Taking amazing photographs has never been easier
When I started shooting both photos and video (waaay back when in the distant year of 2009) it was a lot tougher to take a high quality image. Of course, that probably had a lot to do with my then current status as a poor college student. I would gaze with envy on the high resolution photos my friends were able to share of their recent trips, or even just their latest walk through the woods. I couldn't wait for the day that I had my own fancy, expensive camera. A couple of years later, I finally purchased a Cannon 5D MK II and was able to get out and shoot to my heart's content. Along the way, I picked up a bad habit.
I was so excited to use my camera that I took it everywhere and shot all kinds of photos and couldn't wait to share them with everyone! Then came the time to edit them. My edits could take between 5 and 30 minutes depending, and then I would have some great images of my own to share out!
As time went on, no matter how much I wanted, there was no way that I could continue to carry my camera with me everywhere. I would take it on hikes and out to the lake, but I wasn't always able to carry it around with me when I was running errands in the city. As luck would have it, those would be the times I would see a scene I absolutely had to capture. I always used to lament the fact I didn't have my camera and take one final look at the image one last time, wishing that I had the foresight to pack my MK II. If I couldn't shoot it on my best camera, what was the point of taking the picture at all? I passed up quite a few golden opportunities for this reason. It wasn't until later that I heard something that really changed the way I thought about cameras.
"The best camera is the one you have on you."
There are a many reasons you may not have access to your main camera. It could be you weren't expecting to need to take a photo, or maybe you had to travel light. Whatever the case may be, you find yourself shooting on your phone, and that's okay! When I was finally able to embrace this idea it opened up a whole new world of shooting. I often find myself doing some of my most creative work with restrictions places upon my situation, and have actively grown to love shooting on my phone for this reason. The photos in the gallery above were all taken on my cell phone (and by no means an up do date phone) and I love them all. They show a specific time and place that I remember fondly and I am glad I was able to capture these images while staying in the moment.
I guess if there is just one idea that I could impart it would be this; go out and take photos in any way you possibly can. Go have an experience, and instead of lugging around your bulky DSLR, use your phone to take a quick shot and then get back to enjoying the moment.