Mobile Photographer Interview – A Day In The Life With Jaime Ferreyros – One of the Great Pioneers of Mobile Photography

Artist Statement

‘I see through the lens of a camera whose limitations

Push my creativity to unknown shades of color, texture, blur

And noise…my world has been redefined’

‘He left his smile behind’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – LoMob

Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?

During the week I get up at 6:55 am to walk Ramona and then its Off to work. Weekends, I get up a bit later and religiously spend my mornings reading, walking or Listening to music at our beach.

‘Out again’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – Hipstamatic

How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop? (Pardon the pun).

Pure luck. My wife gave me my first iPhone, a 3GS back in 2009. Until I saw some really cool photos by a friend of mine using FocalLab’s the zoom filter, I had no clue you could achieve so many moods and manipulate your images on the iPhone. My world change from then on.

‘Made in Japan’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TiltshiftGen, Hipstamatic

Do you like to download new mobile photography apps regularly?

I used to at the beginning, now I have found a style that I like and don’t feel the need download apps on a regular basis.

‘When the Saints go Marching In’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TitlshiftGen, Cameramatic

What is your preferred platform, Apple iOS, Android, Windows?

Apple iOS

‘Shame on You’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – PicGrunger, ShakeitPhoto

Would you consider changing platforms and why?

No need to change.

‘Pool Party’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TiltShiftGen

How often do you update your existing apps?

I update more less regularly

‘Cafe Y Cigarro’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – PicGrunger, Hipstamatic

What are your favourite photography apps and why, what features do you look for in a new photo app?

I really like combining TiltshiftGen and Cameramatic, it gives my images the nostalgic mood I look for.

‘Never Neverland’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TiltShiftGen, ScratchCam

Where’s your favourite place to shoot and why?

I don’t have a favorite place to shoot but because I live right by the beach, many of my shots come from there.

‘Memory Lane’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – LoMob, Slowshutter

What are your favorite photographic subjects and why?

Anything that catches my eye interests me, nothing in particular. Back in the 80’s when I went to Art school in New York City, I loved black and white street photography. I took photography classes and developed a portfolio. I feel my beach shots are in some ways reminiscent of that style. The device of course has changed, but my eye has not.

‘Destination Unknown’ = ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – Focallab, Camerabag

Where do you like to upload your photographs to – Flickr, Instagram etc?

Flickr

‘The World’s A Stage’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – Cameramatic, BlurFX

Do you use your mobile phone everyday to take images?

I don’t use it everyday, regularly I would say.

‘Look Me In The Eyes’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, LoMob

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.

I was lucky to be part of a group of iphoneographers who without knowing what we were starting, began this whole movement. Back then we all embraced the challenge of taking photos with a very limited camera and making then look exciting. It was just us and a very crappy camera, no extra gadgets or worries about megapixels. I still fee this is part of the beauty of iphoneography, working against the limitations of the device.

‘Alejandra’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – PicGrunger, BlurFX, Diptic

Do you edit images on your mobile devices or do you prefer to use a desktop or laptop computer?

iPhoneography is the art of taking pictures and editing them on your iPhone, and that’s what I do.

‘Windy City’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TiltShiftGen, PicGrunger

Where do you envisage your mobile photography passion will take you? Have you been involved with exhibitions etc? Please elaborate if you can.

I started taking pictures and editing them on my iPhone for myself for no other reason. I am still surprised to see my Work being exhibited in galleries around the world, Including Three editions of Art Basel-Miami.

‘Machismo’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – Cameramatic

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 love foreign films, but have no intention of shooting movies with my iPhone.

‘Day of the Mermaid’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – Pixlromatic

Where do you see the future of mobile photography?

Instagram and overexposure can kill the mobile movement on a professional level. If galleries and museums see that pretty much everybody’s work is being awarded with “Picture of the day” or whatever it may be, I don’t think they will take this art form seriously. We need to be more exclusive with our work.

‘Take me out to the ball game’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TiltShiftGen, Cameramatic

What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?

I think Mobile photography is big in the US, Europe and Asia. South America is starting to open their eyes to it.

‘El Loro’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TiltshiftGen, PicGrunger

Do you think it’s country specific, are some nations more clued up?

Some nations are much more involved thanks to it’s pioneers.

‘Lucky Strike’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – BlurFX, Pixlromatic

If you could select a specification for a mobile smartphone, what features would you select, photographically speaking?

I just go with the flow and embrace any limitations the medium has, that was the whole point from the very beginning.

‘Yesterday is gone’ – ©Jaime Ferreyros – Apps Used – TiltshiftGen, PicGrunger

What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?

Joanne, I salute your effort and thank the opportunity you have given me to share my thoughts with your fans.

LoMob
Hipstamatic
TiltShiftGen
Cameramatic
PicGrunger
ShakeitPhoto
ScratchCam
Slowshutter
Focallab
Camerabag
BlurFX
Diptic
Pixlromatic