Mobile Photographer Interview – A Day In The Life Of Connie Rosenthal – A Very Intuitive Artist

Flickr link (Congarose) to Connie’s images – click here

‘Beauty In The Bathtub’ – © Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Hipstamatic

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

I begin my day by reading email and then going to TheAppWhisperer to see what’s new (really!). I then take care of morning chores around the house and go to the gym.

‘Cantaloupe’ –© Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Camera+

Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?

I would probably like to head out to take photographs early in the day, but it isn’t usually an option.

‘Cowboy Boot’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Hipstamatic and Snapseed

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

After attending the LA Mobile Festival last summer, I was inspired to take photos with my iPhone and tried experimenting with some of the apps. I loved the convenience of the iPhone and how much fun playing with the apps was. I’ve been hooked ever since. Up until then, I was mainly a “point and shoot” vacation picture taker.

‘Graffiti In Le Marais’ © Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Camera+ and Snapseed

Do you like to download new mobile photography and/or art apps regularly?

I do, and I especially like taking advantage when apps have price drops or become free. It may take some time before I get to experiment with some of the apps I acquire; some prove quite worthwhile, offering surprising results; others don’t end up interesting me and I delete them after I discover that.

‘Luxembourg Station’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Camera+, Snapseed, Image Blender, TouchRetouch

How often do you update your existing apps?

I generally update as soon as I receive update notifications.

‘Man against the wall’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Hipstamatic, Snapseed

Where’s your favorite place in the world for a shoot?

My favorite place is wherever someone or something catches my eye. I especially like to go to new places, capturing people, what’s happening on the streets, the colors, shapes, textures that are unique to that place’s essence.

‘Man in the white shirt’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Snapseed

Do you also use mobile photography tool apps, such as The Photographer’s Ephemeris?

I haven’t used mobile photography tool apps. I like deciding what I want to shoot, often making those decisions spontaneously. The only time I’ve followed someone else’s guidelines is when I’m taking a workshop.

‘Mannequin’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Oggl, Snapseed

What are your favorite, at the moment, mobile photography/art apps and why?

Camera+ for it’s exposure and focus control

Oggl because of the unlimited film and lens combinations you can shoot with and/or choose to use in editing

Snapseed because it offers so many comprehensive tools for initial and final adjustments, including brightness, contrast, saturation, clarity, drama, and more. I especially like the selective adjust tool, and use it often.

Image Blender for its blending options

Juxtaposer for its masking and arranging tools and because it allows you to make reusable stamps

ScratchCam because with its scratches, textures and color options, you can easily add grunge and dimension to a photograph

TouchRetouch because it easily allows you to take out unwanted things in a photo

PhotoSync because it allows you to select and transfer photos between devices and the computer

‘Mannequin in the window’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Hipstamatic, Scratchcam, Snapseed

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

I upload my photographs on Flickr, some Facebook groups and sometimes on Instagram.

‘Many Dancers’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, Image Blender

Do you take photographs with your mobile device everyday?

I don’t usually have a chance to go out and take photographs every day, though since my iPhone is always with me, if someone or something catches my eye, I will definitely take photos.

‘Marble’ – © Connie Rosenthal – App used – Hipstamatic

What are your favorite subjects?

As I mentioned, I like using my camera to explore busy streets, colorful people, interesting architecture, the colors, shapes, and textures particular to a certain location. Lately I have been intrigued by mannequins in store windows as surfaces that offer interesting reflections.

‘Old Cabin Colarado’ – © Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Camera+

How did the teaching side come along?

Though I have a lot of teaching experience, as far as mobile photography goes, I still see myself as a student. I take workshops as often as possible, having recently returned from my second workshop week with the amazing Karen Divine. Perhaps someday I will decide to share what I have learned and start teaching, but for now, I’m happy being a student.

‘One Love’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Hipstamatic, Snapseed

What are you top five tips for mobile photography?

-Shoot as often as you can;

-Play around with shooting the same object from different points of view, experiment with light, composition, distance, the Olloclip, etc;

-Experiment with different ways to use the processing apps, try editing an image in as many different ways as possible;

-Look at others’ photographs, whether fine art or mobile, in museums and galleries, books, online;

-Keep reviewing your photographs; I find that the more I learn, the more I find different things to do with my photographs, whether they are recent or older shots;

‘Osaka’ – © Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Hipstamatic

Do you edit images on your mobile device or do you prefer to do that on a desktop/laptop?

I shoot with my iPhone and transfer the images to my iPad where I do all my editing.

‘Paris Rooftops’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Camera+, Snapseed, Glaze

Do you enjoy videography with your mobile device?

I haven’t really used the iPhone for videos. I really enjoy taking stills and don’t have an interest in making videos.

‘Pirate Man’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Oggl, Snapseed

Where do you see the future of mobile photography?

I believe that mobile photography is becoming more appreciated and accepted. I am hopeful that fine art photographers will begin to respect and embrace the amazing work mobile photographers are creating.

‘Rainy Day in Osaka’ – © Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Hipstamatic

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

I think nature and street photography are the most popular areas of mobile photography.

‘Reflections’ – © Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Hipstamatic

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

I think mobile photography was probably country specific when the first iPhones came out based on where they were available. But now, I think that’s changed, as can be seen on all the social media sites (Flickr, Facebook, Instagram, etc) where you can find beautiful, creative photographs posted from all over the world.

‘Seeing Double’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps used – Hipstamatic, Image Blender

What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?

Since discovering Theappwhisperer, I have been impressed with Joanne and all the hard work she puts into making it such a comprehensive mobile photography site. Through the interviews, I was introduced to my “mentor” Karen Divine and my Los Angeles iPhone friend, Elaina Wilcox. I have learned about many apps through the reviews, tutorials and the fabulous giveaways. I enjoy reading the various columnists who share their personal experiences and points-of-view covering many relevant topics. What can I say? Joanne and Theappwhisperer have been a guiding light for me as I explore and experiment with iphoneography.

‘Table at Los Luceros’ – © Connie Rosenthal – App Used – Hipstamatic

Hipstamatic
Oggl
Camera+
Snapseed
TouchRetouch
Image Blender
Glaze
ScratchCam
PhotoSync

‘The Grotto’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Hipstamatic, TouchRetouch

‘The man in the trees in the window’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps used – Hipstamatic, Snapseed

‘Train Man’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Oggl

‘Under the Eiffel Tower’ – © Connie Rosenthal – Apps Used – Camera+, Image Blender, Snapseed

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 pass TheAppWhisperer 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.

click here to help us