Annual iPhone Photowalk — iPhone 15 Pro

Those who know me have seen my iPhone photowalks every year since iPhone 5. While some might argue each iPhone is merely a “minor upgrade” from year to year, I beg to differ. Every year I find new and incredible changes to the camera in iPhone. Some years are bigger than others—one that comes to mind is iPhone 6.

iPhone 6 had such a great change in the quality of the camera, I still measure output of mobile device camera’s against it. Perhaps it was the lens, or the sensor, or a combination of both. Perhaps iOS and those hardware features serendipitously made for an outstanding union. Either way, iPhone 6, iPhone X, iPhone 12 Pro, were devices with cameras that stood out to me.

View fullsize

Grasshopper Portrait

No, Grasshopper Portrait is not from this year’s iPhone 15 Pro, or last year’s iPhone, or that of the year before. Grasshopper Portrait is from iPhone 6—approaching nine years ago on a “measly” 8 megapixel camera. No special processing, no AI generating-whatever, no machine learning super resolution—just a good camera (and a good photographer, I like to think).

“A camera alone only captures light. Through skillful manipulation does that light become cinematography.”

— Adrian’s Life Rule #69

There is no denying that technology has evolved since then. iPhone 15 Pro is no different in its evolution but with new lenses, new sensors, new processing, I’ve rarely been as impressed with what I’ve been able to achieve with a mobile device camera as with iPhone 15 Pro.

This isn’t a review or a sales pitch, but a sampling of photos I have created using my iPhone 15 Pro over the past few weeks. From Chicago to Italy, I’ll let the image stand on their own.

Italy: Lucca, Bologna, Firenze

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Chicago, USA

September — A Year in Photographs — Light and Shadow

Photography means ‘photo,’ light, and ‘graphy,’ writing—writing with light. Black and white is also my favorite form reducing imagery down to shapes and patters. And there are fewer better times of year than September in Chicago for amazing light and shadows.

Striking blackness and sharp whiteness of sunlight or a flash splashing across cement or brick, making for dramatic contrast catches the attention of anyone who can see.

September is a tribute to the most basic of concept of photography—photographing simply how light plays against its opposite of shadow.

August — A Year in Photographs — Lego Adventures

A favorite toy of mine as a child was Lego. Countless hours of construction, play, destruction, and reconstruction took me on adventures to the past, future, mythological, and science fiction. I’d wager part of my love of filmmaking steps from creating worlds and journeys with my Legos.

Earlier this year, March specifically, I spent a month of #AYearinPhotographs doing some of my favorite work in macro photography and was sad when the month was over. I wanted to continue doing more macro photography but it is a rule of #AYearinPhotographs that I can not repeat a theme in a single year. But I couldn’t help but be drawn back to doing some macro work—enter, Lego.

Lego Adventures evolved from both my childhood love of miniature fun and joined my love of macro photography. Most of these were shot using a Laowa 15mm ƒ4 Macro lens—a bizarre but amazingly fun lens with which to photograph. You can focus so closely that your subject is just about touching the front element. On the other hand, a more cinematic look sometimes is best and such a Fujinon 80mm ƒ2.8 Macro lens joined the fun.

From wizards to astronauts, location shoots and home-built sets, August is a tribute to one of the best toys ever invented.