Featured iPhographer Fiona Conrad

Fiona Conrad

iPhography: What got you into iPhography?
Fiona: Before owning an iPhone, I enjoyed snapping pictures with my very basic point-and-shoot camera. I initially got an iPhone for my job (as I work for an iPhone games publisher). What I hooked immediately was the connectivity - most of my family and friends live in France, so being able to instantly share with them random moments of my life, despite the distance and time difference - that hooked me. Then I started playing around with various photo apps, which really stimulated my creativity. I love the unique way the iPhone camera captures light and colours. I found that the camera’s limitations - the lack of zoom for example - has actually pushed me be more to be more creative and improved my eye for composition. When I started sharing my pictures to a larger audience through twitter, the feedback I got from other iPhographers was unexpected and very stimulating, especially coming from professional photographers.

iPhography: What is it that you are trying to achieve with your iPhography?
Fiona: I don’t have any training in photography or art in general. iPhography to me is an amazing way to express my creativity, document my life in NY and share it with my family & friends back home. Right now I’m just looking to have fun and keep sharing my photos with more people.

iPhography: A lot of street iPhographers tend to focus on the gritty slightly seedy or depressing side of things, but I have noticed with your shots there seems to be a sense of joy & humour to them. What inspires you & how do you decide on your subject matter?
Fiona: A friend recently told me that my photos are “little snacks for the happy parts of your brain: lots of little goodies to enjoy slowly” - I like that :) I look for atmospheres and people that inspire me… Most people don’t suspect that the device has a built-in camera, so it’s great for candid shots on the streets. I love composing with shapes, colours, lights… I never run out of inspiration on the streets of NYC. When I feel creative, the urban landscape becomes a playground for my eyes. My mother is a textile designer, so I think I got her eye for textures, patterns and composition - as well as her joyful outlook on life :)

iPhography: What is your average shooting day like, what accessories or apps do you use? Do you use desktop apps & if so, can you tell us a bit about your process?
Fiona: There’s no process, just a feeling :) I simply capture moments wherever I am. My favourite photo apps are CameraBag, Lomo, Polarize, Photogene, ShakeItPhoto.

iPhography: There has been a few changes with the latest iPhone 3GS, but what would you wish for in a future iPhone?
Fiona: I would love to make higher res images to get better quality prints.

iPhography: What do you like most & least about the iPhone you are using & what model do you have?
Fiona: I love my iPhone 3G but I’d like to try the features on the 3GS camera.

iPhography: What do you see in the future of the iPhography movement?
Fiona: I am sure it will keep growing. I’m amazed and inspired by the community that has developed around iPhography. I would love to see an iPhography exhibit here in NYC, featuring the work of various iPhographers - it would be a great way to feature individual artists as well as the community that grew around it. Hopefully I could be a part of it :)

[Editor] - hint hint, keep your eye out for a future iPhography exhibition… I say no more :)

iPhography: Is there anything you would like to tell our readers?
Fiona: Keep shooting, sharing and having fun! If you like these photos, feel free to check out my picasa gallery, Twitter, & I also recently joined posterous and flickr

Thanks to Fiona for taking the time to share with us her iPhography.

If an of you know of other iPhographers that we should feature, feel free to contact us