"Greg Schmigel with best friend and wife, Suzy. Photo by Sion Fullana, NYC."
Q&A with Greg Schmigel
My name is Greg Schmigel. I am the very young age of 41 years and I live in Arnold, Maryland, a small town between Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland. I was born in Massachusetts, but moved to Maryland at a young age and have lived here ever since. I am married to my best friend, Suzy.
What is your occupation and where do you work?
I work as a graphic designer for CDR Fundraising Group — a direct-response marketing agency which serves national and international Nonprofit organizations.
How long have you been taking photos with the iPhone?
I started shooting with the iPhone shortly after I purchased the original 2G — 4 years ago. I launched my Web site, www.justwhatisee.com, about 3 months there after.
Any other personal things you want to share with the creative community?
I don’t set out to produce art, per se. For me, street photography is more of a personal therapy. There’s something special and unique about shooting street. It’s real. It’s true. It’s slices of life as we see it … and many times, slices of life as the rest of us miss it. I am most happy when capturing these slices of life.
Any contact details, website addresses etc.?
Greg Schmigel
justwhatisee@gmail.com
www.justwhatisee.com
www.twitter.com/justwhatisee
www.flickr.com/photos/50721844@N03/
Why did you start an iPhone photography?
iPhone photography seemed to just ‘happen.’ I purchased my first iPhone about four 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 original minimal 2-megapixel system as an actual camera.
Have you been contacted by anyone at Apple?
A few years ago, I wrote a letter to them, explaining what I was trying to do with the mobile movement and iPhone photography in general. As of yet, I have not been contacted by Apple.
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 an acclaimed staff photographer for the Washington Post. He introduced me to photography and street photography. He’s been an inspiration ever since.
Why street photography?
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.
I have a great admiration for many photographers, both professional and amateur. I would have to say that I admire greatly the works of photographer greats like Garry Winogrand, Lisette Model, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Jules Aarons. But those are people who most of us know. Other inspirational shooters — whom I love to share — include Sion Fullana, Misho Baranovic, Anton Kawasaki, Morgan Miranda, Yves Timmermans and one of my personal favorites, Dominique Jost. Mainly, people are my source of inspiration. Everyday people. The type of people you see on the street or in passing. The perfect stranger.
Do you plan any of your shots?
My shots are not planned or ‘set up’. They are simply slices of life as I see it.
I had purchased an iPhone, for the use of making calls and checking my e-mail. Later, about my second day into getting used to the iPhone, I started to play with the camera and realized that for a 2 megapixel system, it actually took pretty decent photos. I decided to shoot a few pictures, and upload them directly to my Flickr account via the e-mail function of the iPhone. And, needless to say…the idea for an iPhone-only photography project was born. I decided that not only did I want to create an iPhone-only project, but I wanted to create a project that was simple … yet still interesting and unique. The idea of shooting just what I saw on any given day came naturally, as the iPhone is always in my pocket.
Everyone has their own right to their own thoughts and opinions on iPhone photography, digital photography or film photography. And, they’re entitled to their opinions – everyone is. I see other people shooting street photography with big expensive cameras sometimes when I’m out there and I respect that. 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 a famous photographers on my desk and one of my favorites is from Henri Cartier Bresson, “Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important.”
Whether you’re using a DSLR or a simply cameraphone … capture just what YOU see.
I have had the pleasure of meeting some truly talented iPhone photographers whose works inspire me beyond belief. Each month, I showcase some of these iPhone photographers, just as you do, from around the globe to help spread the word about other mobile photographers and the movement. If you’re an iPhone photographer and would like to be featuring in an upcoming artist spotlight, simply e-mail me (3) of your best iPhone shots, and tell me a little bit about yourself. I’ll be in touch to follow up with a mini interview. An make sure to join the e-mail list to receive all of the upcoming artist spotlight showcases.
Uglybaby would like to thank Greg for his contribution.
