You probably heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”; it means that a picture tells a story just as well as a large amount of descriptive text. Most of us didn’t really think of it that way just like most of us don’t really use our iPhone camera to take extraordinary artistic pictures either. Today I want to talk to you about the work of Sion Fullana, a journalist and filmmaker who has a true passion for photography. Fillana used his iPhone 3G to capture priceless moments of the city he currently resides, New York City. Let’s keep in mind that the iPhone 3G has a 2 mega pixel camera integrated.

With Fullana’s agreement, I have posted few of his amazing artistic captures in this post followed by an interview I have documented. Enjoy!

Q1- Tell us a little bit about you Sion?

I’m originally from Majorca (Spain) and I lived in Barcelona, Cuba and New York, where I’m currently since 2006. I was a journalist and a filmmaker, but as soon as I landed in NYC, my true passion for photography was born and grew to became my current path and what I want to do for a living.

Q2- Which iPhone do you own at the moment?

My first (and current) iPhone was a 3G, but now that my commitment contract is over, I might switch to a 3Gs. I’m very curious about the possibilities of doing short films shot with only Phone video.

Q3- For how long have you been taking pictures with your iPhone?

Since day one. My boyfriend Anton got it to me on my 32nd birthday (in July 2008) and I immediately fell in love with iPhone photography. Once I started, there was no possible way back! So it’s been a year and a half now.

Q4- What pushed you to start taking pictures with the iPhone?

I immediately realized of the potential of the phone for a more artistic feel in the photos you can take with it under appropriate circumstances. And it’s a tool you have always with you, as opposed to a camera that you don’t always carry. So it’s always available.

Q5- Why do you take pictures with your iPhone?

In one way, like I said, because of the more artsy feel the photos have. But also because it allows you to be more discreet when taking street photography, my favorite photo genre. I would have to say now that one of the reasons I’m deeply passionate about iPhone photography is that it has brought me everything I have accomplished so far, and as one of the pioneers of the movement known as iPhoneography, I think it’s my duty to keep pushing the envelope to further and support this tendency. Not to mention the big joy I get out of it. It’s like medicine, to be able to capture beautiful moments of life at any moment, night or day, when they come your way.

Q6-Do you prefer taking portrait or scenery picture?

I would consider myself an urban photographer, but as a journalist, I focus more on “real life” and the people on the streets, rather than landscape or urban details. So yes, candid photos of people and portraits are my favorite style.

Q7-Have you used other mobile phones to take pictures?

I used to have an old Panasonic cell phone that got lost. I took a few photos with it, but the quality was nowhere to be found compared with what any good cell phone can get now.

Q8- How would you rate the iPhone camera (on a scale of 10) compared to other mobile phones?

I haven’t tried some of the other most used cell phones for photography, so I can’t judge properly on that. But if I have to rate the iPhone camera by its own merits, I would give it an 8 out of 10.

Q9- Would you change anything to make the iPhone camera better?

I wish it wasn’t as hard to perform with it at night. I have taken some great night photos, but it’s then that the results become the most artistic, and less faithful to reality. It’s hard to get sharpness or contrast when the light is not good. However, that is also one of the strongest pluses of the iPhone (in good light conditions, what you can get is stunning!). I think I would like to see them keep on working to give the user some more control (like the ability to shoot black and white or color from the camera, regulate contrast and exposure in some way, etc.).

Q10- Do you use the build camera application or you installed another one from the Apple Store like Camera Genius for example?

Never used Camera Genius. I work with several apps to shoot and/or process. In order from most to less used: VintB&W, Camera Bag, Shake It! and CinemaFx.

Q11- Can you give us tips on how to use the iPhone camera to its fullest potential?

The essential trick is this: keep a VERY steady hand while you shoot, and make sure the light is strong enough so your photo won’t have as much unwanted blur. Always try to tilt and position the phone until you get what seems to be the best possible light (most of the time, a single variation of the angle in which you frame before shooting can change radically the exposure and the white balance). One of my favorite things to experiment with is panning shots (for subjects in motion). The trick here is to follow with your arm the subject of the
photo, at the same speed he/she/it is moving, after you release the finger to snap the shot. The apps that use a slower shutter (like some of the ones I mentioned above) can work in your advantage when you try this, more than the default camera. Overall, I would say “Shoot at everything and everyone, keep trying different angles, don’t be afraid to get down on your knees to get an interesting perspective from below, be aware of your surroundings and look carefully for great details or people’s actions around you, and the most important thing of all… always have fun!”.

Credits go to Sion Fullana, please do not copy these pictures posted without proper authorization from the artist.

Visit Sion Fullana’s website here

Visit Sion Fullana’s Flickr album here