Mobile Photography Interview – A Day in the Life of Jill Lian from New York, 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 133rd interview of the series. If you have missed our previous interviews, please go here.
Today we are featuring such a highly accomplished mobile macro artist and photographer, one whose work I really admire, Jill Lian from New York, US. You will love this!
If you would like to take part in our A Day in the Life interview series, please send an email to myself at Joanne@theappwhisperer.com and I will get back to you.
Jill Lian
Contact Details:
Photo ©Jill Lian
Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
My day starts with an old fashioned ritual. I go outside to get the newspaper. I start a pot of coffee, feed the dog and check my email for any new orders for my clay business.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?
Most definitely! That is my favorite time to take photos. In the spring and summer there are gorgeous dew drops on everything. In the winter there’s either frost or snowflakes just waiting for me to capture.
Photo ©Jill Lian
How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop?
It was a very easy one for me. I love the simplicity and the accessibility of always having my iPhone in my pocket. I also find that I can achieve better macro photos using my iPhone with all olloclip attachment, than I could with my Canon. I am usually trying to find the best angle for a photo and that requires me to be very close to a subject.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Do you like to download new mobile photography and/or art apps regularly?
When I first started, I downloaded many photo apps. I have become more selective in the ones that I use.
Photo ©Jill Lian
What is your preferred platform, Apple iOS, Android, Windows?
Apple iOS, without a doubt. I am most recently using an iPhone 7 plus. The camera is amazing.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Would you consider changing platforms and why?
I would not. I find iOS to be incredibly user-friendly.
Photo ©Jill Lian
How often do you update your existing apps?
I generally update them as soon as an update is available. I think it’s important to keep the newest version on my phone.
Photo ©Jill Lian
What are your favorite photography/videography apps and why, what features do you look for in a new app?
Hipstamatic –my all time favorite. I love the variety and look of all the films and lenses. The Hipstamatic community is very supportive.
Mextures-I’m impressed with how it softens the look of my photos.
Snapseed -The interface is very friendly. I mostly use it for cropping and adding light where needed.
Painteresque -for the portrait mode.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Where is your favorite place in the world for a shoot and why?
I think I would have to say my favorite place to shoot photos is anywhere where it’s quiet and a bit desolate. I live in a beautiful part of the country, with ever changing seasons. I get lost in the discovery of new tiny things in nature.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Where do you like to upload your photographs to – Flickr, Instagram, etc.?
I use Flickr, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
I’m relatively new on Twitter and Instagram. I have found that if you want to be found or ‘discovered’, you have to put yourself out there.
I generally upload to Facebook for friends.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Do you use your mobile phone every day to take images?
Yes I do! I usually take quite a few photos every day.
Photo ©Jill Lian
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 do use an olloclip macro lens attachment every day.
I use a battery pack in the winter if I’m outside for more than a couple of hours because the battery drains much quicker when the temperatures are below zero.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Do you edit images on your mobile devices or do you prefer to use a desktop or laptop computer?
Always on my iPhone.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Where do you envision your mobile photography passion will take you? Have you been involved with exhibitions etc?
That is a great question! I am enjoying the ride so far and I know there are more exciting opportunities waiting for me.
When I first started taking photos with my iPhone I was drawn to capturing snowflakes. A friend of mine let me borrow a book on snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht. Fast forward a few years and I was approached by him (on Flickr) to use one of my photos in his newest book, The Snowflake-Winter’s Frozen Artistry.
I was also part of Apple’s Shot on iPhone -Colors Campaign for the iPhone 6s. My snowflake photo with a blue background reached 26 countries!
Apple also used one of my flower photos in their shot on iPhone 6s Flowers Festival campaign, for the Medellin flower festival in Columbia.
I have been featured in TheAppWhisperer showcases, Hipstography and Mobiography.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Where do you see the future of mobile photography?
When I first started taking photos on my iPhone 4, people would say “oh that’s just an iPhone photo”. Now when I show people photos that I have taken on my iPhone 7 Plus, they say “oh wow! You took that with an iPhone?!”
I believe mobile photography is much more accepted and even in the forefront now.
Photo ©Jill Lian
What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?
What I see the most of, is street photography. There’s an explosion of that on the Internet right now. Personally, I prefer macro photography. I search that out and find great pleasure in seeing other people’s vision.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Do you think it is country specific, are some nations more clued up?
I don’t see that it is country specific. I have a lot of photography friends all over the world, that post some incredibly beautiful photos.
Photo ©Jill Lian
If you could select a specification for a smartphone, what features would you select, photographically speaking?
I am intrigued by the 7+ camera and the possibility of getting even closer to my subject. The 2x zoom works great. I am also a fan of huge storage numbers. I tend to keep thousands and thousands of photos on my phone. I do keep them backed up on an external hard drive.
Photo ©Jill Lian
What do you think of Joanne and TheAppWhisperer.com?
I think of Joanne as the glue that holds together the whole mobile photography world! She gives me such encouragement and makes me believe that my photos are worth putting out there.
Photo ©Jill Lian
Please support us…
TheAppWhisperer has always had a dual mission: to promote the most talented mobile artists of the day and to support ambitious, inquisitive viewers the world over.
As the years passTheAppWhisperer has gained readers and viewers and found new venues for that exchange. All this work thrives with the support of our community.
Please consider making a donation to TheAppWhisperer as this New Year commences because your support helps protect our independence and it means we can keep delivering the promotion of mobile artists that’s open for everyone around the world.
Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable for our future.
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)
