Phoneography Challenge, the Phone as Your Lens: Macro (Everyday Objects)

10 March 2014

Lens:

1. Stainless Steel Sponge, iPhone 4s, March 2014; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2014

2. Stainless Steel Sponge, iPhone 4s, March 2014; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2014

3. Stainless Steel Sponge, iPhone 4s, March 2014; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2014

4. Stainless Steel Sponge, iPhone 4s, March 2014; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2014

Let me know which you prefer and why.

Pens: My frustration level heightened. The more that I delved into the current evolution of photography, the more that I remain puzzled about the verbiage for the challenge’s new title.

After last week’s post the consensus swirled around the title that most of us elected: Photography Challenge, Using Nontraditional Digital Devices as Your Lens. It seems an apt choice.

As I read about terminology that current photographers and sites use, these can be found: iPhoneography is hot; Mobile photography is hot; Phoneography is hot; Photography remains and always will be hot. So I’ve come up with another suggestion: Photography Challenge, Using  Mobile Non-SLR Digital Devices as Your Lens.

Photography will continue to blend computers, the Internet and cellphones. It is  anyone’s educated guess how future technologies will morph and prevail as innovations are carved into our lives.

Now I’m tossing two choices into the arena for your response. Please select the one that you prefer, or make another suggestion. I’m certainly open to continue this conversation.

1. Photography Challenge, Using Nontraditional Digital Devices as Your Lens

2. Photography Challenge, Using Mobile Non-SLR Digital Devices as Your Lens

So I’m feeling better, because these two seem to reflect more of the current and future wave of technology that is not SLR based. As always I welcome your comments and suggestions. It’s never over until the collective “we” are satisfied with the challenge’s new title.

Now today’s challenge: Everyday objects fill considerable mental space as I consider aesthetics and design in my life. I am a visual thinker and tinkerer, and what surrounds me is paramount to my well-being.

As I was contemplating the subject of my next photo shoot, the perfect plaything popped into sight as I meandered through display shelves at a local paper and kitchen store. A spherical 3 1/2″ stainless steel sponge simply made its way into my hand. I floated with enthusiasm, wanting to see the way the light cast upon an object found at the kitchen sink.

Stainless Steel Sponge, 3 1/2;” Google Images

I was drawn to the interwoven web of stainless steel where hard and soft converged into ribbon-like coils that sat in concentric circles. How would the light intrude upon this utilitarian scrubby? How would it filter through the dense tensile strength?

Objects seen through a macro lens often flip in perception. That reversal is like turning a page in a book, because that action often reveals a plot twist and unveils characteristics of the familiar and unfamiliar.

When this switch occurs, new words enter the psyche. They proceed to relate a different story, for example, about an everyday object’s hidden elements. That’s a key reason that macro is such an arresting genre of photography. Surprise and wonder always become part of the process of its effectiveness.

During the photo shoot I had the idea to pull and tug at the sponge, elongating the coils and adding more opportunity for light to accentuate its design. Macro also offers the chance to appreciate the engineering of an object. The mid-day sunlight was beaming its way through my set-up, and I moved the sponge into position to take advantage of the natural light’s brilliance.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, it’s particularly important in Smartphone macro photography to turn off the flash. Natural light is the optimum choice.

The elasticity of the coils made it easy and difficult to stretch its body into other shapes, because it kept returning to a slight likeness of its former self. Still, light traveled its journey, and patterns appeared.

In the Lens section is the result of my efforts. The four images represent the design elements rendered by the intertwining ribbon-like coils. Image two and three are the same image. Image two was taken in Camera +, and the third was processed in Photo Studio.

This experiment proves that the everyday is really so much more. The everyday is a wonderland of discovery that inspires noticing the unnoticed.

Tip of the Week: I’d like to introduce you to Scoop.it!–a site devoted to building “engaged audiences through publishing by curation.” Yes, I got scooped by curator Arcangel. He selected my Photograph #4 from my 03 March post, and it can be found in Scoop.it’s iPhoneography section (04 March). Click here to view. Mostly, I was charmed by the site, and its wealth of information, sources and especially tutorials. I encourage you to browse through its treasure trove of offerings.  

Scoop.it!

View other entries to today’s challenge:

http://irisgreenwald.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-monday-challenge-nature/

http://pictograf.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-challenge-macro/

http://irenewaters19.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-monday-and-macro-monday/

http://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-challenge-macro-milkweed/

http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-challenge-macro-in-red/

http://irisgreenwald.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-monday-challenge-macro/

http://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/the-cute-wisdom/

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-challenge-macro-4/

http://blogagaini.com/2014/03/10/green-and-orange/

http://steve-says.net/2014/03/10/what-time-is-it-its-ten-to-spring/

http://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-macro-nature-images-and-opinion/

http://helpalongthepath.com/2014/03/10/latch-phoneography-challenge/

http://nwframeofmind.com/2014/03/10/iphone-monday-3-10-14/

http://fontsandfrosting.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-challenge-macro/

http://firebonnet.com/2014/03/10/phoneography-macro-bouquet-central/

http://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/phoneography-challenge-the-phone-as-your-lens-macro-2/

http://livingwithmyancestors.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/phoneography-challenge-the-phone-as-your-lens-macro/

http://thepalladiantraveler.com/2014/03/12/photography-macro-foodie-pizza-weekly-phoneography-challenge/

http://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/phoneography-challenge-macro-2/

http://wisnuwidiarta.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/phoneography-challenge-the-phone-as-your-lens-macro-a-bugs-life/

http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2014/03/15/turning-the-lens-on-my-kitchen/

http://19planets.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/flute-and-stone-003-march-2014-haigahaibun-for-the-phoneography-challenge-macro/

http://uniquesochic.com/2014/03/15/spring-florals-iphoneography-challenge/

http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/black-and-white/

Note: As always I welcome any comment about this post or any part of my blog.

If you’d like to join the fun, please click here for details. If you have any questions about the Phoneography Challenge, please contact me.

Below is a reminder of the monthly schedule with themes for upcoming Phoneography Challenges:

1st Monday: Nature

2nd Monday: Macro

3rd Monday: Black and White

4th Monday Challenger’s Choice (Pick One: Abstraction, Animals, Architecture, Food Photography, Night Photography, Objects, Portraiture, Still Life, Street Photography, and Travel). (Animals and Objects are themes.)

5th Monday: Editing and Processing with Various Apps Using Themes from the Fourth Week (31 March 2014 will be the first challenge for this new theme).