Mobile Photography Interview A Day in the Life of Christine O Sobczak a Fine Art Mobile Artist from the United States
Welcome to our very exciting interview column on theappwhisperer.com. This section entitled “A Day in the Life of…” is where we take a look at some hugely influential, interesting, newcomers as well as accomplished individuals in the mobile photography and art world… people that we think you will love to learn more about. This is our 125th interview of the series. If you have missed our previous interviews, please go here.
Today we are featuring fine art mobile photographer, Christine O Sobczak from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.
We are sure you are going to enjoy this, if you would like to take part in our A Day in the Life interview series, please send an email to myself at [email protected] and I will get back to you.
Christine O Sobczak
Contact Details
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
I am a late night person. So, into bed around midnight and then I wake up around 7. Anyone who knows me, knows that my day always begins with my Starbuck’s mocha ( iced, triple shots, decaf, whole milk, no whip ).
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?
Since I consider myself a fine art photographer, I really don’t have a special time of day. However, I do get pulled into street photography at times. The moon, ocean and beautiful clouds, I can’t resist them. The majority of the objects in my images have been photographed by me. I am always aware of the kind of exterior, natural light that I need for clarity and file size when I shoot my material. I am attentive to the type of day, sunny, cloudy, and the light of the season (summer, fall, winter, spring).
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop?
As an older student, after receiving my university degree in fine art/photography, I entered the world of (my terminology) a gallery artist. I worked many years in the traditional darkroom with silver paper which I hand coloured. As the materials for traditional, darkroom images diminished, I knew that I had to enter the digital world. I was going to purchase a professional, digital camera. Somehow, I began looking into mobile photography. The two names that were my first introduction into it were TheAppWhispherer and Daniel Berman.
I remember listening to Joanne interviewing Daniel Berman. I learned about which apps to use from Joanne Carter’s site. I bought a Samsung phone because it offered the highest number of megapixels for file size. I began editing on my first IPad (2). I printed my first manipulated photographs. It was magic, they printed up perfectly, and I was completely converted into mobile photography.
Joanne Carter’s weekly showcases gave me the push to develop my image making. And, I became involved in Roger Guetta’s delightful Abstract site on Facebook.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you like to download new mobile photography and/or art apps regularly?
I am very concerned about how an App affects my file size. So, I do tend to stay with what I know that will allow me to print large images.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
What is your preferred platform, Apple iOS, Android, Windows?
My Samsung Note 5 works for me because it creates large file sizes…And, if I edit a photograph on the phone, it bumps up my file size even larger. I will be purchasing a new smartphone soon. I am open to any one of them. I have tried the new IPhone’s portrait, macro type of lens and it was wonderful. My IPad Pro is my editing tool and I love it.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Would you consider changing platforms and why?
I am more sophisticated since my mobile photography obsession began so I am open to anything better…..
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
How often do you update your existing apps?
I always update my apps after IOS updates….Apple makes the updates very easy. The apps can become quirky if I don’t update them. What are your favourite photography/videography apps and why, what features do you look for in a new app?
The most important thing in an app is does it reduce the file size ! We are or maybe I am in desperate need of an education on boosting file sizes…..
BLENDER because I know how to use it
PHOTO TOASTER, it is disappearing but, it boosts my file sizes like magic
MONOVU, to dull my colours and add texture
MATTER, for alternative subject matter
SKYLAB, to add space elements,
LENS FX, cosmic elements
LENSLIGHT, cosmic elements
SNAPSEED, filters and texture, frames
ICOLORAMA, love tensor and scrape
GLAZE….which I haven’t used for awhile
Newer APPS….
PICSART, many challenges which are fun to take part in !
GHOST LENS , many filters
ADOBE MIX, very new for me
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where’s your favourite place in the world for a shoot and why?
This is really boring….but, I shoot my objects from my front yard….plenty of sunlight, and shadow….depending on what I am looking for… I live near Lake Michigan and it’s cliffs. I love photographing from the cliffs. And, when I am in Florida who would not take advantage of ocean shots?
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where do you like to upload your photographs to?
Flickr and Instagram . Flickr is in flux at this time. I prefer Instagram for that reason. I will have a website this year.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you use your mobile phone everyday to take images?
Yes, there is always something outside that may capture my attention. Or, I have some images that I need to take and stash away for future use.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you like to use external hardware products with your mobile device for image and video capturing, such as lenses, tripods, external storage and battery packs?
I have a serious battery pack for when I travel. I do have a tripod. I do not use any lenses. But, I do plan on taking a serious look at lenses when I purchase a new phone. I bought a Sandisk flash drive for my IPad Pro for storage.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you edit images on your mobile devices or do you prefer to use a desktop or laptop computer?
I only use my phone or IPad for editing. I do not own a laptop or a computer.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where do you envisage your mobile photography passion will take you? Have you been involved with exhibitions?
I am in terrible need of organising myself and my ambitions. There are so/too many possibilities in this new application world, I need to settle myself into a more defined style.
Joanne’s Weekly showcases are a pleasure to find one of my images in. I was very happy to have three images included in Daniel Berman’s, Mobile Photography Awards, as honorable mentions this year. The FIPA award that I received from Andrea Bigiarini was a wonderful surprise…
I have images included on The Photo Review’s website…
Too many places and not enough time to work on images …..
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Where do you see the future of mobile photography?
It will have a permanent place in the world of historic art genres and photography. The creation of the applications, smartphones, and tablets, which made mobile photography possible, is unique unto itself.
We have entered a new era of creating images… I have seen some incredible, sophisticated masters using only these (mobile photography) tools.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?
The separation of mobile photography images into art or street photography was a brilliant distinction. It is inclusive to everyone and both are equally popular…
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
Do you think it is country Specific, are some nations more clued up?
I don’t have a complete grasp on this. I always think that I need to talk to some young, current photography students and understand what they have to say about this. I have felt that it is/was more popular in countries outside of the USA.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
If you could select a specification for a smartphone, what features would you select, photographically speaking?
Large file sizes, and a great night lens….
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
If I had not found Joanne’s website, i would have purchased the professional digital camera. And, I would not have found this style of image making which fits my life’s rhythm perfectly.
I am extremely happy to produce the infinite possibilities of images through the use of Applications….
I learn every day from the global school of excellent image makers that have been gathered together through Joanne Carter and her intelligent, hard work.
Image ©Christine O Sobcszak
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Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter, creator of the world’s most popular mobile photography and art website— TheAppWhisperer.com— TheAppWhisperer platform has been a pivotal cyberspace for mobile artists of all abilities to learn about, to explore, to celebrate and to share mobile artworks. Joanne’s compassion, inclusivity, and humility are hallmarks in all that she does, and is particularly evident in the platform she has built. In her words, “We all have the potential to remove ourselves from the centre of any circle and to expand a sphere of compassion outward; to include everyone interested in mobile art, ensuring every artist is within reach”, she has said. Promotion of mobile artists and the art form as a primary medium in today’s art world, has become her life’s focus. She has presented lectures bolstering mobile artists and their art from as far away as the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea to closer to her home in the UK at Focus on Imaging. Her experience as a jurist for mobile art competitions includes: Portugal, Canada, US, S Korea, UK and Italy. And her travels pioneering the breadth of mobile art includes key events in: Frankfurt, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Paris, Brazil, London. Pioneering the world’s first mobile art online gallery - TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com has extended her reach even further, shipping from London, UK to clients in the US, Europe and The Far East to a global group of collectors looking for exclusive art to hang in their homes and offices. The online gallery specialises in prints for discerning collectors of unique, previously unseen signed limited edition art. Her journey towards becoming The App Whisperer, includes (but is not limited to) working for a paparazzi photo agency for several years and as a deputy editor for a photo print magazine. Her own freelance photographic journalistic work is also widely acclaimed. She has been published extensively both within the UK and the US in national and international titles. These include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Popular Photography & Imaging, dpreview, NikonPro, Which? and more recently with the BBC as a Contributor, Columnist at Vogue Italia and Contributing Editor at LensCulture. Her professional photography has also been widely exhibited throughout Europe, including Italy, Portugal and the UK. She is currently writing several books, all related to mobile art and is always open to requests for new commissions for either writing or photography projects or a combination of both. Please contact her at: [email protected]
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