The Addicted iPhoneographer
A warning to new iPhoneographers: mobile photography can be seriously addictive!
Have you stopped by the popular blog for mobile photography, iOSPhotoApps.com? Meet the man behind the project and let yourself be inspired by his passion for iPhoneography. A guest post by Raman Pfaff.
My name is Raman Pfaff, and I'm an addicted iPhoneographer. My family was really artistic ranging from documentarian to painter, but I was a science guy who majored in physics. I started blogging back in 1993 before it was called blogging and created a website called ExploreScience in 1995. The site turned in to my full-time career at ExploreLearning.com after I'd spent a few years as a 'teaching' professor. I now do a lot of programming during the day and need to relax during the evenings. That is where photography fit in.
For years I used a DSLR but it seemed to take a lot of effort to get things packed up and ready. When digital point and shoots got better I tried to have one with me all the time. It was much easier to carry around. I used Adobe Lightroom on my computer to go through images.
And then the iPhone came along. It was with me all the time and required no thought. My daily life became intertwined with photography. My finger would tap when I saw something of interest. Editing apps were getting better every day and many unique apps were showing up on the scene. I don't remember exactly when, but at some point I noticed that I was spending more time on my iPhone than I was on my iMac.
The iPhone is everywhere, it captures news the moment it occurs, kids learn how to take photos in moments, social sites are bursting with photos, and artists are using it to create portfolios. The iPhone has become a photo editing system that fits in your pocket - not on your desk.
I was amazed by some of the photos apps I saw, and my teaching instincts crept in. I started iOSPhotoApps.com so I could talk about apps. Nothing more, nothing less. It's a diary of what I'm up to, some apps I'm using and trying, ranting about a missing feature here and there, and occasionally discussing on how I created some of my images. Every day I'm looking through some pictures/art I've created on my iPhone. I like some and I smile. I'm hoping iPhoneography lets a lot of people enjoy a smile at the end of the day, and my blog can help out in a small way.
Years ago I took a DSLR photography course where we discussed ten photos we each took that week. That really helped me out. I'm so glad to see that iPhoneography classes are now being offered in more and more places. Millions have started using iPhones daily to take photos and create art, and many aren't aware of the potential wrapped up in the iPhone. There are wealth of resources on iPhoneography out there: books, web sites, blogs, reviews, and now classes. As a former teacher, I like having a wealth of resources, but I've always enjoyed a class where people focused on one subject can offer a lifelong learning experience.
iPhoneography will continue to grow. Apps will continue to improve. The technology of the camera will jump by leaps and bounds. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
About the Author: Raman Pfaff earned his PhD in Physics at Michigan State University and was a co-founder of ExploreLearning.com, which helps students with math and science. He loves iPhoneography and has a blog at iOSPhotoApps.com. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.
