutter release — and still carry the phone in my front pocket.

Nor is the camera particularly slow to deploy — another common complaint. I’ve set my phone up to make it conducive to photography. As with any tool it takes some practice. One should approach their phone images with the same attitude and care applied to those from dedicated cameras. Work with the tool, and it’s compromises, instead of fighting it. You’ll never have a good experience with something you approach with a negative attitude. A horse will sense your trepidation and punish you for it.

Phone not for me is no problem. You can’t do … with a phone is problematic, and often inaccurate — not based on experience or any real attempt at working with the tool. Phonetard is plain and simply dismissive and offensive. If you don’t want to use your phone for serious photography I don’t object. I am amused by those telling me I can’t and offended by claims I shouldn’t.

I hate to see any image-centric forum die. I like forums because they allow us to talk to each other instead of punch buttons to generate symbols that are supposed to suffice for conversation but do not. I like "real" cameras because they allow me to make lots more choices about my photography, better see what I'm trying to photograph, and keep a decent grip on the device I am using for that purpose.

I have a nice iPhone 14 that is available for snapshots. I know how to use it - in fact I teach classes for people who want to get more out of their iPhone cameras. I greatly appreciated that iphone during a grueling post-surgical year when I had to use assistive devices just to get around, and needed a pocketable solution but I was glad to get back to using an ILC as soon as I could.

Even though the iPhone images look pretty good on the small screen and social media, I can tell when I'm looking at one in Photoshop or as a fine art print. Some of my students have come to me for help in turning an iPhone shot into a printworthy image, and it isn't always possible. Tech has not quite crossed that boundary yet. I love new tech so I'll be alert to that when it happens. My husband is about to get a 15 so I'll have one to experiment with. ( I'm not sure they will ever cross the boundary for zoom work without adding cumbersome detachables.)

Curious as to why you quoted my post, when I wrote none of the things you've said. Not one. Shoot whatever makes you happy. Phones most certainly don't, for me.

One more point, I don't approach the phone camera predisposed towards negativity, it's born from actual user experience. Which is shit, no matter how long I've tried using one. And I do use one from time to time, for work purposes, actually make a bit of money out of it. But I gain absolutely zero pleasure or enjoyment out of that, so what's the point. I shoot for myself purely for pleasure.

I'll add these size comparison shots to my phone, just in case people think I'm one of those types that log around everything plus the kitchen sink.

With a 28-84mm equivalent power zoom lens.

With a 24-64mm equivalent pancake.

My little matchbox Ultra wide. As I like to call it. Hardly a chore to carry, wouldn't you say?

Exactly.....

Phonetards are offensive and annoying people that are part of a huge problem you haven't a clue about. Wake up and be part of the solution instead of the problem.

I'm honestly curious: How would you define that problem?

If you are truly interested [this is a long complicated topic that has been argued to death on DPReview] then watch this documentary as a start. Let me know if you really watched it [rather than reading butthurt reviews or nay-sayers objections]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC57tcci0

Thanks!

No problem. And don't do this either...lol
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKiIroiCvZ0

Good on ya! Keep it that way...
Larf for ya:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcS_JoJIUP0

Haha. That's one thing I have never done on my phone (watch a movie). Not even sports highlights, nor utube clips, nada. I always wait till I am in front of a reasonably sized screen to watch anything.

Watched it! Found it interesting, but haven't gotten the feeling I've gained a lot of new information. I really disliked how it was made, but I get the general gist of what many of those people say and think that they're basically right. I agree that there is a major problem. I also think calling people 'phonetards' doesn't help at all and is in turn part of the very problem (namely the effect our online interactions have on society and the way they create division).

That being said, thanks for clarifying where you're coming from with that recommendation - I appreciate it and think I would probably agree with you on a lot of this stuff in general!

While understandable one of the main (in my opinion valid) takeaways from the documentary, is that you can't avoid the consequences of the effects social media has on society, even when you don't take part in it at all. So it coult be argued there is a benefit in at least being informed to a certain extent - whether that's by watching this documentary on Netflix (of all places... talking about algorithms and manipulation 😅) - or another source, is or course up to you.