7 Reasons Why the iPhone 6 is My Camera of Choice

I know that this is probably shunned by many professional and semi-professional photographers alike. I can even hear my own friends teasing me from behind the shadow of my words. I think it’s time I come out of the closet.

I love taking pictures on my iPhone 6.

Please allow me to put in a disclaimer here. I have full intentions of purchasing the Sony a7ii. I also have a a so-called, “real camera”. I just know that I will always secretly hold onto my iPhone 6 with a quiet passion.

Let me explain the 7 reasons why my iPhone 6 just makes me happy.

7. Sharing is Caring

My friends, today’s world is all about sharing. We are the selfie generation, and unless you are putting your head in the sand, you have been posting pictures in Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, and other social media platforms.

How quick is the iPhone in uploading these images? As quick as you are in taking them!

With the Internet on hand, there is no need to wait to get home, load the image on your computer, and then post to your favourite platform of choice. You have EVERYTHING that you could possibly need on one devise. And, let’s face it, sometimes speed does count.

Q&A with Jason Botkin from the EN MASSE project: Black and White Photography Meets Art

Wonderful Montreal has one of the best subway systems in Canada. I suppose this is arguable because I have not ridden on all of them. But I promise, Montreal’s Metro certainly beats Toronto’s TTC, hands down.

One summer day, almost 4 years ago, while riding the Metro (and in the middle of an awesome daydream), I noticed that I had missed my stop! Always seizing an opportunity to snap more pictures, I decided to get off at the next one, and walk it. Little did I know it then, it would prove to be a wonderful mistake as I was about to encounter EN MASSE, art with complete attitude and a total unique style.

Rubber Duckie; Montreal, Canada (artist credit; En Masse)

I was so happy when Jason Botkin agreed to allow me to interview him! As cofounder of EN MASSE, I was immediately drawn to his creativity and vision.

iLHP: Let me start by saying that I have been a huge supporter and fan from when I first discovered your work outside of the Ste. Laurent Metro station!  I truly have been a loyal follower ever since.  Could you please tell us about yourself?

EN MASSE: Well, thank you so much!  I’ve been addicted to pushing charcoal and ink across paper, panels, walls, anything really, for a long time now.  I was born in Denver, Colorado in 1974, and then lived in Winnipeg from 1980-1992.  After high school I then headed west, picking up a BFA (drawing major) with honors from the Alberta College of Art and Design (in Calgary, Canada).

For just over a decade now I’ve called Mount Real (Montreal) home.  I divide my time between a personal practice and as the co-founder and director of the EN MASSE project, a highly engaging series of multi-artist-experimental-large-scale-black-and-white-collaborative-drawing explorations.

My Quest For The Sony A7ii

Tis the season, to be sure. I figure as an amateur photographer, I need to embrace my own limitations, and put out some lofty, yet courageously brave goals for the new year…

A Sony A7ii

For some, it’s candy….

Eye Candy at Sugar Mountain, Toronto, Canada

For me? Well, I would just LOVE it if someone at Sony is reading this right now, and believes I would do a wonderful job at critiquing their new camera! Uh huh – I would be THAT gal. The one who gets to test it; try it out; and write all about my adventures with this amazing device! I told you I had some big ideas! This is just one of them.

My 10 Favorite Instagramers in 2014

I attribute most of my successes as a photographer to photo-sharing on Instagram.  It was Instagram that inspired me to begin taking photos and share them with like-minded individuals while I was living in Paris.  Instagram helped me grow as a photographer and inspired me to want to take better photos.  When I look back to my earlier pictures I have to laugh at the images I posted and the ridiculous way I chose to edit them.  Many are overly saturated, processed with multiple filter overlays and covered in highly unrealistic effects.  I have often thought about going back and deleting my earlier photos due to embarrassment.  However, I always opt not to,  so I can look back to see how far I have come since my first Instagram post roughly two years ago.

It was through this growing process that just over a year ago, I purchased my first DSLR with the intention of learning how to correctly use it.  Unlike other of my past cameras, where I shot solely in automatic.

It was through Instagram where I have met many fantastic photographers from Toronto.  Some with similar interests and others that have inspired me to try and explore new genres.  My fellow local Instagramers have taught me new photography skills and been supportive since we have become acquainted.

I have continued to use Instagram as a photo sharing outlet as well as expanded to other social networking sites.  I owe my successes such as writing for iILP, showcasing my works at exhibitions, having my work published and selling my images to photography enthusiasts whom wish to hang my photos on their walls all to Instagram.

Here are my top 10 favorite Instagramers in no particular order:

Q&A with Landscape Photographer Patrick Colpron, aka @CandidCameraMan

I think that the reason my passion for photography developed so greatly and quickly was due to photo sharing on Instagram. I had recently switched from a Blackberry to an iPhone and was thrilled to finally download the Instagram app. I saw so many iPhone users post images on Instagram and share on Facebook.

I started primarily following Instagrammers from the Paris area that shot similar images like myself.  When I knew I was moving back to Toronto I began following people from the Toronto area as well.  One of my favourite photographers I came across was Patrick Colpron, commonly known on Instagram as CandidCameraMan.  When I arrived back in Toronto I reached out to Patrick and asked if he wanted to shoot together sometime.  I never thought he would respond nor agree to meet up.  He gracefully accepted.  From that point on we met on several occasions to shoot around the city, sometimes just a few of us and other times in rather large groups.

Patrick has always been very helpful and willing to share his tricks and techniques.  For those of you who don’t know him, we thought it would be nice to introduce him to our iLHP readers.