Featured iPhoneographer: Christina Noerdam Andersen
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 10:59PM | Star Rush 
Above: Within Reach, © Christina Noerdam AndersenAn everyday, common walk can enliven feelings and sharpen senses. Christina Noerdam Anderson’s iphoneography has explicitly brought photography into her life, encouraging her, on her walks, to tune her sights and feelings to, as she says, “the subtle everyday beauty that surrounds us.”
Tell us about yourself, Christina.
My name is Christina Noerdam Andersen. I live in Copenhagen, which is the capital of Denmark. My work in sales and marketing, and I have a degree in Tourism Management from a university in London. I enjoy taking long walks in my neighborhood, which often includes photography with my iPhone 4. Music is a big part of my life. especially when it comes to photography, as music inspires me and sets a mood. My favorite genre of music is Neo Soul, which is representative of all feelings from happy to sad.
Last autumn I bought an iPhone and Instagram was a featured app, which I downloaded by chance. After posting the first photo and getting my first “like,” I was hooked. I remember the excitement, which I still have today, by looking at other IGers amazing images from around the world. I consider each posting a little postcard. Before that I never really photographed myself, although I have always been appreciative of the art. In the beginning I photographed just about anything that I came across, finding the world a much more interesting place seen through my tiny iPhone lens.
Above: The Window, © Christina Noerdam Andersen
As I like to photograph everyday life I see around me including unsuspecting people on the street, I think that an iPhone has an advantage over a classic camera because it is more discrete. No one can tell exactly what you are up to. It is also a camera that I have with me always. I prefer photographing the subtle everyday beauty that surrounds us. I am drawn to light and shadows in an urban environment, whether it be people or stills, such as benches and bikes, which I seem to get drawn to. To me, for some reason, both benches and bikes seem to become living beings with feelings when seen through a lens.
Above: Vacant, © Christina Noerdam Andersen
How would you describe your style, Christina?
My photographic style is minimalistic black/white street photography. I like to keep my photography focused on one or maybe two elements in a photo without a lot of distractions , and I feel that black/white allows me to do that. I shoot from within and by intuition, the same goes for my editing. I often try to express an emotion that I feel at the time in a photo. In a sense it is a kind of therapy. I am not so much interested in the process as I am in the end result.
Most important to my creative process is observation because that is where it starts. J. R.R. Tolkien says it all: “There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”
Above: Coming out of the dark, © Christina Noerdam Andersen
Since becoming an iphoneographer, I am acutely aware of what is going on around me, and I am curious about every details such as a ray of light, a shadow, an interesting person on the street or whichever it may be. Most of the times I walk out my front door it is with some excitement of what I am going to see. I put music in my ears, and I’m gone into my own world. However as with many other things in life, I have gotten my best shots, when I did not purposely go out looking for them. With the kind of images I take, it is often about being speedy as to remain unnoticeable. Therefore I often carry my iPhone around in my hands, ready to capture an image. Somebody once said: “There is no delight in owning anything unshared,” and I enjoy sharing my work on social networks such as Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr and Facebook.
Above: Upside Down World, © Christina Noerdam Andersen
Taking photos with my iPhone means that I am potentially always ready to capture an image that I might stumble because my iPhone is always with me. That allows me to be spontaneous and gives me a reason to never stop observing. Somebody told me that photography amongst other things was about being in the moment and iPhoneography is exactly about that. iPhoneography has sparked a creativity within me that I did not know I had. Apparently I possess a sensitivity that becomes evident in my photos. At this point I feel I have so much more to give.
To me my most memorable image of the last year is “The Window,” and it is quite simply the view I have from my living room. I was sitting by my PC one morning and noticed some interesting shadows on the opposite building. It gave me the idea to try and project specific feelings or mood into a scene or an object.
Above: Standing Still, © Christina Noerdam Andersen
Christina, what or who influences you?
First and foremost I am inspired by the amazing photography that exists on Instagram. Also I look inwards to use my own energy in order to express my feelings visually through a lens. Music helps me in that process particularly the works of soulful artists such as Maxwell and Erykah Badu. Henri Cartier-Bresson’s work has caught my eye both as a black/white photographer and as a master of candid street photography. He famously used a handkerchief to cover his Leica camera which he would whip away to snap many of his iconic shots before hiding his camera underneath it once again. I have a feeling he would have approved of iphoneography as an iPhone camera is perfect for unsuspected street photography.
In short, iPhoneography means everything to me. I consider each of my photos an entry in a visual diary. Since becoming an iphoneographer, I can honestly say I have not had a dull moment as photography is always available to me regardless if I am sitting in a train or walking down the street.
Above: Summertime, © Christina Noerdam Andersen
The way I see it, the limitations that an iPhone camera have compared to a traditional camera is at the same time its charm. The expression that an iPhone photo can project is more important than how many pixels it is. iPhoneography leaves room for creative freedom and spontaneity. Having said this, I intend to buy a “real” camera to compliment my iPhoneography. I am curious about the technical possibilities it will offer and to continue to explore. However, I intend my iPhone to continue being my primary camera.
Beginners to iPhoneography should consider signing up to Instagram and join the community. It’s a way of getting instant inspiration and feedback on your work as well as to meet other photo enthusiasts from around the world.
Above: Lean On Me, © Christina Noerdam Andersen
Christina, what are your most used or favorite apps?
- Noir Photo. Great for black/white effects and for creating shadows and highlights in the exact areas you intend.
- Photo Fx and Camera+. Both are excellent all round apps with many editing options.
- Iris Photo Suite. It offers numerous functions including the Histogram function which is great for getting the desired tones.
- Focusoid. It stimulates different out of focus techniques such as tilt shift effect and depth of field. Also it allows to you add blur by your finger exactly where you want it.
You can find more of Christina’s photos here on Flickr or Tumblr.
Reader Comments (14)
(AnnieVTAZ58: you can find her searchin for "cirkeline")
greetings,
eelco