Number 4

Cameras, Pt. 1: The Best Camera

The mailings resume! Finally.

Do you feel like you could be capturing better images? I know I do. Are you waiting for that new camera before you try?

“I’ll start taking pictures when I have a good camera”

“Of course she takes good pictures, she has a good camera”

“I can’t take pictures like that”

“If I had a good camera, I could take good pictures”

A tiny pool of water collects on a leaf in a driveway in Buffalo, New York.

The enclosed photo was captured and processed with the Best Camera app on an iPhone 4’s 5-megapixel camera, 5 May 2011. While it may not be a great photo, it’s not limited by the technology. Everything I wanted to capture is there. If the picture lacks something, it is due to my own limitations or shortcomings as a photographer.

It’s very likely that you have a perfectly serviceable camera in your pocket or backpack or bag. That iPhone 4 camera would be considered pretty low-end by today’s standards…but…I bet we could still squeeze a nice image out of it today.

“The best camera is the one that’s with you…”

—Chase Jarvis

There is no camera or lens that will magically turn a poor photographer into a good photographer, or a good photographer into a great photographer…only a combination of enthusiasm, a commitment to learning, and a solid work ethic can do that. Practice. Shoot. A lot.

“When you have to shoot, shoot, don’t talk!”

—Tuco

You’re already a “good” photographer. Trust me. Admit it, you’ve taken at least one photo you’re pretty proud of…perhaps many. But have you made any prints of those images? Have you shared those prints with friends and family? Not on Facebook or Instagram…prints. Do it. It feels great.

Prints are tangible, physical objects. Viewing a printed photograph is a much different experience than flipping past images on a smartphone, a tablet, a computer…they look and behave in a very different way. Prints can feel more substantial…because…they are. Printing and framing photographs can feel like the last part of an overall creative process.

Remember this: a thoughtful photographer with a poor camera is much more likely to capture good images than a careless photographer shooting with the very best equipment.

Captured in Buffalo, New York with the Hipstamatic app on an iPhone 4, May 2011.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that the gear is less important than people think… Photographs are not about megapixels or dynamic range, but stories and moments…”

—Chase Jarvis

Useful Links

Smartphone Camera apps

Adobe Lightroom features flexible manual controls but they can be a little fussy to use. See the Processing and Effects section below for more info, including pricing.

Adobe Photoshop Camera is a basic camera with loads of nutty filters and effects. It’s not what I expected. Worth the download as it’s fun and free.

My current favorite, Halide approximates the controls of a more conventional camera, including the ability to adjust most settings manually. Available for iPhone only at $6.

Photo Processing and Effects

Snapseed is a popular and powerful processing and effects app. It's easy to over-process a photo, so use a light touch. Impressive tool, especially considering it’s free and frequently updated. Available for Android and iOS.

Adobe provides industry-standard software for creative work. Adobe Lightroom is a complete digital photography solution. An end-to-end tool for capturing, organizing, processing and sharing photos, Lightroom makes it all possible. Then there’s Adobe Photoshop. The application’s rep is formidable. “Photoshop” is a noun and a verb, “Photoshopped,” an adverb. It’s impressive that you can have access to these two remarkable software tools for a little pocket change per day. There are three plans available: at $10 per month, you'll get full access to Lightroom on mobile devices and your Mac or Windows computer. You can choose between loads of storage (1TB) or Photoshop (with 20GB of storage) for your computer and iPad. A third subscription option provides 1TB of storage and Photoshop for $20 per month. There are discounted annual plans. Visit Adobe for info and downloads.

Photoshop Express

While not quite as feature-rich as the full version of Photoshop, this mobile version is free and quite capable (in-app purchases cloud storage). It’s your only Photoshop option on a smartphone. Available for Android and iOS.

VSCO is very popular with folks who want their photography to have a “film” look. The black and white filters are very good. VSCO is free but you’ll need to spend $20 per year to get the most out of it. Go get some.

Photographic Prints

I frequently use both Mpix and Printique for excellent quality prints and framing. They both offer terrific products and have frequent sales and promotions. Archival prints that wouldn’t look out of place in a fine-art collection.

Parabo Press is known for their very big engineer prints but they offer a wide range of products. The square print enclosed in this mailing was printed by Parabo. They’ll produce a set of 20 square prints–with a different image on each one–for $10. Their customer service is very good.

Moo is another option if you'd like a lot of different photos on anything from business cards to postcards. Quality papers, inks and processes make Moo special. Be sure to take a look at their Minicards.

Stay safe folks.