Mobile phone photography is not really new. A lot of people have been doing it since long back. I remember, back in 2007, when DSLRs were not much of a craze, my friends used mobile phone cameras to freeze hostel memories. The first expensive mobile phone I bought was Samsung D900i (April 2008), only because it had a very good quality 3mp camera. That in fact, was the start to my “photography”, per say.
After I got my first proper camera in 2009 January, I neglected my phone and almost forgot that it can click photographs as well. With Samsung Corby (since April 2010), I hardly photographed using my phone. My compact camera used to accompany me anywhere I went.
I find my now camera Nikon D7000 heavy and cumbersome and the company I work for, does not allow me to carry it to my office. I need something lighter to fit my pocket and sharp while photographing. Voila! I discovered that my phone Samsung SIII has a camera in it and that works! Call me callous, please do. Now of late, after my screen has multiple cracks and my phone is more than 2 years 3 months old, I am taking a new to mobile photography. Possibly because of square frames and instagram!
Now let me say what almost all camera and social media pundits might have already said – Mobile phone cameras are a very useful tool in this world of social media. You shoot and directly share with the world. Your loved ones can see what you are up to. If the photograph has journalistic value, nothing like it. You will be doing live reporting from ground zero! If you want to be a citizen journalist, all you need is a mobile phone with a good camera and there are plenty of them. From Samsung to Motorola to Xiaomi, they all make good phones with good cameras.
Talking about citizen journalism, my friend Vikram is coming up with his new product – MNetra. If you are interested, you might just wish to click on the hyperlink and check out the Facebook page. It is a mobile application, the first and the only citizen reporting platform in India. One of the primary geographic areas Vikram wants to make this app reach is West Bengal. (How do I know Vikram? He was a co-speaker with me in NASSCOM IT Niketan 2012, an IIT Kharagpur passout and a superb human being.)
Talking about live posting, check this photograph I shot amidst rains during the Jadavpur University protests.
Shot at #HokKolorob protests on September 20, 2014 amidst rains. (Camera: Samsung SIII)
Daring the stormy weather and the rain, a huge number of protesters were walking on the streets roaring “Hok Kolorob” (Let there be noise_). Being there, I got engaged in managing people actively. Under such conditions, I could not dare to take the DSLR out. My mobile phone camera was to the rescue. And this is a cropped version of the entire frame.
Let me share a few other photographs shot by my mobile lately.
Durga Puja in Jail Road, Shillong:
Local Pujo in Dum dum park, Bhasan:
A few other photographs, which might not have been possible with the big DSLR. The photograph of me holding my shoes on the waterlogged Dum Dum Park street or people rushing to the office after lunch during a rainy afternoon. Or photographs of Kapu, when playful.
Taking quick panorama is easier with mobile phones and specially when you want to share with your friends very fast!
Double Decker Root Bridge, Meghalaya. Panorama by Samsung SIII
Wider Panorama. Kalna, Shiva temple complex.
Not just these, you can take random selfies and share with your friends (over personal messages) and on the mainstream social media! Personally speaking, I am liking the selfie thing. It felt slightly weird at first. Now it seems fun !
It can be my “The white Kurta Selfie” in some unknown city of Shillong or the “How am I looking?” selfie! Or perhaps the group selfie before you leave for a vacation or with school friends reunion! Err, or or this : Before and after a slight makeover.
If you think that selfies only interest me in my friend circles, please do have a look at this Facebook conversation here.
Generally a blog post should add some value to the reader. This blog post does nothing of it. So here, although I am not the bests of persons to do this, I will try to give some tips – Try to implement the normal rule of thirds in your framing and not just central framing. Use instagram as this makes you share your photographs over Facebook and Twitter in the easiest possible manner once you connect your accounts. Try not to spend too much time post processing your photographs in your mobile. For me, it is a big turn off. Keep it fun. And follow me on instagram!
I’ll end this post here. Suggest me a mobile phone with a good camera ! Do comment your honest reviews on this post. And do not forget to stay subscribed to my blog if you love it.