Abandoned in a Field of Canola by Nancy Thoma
Ken Duquaine
It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that with the technological advancements in cell phone cameras just about everyone today is a photographer. And while it’s easy enough to stand in front of a beautiful scene and flick between the wide, super-wide, and zoomed in lens choices, it’s important to know which one would be the best choice and why. The same applies to the many features that today’s cell phone cameras offer. It requires knowledge of basic photographic principals in order to actually make use of all of the technology that these phones provide. And that’s where we come in.
All of those bells and whistles on cell phones and cameras are there for a reason, and if you’re not using them to your advantage, it’s like owning a sports car that you only drive to church on Sundays. Learning more about the basic fundamentals of photography is the key to turning the advanced technology of modern cell phones into the valuable tool needed to create truly great photos that will stand apart from the rest.
It’s no longer a question of whether cell phones are capable of taking professional level photos. We see examples of that every day. In fact, the photo accompanying this article by EVPC member Nancy Thoma was taken with her iPhone. She has for many years been strictly a cell phone photographer, has won numerous awards with her photos, and up until very recently didn’t even own a regular camera.
The East Valley Photo Club (EVPC) offers many opportunities to learn new techniques and skills as well as ways of looking at the world as a photographer sees it. Every month we have a friendly photo competition that allows all members to share their photos with others, and each provides a valuable learning opportunity regardless of one’s skill level.
Taking great photos today only begins with pushing the shutter button. What we do with that initial photo afterwards is called post-processing and is equal in importance to the taking of the photo. If you’re old enough to remember the film camera, it’s much like looking at what was in those days a negative as opposed to the resulting photo. Post-processing is an essential skill and can be done on a computer, a tablet, or in the phone itself using the apps available. Using post-processing to truly make your photos uniquely yours and stand out with flair is another subject that we enjoy sharing.
If you’re interested in photography, why not join us as a guest for a meeting and find out what we’re all about?
The East Valley Photo Club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Navajo Room of Sun Lakes Country Club from Oct. through April. For more information about the EVPC and its activities call EVPC president Raul Lopez at 408-209-3114, or email rslopez19@comcast.net, or past president Ken Duquaine at 248–342-0790 or email kduquaine@hotmail.com, and visit our website at eastvalleyphotoclub.com.