Rick Thompson is a SaddleBrooke Ranch resident and is a credentialed photographer with the United States Air Force. Rick is based at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
Rick Thompson
One of the most frequent questions I get is, “I want a new camera, what should I buy?” It’s a very legitimate question but the answer may be you don’t need a new camera. Perhaps you just need to upgrade your skills. Or maybe buy a new phone.
The good news is that AI technology in photography is coming on strong and at lightning speed. The quality of photographs coming out of late model phones is pretty outstanding. iPhones and their counterparts are no longer just communication devices where you check into a hotel or get a boarding pass. The new phones have incredible low-light camera performance and have features that rival professional grade camera bodies.
Professional photographers many times subscribe to professional photography specific websites that specialize in how to use new iPhones and showcase new features and software. The results are nothing short of spectacular.
If the truth be known, many of us professional photographers use their phones for photographing scouting trips to measure light or special circumstances, when we can’t take our larger camera bodies into an event, or when we want to be inconspicuous.
Don’t be turned off by the price of a new iPhone. You are paying for new AI technology; both camera technology and communications technology. For example, with the new iPhone 16 max pro (which I highly recommend) you can take a phone call using 5G cellular, Wi-Fi, and if neither of those two channels are available, you can utilize the satellite option. This phone came in real handy for those stranded in the Carolinas during the recent hurricane. They had no power and no cell coverage so they relied on the phone’s satellite capabilities. They could also take photos at night without a flash.
So what do the pros know about producing those “National Geographic” photo shots? Here are some ideas:
1. Being in focus is not the same as being sharp. Photo editors always toss photos that are not sharp.
2. Sometimes the lighting is right but the subject is not. The opposite is true as well.
3. Choose the scene first, then the subject, then the light.
4. If your energy level is low or you don’t feel well, your pictures will reflect that.
5. Energy creates energy when dealing with people and your pictures will reflect that too.
6. Don’t take photos just to document something (like your vacation). Be creative.
7. Failure is an integral part of success so keep shooting!
Caption: Rick Thompson is a SaddleBrooke Ranch resident and is a credentialed photographer with the United States Air Force. Rick is based at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.