Smartphone or big camera?

Yesterday I went to William Klein conference in Kings Place. To be honest I booked it a long time ago. Being a Sunday afternoon, my planning is usually kids or photoshoot so i was in the train, wondering why I chose to go.

However when I arrived in Kings Cross instead of the usual Eurostar I turned right and discovered all the regeneration area with cranes, half built tower and rails. No heavy camera on my shoulder, I forgot about noise, quality, sensor and so on and start playing along with my mobile. There is great fun in shooting from the hip and forgot the conventional rules and actually the mobile can do great things if 1)you read the user manual (not my case) and 2 )go with with the mobile’s strength: ultralight,  discreet and fast .

Then the conference was amazing: it is very different to read what a photographer says in a book or see his smile, comments and jokes when he sees his image in giant size on the wall. I could feel William Klein independent spirit and brilliant vision and I left the place with an increased respect for his lack of reverence. He happened to be shooting on film but his vision is not at all about rules. Camera, mobile… whatever you use, just create something strong and or beautiful that comes from what you like and not what you have been told you should like. The best camera is the one ready to use at the “decisive” moment.

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