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iPhoneography : how to create inspiring photos with your smartphone
Clawson M., Apress, New York, NY, 2015. 192 pp. Type: Book (978-1-484217-56-6)
Date Reviewed: Apr 27 2016

iPhoneography “is the process of taking and editing photos exclusively with [an] iPhone or similar device.” Some of us may still remember whiteboards or blackboards with important graphics and text, and clearly visible writing on the board in big block letters: “DO NOT ERASE.” With the advent of digital photography, instant gratification became possible: photos could be taken and (almost) immediately stored in computer systems where they were subsequently edited--if needed--and made available to various users. However, using desktop computers as “the ‘editing’ endpoint,” which is still separated from the initial creative “capturing” process (page 20), in the opinion of the author, “confines our creativity” because keyboard and mouse as input devices are “a barrier for the user.” By using an iPhone or similar device, photographers can “shoot, edit, process, and share their creations within minutes” (page 29).

Many iPhone owners are not complete beginners: for example, they already may have read or browsed through the description of the basics of iPhoneography (without using the name) in [1]. A reader who is rather initiated or becomes more initiated after reading this book may want to consult [2] (where the authors compile “intense tutorials” from 45 contributors) or [3] to take even more inspiring photos.

Clawson starts his book with a well-written and richly illustrated history--from Digital Darkroom on the early Macs, through Photoshop and the first digital cameras, and then on to iPhones and the App Store, which “changes everything.” Then, in chapter 4, “A New Art Form is Born,” he demonstrates several nice and interesting examples of his own photos shot and edited on an iPhone using various photo apps. Chapter 5 is about tools, tricks, and techniques for creative iPhoneography, with a description of methods and rules, as well as of shooting, editing, and special effects apps, starting with the iPhone’s native Camera app (for iOS 9) and including some popular third-party apps. A lot of fascinating examples are used for illustration. In the next chapter, “Seeing Beyond Your Vision,” the author encourages experiments to an even greater extent than in the earlier chapters; describes in detail three touch experiments (portrait editing, layering, and painterly approach); and shows quite a few additional very nice examples, properly noting that “mistakes are gifts since [they lead] to a path of creative understanding.” In the final chapter 7, “Connecting with the Community,” Clawson provides a very helpful overview and recommendations for the use of photo-sharing services and networks. The appendix presents a table of about 300 additional recommended apps with a few words about each, including information about the developer and the site where the app for iOS (and, for some of them, for Android) can be downloaded. A four-page index is also provided.

Regretfully, the book has annoying typographical errors in the early chapters, such as: “duel floppy drive” (on a Mac SE) (page xvii), “the brother’s changed the program’s name” (page 5), “wikepedia” (page 10), and “choose black-and-white film verses color film” (page 17).

The author observes on page 67 that at the time of writing his book, the number of photo and video apps for iPhone exceeded 12,000. He presents and recommends the best of them, but the situation changes rapidly and it would be very valuable for the reader to find out what characteristics one should look for when searching for the most appropriate among the existing apps, and how one could compare them.

Reviewer:  H. I. Kilov Review #: CR144361 (1607-0496)
1) Pogue, D. iPhone: the missing manual. O'Reilly Media, Sebastopol, CA, 2013.
2) Weil, B.; Fitz-Gerald, N. The art of iPhone photography: creating great photos and art on your iPhone. Rocky Nook, Santa Barbara, CA, 2013.
3) Morrissey, R. iPhoneography pro: techniques for taking your iPhone photography to the next level. Amherst Media, Buffalo, NY, 2015.
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