Remembering Carol “Dogsitter” Smith – One of the Early Voices of iPhoneography
It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Carol “Dogsitter” Smith, a much-loved member of the mobile photography community and a retired police officer whose warmth, humour and creativity touched many people over the years.
Carol belonged to that important generation of early iPhone photographers who helped shape mobile photography into a genuine artistic movement. At a time when many still dismissed photography created on phones, Carol embraced the medium with curiosity, openness and enthusiasm. Her images carried individuality and feeling, but equally important was the kindness she brought to the community surrounding the work.
Beyond photography, Carol had lived a full and dedicated life, serving as a police officer before retiring. There was perhaps something of that experience visible in the way she observed people and the world around her, attentive, compassionate and deeply human.
Online communities can sometimes feel fleeting, but certain individuals leave a lasting impression through the way they encourage others, support creativity and quietly make spaces feel welcoming. Carol was one of those people. Many artists within the mobile photography world will remember her not only for the images she created, but also for her generosity, humour and friendship.
The mobile art movement has always been built upon people willing to share, experiment and connect across distances. Carol helped make those spaces feel personal and alive. Her presence will be deeply missed by many who knew her through years of conversations, shared images and creative exchange.
My thoughts are with her family, friends, and all those within the photographic community who are mourning her loss.
Rest peacefully, Carol.
Image below created by Carolyn Hall Young for one of Carol’s birthdays.
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photographer, photography journalist, editor and curator and the founder and editorial director of TheAppWhisperer.com, an independent international photography publication established in 2009.Her journalism, criticism and commentary have appeared in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, BBC, Vogue Italia, LensCulture, Popular Photography, Android Magazine, NikonPro, DPReview, Which Digital Camera and Which Camera. She has lectured internationally on photography and mobile art, served as a juror for international photography awards, and exhibited her own photographic work across the UK, Europe, South Korea and the United States.Alongside her editorial work, Joanne's photographic and postgraduate research explores death, grief, memory, representation and social inequality through contemporary photography, participatory practice and visual research methods, with the longer-term aim of developing this work through doctoral research.Through TheAppWhisperer, she continues to publish independent photography journalism spanning contemporary photographic practice, mobile imaging, photographic apps, computational photography and emerging imaging technologies.Joanne is available for editorial commissions, photography projects, judging, curatorial work, speaking engagements, consultancy and selected collaborations.
