A Day In The Life Of Roger Clay – Former US Marine On An iPhoneography Mission
Welcome to our very exciting new column on theappwhisperer.com. This section entitled ‘A day in the life of …’ and this is where we’ll be taking 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 forty fourth installment of the series, you can read the others here, if you have missed them so far. Today, we are featuring Roger Clay. Roger grew up in the small town of Hanford which is located in the Central Valley of California. He now resides in the city of Corona which is about 50 miles east of Downtown LA. After leaving Hanford he served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He now works as a Peace Officer for the State of California and has been there for the past 17 years.
We asked Roger how he first become interested in iPhone photography and this is what he said, ‘iPhone Photography in general started for me in late 2010 when I was approached by my oldest son who showed me the App Juxtaposer and how he made his friends look silly by pasting there faces in funny situations. I got the App and started doing the same thing having fun with family and friends.Then one day while looking for Apps to compliment Juxtaposer I found Hipstamatic and decided to get out of the house and take photos using just Hipstamatic and just got hooked from there on out . I don’t use big words or try to impress by writting grand intellectual thoughts I wouldjust like my photos to eventually speak for themselves and that’s still a work in progress’.
Want to find out more about Roger? Read this exclusive interview below. Each image is titled with the apps used to create it in sequential order. You can find all the links the the apps mentioned at the end of this article.
(If you would like to be interviewed for our new ‘A day in the life of …’ section, just send an email to Joanne@theappwhisperer.com, and we’ll get it set up).
First Things First…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘The Times With Signs’ – Apps used – Snapseed
JC – Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
RC – My day starts when I get off work and head home through some of the city of Chinos Dairies, occasionally stopping to catch a sunrise through the low fog that this area is good for. Once I get home I take the kid to school and its off to sleep for a while. I usually try and get out one day out of the week and target a place to go photograph .
Magic Hour…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Fog Procedures’ – App Used – Snapseed
JC – Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?
RC – I do at times plan ahead to go out early, usually I go out once week for that. It depends on my mood if I want to head out to LA and shoot some street stuff or keep it rural and stay home .
Photographer vs Mobile Photographer…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘6th Street’ – App Used – Snapseed
JC – How did the transition from traditional photographer to iPhoneographer develop? (pardon the pun).
RC – No transition for me Joanna, I have learned so much and seen so many things with just my iPhone on me, I am almost scared to use anything else.
New Apps…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘#33’ – App Used – Picfx and Snapseed
JC – Do you like to download new iPhoneography apps regularly?
RC – I am really big on Apps that let you regulate the filter strength “PicFx, Snapseed and Scratchcam are good for that” . If they have that feature I most certainly will give it a try .
Updates…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Black Alley Beauty’ – App Used – Snapseed, PicFX, ColorSplash
JC – How often do you update your existing apps?
RC – I update my Apps on average once a week or when I hear there’s a new update out .
Location, Location, Location…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Central Valley’ – App Used – Snapseed, Photoforge2
JC – Where’s your favorite place in the world for a shoot?
RC – Right now photography is so new to me I am really happy finding places out here in the Inland Empire and even better up in the Central Valley of California . But if I had a dream place to photograph it would be the country of Somalia . I was there back in the early 90’s and would love to go back and photograph.
Subjects…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Early Morning Sugar’ – App Used – Hipstamatic Tejas/Sugar
JC – What are your favorite subjects?
RC – None for me Joanna, I really like to keep things simple . If I see something I want to take a photo of I will stop and take it if the lighting is wrong I can always go back when it is.
Sharing…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Everyday illusions’ – Apps used – Snapseed, Scratchcam
JC – Where do you like to upload your photographs? Flickr, Instagram?
RC – I am on EyeEm, Instagram , Flckr and Facebook. I would say that the Facebook groups is where I have learned the most from folks.
Favorite Apps…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘The Fullerton Mall’ – Apps Used – Snapseed
JC – Do you also use iPhone photography tool apps, such as The Photographer’s Ephemeris and if so do you use it to plan your shoots?
RC – Right now I am hooked on Scratchcam and the tones of the black and white filters.
Frequency…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Fernando’ – Apps used – Snapseed
JC – Do you take photographs with your iPhone everyday?
RC- Everyday Joanne, Not so much around the home. But when I am driving around its almost automatic I am gonna take a photo of something.
Favorite Subjects…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Free Range Cable’ – Apps used – Snapseed, Picfx, ColorSplash
JC – What are your favorite photographic subjects?
RC – Tractors, Dead Trees and People. I am not sure if that is an order of priority but it just depends what mood I am in.
Top Five Tips…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Good Dawg’ – Apps used – Hipstamatic Tejas/Pistil
JC – What are your top five tips for iPhone photography?
RC – I really only have one tip to give. Never have that regret of not stopping and taking that photo that you really wanted too. Even if it means walking up to that house with the no Trespassing sign and the NRA member sticker in the front window of the house go up and ask anyway the worst thing they will tell you is ‘NO’ .
Teaching…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘On a windy day’ – Apps used – Snapseed
JC – How did the teaching side come along?
RC – I am still learning Joanne. I have been fortunate to meet some wonderful folks like Paul Posados, Rosanna Cappiello and Cara Gallardo Wiel they have helped me out a bunch and still do.
Editing…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘One sided winds’ – Apps used – Snapseed, Picfx
JC – Do you edit images on your iPhone or do you prefer to do that on a desktop/laptop?
RC – I only edit with my iPhone its just the way I do it plus when I can honestly say ‘I did that with my iPhone’, it sounds a lot better.
Videography…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Paradise Knolls’ – Apps used – Snapseed
JC – Do you enjoy videography with your iPhone?
RC – Not at all.
The Future Of Mobile Photography…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Relax’ – Apps used – Snapseed/iPro Lens 2x tele
JC – Where do you see the future of iPhone photography?
RC – It has to eventually blend in with every other type of photography . Its being accepted just fine for the most part except for that person who just spent Ten Grand of his parents money on his Cannon Super Lens 1000 and has to justify it by knocking someone who takes a great photo with an Iphone. And by the way Joanne the LA times doesn’t have a problem with it they have posted up a few of my iPhone photos and I don’t think they really care.
Popularity…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Ricky the Pirate’ – Apps used – Snapseed, Alien Sky, Juxtaposer, iProLens 2x tele
JC – What do you think is the most popular area of iPhone photography?
RC – I would have to say its Street Photography. Maybe it’s just me but I am starting to notice a lot more of it lately.
Where In The World…?
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Skid Row Sofa’ – Apps used – Snapseed
JC – Do you think it’s country specific, are some nations more clued up?
RC – have really enjoyed seeing photos from all over the world. This really has made me want to travel more so now than ever.
iPhone 5…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Stratford’ – Apps used – Snapseed, Iris, Scratchcam
JC – What do you hope for in the iPhone 5?
RC – I am really not sure Joanne, I really would like the Iphone to have better battery life and most certainly a lens that is sharper the megapixels don’t really matter to me much.
TheAppWhisperer.com…
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Tehachapi’ – Apps used – Snapseed
JC – What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
RC – I think Joanne should be applauded for her work. And her site is a really great place to get the know all the great the iPhonographers out there.
Links To All Apps Used And Mentioned In This Interview
Copyright Image – Roger Clay – ‘Wasting Time’ – Apps used – Snapseed, Scratchcam, Iris, Picfx, Juxtaposer
Alien Sky
Colorsplash
Hipstamatic
Iris Photo Suite
Juxtaposer
Photoforge2
Picfx
Scratchcam
Snapseed
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)
You May Also Like
Mobile Photography Interview – A Day In The Life of Lynette Jackson – A Very Talented Mobile Photographer with a Unique Style
Mobile Photography Interview – A Day in the Life of Jill Lian from New York, United States
5 Comments
Robert Lancaster
Great interview! Amazing photographs! 🙂
You should come to South Africa too … we have amazing things to photograph.
From the “Big 5” through to the awesome Baobab trees.
Cara Gallardo Weil
You already know I’m a huge fan Roger… (and thanks for the mention too!) 🙂
Rosanna Cappiello
Awesome interview Mr Clay 🙂
Even more awesome Work!!!!!
Thank you for the mention 🙂
You are the man!!!!! 🙂 x
Lee Thatcher
Great interview and fantastic images. It’s great getting to know more about the guy behind them.
Andrea Bigiarini
Congratz Roger!