It’s the same, but different.

My brain likes to wrangle with thoughts about cell phone images v. DSLR images. One thought: artistic expression through photography (or film) is about the narrative. It’s really just about telling a story and what tool you use to do it does not matter. Second thought: the quality of the tool you use does matter because the quality, sharpness, clarity or ability to edit a stronger RAW image in post, does have an effect on your emotion (at least it does on mine) and that will therefore effect your reception of the narrative presented. That’s really it. I go between those two thoughts.

I have no idea why I make a big to-do about it. Each kind of camera, whether you’ve invested in a DSLR and fancy lenses, or are simply tapping your iPhone screen to make an image, has its inherent advantages and disadvantages. In the end, just make some art, right?

More thoughts. scroll past if you’d like…

DLSR and lens pros: ultimately better image quality despite the advances cell phones are making. It’s a faster combo. Yes, you can hold the button and do continuous frames on a cell phone, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m referring to “reload time” so to speak. Let’s say I’m on the street looking in one direction and snap an interesting photo. Let’s say to my 7 o’clock there’s another interesting moment of interaction happening. I’ll be able to turn around and capture it relatively quickly, and most likely in perfect focus. With my cell phone, at least the model I own, turning around and trying to focus on something quickly ususally doesn’t happen. The phone has to take a second to get the focus right. That second could be the difference between catching the moment or not.

DSLR and lens cons: it’s bulkier. Depending on which DSLR model I’m using, my hand has actually gotten tired of holding it during a day of travel, and slightly cramps from having to grip it continuously. It’s suspicious and unwelcome at times. If I’m trying to capture a candid moment on the street, or the interior of a sacred space, a DSLR will not do. People tend to notice you when you’re lifting this big camera and lens. Many churches and cathedral’s I’ve visited will discourage the use of professional cameras and flashes, but be okay with cell phone images. Go figure.

continue here…

All that said, I’ve created this page and dedicated it to, and only filled it with images created on my iPhone during my visit to Peru. I’m actually pretty surprised at how many I took on the phone; just going with the flow I guess. There will be some duplicate moments that can be seen on other pages about Peru. Oh, I do have a third thought and it’s about editing. I’ve started to find a lot of pleasure in editing my iPhone images in the app, Snapseed (thanks always Claire Castle for that recommend). Some of these images were edited on the spot, during the trip, using that app. Others have been edited now (May 2019) while creating this page. I actually found myself liking the Snapseed edits much better and tried to replicate them on the Mac with Adobe Bridge.

Enough talk, here is Peru via iPhone: