Mobile Photographer Interview – A Day In The Life Of Ioannis Sidiropoulos/devine1225aaa – An Artist With True Vision
Welcome to our very exciting column on theappwhisperer.com. This section entitled “A Day in the Life of…” is where we take 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 our ninety sixth installment of the series. If you have missed our previous interviews, please go here.
Today we are featuring Ioannis Sidiropoulos also known as devine1225aa on Flickr and Instagram. Ioannis describes himself as a Greek born amateur artist, a dreamer, a romantic insane who is desperately looking to find tranquility in sinister worlds and circumstances. He explains that art is his way out of the hypocrisy that many people have these days and is also a way to cast his demons out.
Ioannis was also the 2013 winner of the American Aperture Awards in the mobile photography category – people/portraits. We have also featured Ioannis’ art many times in our weekly Flickr Group Showcase and most recently in our 2013 Top Mobile Photography of the Year Flickr Showcase (see here).
We couldn’t wait to find out more about Ioannis and invited him to take part in this interview. We think you will all enjoy this a lot, it’s full of fabulous images and wonderful words.
You can find all the links to the apps used or mentioned at the end of this article. (If you would like to be interviewed for our new ‘A Day in the Life of…’ section, send an email to [email protected], and we’ll get back to you.)
‘Ode to Solitude’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps used – FilterstormPro, Tintype, Image Blender
Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
My day starts at 6:45 am every morning to go to work, taking kids with special needs to their school. For many this might be an unfriendly hour but i really enjoy my work, children have the purest souls. Perhaps, they’re trapped in their own world and sometimes its hard for them to express themselves but they are the symbol of hope and every time I talk with them I think that everything is gonna be ok. I think that is the biggest reward I have from my work – inspiration indeed …
‘Crucifixion’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, Tintype, Image Blender, Snapseed
How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop? (Pardon the pun)
There’s no transition. I never was a traditional photographer, at least I never considered myself as one of them. I became interested in taking pictures when I had my first iPhone because it was equipped with a good camera.
‘Dark Elements on Parade’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, TinType, Image Blender, Snapseed
Do you like to download new mobile photography apps regularly?
Yes, I do, I always search and read reviews for new applications for my device. I have apps that I’ve paid for and i used them only one time just to use a tool that they have. It’s something that i do regularly discovering new techniques.
‘Fragile’ – ©devine1225aaa- Apps Used – Monovu, Glaze, LaminarPro, FilterstormPro
What is your preferred platform, Apple iOS, Android, Windows?
Apple iOS. is the platform that I use.
‘Harp’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps used – FilterstormPro, ArtRage
Would you consider changing platforms and why?
No, I wouldn’t because I’m used to the apps supported by Apple and I don’t have the time to get myself used to android or windows apps, not that i don’t want it.
‘Help me’ – devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, PhotoWizard, ArtRage, Snapseed
How often do you update your existing apps?
Daily, I check for updates so I won’t miss any improvements to the apps that I use to make my work more easier.
‘Inner Search’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, Snapseed
What are your favourite photography apps and why, what features do you look for in a new photo app?
Artrage is my favorite because it allows me to paint on the photo to achieve the effect I desire and of course the app filterstormPro.
‘Melting Dreams’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, ArtRage, Snapseed
Where’s your favourite place to shoot and why?
I love to shoot in a room with good lighting because room light always gives me the mood that i want for my photos . Not that I’m not interested shooting in nature.
‘Nymph’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – Image Blender, Iretouch
What are your favorite photographic subjects and why?
My favorite subject are humans because I adore the beauty in a human’s form, especially in the strong facial expression, because it can deliver 1000 words.
‘Our Weary Eyes Still Stray To The Horizon’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – Image Blender, ArtRage, Snapseed
Where do you like to upload your photographs to Flickr, Instagram etc?
i post to flickr, iPhoneart and instagram …
‘Sire Aglaope’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, Snapseed, Squaready
Do you use your mobile phone everyday to take images?
Yes it becomes a daily need to capture every moment that catch my eyes, experimenting with new angles and lightings …
‘Temple of Lust’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, Mextures, Snapseed
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? Please elaborate as much as possible.
No. I don’t use any of those things for my mobile device only for my Canon…
‘The Curse of the Damned’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, Handyphoto, Photowizard
Do you edit images on your mobile devices or do you prefer to use a desktop or laptop computer?
I edit all my images on my iPad but I’ve made wonderful things with my iPhone 4.. i think
‘The Priestess of Evil’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, Snapseed
Where do you envisage your mobile photography passion will take you? Have you been involved with exhibitions etc? Please elaborate if you can.
To be honest, I have never imagined myself going this far with my passion for mobile photography. I just enjoy editing as a way to express my creative side. I won American Aperture Awards 2013 for category mobile photography-people/portraits and I got the winning pieces exhibited in the US and Australia.
‘Thought is Creation’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, ArtRage, Snapseed
Do you also enjoy shooting videos with your mobile phone? If so, what do you do with them? Have you considered uploading them to our Mobile Movies Flickr group?
I enjoy taking pictures more than shooting videos. At least for now. but I have few that I’ll tag to mobile movies flickr group for sure…
‘Time Flies’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – Image Blender, Snapseed, Mextures
Where do you see the future of mobile photography?
I think mobile photography has a very bright future as mobile phone technology is getting savvier by second.
‘Warrior of Hades’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro
What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?
It is of course in the USA because it is the origin country of Apple and Instagram as the biggest mobile photography community.
‘Wicked Soul’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – ArtRage, FilterstormPro, PS Touch
Do you think it’s country specific, are some nations more clued up?
It is related to my previous answer. So far mobile photography contests that I had the opportunity to join was held by the USA, but I think other countries are lining up too because the popularity of mobile photography is undeniably worldwide.
‘My Religion My Own Thoughts’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – FilterstormPro, LaminarPro
If you could select a specification for a mobile smartphone, what features would you select, photographically speaking?
Good quality camera and easy to use apps that are compatible to the device of course.
‘The Tree of Lust’ – ©devine1225aaa – Apps Used – Image Blender, FilterstormPro, Photowizard
What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
For sure Joanne is a very special person cause she helps new talents by spreading their amazing work to the world . as for theappwhisperer.com I think this community will take mobile photography to the next level as here we are introduced to people who inspire us and willing to share their technique to the community.
Links To All Apps Used And Mentioned
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]
2 Comments
devine1225aaa aka I.Sidiropoulos
thank you so much dear Joanne for this !!! devine1225aaa aka I.Sidiropoulos
Carolyn Hall Young
So beautiful, thank you!