Hi, I'm Vincent Yasay. I’m a photography hobbyist and my camera of choice is the iPhone. However, I didn’t always think of the iPhone as a camera when I thought about photography. In the past, I’ve shot on a Canon DSLR and I’ve assembled a modest photography flash kit. But several years ago, I went on a photography hiatus and sold my DSLR.

It wasn’t until the pandemic-related shelter-in-place that I was seeking a creative outlet. I realized that photography—and the process surrounding it from planning to editing—was my creative outlet. Further, I realized that I’ve been utilizing my iPhone—my everyday carry—as a tool to satisfy that outlet. Therefore, I was inspired to share my affinity for photography using the iPhone and the iPad as a creative platform by starting a vlog.

My First DSLRs

My first DSLR was the Canon Rebel XSi—otherwise known as the Canon ESO 450D—that included the EF-S 18-55mm IS as its kit lens. I then upgraded to the Canon EOS 60D that included an EF-S 18-135mm IS as its kit lens. With these kits, I experimented with candids, street photography, and portrait photography. In fact, it’s what opened the doors for me to portrait photography. I eventually picked up a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM—in addition to a few external flashes and light boxes.

However, I eventually hit a motivational wall. At the time, I couldn’t justify the cost of continuing to build my photography kit. To me, this was a creative outlet—but an expensive one.

Hiatus

Eventually, I sold my camera and lenses to pay rent with the idea of returning to it someday. That was 7 years ago. Since then, a few friends have asked me to do a few projects where I borrowed a camera and lenses, but I never really did return to photography in the way as I had originally planned. But flash forward to today, I realize that I’ve been satisfying that photography void with my iPhone—beginning about five years ago with the iPhone 6 Plus.

I’ve been fortunate to have a group of friends who share the same interest in photography as me. As a hobby, I’ve learned as much from others as much as when I’ve gone out and experimented on my own. So with the launch of my new vlog, I not only want to share my affinity for photography and personal discoveries with others, but to also invite others to appreciate and access this fulfilling creative outlet—even if it’s just through their phone.

Moving Forward

Moving forward, I don’t want to focus too much on gear. Granted, my vlog will be centered around the iPhone and iPad—since that is what I have available to me at this time. With the iPhone, I can find ways to take advantage of its capabilities—as well as find ways around its limitations—and I think it’s that process that I look forward to most, because it pushes me to get creative and to intimately understand the tool that I’m using the capture the image that I want.

And so, in future posts, I’ll discuss my editing workflow from image capture to export—to more practical things such as file management on a mobile device. I’ll also post periodical updates discussing anything new I may have learned that I’d like to share and discuss.

So with that, I invite you to check out my YouTube channel or Instagram for future updates.

I hope to see you around.