Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => The Coffee Corner => Topic started by: WalterEG on August 18, 2012, 03:42:14 am

Title: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: WalterEG on August 18, 2012, 03:42:14 am
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2189904/Dial-iPhoneography-The-stunning-images-taken-just-iPhone-little-help-clever-apps.html

Some quite amazing images amongst the dross.

W
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on August 18, 2012, 03:52:15 am
It needn't be used, though. The world's stock of ugliness is already more than adequate.

Jeremy
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: bill t. on August 18, 2012, 04:29:37 am
So is "iPornography" and no doubt a few other variants.  They'll let anything into the dictionary these days.

That stuff could seriously cut into Holga sales!  Some little elf has been telling me, "this is The Future of Photographic Art."  I never much liked elves.  But it's hard not imagine gallery walls dripping that stuff sooner than later.  It's The Shock of the New, dammit.  RIP Robert Hughes.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Rob C on August 18, 2012, 04:33:03 am
I've mentioned before that I think cellpix are going to become the camera of choice for most non-pro applications and even for some of those, if only for the effects that can be achieved. Once the black screens get sorted, the devices will be far more useful than now. However, there's always the chance that over-use of 'effects' will bring boredom and eventual decline in use of not only the 'effects' but of the machines as cameras...

Apple's marketing clout has certainly done a lot for the medium.

Rob C
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: bill t. on August 18, 2012, 12:39:52 pm
There's a parallel to all this in the SX-70, which went from hot to ho-hum back in the 70's to mid 80's.  Until much cheaper but hugely less cool 1-Hours killed them.  You could even smudge 'em, oohwee!  It was cool because Andy Warhol liked them.  Even I liked them!  Google Polaroid Art.  RIP Polaroid.  RIP Andy Warhol.  I'm in a holding pattern.

The scary thing is, for every SX-70 back then, there are 78,297 smartphones today.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Ed B on August 18, 2012, 01:17:26 pm
Plucked this little gem out of that story.

Quote
With over 20 apps available to download to manipulate images the iPhone potentially makes an artist out of everyone

All I can say is ugh.....
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Ben Rubinstein on August 18, 2012, 01:57:42 pm
Manipulate=Art, as you say ugh!
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: louoates on August 18, 2012, 03:54:53 pm
I actually enjoyed seeing those images. Looking beyond the effects mentioned here the underlying images and vision are quite good. My theory is that when I see images that are described as the result of the camera (fish eye, panorama, large format, pinhole, etc.) the process (HDR, Polaroid, colorized, push process, platinum, silver, b&w, infrared, etc.) or, in this case iphone capture, it's the underlying image that makes it sing or bomb.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: bill t. on August 19, 2012, 12:01:48 am
With over 20 apps available to download to manipulate images the iPhone potentially makes an artist out of everyone

I gotta assume those apps can also make noodle heads out of artists.  Be careful!

I think what were seeing here is the birth of Virtual Talent.  The iPhone and iPad may not be suitable for doing actual creative content creation, but that doesn't mean you can't pretend.  It's Creativity packaged in convenient, bite-sized, pre-digested nuggets.  Welcome to The Future!
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Ed B on August 19, 2012, 01:29:02 am


I think what were seeing here is the birth of Virtual Talent. 


I'll say it again, ugh.....
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Rob C on August 19, 2012, 05:49:00 am
Yep, it's easy to pour scorn and lashings of imaginary superiority over the use of these devices, but when you look at the actual pictures in the original link, you find some damned good images.

One should treat prejudice with caution. Owning an M9 or even the 'miracle' D800 doesn't for a moment imply that you can make better images than have some of the snappers with the cellpix. Therein lies the problem with much photography, marketing and expectation from the latter: your camera is never any better than you are.

Be modest; enjoy your successes and don't bullshit on low-cost technology - it ain't the tech that gives you talent.

Rob C
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: louoates on August 19, 2012, 09:25:54 am
Yep, it's easy to pour scorn and lashings of imaginary superiority over the use of these devices, but when you look at the actual pictures in the original link, you find some damned good images.

One should treat prejudice with caution. Owning an M9 or even the 'miracle' D800 doesn't for a moment imply that you can make better images than have some of the snappers with the cellpix. Therein lies the problem with much photography, marketing and expectation from the latter: your camera is never any better than you are.

Be modest; enjoy your successes and don't bullshit on low-cost technology - it ain't the tech that gives you talent.

Rob C

I agree, Rob. In fact I looked again at the images and will amend my earlier comment somewhat to say that these are extremely good images. I find it puzzling to read some of the negative opinions about these. Makes me think way back to the same kind of arguments against digital capture. Remember the f64 crowd? Maybe what we're now seeing is the 72 dpi movement. There will never be a shortage of crap produced by any technology. But I'm looking forward to picking through a new generation of images if this thread's images are any indication of what's coming.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: jeremypayne on August 19, 2012, 09:51:45 am
All I can say is ugh.....

All I can say is live and let live ...

The amount of time some people spend worrying about what other people do with cameras is just staggering!

Fancy yourself an artist?  Good for you ... Go be an artist ...
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Ben Rubinstein on August 19, 2012, 09:53:01 am
It's not the work that's the problem, it's the concept being sold which leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: louoates on August 19, 2012, 09:58:51 am
It's not the work that's the problem, it's the concept being sold which leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

I don't think you are the market they're after.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: ckimmerle on August 19, 2012, 10:55:10 am
Yep, it's easy to pour scorn and lashings of imaginary superiority over the use of these devices, but when you look at the actual pictures in the original link, you find some damned good images.

Sure some of the images look good. The processing these images receive in-camere (phone) are meant to minimize flaws, thus the HDR look, noise, antiquing and false colors. These are images where the subject is secondary to the treatment, which is the exact reason that most of the images look alike. I saw a recent display of iphoneography and, despite there being many different photographers, most looked as if they could have come from the same person. That, to me, is sad.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: 32BT on August 19, 2012, 04:35:19 pm
the problem of course is whether the effects are used to emphasize the theme, or whether they merely obscure the theme. However, perhaps there first need to be a lot of examples, of both the good, the bad, and the ugly, in order for artists to learn the vast possibilities and subsequently for the more proficient, deliberate art to surface.

Anyone have any idea what to make of the recent changes at Hipstamatic, one of the major exponents in this field?
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Ed B on August 19, 2012, 06:20:48 pm

Fancy yourself an artist? 

Nope. I just enjoy photography and my stuff is mediocre at best.

These apps are akin to paint by numbers kits where "everyone" can be an artist. The marketing behind this stuff bugs me as well as the filters. Applying a filter created by someone else does not make you an artist, maybe the programmer should also get a credit on these works?

Are the images strong to begin with in this show? Maybe, maybe not. It is difficult to tell sometimes because of all the layering going on. I do question the need to mask a strong image in the first place though, if it is that good it shouldn't need to be covered up with a filter just for the sake of it. Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: bill t. on August 19, 2012, 11:25:15 pm
These apps are akin to paint by numbers kits where "everyone" can be an artist. The marketing behind this stuff bugs me as well as the filters. Applying a filter created by someone else does not make you an artist, maybe the programmer should also get a credit on these works?

Are the images strong to begin with in this show? Maybe, maybe not. It is difficult to tell sometimes because of all the layering going on. I do question the need to mask a strong image in the first place though, if it is that good it shouldn't need to be covered up with a filter just for the sake of it. Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should.

That's it.  Who's the author?

Find an engaging processed image.  Strip off the filter effects.  If the bare image still looks engaging, credit the photographer.  If the bare image reveals itself as crap, credit the filter programmer.

I would say we should routinely credit everybody involved, but if we do that our snapshots will soon have credit lists as long as LOTR "Return of the King" which I believe crawls upward for 26 minutes in the extended edition, requiring about 1/2 mile of film.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Rob C on August 20, 2012, 05:08:03 am
Sure some of the images look good. The processing these images receive in-camere (phone) are meant to minimize flaws, thus the HDR look, noise, antiquing and false colors. These are images where the subject is secondary to the treatment, which is the exact reason that most of the images look alike. I saw a recent display of iphoneography and, despite there being many different photographers, most looked as if they could have come from the same person. That, to me, is sad.


Chuck, I'm not making any excuses for the 'effects' but I am saying that some of the pictures are really good, and probably so despite the effects. So, really, my positive vibe is for the cellphone cameras, not added trickery.

In my own stuff these days I never use any filters other than 'legitimate' UVs or Polas; I have experimented with those awful 'tobacco' things that were popular back in the day (for a shortish while) and found them to have ruined otherwise good pictures; Softars were cool for some time, but became a trademark for some people.

Frankly, it's my belief that making a good image is quite difficult enough, and that makiing the likelihood of success even worse by sticking on 'effects' is counterproductive. I don't believe that beauty needs hiding, and neither do I think that effects make a poor snapper a better one - but as someone mentioned, the market isn't people who tend already to be competent enough with photographic arts.

Rob C
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: RobbieV on August 20, 2012, 04:02:41 pm
Just curious. Have any of you tried Instagram?
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Rob C on August 20, 2012, 04:39:02 pm
Just curious. Have any of you tried Instagram?


I would have preferred Kissograms, but then that's because I live alone. An Instakissogram sounds promising, though.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Ed B on August 20, 2012, 05:47:15 pm
Maybe there is hope after all.  ;)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bianca-bosker/normalize-instagram-app_b_1812556.html

Just curious. Have any of you tried Instagram?

Yep. As soon as it forced me to crop my images I deleted it. Tried another one called PicPlz (which is now defunct), tried it for a couple of days and deleted it. I found nothing redeeming about this trend. The only filter that I somewhat liked was the shallow dof blur filter but I can do that in PS if I wanted to.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: bill t. on August 20, 2012, 06:13:23 pm
Maybe there is hope after all.  ;)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bianca-bosker/normalize-instagram-app_b_1812556.html

Cools! Next time somebody punks me with Instagram, I'm gonna shoot 'em back a Normalized version just so they know I've seen them for the photo imposters they really are.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: RobbieV on August 21, 2012, 08:38:21 am
I think the ease of editing pictures to look like they came out of banged up old Holgas is a good thing. It was a trend I was never really fond of in typical photography (this type of processing on pictures taken with a more traditional camera). Instagram flooded the world with overdone and overprocessed pictures of lunch, sunsets and flowers. In the end, people will be spitting out the overcooked images of Instagram and instead moving towards a more realist approach.

I don't harbour any resentment towards iPhoneography. At the end of the day, they know where they stand. It's pictures on a phone. Most don't take their creations that seriously, and those that do aren't worth taking seriously themselves.
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: Rob C on August 21, 2012, 11:20:49 am
I think the ease of editing pictures to look like they came out of banged up old Holgas is a good thing. It was a trend I was never really fond of in typical photography (this type of processing on pictures taken with a more traditional camera). Instagram flooded the world with overdone and overprocessed pictures of lunch, sunsets and flowers. In the end, people will be spitting out the overcooked images of Instagram and instead moving towards a more realist approach.
I don't harbour any resentment towards iPhoneography. At the end of the day, they know where they stand. It's pictures on a phone. Most don't take their creations that seriously, and those that do aren't worth taking seriously themselves


Really? Interesting take; hadn't realised it's the tool that matters most.

(Down, you over there!)

Rob C
Title: Re: It seems iPhoneography is a word now.
Post by: RobbieV on August 21, 2012, 02:55:08 pm
Sort of like trying to make a nice purse out of a sow's ear using a butter knife and some PVA glue.

 ::)