Retro Camera: Fantastic Shots with a Subpar Camera

19 Apr 2011 . category: . Comments

  

You may have noticed I’ve recently uploaded a few pictures to Tumblr. These pictures all have a few things in common: they’ve been taken with my cellphone with an app for Android called Retro Camera. This is part of a challenge to myself, but there are a few rules involved.

I’ve always had a fascination with photography. The idea of using existing light and shadow to capture art is a powerful concept. The art that I want to make when I take photos already exists in the real world. I just need to find it. 

I’m trying to justify buying a nicer camera like a DSLR or a high-end point-and-shoot, but I’m not really convinced that I’ll use it all that much yet. So my challenge to myself is to take photos so that I can select one to share at least 3-5 photos per week. The rules are simple:

1. Photos must be taken with my cellphone camera. This camera is low-fidelity, and has no optical zoom. This limitation forces me to compose shots with subject matter that’s interesting.
2. I must be able to communicate a thought or idea with each photo I take. This keeps me from copping out and taking photos for the sake of it.
3. No food photos. They’re way too easy and I’d rather not eat out that often. :-(
4. If there are people in the shot, it must be candid.

We’ll see how long these rules, and this challenge, last. 

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