Mobile Photography Interview – A Day in the Life of Deborah McMillion (Hotel Midnight) from Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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 130th interview of the series. If you have missed our previous interviews, please go here.
Today we are featuring highly accomplished mobile artist and photographer, Deborah McMillion from Phoenix, Arizona, USA and her wonderful art. 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.
Deborah McMillion
Contact Details
‘O Begin’ ©Deborah McMillion
Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
Formally at dawn. Dawn is more than my favorite time of the day. In summer you have about 3 good hours before the heat builds. I spend a little time with our cat(S) checking out the garden and just enjoy.
‘Mind’ ©Deborah McMillion
Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?
If I’m going for skies, backgrounds (fields), plants, clouds, or just new colors to sample it is whenever the light is right. Because I’m a Mobile Digital Artist I work more in the studio. And I use the term studio loosely.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop?
My dad bought my first Real camera: an Argus C-3, SLR with this massive flash. I used it to tell my stories. By the time Digital came out that camera became something else when real painting apps came out. It was a new way to communicate. And add real details like leaves, birds etc into a painting.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
Do you like to download new mobile photography and/or art apps regularly?
I like to see my Favorites update more. Right now my go to app has an annoying bug, two of my postcard templates crash and my stamp template is buggy. I try not to use anything that drops resolution.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
What is your preferred platform, Apple iOS, Android, Windows?
Shh! Apple Developer on Board! Regardless, Apple, only.
‘Gravity Formula’ ©Deborah McMillion
Would you consider changing platforms and why?
No way!–see above.
‘Plough Lines’ ©Deborah McMillion
How often do you update your existing apps?
The second I see the update notice. I’m usually waiting for it.
‘Clothes Line Bumps Beeline’ ©Deborah McMillion
What are your favourite photography/videography apps and why, what features do you look for in a new app?
I assume these are photography as well as art. I use them on both and all. Autodesk Sketchbook. Anything like Brushstroke, Toon camera that changes my art into a more casual way to play.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
Where’s your favourite place in the world for a shoot and why?
A stand of saguaros. The pass off the I-10 exit for Coolidge has the most amazing gathering. When the wind blows through the needles it sounds like a pine forest. You cannot make up those curves and color.
‘Field and String’ ©Deborah McMillion
Where do you like to upload your photographs to – Flickr, Instagram etc?
Flickr. And for a different,reason Pinterest. It’s like giving back to communal knowledge doing that. I joined Instagram but at the time I was trying too many things and got overwhelmed. Instagram lost.
‘Poppy Jessamine’ ©Deborah McMillion
Do you use your mobile phone everyday to take images?
In some way or another, yes. Especially botanicals and weather. You see all those Natural world things in backgrounds etc.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
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?
Well external storage. But evidently no.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
Do you edit images on your mobile devices or do you prefer to use a desktop or laptop computer?
I do not do any work on desktop. I don’t want to sit long hours at a desk that’s too much like painting miniatures in oils. The utter freedom of NOT having a physical studio has not worn thin.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
Where do you envisage your mobile photography passion will take you? Have you been involved with exhibitions etc.
Yes I’ve shown for years, in shows I curated, or were curated in or juried. I’m working on eventually getting someone else to publish one of my books. Or I’d like to do a variety of books from little ‘Zines, to artist books, unbound books, comics. And finally, a Mystery!-that uses all this vast research.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
Where do you see the future of mobile photography?
Growing out there more and more just as any means of expression will.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?
I’m hoping it’s the photographs that have such a blurred line between photo-fx and painting fx. Or why does it matter? Ask instead how does this make me feel.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
Do you think it is country Specific, are some nations more clued up?
This is an international movement. And it’s been brilliant!
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
If you could select a specification for a smartphone, what features would you select, photographically speaking?
Remember the,first iPad? It had a flower like button on screen you could tap and turn your iPad into a slide show. I loved that. I love and miss digital frames.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
TheAppWhisperer.com is home to many many mobile artists. It is one of the best of the supportive, teaching and sharing groups out there and efficiently run as well as creatively challenging.
Joanne is that ephemeral voice of the Muse who whispers in our minds, a stalwart Nike with outstretched wings, gathering us all together and with the lightest tap on our backs “create, think, dream, resonate.” Challenges, tutorials, exhibitions all gathered and if you don’t partake, you were not hungry.
Untitled ©Deborah McMillion
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‘Pas De Quatre’ ©Deborah McMillion
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)
