Mobile Photography Interview – A Day In The Life Of Sheldon Serkin – An Incredibly Talented New York Street Photographer

©Sheldon Serkin

‘Lois’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Filterstorm Camera+

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

Hi Joanne and thanks so much for the opportunity to be featured on “Day In The Life”! Virtually every one of my days starts with very strong coffee and an upload to flickr and my blog, awfulbliss.tumblr.com. I also take some time to check out what my flickr contacts have been up to.

‘Esteban’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Filterstorm

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

I had never considered myself a traditional photographer before mobile photography. While I loved taking photos, it wasn’t until I got my first iPhone that it really caught a hold of me for two reasons: Firstly, I’ve always loved street photography, but lacked the nerve to shoot with a conspicuous camera. The iPhone allows me to shoot on the sly to a degree with which I am comfortable. Secondly, I’m not the most technical of shooters, so the iPhone’s ease of use also really appealed to me.

‘Celeste’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Snapseed

Do you like to download new mobile photography apps regularly?

My new app acquisitions have slowed considerably this past year as I’ve started to process my photos less and less. I find that my current go-to apps — hipstamatic, oggl, snapseed, filterstorm, touch retouch and camera + fulfill my processing needs.

‘Anthony’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Filterstorm, Juxtaposer

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

Apple iOS, though I’ve not experienced using the others.

‘Shabbat’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Filterstorm

Would you consider changing platforms and why?

No, no, irrationally no!

‘Magdalena’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Snapseed

How often do you update your existing apps?

I usually update my apps right away. I’m always excited about new features. I’ve regretted this a few times, as I should really wait for all the bugs to be fixed before updating (for example, I couldn’t access my camera roll on oggl for a couple of months because of an update), but I’m too impatient!

‘Fett’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Filterstorm, TouchRetouch

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

I love Hipstamatic and have been shooting almost exclusively with it (and Oggl) since I started shooting. I really think the looks you can achieve with the films and lenses is beyond compare in the mobile world and, with the First Friday concept in place since Oggl was launched, there are new combos to learn and experiment with each month. For all my apps, though, I really appreciate an intuitive interface.

‘Passengers XVII – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Snapseed

Where’s your favourite place to shoot and why?

My favorite place to shoot is on the New York subway system. People are never more themselves than in public, when faced with an unavoidable, sometimes crowded commute, where their personal space is limited and eye contact it hard to avoid. New Yorkers are masters of being alone in public.

‘NYC Santa’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Snapseed

What are your favorite photographic subjects and why?

This is difficult to pinpoint, so I’d have to say the subjects I’m drawn to instinctively. The subjects that intuitively speak to me are directly influenced by how I personally feel at that moment. When entering a subway car, for example, I don’t necessarily look for a type, or a certain interaction or situation, or someone that stands out in a crowd. It’s much more intuitive than deliberate. What I’m looking for is potential. Sometimes the most average, inconspicuous, unremarkable subjects yield the greatest insight, the most powerful emotions

‘Shmuel’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Filterstorm, Camera+

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

I upload at least once a day to instagram, flickr and my blog (awfulbliss.tumblr.com). I am also active on eyeem and oggl and, to a lesser extent, on iphoneart.com and 500px. The challenge for me is the social aspect of social media responding to comments, commenting on others’ work, etc. is rarer than I’d like it to be, but the challenge of posting one image a day is exhausting enough!

‘Dante’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Camera+

Do you use your mobile phone everyday to take images?

I shoot everyday: on my way to and from work, when I’m out for a quick errand, when I’m out with my family. My phone is always in my hand, at the ready.

‘Yossi’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl
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 love the freedom the mophie juice packs affords me in terms of battery life. It allows me to leave the phone on and ready to capture that image that lasts a split second.

‘Fanny’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Snapseed, TouchRetouch

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

I edit on my mobile devices.

‘Felix’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Snapseed

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

I’ve had the really great fortune of being part of a few events since I started shooting: a Hipstamatic show in London, the Mobile Photo Awards show in New York City last year, and the 1st Tehran Mobile Film & Photo Festival. The biggest thrill, however, was being invited by Bob Weil and Nicki Fitz-Gerald to contribute a tutorial to their great book The Art of iPhone Photography (Rocky Nook, 2013). In the coming year, I hope to have more opportunities such as these. Another goal I have this year is to publish my own book of my photos. I’ve always lamented the seeming impermanence of sharing photos through social media.

‘Trip The Light Fantastic’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, 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 rarely shoot videos, having been conditioned to conserve memory by owning a 16 GB phone for a period of time.

‘Tango & Cash’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Camera+

Where do you see the future of mobile photography?

For most people, mobile photography will be synonymous with everyday photography, if it isn’t already, documenting events, friends, family, etc. and shared immediately. As a new and evolving art form, my hope is that it does NOT fall into cliché, the overwhelming majority of images starting to bleed into one another without distinction, and that innovative photographers and artists, such as the ones you feature on your website, continually find new and interesting means of visual expression using their mobile phone.

‘The Brood’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Snapseed, Filterstorm, TouchRetouch

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

Selfies, which in my mind are distinct from self-portraits.

‘Four Titans’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Snapseed, Camera+

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

Not so much country-specific as economically-specific: those with access we see, those without, we don’t.

‘Passengers XIII’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Filterstorm

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

I would love a feature that enables my device to take exactly the picture I see in my head. Also, more pixels!

‘Johns’ – ©Sheldon Serkin – Apps Used – Oggl, Filterstorm

 
What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?

Joanne is an incredible supporter and advocate for the amazing work being done right now in mobile photography. Her website is invaluable, as is the weekly showcase, which has helped me discover so many great mobile artists. Thanks, Joanne, for the opportunity to participate in this series!

Hipstamatic

Camera+

Oggl

Snapseed

Filterstorm

TouchRetouch

Juxtaposer