ReadysetDC A CREATIVE URBAN ENTERPRISE

Words w/ Greg Schmigel [iPhone Shooter]

Reported by Tracy

There’s something special and unique about shooting street.  It’s real.  It’s true slices of life as we see it, and many times slices life as the rest of us miss it.

I’ll admit it, when I first purchased my iPhone a little over a year ago; I told myself I wouldn’t have much use for the camera. I thought iPhone photography was beneath me. I also said a couple years back that I would never buy digital music, and would stay true to CD’s. I was wrong. I’ve converted.

Many photographers brag about what’s in their camera bag, an array of lenses, filters, flashes, light meters, SD cards. Not Greg Schmigel. Greg ditched his DSLR and goes street using the iPhone as his weapon of choice.

TC: How’d you get started in photography?

GS: I’ve always liked photography from a viewing perspective.  That is, admiring other people’s work.  But I didn’t really get started with creating photography until six or seven years ago.  I would have to give credit to a very close friend, Ricky Carioti, who is a staff photographer for the Washington Post.  He introduced me to photography and street photography.  He’s been an inspiration for quite a while.

TC: Why iPhone photography?

GS: iPhone photography seemed to just ‘happen.’  I purchased my first iPhone about three years ago for the purpose of using it as a ‘phone’.  But after experimenting with the original iPhone camera app I started to see potential in using it’s minimal 2mb system as an actual camera.

TC: C’mon you do at times shoot with a DSLR, right? Do you even own one?

GS: As of this minute, no.  I recently sold my DSLR, a Nikon D80.  After I started shooting more and more with the iPhone, my DSLRs started to collect dust.  I wanted to commit to pure iPhone photography – it was time to kick the DSLR habit.  Besides my iPhone, I’ve got a collection of old box cameras…but they haven’t been off the shelf lately either.

TC: Why street photography?

GS: Street photography has always been my favorite style of photography.  I have a great respect for all types of work, but there’s something special and unique about shooting street.  It’s real.  It’s true slices of life as we see it, and many times slices life as the rest of us miss it.  Over the past few years, I’ve done sports photography and a couple weddings as well.  But those were jobs.  Street photography, or ‘life photography’, is more of a passion and therapy for me.

TC: What makes a great street photograph?

GS: People.

TC: What do you say to those critics that turn their nose up at iPhone photographers?

GS: Well, with any passion you pursue, there will always be others who take a different approach to the same passion.  And at times, these other folks may decide that in order to accomplish a particular goal, you’ve got to adhere to a strict set of rules.  In my case, these would be the purists, who refuse to accept cellular photography as an art form.  They’re entitled to their opinions – and that’s fine – everyone is.  I see other people shooting street photography with big expensive cameras sometimes when I’m out there.  But I really believe that about 80% of photography is about what the photographer sees.  Your choice of camera makes up for the rest. I keep a couple quotes from famous photographers on my desk and one of my favorites is from Henri Cartier Bresson states,“Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important.”

TC: What’s your favorite place in DC to shoot?

GS: Wow, that’s a tough call, there are so many…but I’ve definitely got a soft spot for the U Street Corridor, H Street, Union Market off of New York Avenue and of course, Chinatown.

TC: Has anyone ever reacted to you taking their photo?

GS: Actually, in the past few years that I’ve been shooting with my iPhone, I’ve never really had anyone react negatively.  I’ve definitely gotten some stares, but no real reactions.

TC: Is there one photograph in particular that your proud of?

GS: There are a few shots that I have taken that I like, but I don’t think I have taken my favorite photo yet.

TC: You describe your photography as “life photography” tell me more about that.

GS: I guess by definition, my photography would fall into the street photography genre…but I’ve always thought it was missing something to meet the true criteria.  I simply love to capture life, in public, as I see it.  That’s how Just What I See came about – a true definition of my photos – just what I see, on any given day.

TC: What do you love about DC?
 

GS: DC is a great city.  It’s different, in fact, it’s a lot different than most other cities.  New York’s totally got it’s own thing going on, Baltimore’s got it’s own flavor…and just the same for DC, it’s a completely unique culture and lifestyle.  I grew up close-by, in PG County, and have called the DC-area my home for my entire life.  DC’s probably the best place to come for art, history and culture.  Come on…where else can you walk into a national art museum for free, 364 days per year?

TC: What do you hate about DC?

GS: There’s a speed camera on New York Avenue just north of Florida Avenue, by Union Market.  Get’s me every time.  I think I’ve personally funded the maintenance on those cameras.  But that’s really the only thing.

TC: Is there a place in DC you go to for inspiration?

GS: Where ever there are people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can keep up with Greg through his Web site, Twitter and Flickr.