The big question for photographers and videographers in the 21st Century, with image capture and its dissemination ubiquitous via a device that fits in your pocket, is do we have any relevance at all?
My journey with photography got started to get serious over 10 years previously. Although prior to this, I was using film SLR’s cameras without fully understanding how they worked. I was able to garner compliments for some of the shots I took although they were shot in automatic mode. Then I invested in a DSLR and thought if I was going to drop a lot of cash I needed to commit to learning what it could do. So I started to research about photography.
I later took a short training course (one on one) in Bangkok and started to understand, and utilize the camera’s functionality. I then reverted to film via a medium format Hasselblad. This necessitates the efficiently using light and the learning curve, given the restriction of not seeing the image until later, can be steep. The completely manual set-up that requires the use of an external light-meter slows the process and forces you to really think about what you are trying to achieve. This process lends itself to digital photography as you become less of a shutter-bug and more thoughtful in your overall photography.
So in answer to the opening question, of course phone cameras can be quite capable of capturing some superlative images. That said, photography should be FUN first and foremost. If you enjoy the process of learning and trying new things; the challenges that using a fully manual camera to capture images you may only see days / weeks later, well that’s the fun for me. When you print though, the images captured on the small sensors of a mobile phone will struggle but if you enjoy shooting with your phone, that’s perfectly legitimate.
I have been fortunate to get clients in Lao and Cambodia; largely product photography, some enthusiastic models and inspired musicians to work with. I have had work featured in the Women’s International Group (WIG) Photography competition ‘Laos in motion’ exhibition and had photographs exhibited in the yearly International Photographic Contest of the Royal Photography Society of Thailand and The Prince Naris Foundation in Bangkok. Exhibited at the Silpakorn University in Bangkok.
In the capacity of my work, I have been able to provide visual outputs for business and NGO development initiatives which provide imagery for donors and stakeholders to directly grasp the tangible benefits of the project implementation. Most recently, I have incorporated drones for aerial imaging.
I am confident I can meeting your imaging needs, whichever side of the camera you prefer to stand.
