[L]ast Christmas my partner got me the iPhone 4s and I’m still coming to grips with all the features and as yet I still havn’t tapped into all the uses I can get from it. My old phone was on the old network and needed to be replaced, and we also needed a small updated point and shoot for those times when we don’t feel like taking our dslr camera to places. The iPhone 4s was the best solution as it has so many other features that I needed too such as mp3 player (for fitness), address book and alarm clock etc. When I saw my son Ashley’s phone just before Christmas, the connection from our rural home was flawless. This in stark contrast to being on the old network and getting cut off within 2 minutes into any phone call. I was amazed so it didn’t take much convincing after that.

I just love my iPhone. Despite being a photographer, I feel there are times when it’s not convenient to take my professional camera out with me, e.g. shopping, going to the pool, out on a trek, concerts etc. The trouble is at those times, there’s always some spare of the moment stuff unfolding, and those moments go uncaptured. I’m reminded of the phrase, “The best camera to take the photo’s with is the one you have with you at the time.” Secondly, my canon like any other DSLR camera only has so much shutter life. When I do a typical wedding, I shoot around 2000 images and more. The average shutter life of a DSLR camera is only guaranteed to 115’000 frames before it starts to degrade so it matters how and when I use it. Due to that fact I use my DSLR camera for professional work only for this reason. The iPhone is slim enough to fit into my back pocket and very discreet. Although I wont be taking wedding pictures with it anytime soon, I feel this technology is the future even where pro cameras are concerned. They can only get better with time.

The last time we purchased a point and shoot it was some 15 years ago so as you can imagine it is 1.3 megapixels (junk) quality or something crazy like that. To actually have a smart phone that is 8MP, it’s something else. The images are scarily sharp for a cell phone camera and good for family snaps. The colour’s are far more saturated than we ever had with our previous old point and shoot and because the camera has a f2.4 aperture allowing more light in, it’s great for low light. I know it’s never going to take stunning photos like my Canon can, but the point is, it takes more good pictures than you can shake a stick at.  Great to carry with you everywhere and a good fall guy for times when you don’t have your DSLR. We missed so many moments with our kids in pictures it’s not funny. Moments that should have been captured so I really think it was the best thing I’ve bought in a while. Yes, we will make any excuse to get what we want WHEN we want it and I’m no different. You only live once.

I did start a photo project last year but abandoned it about three weeks in. I completely take my hat off to all photographers that can keep up the weekly (or daily) projects on top of general business photography. I was studying at the time, so think that didn’t help but I’m now announcing my iPhone challenge. I feel I’ll find the iPhone challenge even more challenging than the average DSLR photography challenge cos I’m that nuts, but I feel it will be easier in the sense that I will always have the phone with me. There’s a lot of limitations with point and shoot cameras that don’t come into play with DSLR’s, and it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that’s a fact, but that’s exactly the challenge… to do something spectacular with something so limited.

I have such a full on year ahead of me setting up business stuff and getting other various projects completed such as branding and so on that I’m not going to be tied down to the 52 or 360 stuff. I’m just going to be totally random with this project and do something whenever the opportunity arises or when I feel like being creative. Expect some lively stuff though, because I’m likely to be dangerous with a camera that I don’t have to adjust the settings on…quick off the mark and you’ve all been pretty lucky in that sense this far. It will not be a shot a day or a shot a week but then I feel quality is better than quantity – that and having fun!

The images in this post were something that would never have happened without having my phone handy as I simply would not have taken my DSLR out with me when heading out for a coffee with my older kids. So the iPhone saved the day when an impromptu chess session took place in the square in Palmerston North between my daughter Chloe (21 years old) and youngest son Tyler-Leigh (11 years old). This is just one example where given the choice between no images or a few snap shots on a cell phone, I know which option I’d rather take. It puts the whole project into perspective.

I’m loving the apps store at the moment,  I think I own every single camera app on iTunes. No doubt all the measurebators out there will cringe at the thought of a project using such an, “inferior piece of equipment with a ridiculously tiny sensor that could only render utter noisy cr@pola,” but just for once, they can all go take a hike!   

[S]everal weeks ago I was asked to do a pinup shoot the results of which were to be used to produce a canvas for the clients partner for Christmas. I really enjoyed the shoot and everything went well, though we had to switch location as the shoot was meant to be private. When we arrived at the planned location (a garage workshop in Palmerston North) we discovered lots of guys busy working, so we switched location to the old brick Kiln factory on Featherston Street in Palmerston North. The client and I planned the shoot together in one appointment and several emails and she booked to hire a Chevvy Impala from Hotrod Heaven in Palmerston North after we set the date for the 3rd December. I was anticipating an indoor shoot and when the location changed and we headed there I soon discovered that the old brick kiln place was not hidden by hedging or fence frontage anymore. The shoot took an hour or so, and because the location was so open to the road, we literally stopped traffic on Featherston Street. I’m surprised there wasn’t a major accident honestly. This is only my second boudoir shoot or more precisely, this is the very first pinup photography shoot I have done, so I think I did pretty well as did the client. That chevvy is now on Trademe and for sale for anyone who may be interested…it is immaculate and looks gorgeous inside and was still listed the last time that I checked.

Take a look at this lady’s shoes people… honestly I think they must have been 8 inches tall – I don’t know how she managed to walk in them. Shoes seem to be getting taller in the heel. Of course I was in flats, but still managed to sprain my ankles moving around. No joke! I’d have probably killed myself in those things. Gone are the days I could wear anything over a 3″ heel, I think the balls of my feet would be toast! I really put her through the paces too and she was still bearing up in them 1-2 hours later – no complaints. We had so many ideas through the shoot and that car made such a fantastic prop, that I didn’t want to let it go until we had got as many concepts nailed as possible. Not really sure how much Hotrod Heaven charge for ladies to hire these cars out and use them for an hour or so for shoots like this, but the guy is very obliging and very helpful. He drove the car to the original location, and then he was happy to switch and drive it to the new location, and help us out during the shoot where positioning the car was concerned. So if any ladies out there fancy something along similar lines, get in there… Rebekah had her hair and make-up done professionally and it was an excellent job… 50′s hair style and make-up. I am sure this can be organised quite easily for other shoots.

Gorgeous lady, gorgeous car, gorgeous overcast, but sunny day as you can see with all the beautiful clouds as the backdrop to some of the shot’s which gave them a very dreamy 50′s look as it was. Could not have hoped for better! I hope her fiance will be very pleased with the results tomorrow morning when he get’s his pressie! Whilst the client wanted a large canvas, there were four variations of that image she could choose from and many shots from this shoot. so it is relatively easy to create a slideshow to music or a coffee table book with images from such shoots. This would also make a lovely wedding anniversary, wedding, valentines, birthday gift for that man in you’re life ladies.

The last image is the one chosen for a 30″ canvas. This is the black and white grunge version of the image. She also received black and white, selective colour and vintage tint. I just feel images like this are a fantastic way to give the man in you’re life something different – priceless! Done in a classy way I can never see them getting old or dating or looking out of place on anyone’s wall, some 50 years and more from now! If you have something in mind, drop me a line on the contact link above and we’ll chat!