A Day In The Life Of The Talented And Motivational Mobile Photographer Bob Sprankle
Welcome to our very exciting new column on theappwhisperer.com. This section entitled ‘A day in the life of …’ is where we’ll be taking a look at some hugely influential, interesting and accomplished individuals in the mobile photography world. People that we think you will love to learn more about.
This is the twenty fifth installment of the series; you can read the others here, if you have missed any so far. Today we are featuring Bob Sprankle, educator, presenter, writer, and very talented mobile photographer based in Wells, Maine USA. When he’s not implementing technology training for teachers in schools, Bob is an serious photography enthusiast. He started with film at college; printing and developing in darkrooms then later moving to and embracing the freedom of digital and photoshop and more recently, mobile photography.
Bob doesn’t usually keep a note of his workflow and the apps used therein, but he regularly uses Snapseed and more recently iPhoto (the app, as opposed to the desktop program) for post production.
Check out the full interview below…
We have included the app or apps that were used to create the final image, and as many of the images were cross processed we have listed the apps in the sequential order they were used in the editing process. We have also provided links for each app to the iTunes App Store, just incase you’re inspired enough to try them out for yourself as well as accessories used.
You can find all the links at the end of this article.
(If you would like to be interviewed for our new ‘A day in the life of …’ section, just send an email to Joanne@theappwhisperer.com, and we’ll get it set up.)
First Things First…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘All Aboard’.
JC – Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
BS – For some reason, my day usually starts with me waking up. It’s weird. It’s been happening my entire life, every morning. I’m not sure what to do about the problem.
Magic Hour…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Jumper (final take)’.
JC – Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?
BS – No. I seek coffee before art. Photos happen throughout the day, when something catches my eye.
Photographer vs Mobile Photographer…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Big Coffee’.
JC – How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop?
BS – I always have my iphone with me, which was never true with my film cameras. And the apps… ah, the apps!
New Apps…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘At The Beach’.
JC – Do you like to download new mobile photography apps regularly?
BS – Too regularly. I’m trying to “ween” myself from jumping at every new app (especially the new ones) and have recently been “weeding out” apps I rarely use.
Updates…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Bike’.
JC – How often do you update your existing apps?
BS – Usually daily.
Location, Location, Location…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Manhattan’.
JC – Where’s your favorite place in the world for a shoot?
BS – I had a blast when I visited New York City last summer. If I lived there, I don’t think I’d ever be able to stop shooting.
Tools Of The Trade…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Field’.
JC – Do you also use mobile photography tool apps, such as The Photographer’s Ephemeris?
BS – No. I should though. But most of my “work” happens after the shoot… in the apps.
Favorite Apps…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Drivin’ on 9′.
JC – What are your favorite mobile photography apps currently?
BS –
Snapseed
Hipstamatic
Procreate
PhotoViva
PhotoWizard
Process
BlurFx
Photo Fx Ultra
Lo-Mob
iPhoto (app)
Picfx
Sharing…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Christmas Past’.
JC – Where do you like to upload your photographs? Flickr, Instagram?
BS – Both. As well as my blog and posterous site.
Frequency…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Boy With Balloon’.
JC – Do you take photographs with your iPhone everyday?
BS – Yes
Favorite Subjects…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Fragment’.
JC – What are your favorite subjects?
BS – Odd things that I can turn into collages. Even shooting old magazine images and changing them to put into another scene. People. Children. Old buildings or decaying material.
Teaching Others…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Cables’.
JC -How did the teaching side come along?
BS – Me teaching? Or my learning? Teaching others, I just show them my work. Learning, I just keep trying stuff. I think my best strategy is knowing when to STOP throwing apps and textures at something.
Top Five Tips…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Alley’.
JC – What are you top five tips for mobile photography?
BS –
Have fun.
Have your camera with you all the time.
It’s best to ask permission from people when taking their pictures.
Don’t use the flash.
Use a tripod.
Editing…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Cafe’.
JC – Do you edit images on your iPhone or do you prefer to do that on a desktop/laptop?
BS – I actually transfer them to my iPad most of the time and work on them there.
Videography…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Curtain’.
JC – Do you enjoy videography with your iPhone?
BS – I haven’t done much with videography.
The Future Of Mobile Photography…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Downtown Portsmouth’.
JC – Where do you see the future of mobile photography heading?
BS – Cameras becoming as sophisticated as DSLRs… with proper zoom, controls, etc.
Popularity…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Looking For Later’.
JC – What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?
BS – I’m loving the abstract collages that folks are making… dreamy pictures.
Where In The World…?
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Man and Horse’.
JC – Do you think it’s country specific, are some nations more clued up?
BS – Not sure. Folks I follow seem to be pretty spread out. Mostly Europe, though.
iPhone 5…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Marbles’.
JC – What do you hope for in the iPhone 5?
BS – A proper zoom without image degrading
TheAppWhisperer.com…
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Man’.
JC – What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
BS – I just found her site and she and it ROCKS! Great tips, great community, great find.
Complete Links To All The Apps Used And Mentioned In This Article
Copyright Image – Bob Sprankle- ‘Flee’.
BlurFX
Hipstamatic
iPhoto (app)
LoMob
Procreate
PhotoViva
PhotoWizard
Process
Photo fx Ultra
Picfx
Snapseed
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
2 Comments
Terence A
Many thanks Joanne, another awesome iphonographer. Fantastic to read these interviews you are doing, keep up the good work.
Egmont van Dyck
I like this new series of your ver much. I will look forward to following it from now on. THank you for all the hard work you do. Egmont