iPhone Friday

Sometimes, I really like to travel light; when photography is not one of the top priorities for a trip, I’m perfectly happy to just bring a smartphone. Of course, as we all know, these devices are getting better and better with every release, which keeps us in this addictive upgrade cycle. Nowadays, I’m usually perfectly happy to skip a year, unless there’s something really compelling that makes me itch for that latest feature!

The image captured here is one from just over 5 years ago, when I was proudly carrying my iPhone 11 Pro Max with me…

This trip was all about football, the kind with the round ball, as I was in Liverpool to attend my first game in person at Anfield, the hallowed ground of Liverpool FC. I was sauntering around after having some delicious Thai cuisine, and loved the way the buildings around the Royal Albert Dock were lighted, so much so that even some light reflected off the clouds. I positioned my iPhone on one of the posts near the water to have a steady hand for a longer exposure, and took a number of exposures.

The end result is still pleasing, as the warmth of the light, the reflections and the sense of serenity make for an appealing scene. As I know have some new tools, I did do a bit of sharpening with Topaz Photo AI and made some minor tweaks in Photoshop to balance things, as well as cropping the image with a 16×9 aspect ratio. This may just become a nice print some day!

Oh, and if you wondered, Liverpool played the Tottenham Hot Spurs; we gave up an early goal, but came back in the 2nd half to win 2-1. An exciting match with a great result!

Author: jansenphoto

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