Camera: iPhone 4, Editing App: Camera+ (Cross process effect)
(Click image for full-res)

Today I upgraded my iPhone 3G to the iPhone 4. I’d been on the fence about upgrading since I now have an iPad and I use it for all of my apps, web browsing, emailing and game-playing and my iPhone was only being used as a phone, to text/Twitter and to take photos with. Since I’m a photographer I was feeling the urge to get the improved camera (plus it’s nice to have video as well) and thought it was worth the $200 price-tag.

Also, just for the record, I wasn’t having any issues with iOS 4 and my iPhone 3G, and the new iPhone’s “antennae problems” probably won’t even affect me (I’m a right-handed phone talker and don’t “death grip” it, lol). I bought this phone purely as a camera upgrade, believe it or not. :)

The phone is, overall, much snappier, the screen is great and the camera’s image quality is amazing. So, it’s pretty much what I expected. :) I just love the fact that I can choose focus & exposure point, and also that I can get in much closer to my subject.

The image in this post was shot with the iPhone 4 and I used the Camera+ app to do the editing (just added a quick cross-process effect). If you’d like to take a closer look at the image then click here or on the image above to see the full-res version.

Canon 7D, Canon 50mm ƒ/1.4 lens, 1/60th sec at ƒ/3.5, ISO 160

I photographed this on the Worldwide Photowalk on Saturday … Sarah is one of Rich’s two beautiful daughters (and a wonderful model, I might add). I’m a sucker for faded lens-flare shots so I couldn’t resist this shot when I saw the sun peeking through the trees. :)

This Wednesday—July 28 @ 2 pm MST—I’m going to be “Twitterviewed” (interviewed via Twitter) by the folks at Peachpit, a.k.a. my publisher! If you want to check it out and follow along you’ll need to be up-to-speed on Twitter, so you’ve got a few days to get started if you’re not already signed on.

I’m only answering question from Peachpit, but for those of you who do have questions for me you are welcome to send them to @Peachpit via Twitter. Just get on Twitter anytime between now and Wednesday and be sure to tag the question with the hash-tag #nicolesy7D so we can find it.

I’ll post more info on my Twitter account the closer it gets to the actual interview. :)

This past weekend (Saturday, July 24) was the third annual “Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk” … this year I led one of the Salt Lake City, UT walks starting at City Creek Park and we walked our way up through Memory Grove Park to the State Capitol. We had more than 50 people participate and it was a really great walk—the weather was perfect and there was a ton of stuff to photograph.

It’s really great that so many people can come together worldwide in one day in the spirit of photography and community. Our local photowalking group, Photowalking Utah, organizes several walks each year and I always have a great time … this one was no exception! :)

If you’d like to see some of the photos from this walk take a look at the Flickr group.

Photowalking is a really fun way to socialize and get some awesome photos in the process. Here are some quick tips to help you out, especially if if it’s your first photowalk.

Know what to expect. Take a look at the info before you arrive so you know what you will be doing. Take note of the meeting location, route, time, etc. … some even have meet-ups afterward the walk and it’s good to know all of this info in case you get separated from the main group during the walk.

Get the group photo right away! If you’re leading a walk make sure you get the group photo before you start walking! People spread out and leave early, so if you get it right away then you won’t have to chase people down or miss out on the group shot altogether.

Keep yourself safe & comfortable. A photowalk typically involves walking and moving around (yes, it’s true). ;) Be sure to wear comfy shoes so your feet stay happy. It’s also a good idea to bring or wear sunscreen if it’s a sunny day, wear appropriate clothing and bring a good water bottle if you think you’ll get thirsty. Most photowalks don’t provide these things for you so you’re on your own … just know your needs and be prepared.

Any camera is fine! Photowalks are not just for “photographers” … these events are for anyone with a camera! You don’t need to be a “professional” with a huge SLR to attend a photowalk. Bring any camera you have, even if it’s the camera on your phone. :)

Minimize your gear. Now, this is just a personal preference, but I like to usually bring only one camera and one lens. Sometimes I’ll carry around a few small lenses, but I don’t tend to bring my entire camera bag. I do see some people toting around lots and lots of gear, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but if the walking distance is pretty far then all that gear can really weigh a person down. Plus it’s fun to be challenged creatively to only shoot with one lens.

Don’t be shy! A photowalk is not just about the photos, it’s about meeting up with friends and meeting new ones. I sometimes get wrapped up in the people aspect that I forget I’m there to take photos. :)

Stay with the group. Photowalks, especially big ones, will mean that there are a lot of people heading in the same direction and should end up at the same place in the end. The groups usually spread out, but it’s a good idea to stay near the main group or at least be sure you are with a few other people and not out on your own. Safety is always the top priority in any photowalk, and there’s always much more safety in numbers.

Take lots of photos. Photography is, of course, the main reason for the get-together. It’s up to you to snap away … the majority of photowalks are not training events, you will mostly just walk around and take photos of whatever you like. A fun way to find things to photograph is to give yourself a theme, and then try and find things that fit the theme.

Share your photos. After the walk it’s always fun to see what everyone took photos of. A photo site like Flickr is a great place to share the photos from the walk … just create (or join) a Flickr Group where all the walkers can post their photos. Groups like these are also great places to share upcoming photowalk events.

Have fun! This is pretty self-explanatory, but the whole point of a photowalk is to have fun doing what many of us love … photography! Try not to take it too seriously and just go with the flow.

I get a lot of questions about microstock, mostly from people starting out who are wondering where to start. The thing is, most of the questions are all the same, so I thought it would be good to put together a post that will answer those questions.

So if you have a question you’d like to ask me about microstock then this is the place! Ask whatever you like, whether it’s about microstock in general or about my own career in microstock. I don’t guarantee that I’ll answer them all, but I promise that I’ll read and consider every question I get.

To ask a question just type it in the comments section below, or if you’d like to stay on the down-low and ask me privately then you can contact me directly.

I’ll take questions for about a week and post the answers up later next week.

A few weeks ago I did a photo-shoot with “Heavy Metal Heidi” for an event she puts on monthly. We spent about three hours going through different concepts … holding colorful ballons on grey background, a smoking gun, chains, etc.

She wanted to look elegant in the shot since many of her previous posters have portrayed her as a “rocker chick”, so she wanted to have something different. As a photographer it’s impossible for me to not add my own creative flare (no pun intended, lol) to the photo so I decided to place one of the lights behind her and literally add some lens flare to the shot.

The cool thing is that it is one of those photos that made it to the poster. It’s always a good feeling and adds a sense of justification as an artist when one of your favorite shots gets picked by the model and designer for the design. :)

Here’s a link to the event on Facebook, too, if you want to see what it’s all about.