An Essay On Technology: Put Down Thy iPhone, and Pick Up A Camera
“Close thy Byron, open thy Goethe.”
- Thomas Carlyle, Victorian era writer, from Sartor Restarus
I like to think Carlyle demanded such action because he recognized the transition of a romantic time, to one that would be full of industrial brooding. I don’t think that he was against romance, or rather ideologies of romanticism, but I do believe that he had a sense of urgency against his near future where shopping became the new rage. I’m quoting Carlyle because I think I stand before a transition, just as he did, and am looking towards it with caution.
I live by Chase Jarvis’ words that the best camera is the one with me, but if it means my iPhone, then I think much more than my photography and videography is at stake. I used to see life with a certain, photographic gaze. Through lenses, optical view finders, and in both the highest of print and digital resolutions. Nowadays, it’s all screens, and in the smallest and dimmest of quality. The way I process images, both in producing and consuming them, is changing, and I’m not quite sure I like the direction it’s taking.
With the advent of the iPhone 12, it’s Pro Max variant to be more specific, it pains me to see how I use my own iPhone XR in reflection. Both phones are more than capable of producing images that are of breath taking quality, but I have yet to experience that sublime, nor have I set myself up for that experience like I used to when shooting friends and family, planning photoshoots, or working on sets. Allow me to write up the iPhone 12 Pro Max's capabilities:
UHD, HDR 4K at 60fps, 30fps, and 24fps in Dolby Vision
1080p HFR capability at 120fps, 240fps, and 980fps
IBIS
Holy trinity of lenses, Wide (13mm f2.5), Normal (26mm, f1.6), and Telephoto (65mm f2.2), all of which are mounted on a 12mp sensor measured around 1/3”
HDR3 & Night Mode photos (Image blending of 20 photos in one shot, and layers them to create not only the resulting HDR image, but an HDR live view.)
10 fps photo burst rate
Panoramic photography
Timelapse video
LiDar depth sensing (digital depth of field manipulation by laser calculation!)
As a photo and video enthusiast, I should be impressed. I am, truly, but I also don’t care! And neither would you, I assume. I don’t say it as if I’m not grateful, I say it because I don’t take “advantage” of it, for whatever that word is worth in our rat-race of a Covidian society. Some of these sepcs are not new to the iPhone lineup, but they have improved over time and have become quite remarkable, however, they seem almost invisible because they are the settings phones have out of the box. The problem of shooting with an iPhone is clearly not in it’s capability.
The problem is #shotoniphone, or how easy it is to capture an image.
Our eyes are being trained to perceive “beauty” by computational photography, which is being lead by Apple’s iPhone. Mostly because most images seen on social media are iPhone images, if not at least from some other kind of smart phone. Exposure and composition are the basis of taking either photo or video. Achieving exposure has been simplified greatly by iPhone’s powerfully coded auto exposure setting. Trying to control the exposure is limited to a touch slider of “bright” to “dark.” Gone is the understanding for shutter speeds, aperture, and ISO, as well as their creative techniques that can result in different visual outcomes. No more smooth and sharp images from slow and fast shutter speeds. No meticulously composed scenes and macro-focused detail from deeper or shallower depth of fields. No more light sensitivity to account for when working with blown out highlights or crushed shadows for multiple exposure photography. Everything looks good because of defaulted computational post processing. The phone’s camera is working so hard in creating a perfect image that I no longer need to work out my own likable exposure. Nor would I have to do any post processing. Doing so is trivial, and only one with a trained eye will be able to fully appreciate such technique. That’s not to say that technique is not perceptible, but the craftwork is instead unappreciated.
Composition is still, luckily, a technique to be appreciated, however, with the advancement of higher resolutions, cropping in becomes all the more acceptable as image quality keeps getting better. High megapixel count, and image resolution can make a shot originally taken at 16mm look like 35mm, and even 50mm look like 135mm. Distortion correction is becoming easier as well. I can take a photo from a low angle of a tall and narrow building, and find later that the lines are slanted to the point where the building looks like it’s going to fall. A correction can be made to make the lines more aesthetic with beautiful right angles, and perfect line alignment. To achieve such image without technology would require the usage of a tripod, possibly even a walk to a parallel 23rd floor in order to maintain clean lines and height. Of course crop most of my images, as well as correct for distortion, but at least that in itself is a deliberate choice that utilizes the progress of technology.
Further pro’s to these cons is that auto focus and image stabilization has experienced a positive stride. Face and eye recognition for humans, and even animals, have been developed, and are being relied on more than ever to capture the right moment of a scene. What is more is that focus can be pulled automatically by a single tap and swipe. Blurred, and out of focus images are no longer a worry. Image stabilization has also helped in reducing the need for elaborate stabilizing systems like a tripod or a gimbal. Needing to know Photoshop, Lightroom, or Premiere aren’t even necessary skills as there are applications that have streamlined editing processes through coding that simplifies the masking of effects, and presets that produce colors and filters that help achieve out-of-this-world and cinematic looks. But even those glorious advancements are shrouded with every other spec. They become lost in the sea of “default” beauty that a phone is capable of.
The problem is that the camera is much more than a camera; it’s a smart-phone.
Screenshot of the applications on my phone.
A camera requires a memory card in order for photos to be saved. That memory card is then needed to be connected to a computer, or any smart device nowadays, and then put into a folder which can be labeled. That initial curation process is no longer necessary when it comes to taking photos on a phone. Photos on a phone are instantly saved onto the phone itself, along with any other image like accidental screenshots of a homescreen, important documents, or memes. Sure, they can be uploaded to a computer, and undergo the same curation process of the former, but is likely not to happen due to how often phones are interacted with versus a computer. After all, phones are basically computers that fit in a pocket. So, if a phone’s storage is to run out, then cloud storage is available. This allows for an infinite amount of images to be captured. This means that all of life’s precious moments can be saved and remembered. We can capture every moment of a wedding, of a party, of a lunch, of a breakfast, of a workout, of a snack, of a sunset, of scene from Netflix, of a lecture, of a… you get what I mean yet? That is a whole other topic itself because of security, access, and finical reasons, but I’ll save that for another time. What’s more is that right next to the camera/photo app is most likely a social media app. The internet, YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and VSCO are all right there, a tap or swipe away. A photo is then taken with the influence, unconsciously and consciously, of it being posted to the internet for archive, for sharing, or to garner statistics for financial and emotional reasons.
There is of course the argument of cameras on phones being a technological revolution for societal purpose. This goes without saying. It allows the capturing of news from a non-biased perspective. The 24-hour news cycle has moved from the television and onto our social media’s “discover” page. It allows culture to be accessible in places that lack it. Whether it be somewhere out in the middle of mainland china, or in the ass end of America’s ass end, there is surely some kid with a phone in their hand capturing a little bit of the place they call home. It has become a tool that makes learning easier, for old and young. Streaming isn’t only meant for gaming, it’s now being used for education and distant communication. It does all this, and more, with ease so long as there is power and a signal.
I’ll admit that I am not above my own critique.
As Walt Whitman said in his poem, Song of Myself, “Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.” I like to be liked. I like to have others think I am having a great life. I like that a post has brought my opportunities, whether it be monetary or experiential. I have taken photos on my iphone and camera where I think, “Damn, this is gonna go viral and break the internet!” Maybe not in those words exactly, but that’s the sentiment. I’m guilty of taking certain photos, and making certain films with what people would like in mind, but now I try not to worry about that as much. I like to be courteous to others. I try to “read the room” as much as I can, and make adaptations to please others or facilitate certain experiences, however, I no longer want to be impressive towards others for the sake of it. Me worrying about what other people think of me has done me more harm than good.
What pains me most is that I don’t use my own camera gear as often as I once did, yet you can see my watch history be full of cinematographers commentary and camera reviews. My love for photography and video has slacked, and in a way my daily function has as well. I used to say that I saw life through a view finder, and in 35mm or 50mm which were prime lenses that I always shot with, and at a point wider than 24mm because I was geeking out on cinematographers like Emmanuel Lubezki and Roger Deakins. I saw life with sepia tones, and my eyes saw a crisp mirage of bokeh. Whether it be down on the ground on my back, or hanging from the top of a tree or edge, I saw life from every angle, high and low. Now I see life on my Macbook and iPhone. I’m being black mirrored at an average of 4 hours a day, and that’s just the average on my phone.
Maybe it’s just a matter of being more disciplined with how I interact with technology, but then again, I don’t see the point of being disciplined because of technology. I want to achieve mastery with the technology that is meant to enable me. I don’t want to become imposed by technology as my master because of spec-sheet offerings. Advertisements and user experience has become a business that enrages our inner psychology socioeconomically, spiritually, emotionally, and outer physicality. Every few minutes of a YouTube video has an advertisement that rolls out in the middle, some photos on Instagram have tagged goods ready to be purchased, and we become bombarded with deals on products that we talked about because our devices are listening. All of which promote a life we want to live based off of algorithmic learning. Our phones know more about us because they listen to us more than we do ourselves.
I promise that I am not all that pessimistic or conspiratorial when it comes to technology. In fact, I learned my ABC’s on a computer. Once I entered middle school, and unto high school, I started using computers more often because of video games such as The Sims and World of Warcraft. When I found out about Windows Movie Maker and Photoshop, it was game over from there. I was officially a child of the computer era. I love technology. These days, technology is equal parts unbelievably powerful and accessible. It’s so liberating, yet the amount of how much technology there is, and how much they can do is paralyzing to think of. It’s the paradox of choice at it’s finest, and that paradox will only grow stronger as the world develops greater technology. So, though I am expressing some lament on the subject of technology, my joy has triumphed over my photographic negativity ever since I picked up Sony’s point-and-shoot-camera, the RX100 VII.
I know what I want,
Allow me to preface my last point here. I love photography and filmmaking, if you can’t tell already. I have a broad experience of shooting different subjects such as weddings, portraits, events, music festivals, lectures, commercials, real estate, music videos, documentaries, and short films. Nowadays, I’m a hobbyist at best. Gone are my days of being a professional, at least for now. Next time though, I wont say yes or no to those jobs instantly or as often, but chances are I’d rather not do them anymore. I haven’t been able to arrive to this conclusion until now. Renting Sony’s RX100 VII provided me an enabling experience that helped me understand why. The size and specs of the camera is not the biggest reason why, but it was what had caught my attention. It’s smaller than all of the cameras I own, as well as far smaller than my iPhone XR. In fact, it’s as small as my wallet! (86 x 54 x 6 mm for those curious about measurements) I wont do a specs sheet roll out, but I will say that the specs are comparable to the iPhone 12 pro max. It’s also the same price to it, which probably sounds insane considering it’s only a camera, whereas the phone is a camera and so much more.
That being said, this camera made me realize that I love shooting sports, travel, nature, friends, and my dog.
I took it to shoot rock climbing,
and though I have only a few images from it, I have been shooting it as of recent with my other cameras. The auto focus system and burst shooting was the camera’s key element for sports as subject, and it was pretty damn good. I normally know how to nail a moment by waiting for it, but the technology gave me some wiggle room if I were to mess up on my own technique. Instead of worrying about capturing the “right moment,” I was able to make an even better image by factoring in my exposure and compositions.
I took it on a photowalk to two landmark areas near my home.
Getting up off my ass to go on a photowalk was exactly what I needed after being quarantined for my whole winter break. I was wanting to capture some golden hour landscapes, but instead I traveled into a dream as the bay area fog rolled in. I checked the weather beforehand, so I knew what I was up against, I just didn’t know if I can get any nice shots. The greatest part of the shoot was how I was able to run, lose my breath, work up a sweat, get some of my favorite images ever, and have some time to enjoy the sublime that is nature. I could have done this with any one of my cameras, but I haven’t been so inspired to do so because of my technological dilemma. Let’s just say that this photo-walk experience alone remedied my fatigue, and that my enthusiasm will hopefully last from here on out.
Ekin and Remi shot on Sony RX100 VII (NICE EYES!)
I put it in the hands of my friends.
They captured great video by mimicking the way I move with it by getting low on the ground and rolling their feet, and took beautiful photos that I can stare at forever. I may be biased since these are videos and photos captured by loved ones, but I know, by experience of course, that if it were all done on my phone, then I’d easily forget it. My friends were also able to use the camera more easily since it also was far less intimidating than holding a 4 pound DSLR the size of head. The only time where it got difficult to function was whenever I put it on manual mode. Flick the switch to intelligent auto (which is superior to a phones auto mode because full control is still possible and not hindered by simplification), and it was easy for them to grab hold.
I shot my dog—with the camera!
On one hand, it warms my heart to see how awesome my dog looks with such great quality, and it’s not just when he poses either. The peak moment in which his ears perk up mid-run couldn’t be captured better by a phone either. On the other hand, the experience of shooting my dog, and other doggies at the local dog park, has piqued my interest in shooting wildlife. I’m becoming more aware of environmental issues, so my interest isn’t solely on capturing the beauty of my dog—I mean of nature. This, along with the experience of capturing foggy landscapes, is where I begin to bridge the gap of my interest in film and photography with my studies of English literature. But like other points that I’ve tangentially brought up, this is one that I’ll save for later.
I went through the fog because I wished to live deliberately, and to face only the essential facts of life.
— Jonathan Serna, totally not Henry David Thoreau.
Now, it might seem like i’m starting to inflate my own confidence. Sure, I take pride in knowing what I want, but what I’m trying to emphasize is that intention is important. This experience has delivered to me peace. On one hand, I have fallen back in love with shooting again. On the other hand, I have found a way to bridge my academic studies with the work that I’ve always done. Me claiming love for sports, nature, wildlife, and lifestyle photography is no knock to any other kinds of photography. I love fashion shoots and portraiture because they become simultaneous studies of arts and people. I love experimental shoots that implement heavy set design or post processing because they depict an immaterial imagination. I love cultural and street photography because it brings me closer to worlds beyond my own. I love photos that are meant to be viral ads because they are images that reflect the trajectory of our contemporary lives. I love it all. My only gripe about those styles of photography is that I can’t do it. I’m sure that if I tried to, and applied my skills, then I could do it, but, for now, I’ll leave that to those that are more passionate for those styles. I’ll have my time when the universe makes it so.
I refuse to use the phone on my camera because the satisfaction it gives me is short lived and encumbering. I’ll break out the camera in place of the phone because I want whatever mage to be more than a part of an infinite cloud storage. I want it to be even more than a Kodak moment. I want it to be a process that helps me remember why things are worth remembering. Life is important, and is not measurable by quantity, but quality. It’s not about how many photos we take or how much we do to make the image look good, it’s about how many words the image can speak to us.
How does your camera, phone or not, depict your view?