Our smartphones are valuable tools for photography. Here we have a test shot taken with my iPhone that surprised me.
Our smartphones have become ubiquitous devices that both keep us on an electronic leash and enable us to do some pretty cool things (other than working every waking hour…). I mentioned before that I tend to use my iPhone to take some test shots to get a better sense of how I want to compose a certain image; of course, it also provides me the benefit of having the exact location where I’m shooting.
Sometimes I, and I suspect many of you, find out that such a test shot came out pretty well and is worth taking a second look at…
White Domes Loop Trail
This is one of those images; as I got a little lower with my iPhone to see how it looked from that angle this shot came about. Afterwards, I was really pleased with the way the iPhone captured both the texture and various colors with a rather nice sense of balance.
Oh, and I did take some shots with my ‘serious’ camera after setting up the tripod at about this level. They came out pretty good too!
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
View all posts by jansenphoto
This looks like Petra in Jordan.
I hadn’t thought about that, but it has a sense of Petra. This is a canyon in the White Dome loop in Valley of Fire state park