Picture above: how good that I at least had my smartphone with me. Otherwise I would have missed this reflection.
Can you really photograph everything with your smartphone?
Or do you need a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) with all the accessories? A question that keeps coming back to me – and which I like to answer a little provocatively: it depends!
Late summer in the spa gardens
A wedding couple pose in the backlight, a man takes a photo of the bride and groom in the ambience of the park with his smartphone. Other guests pull out their phones and record their personal memories. Is it a hired photographer with a smartphone, can it work?
Perhaps, as a snapshot in good light. – But with backlighting, the small lens with the glass cap of the lens and without a lens hood: subtle lighting moods, atmospheres – that’s tricky!
I myself use my smartphone when I have nothing else with me, or to scout out a place without having to lug around a heavy photo backpack every time. You know what I mean:
The best camera is the one I have with me
To be honest, my smartphone photography now has its own signature – my finger is often in front of the lens, at the top left or right of the picture. 😉 A little trademark, so to speak.
Of course, that can’t happen to me with “heavy equipment”. 👍
On Friday we went to Hanover
We parked at the stadium and walked through the Maschsee Park. It was still fresh, but now, around midday, the sun was pushing through the clouds. After the next bend in the road, we were simply blown away: the light, the atmosphere, a motif that immediately attracted me. I looked for my perfect angle to frame the scene with my smartphone. A woman was already standing there, also taking photos. She did exactly the right thing: she captured her moment, withdrew and enjoyed the mood of the light for as long as it lasted.
Framing perfect light – this also works with a cell phone.
Another opportunity
I walk through the Pyrmont spa gardens almost every day, especially at the end of October. I know every path, every tree, and only take my camera with me on special occasions – ice, fog, sunshine, or when the grandchildren are visiting.
Today it was overcast at first, with a light, even haze in the valley. This makes photos look rather flat. But what a surprise:
on the way back, the sun made its way in. Dark clouds, blue sky flashing through, golden-yellow autumn leaves changing to orange, a majestic tree curved into the picture. I looked for my ideal angle, with the sun behind me, and was rewarded with a vibrant, radiant autumn motif. And I did it with my smartphone!
Conclusion for today
It’s not (always) about the camera. It’s about the view, the moment, the decision of what you want to capture. Sometimes a smartphone is all you need to tell stories, capture atmosphere and enjoy taking photos.
And sometimes – well, then the DSLR system camera with the different lenses is simply the better partner for the story you want to tell.
Today’s smartphones and system cameras work with fascinating, highly developed technologies. At the same time, there are physical differences, such as the sensor size, which affect the possibilities of image composition.
But more on this in the next article.
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