How to find iPhone photo material, by Megen Duffy

My dad recently looked at one of my iPhone photos and asked me what made me take the picture to begin with. My husband said, "That's what she does. She takes pictures of everything." This short exchange struck me because I do take pictures of "everything," and I enjoy it. I won't take up space discussing the merits of iPhone photography or of participating in a photo-a-day project; those topics are covered abundantly and eloquently elsewhere. This post focuses on how to start seeing the everyday world as a source of art, particularly in the setting of a photo-a-day project---such projects can become quickly daunting and frustrating without a framework.

Work with what you've got

You've got a cell phone camera. It might be a 3GS with some control over focus and white balance, or it might be an older model; either way, it's got no flash or zoom, so first realize that you're working with a different tool than you might be used to. Train yourself to stop seeing shots that would be super with your DSLR, and instead start seeing shots that could look intriguing on the iPhone. Example:

Obviously taking a photo in the dark with an iPhone camera is not going to produce a beautiful flame photo, so I didn't try to do that. I worked with what I had, which turned out to be a cool-looking grainy black-and-white candle photo. In other words, play to the phone's strengths. If it gives you grain, do something interesting with the grain.

Represent your mood for the day

Don't see anything photographically compelling around you? Try pinning down your mood for the day and taking photos of something that captures that mood. The many iPhone photo apps come in handy here. Do you feel happy? Make your colors pop with the Camerabag Lolo filter. Gloomy? Create a grainy, high-contrast photo with Spica. And so on. Example:

On this day I felt depressed and unwilling to get out of bed, much less scavenge for photo opportunities. So I took this photo from my bedroom, and it perfectly captured my mood.

Use a different perspective

Sometimes objects, people, and situations appear more interesting or compelling when viewed from another angle. Turn your phone diagonally, or look up. Example:

Be willing to look stupid

This is closely related to finding a different perspective: lie flat and see what appears from that level. Develop the courage to be seen taking photos of apparently weird objects. Example:

My neighbors probably questioned my sanity when they saw me flat on the sidewalk, but I like the pic.

Look for motion and reflections

No, the iPhone is not renowned for capturing excellent action photos, but occasionally surprisingly good results develop when you desperately push the button at something speeding by. There's nothing to lose. Similarly, windows and mirrors can turn a boring scene into an interesting one. Example:

Don't fight the light

iPhones are fickle about producing good photos when you would least expect it in both high- and low-light conditions, so if I feel inspired I take photos indiscriminately even when good judgment would indicate a high likelihood of total photographic failure. Low- and high-light examples:

Look for setups begging to be captured

Sometimes you come across a scene that demands a photo be taken. Accede to the demand. Examples:

If you want to see more of my work, then check me out on Posterous and Flickr.