iPhone 4: Photographers Friend

I managed to get through the deluge of folks trying to pre-order the new iphone. AT&T and Apple servers were choking on the traffic and I tried on and off for 6 hours to do it but at about 1pm PST i completed the pre-order transaction.

Normally I wouldn't care about being first with the new phone. When the original iPhone came out in 2007 It was a couple of months before I got the iPhone and even at that I had a loaner from an Apple buddy. Of course I got an iPhone 3G and 3GS when they came out just to stay current but again not at launch.

So what's different here? Why the excitement for the iPhone 4? Simple. I think the iPhone 4 will change the way I capture images. Sure it's just a "camera phone" but something about the iphone simplicity and availability makes it one of the best photo tools in my arsenal. Seattle Photographer and social artist Chase Jarvis produced a very interesting book "The Best Camera Is The One That's With You", 256 pages of iPhone photos from a guy that carries a 40 megapixel Hasselblad in his arsenal. The images are personal, sometimes raw but always about the "right-now".

The iPhone 4 ups the ante in terms of technical capability for sure but I think the main difference using an iPhone camera is in the way I feel about the intimacy of the camera. I find myself taking more chances photographically than I would with my professional gear. In circumstances where it's personal and people are involved the camera phone has become ubiquitous and subjects are more comfortable.

Holding my fathers hand as he was dying - iPhone 3GThe previous iPhone was 2 and 3 mega pixel imagers - iPhone 4 is now 5 megapixel. As we all know the pixel count isn't alway indicative of image quality however the new iPhone 4 imager will be significantly less noisy in low light than previous generations. There is an LED flash which could also add some creative opportunities. I'm also intrigued about the front facing camera on iPhone 4. Designed to used for Apple's FaceTime video calling application but I could see the possibility of being able to capture images simultaneously for some interesting moments in time.

The iPhone also has a rich application base for photographers including Chase Jarvis' companion app to the book - aptly named "Best Camera". I also use CameraBag, Pano, Darkroom, QuadCamera, PhotoShop, Photogene and Camera +. These apps are just a few of the hundreds available.

Serendipity with a pot of gold - iPhone 3G

Even if you're not an iPhone or "smartphone" user now you should seriously consider getting one. It could make you a better photographer. Not for the technical stuff but because it's accessible. You know as well as I do some moments happen only once.

Well Here it is... Now i just need to be patient while June 24 gets here.

Willie Wonka's Golden Ticket