22Feb12 - Project iPhone Black & White Week

22Feb12
Instead of my usual Friday Phone Dump, here is my first photography project revealed.
A week, All in Black and White



Before I get into this weeks Friday iPhone Dump, I want to say "Phew"!  First, I spent all of the last couple of weeks, making sure I took the time to take PURE "iPhone" photographs.  I am sure many would ask why I decided to do that, when I have a perfectly great (and very expensive) digital SLR.  The reason is this:  iPhone photography has it's place in the world of digital photography, more than most people think.  These days, the camera built into an iPhone is pretty exceptional and takes really high quality 8+ mega pixel photos and is far more useful to carry EVERY where anyone goes.  Unlike toting around a 4 pound full functional DSLR (not to mention the 5 various lenses), your phone (in my case iPhone) is always with you, even in the weirdest (and random-est) of moments.  Moreover, "iPhoneography" (as it's being now referred to) is a huge deal and has even been published about.  The applications that exist to enhance photographers work on an iPhone and iPad, are simply amazing.  Having said that, I have not forsaken my Nikon D7000.  It's important to have a good balance, and master both; Intelligently.
In order to do that, (become master of two), I gave myself 'a few' projects that I figured would help me to refine my abilities and truly rediscover the FUN of photography - making it less of a chore (not that it was ever a chore to me, I love photography).  It was also a way that I figured my husband and I could spend time together doing these interesting projects.  One of the projects (seen here in my Friday iPhone Photo Dump) was to work with just my iPhone - taking only Black and White photos for two weeks.  I guess it would be like saying, I really got to see the world in all it's glory and "Simply in Black and White".

The ART OF IPHONEOGRAPHY: Literally.

As I mentioned, I put together quite an extensive list of projects that I think will really help me to develop my composition in photography.  I think these are not only things that will be helpful for me to do, but I (in all honesty) am really looking forward to doing these various projects.  The feeling I get when I think of doing the projects that I thought of (all on my own) make me very excited.  My excitement (to take photographs) is comparable to the way an addict looks forward to his drug.  To me, photography is an euphoric addiction that has such beautifully rewarding results.  Unless you have ever captured moments in photography that you are extremely proud of, it's hard to understand the love for photography and then the appreciation for the wonderful various images that others have captured.  I never ever thought I would enjoy looking at beautiful images taken by various artists and wished it could be me.  Perhaps one must have to be artistically inclined (even if ever so slightly) to feel this way....


Here are a few of the ideas I had, for photography projects:
(Keep in mind, that these projects are not meant to be done strictly the way I have written them).



Photograph one particular type of object like a car (include every kind  - such as toy cars)

Photograph only one colour.  All items taken must be that one colour.  (For example anything blue)

Photograph in black & White for a week

Photograph all my meals for a week

Compose a story - Photograph an entire story or essay then use only 6 of the photos to tell the story

Photograph everywhere we go (each arrived location)

Photograph shapes (one per shot and make a collage of all shots having only that one shape)

Photograph all my jewellery (every single piece) Good for insurance purposes!

Photograph a person with my model release form / A complete stranger with a model release form

Photograph an old person portrait to show the age

Shoot a subject with every lens to achieve different effects at the same distance (DOF)

Shoot a location, 4 times throughout a day (Exact same spot: shoot am, noon, eve and late pm)

Shoot high and low key

Shoot a time lapse exposure 10-20-30 sec. (I want to do the traditional night highway shot)

Shoot my shadows

Shoot how I feel... (make the image show emotions)

Shoot a panorama

Shoot a Bokeh

Photograph all kinds of doors (specifically only doors ie. closed/open, wooden/metal)

Photograph my niche collection (for me it's dragons - pictures, ornaments etc.)

Photograph all my friends wearing a unique hat (not baseball cap) and collage it

Photograph word signs - Single words at a time



This is my pretty comprehensive project list.  I believe this kind of project list should take quite some time to complete, but I find it difficult to find the "time" to even start it!  As I mentioned, I am extremely excited to do it, and I think it will take a lot of time to get it completed.  It will likely happen in spurts and eventually get competed over time.  Projects like these can be done quickly and randomly and then revisited over and over to replace images that "just aren't up to par" or don't seem to cut it as time goes on and more as well as newer images replace older ones.  If you have any ideas or projects you have done, let me know in the comments below this post!  I'm always looking for new ideas to help me improve my techniques.

Lastly, what I have recently learned all on my own is (and in my own words):
A good photograph isn't one which we just raise our cameras and do the good old "point and shoot" as most general photos are done.
A great photo is one that only happens in that single moment and shouldn't be one that can be easily recreated.
An excellent photo is one that when you see it, you are forever in awe thinking, that shot was incredible and makes you think of more than just 'what was in the photo' - more than the subject matter itself.
My example: An extraordinary photograph of an apple shouldn't leave you thinking "Huh.  That's obviously an apple.", it should make you think you could feel or touch it, and think that it's possible that an apple could actually have feelings AND that the image is simply that descriptive.  Or that you could feel what the photographer was feeling at that moment in which they took the photo.