The past 12 months have been a fantastic journey. Along the way I have had the privilege of meeting many talented mobile photographers and have been inspired by so many more.
As we approach the festive season I thought it would be interesting to invite 24 mobile photographers who have inspired and supported me in one way or another and ask them to offer an insight into their photography, to reflect on their year gone by or plans for the coming year ahead.
Each day until Christmas Eve we will be featuring one photographer in a sort of online advent calendar so to speak.
Today’s featured photographer is Mohsen Chinehkesh.
Mohsen has a beautiful style of street photography that features heavy contrasts between strong sunlight and dark shadows whilst lone figures pass through the frame. His work has been featured in several ‘Capturing the Moment’ showcases and he has also been the subject of Mark T Simmon’s superb, ‘The Photo I am Most Proud of‘ series.
My top tips or words of wisdom for aspiring mobile photographers or artists are…
There are so many tips and tricks which can be discussed about mobile photography but I prefer to go for something more basic and more essential and if I want to state it very concisely I would say try to move from MOBILE photography toward mobile PHOTOGRAPHY! Learning tones of tips and tricks about whatever tool you use just can help you take a better picture but photography is a not just about taking good pictures.
The true power of photography lies within photographer’s eyes and mind. A professional tool for photography is the one which best allows the photographer to turn what he sees into what he thinks.
For me an iPhone does the job but it might not do so for everyone. So you might want to reconsider using a mobile phone as your photography tool. If you find yourself trying to compete with DSLRs, for instance, you’re definitely on the wrong way. True photographers embrace all the limits of their chosen tools and moreover turn them into a part of their creative work. In case you chose mobile phone as your photography tool, there is no rule that you have to restrict yourself to mobile photography sources and networks. Ansel Adams said “I trust that the creative eye will continue to function, whatever technological innovations may develop.”
You can learn from all the creative eyes of the photography history, no matter what tool they have used. And whatever tool you use, you need to have a creative eye.
Connect with Mohsen Chinehkesh
IG | EyeEm | Backspaces | Flickr | FB | [email protected]
Congratulations! Such fabulous and very wise words too!
Congratulations Mohsen – great interview.
Congrats Mohsen. Wise words indeed! I love the imperfections found in photos taken with an iPhone – for me they are more interesting, more earthy and real which is why I have been drawn to using an iPhone as my tool for capturing moments!
Congratulations Mohsen! Embrace the limitations and be creative. Absolutely!
“there is no rule that you have to restrict yourself to mobile photography sources and networks.” Well said, my favourite site is Flickr mainly because of the diverse amount of photographers with so many inspiring creative outlooks to photography. Using every tool possible! Thanks for a great read.
Stunning image choice here. Your advice is spot on Mohsen, tools are tools, it’s the eye that counts. I agree with Paula too, the diversity of images to be found on Flickr is amazing. It’s certainly where I find myself more and more these days.
Congrats, Mohsen. Great words. The creative eye and mind is a truly wonderful thing to explore – both those of others and one’s own.
Love what you’ve written here mate. Couldn’t agree more. I especially love what you say about learning to use and exploit the limitations of whatever tool/medium you are using. Otherwise, Paula and Lee just above have otherwise said well what I was thinking.
Congrats on the piece and thanks for the wise words so nicely put together.