My own shots always win out over their better-looking brothers and sisters I can find with a good Google.
What with the largesse granted blogworld by Getty Images for photo use within sensible limits, one could pretty up most any post with professional portraits, landscapes, action.
But still I go my own way with my iPhone. Sometimes my iPad Air, if it’s a situation where lugging will be convenient. I prefer putting my own impressions on the post if I can, headline to three closing questions.
Until this week that meant the majority of my local work came through the tiny eye of my iPhone 4, carried in my pocket since May 2012.
On Thursday, finally, after two weeks of calling, the Syracuse Best Buy rep said they had two iPhone 6 128 AT&T carrier grays in house. One for me, one for my dear wife Karen. My anniversary gift for her from October. At last … I stopped at SMG, ran into the lobby, got her iPhone 4S for trade-in, and barreled my way to mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex Destiny USA before they sold those two phones.
I like it, like it, yes I do.
The friendly clerk figured my trade-in value. I already had been told that the extended warranty I’d signed for the pair of 4’s, which included a jacked-up trade-in value, had expired. leaving me out of luck, so all the steam had already escaped from my ears. I knew the fix-em portion had gone bye-bye, but I’d thought that the trade-in element would remain in effect until I traded in the phones. What a dummy I am. No, I did not sign the up-sell two-year plan this time around. For the curious: I got $60 for my 4 and $106 for Karen’s 4s. The price for the highest memory 128s at Best Buy for AT&T is $399. I stayed with this Big Box despite the trade-in news because I had their card at zero balance that would give me 18 months to pay at zero interest.
Of all the new advantages of the 6, I’d been looking forward to the camera zoom the most. The 4 would not take me up close, ever.
And I knew our upper level season tickets for Syracuse University football would be a great first test.
Syracuse inside the 20, no zoom.
I stuck the new phone into my jeans pocket for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. Carrier Dome start against Duke.
Syracuse got the ball and moved toward our end of the field. I took a shot without zooming. Though the phone, it looked familiar. See the result above. Our seats are great in person. On a phone camera, they look like they’re in heaven.
Syracuse new style.
Then I put my fingers on the screen and flicked.
Yes. That looked much better. Then I touched the white button to take the shot.
The result looks better here, too. Not the greatest, mind you. Somewhat out of focus. A little bit like a cartoon, is how my dear wife Karen puts it. But way better than what the result was when I’d take the iPhone 4 photo, crop it in, and then try to blow it up by just running it large. I think, anyway.
As for Syracuse, no advancements in technology for them, although quarterback No. 4, Mitch Kimble, looking kind of zoomy to me. QB II, AJ Long, is out with an injury. QB III, Austin Wilson, got banged up early against Duke, and then shuttled out and in with Kimble. I liked Kimbles arm and legs the best.
Syracuse battled valiantly. And vainly. After being tied 10-10 through three quarters, they folded. Duke scored the last 17 points for a 27-10 win. Syracuse won just one of its six Dome games this season, and that an overtime miracle against lower-division Villanova in the opener. The Orange is 3-7 with two road games left against Pitt and Boston College. There will be no bowl game.
I will be rooting for my beloved alma mater, Maryland, 6-3 with home games vs. Michigan State and Rutgers sandwiched around a roadie at Michigan. There will be a bowl game.
Do you take photos with your phone, and if so, what do you think of them? Do you have any smart phone photo tricks you can share? Who do you think is going to be the four teams in the college football playoff this year, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
My email is: reocochran@hotmail.com
It is on LinkedIn and I thought maybe it was on my gravatar page? Anyway, so sorry, lots of birthday adventures going on, not planning on staying my total allotted time on the computer. It is a grand and bright, sunny day! Got my driver’s license renewed this am after dropping grandsons (Micah and Sky) off for their Boy Scout trip to see the Statehouse and eat at Marco’s Pizza. I swear they will love the time, since I showed them Mommy’s painting that made it in 1998 as the Governor’s Award and showed them the album photo of her and her boyfriend on the Statehouse steps. I just said this since I have not exchanged with anyone who didn’t make sure they knew me, face to face! It may even be on linked in, since my address for possible snail mail is. Have a great weekend, Mark!
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I have a flip phone, but when I send my photographs to others, they always say, “Wow!” I have an amazing shot of the Clippers stadium with my youngest daughter and I at the wedding reception, all dressed up, some great pics of my Mom and one of a squirrel I told Evil Squirrel I would send him via cell phone, if he emailed his phone number. Promised him not to ‘stalk’ or keep the number, if he were interested since this squirrel, Mark, on a bench at my Mom’s senior living apts, has a tail that looks like it is 12 or so inches long, thick and deep brown. When I showed it to my son, he said, “Send that to my phone, Mom, I want to show that to someone I know!” It looks like Davy Crockett’s coon skin tail! ha ha I am content with my Verizon flip phone but amazed at all the football field and other photos of concerts you have taken! Wow!
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Give me your email and I will email you my cell number so you can send me the Clippers stadium photo, the wedding reception photo of you and your daughter and the squirrel photo. If you want, I can post them on my blog and give you credit, like guest photo posts like we did guest writing posts with Paul. But even if you don’t want any on the blog, I’d love to see them, Robin. I don’t think you would do any phone stalking at this point because I would have your number for retribution. Haha. 🙂 My email is markbialczak@gmail.com.
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SO jealous! My contract isn’t up until February so I haven’t gotten the 6 yet. I might pay out my contract and get it sooner though. That zoom looks amazing and I can’t wait to see more pics you take with the phone to see how they compare to the older iphones.
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I have three shots on my post today, Cheney. No zoom, but I think they all look beautiful. It might be worth the buyout for you. Check out what AT&T will do for you.
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The best camera for any situation is the one you have in your pocket. Since my 4s is there, I use it tons. Places. Clouds. Pretending to learn some composition. Documenting at work is commonplace.
Love your photos and the angles you work to get in order to convey the story visually.
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Thank you for your keen observations, WAWW. I like your angles, too. Work with what you have available, to the utmost.
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Believe it or not I still have my very first cell phone. It isn’t a smart phone – just the text and call kind. I am going to update but I just keep putting it off because I am so tech stupid. I really like the pictures your phone is taking! Excellent to be coming from a phone.
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I hope the photos you see from my phone motivate you to upgrade, PJ, because you could be getting similar results on Bleeding My Emotions. There’s no tech knowledge needed other than button-pushing and clicking. That’s it. If you can write and publish a blog and text on your current phone, you have it knocked. 🙂
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I only shoot with my phone (which is not an IPhone anything) and Photo Editor is my best friend. You’re rocking the Nano Poblano, Mark!
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I like the iPhone, LIz. I like the iPad, too. I don’t use any photo editing at all. And thank you for your kind Nano Poblano praise, my friend.
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Congrats on the new phone, Chum. Every photo I take is with my Note and they’re pretty good. A better zoom would be awesome. Great pics!
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What brand of phone is a Note? I’m not so Techno quick on phones, Aud.
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Samsung…I got it for the larger screen, but now iphones have that option.
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Samsung. I see. As long as it works for you, Red, it works for me. 🙂
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I just have an old flip phone Mark – and I don’t have the cable to transfer pictures to my laptop. I have to at least get the cable someday. Your photos look great Mark – the zoom works well.
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You do need that cable, Paul. You might have to transfer a shot of a cart pulled from the water and golfers putting their socks on. 🙂
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Bwahahaha! 🙂
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I got an image in my head of you sprinting and jumping over hurdles to get to the store to get yourself and your honey the new phones! Nice anniversary gift to each other. The things you do for Mrs. B are always admirable. 🙂 I have an iPhone 5c and the pictures are decent except for indoors. I have yet to get the settings right so that they come out clear. I would absolutely love to get a “real” digital camera and get into photography. In the meantime, I’ll be using my phone.
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The darker, the harder with a phone, I surely agree, Mrs. B. But I already sense that this 6 has a better lens than the 4 for light sensitivity. It was was superior in the bowling alley, which is dark. What does the c stand for in your 5c? Karen has a digital small first-gen camera point-and-shoot that I got her as a gift 10 years ago, and I think the phones have caught up to that, Maria. 🙂
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these actually turned out great, mark. i do take many pics with my iPhone, i have the 5s, and win some, lose some. try to make up for it with words….)
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A lot of your photos are win. Always the grands shots. Somehow those, always, Beth. And your words, too, of course, are prize-winners. 🙂
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I do use my phone. I often times edit by phone, or send to my email and edit on my computer. But your phone takes much better pics than my phone. I think when I do upgrade I may go with a Samsung. For their picture taking ability.
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A lot of people like the Galaxy, Colleen. It has a huge screen and they love the camera. 🙂
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I do worry about the size. I carry my phone in my pocket. And to get much bigger would mean it wouldn’t fit. But, we’ll see. 😉
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Yes. Pocket size is key. 🙂 I do not want to have to change my wardrobe to pants with bigger pockets.
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Oh the traps of technology…. 😉
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My phone camera is fine – but yesterday I had a shot all lined up and the phone rang – and it prioritises calls and won’t let me take the photo! I guess it is a phone so I shouldn’t be surprised! Your photos look great; impressive zoom I think. Liked the line about your seats being in heaven. We sit up ‘in the gods’ whenever we go to The Albert Hall.
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The price is right up high, compared to down low, is what I think about seats, Rachel. That’s funny, who uses a phone to take calls these days? You do! Yes, my zoom is pretty good on the new camera. Er, phone. 🙂
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My iPhone 6 is on order. There’s nothing wrong with my 5 except for the fact that my battery can’t hold a charge and you can’t just put a new battery in the device. But I am looking forward to the better camera and other features of the 6.
University of Maryland? College Park? Me too. But way before you.
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Doobs, I don’t think you went that much before me, if at all. Class of ’79. How’d you go from College Park to San Fran, other than being a smart man? I’ve been an East Coast guy my whole life, Long Island to College Park to Syracuse. 🙂
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I’m 11 years your senior, Mark. Class of ’68. It has, indeed, been a long and winding road from College Park to San Francisco.
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I never would have thought it from your gravatar helmet photo, Doobster. 🙂 Or your writer’s attitude. Go Terps Go.
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Yeah, I’ve been told before that I write younger than I am. Which I think is a compliment.
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Damn sure is a compliment.
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And I’m still trying to get used to the Terps no longer being in the ACC.
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I know. I kind of like it for football. Basketball not at all.
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Agree completely!
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Never taken a pic with my phone, only my Nikon. Old school. But your pics look great.
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You are smart sticking with the camera, old-schooler. The old yearbook is your picture taking method of choice for your blog anyhow, mostly. I want more of your pictures in addition!
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Never mind football…do you like the phone? I’m on the threshold of an upgrade and I STILL don’t know which one I want. Do you have any buyer regret about not getting a 6+ or are you happy with the 6? My Bride says I’ve been obsessing about it too much but this isn’t a decision to take lightly. This is something you use every day, all day. And you’d better do your homework because you are stuck with it for two years.
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Because I already have the iPad Air, it was no choice between the 6+ and the 6. The 6 is plenty big for me, Mark. I love it. I want it to fit in my pocket. I take it out and take the photos, text, talk, stick it back in my pocket. My bowling teammate has one of the Samsung Galaxy phones, smaller than the 6+, and even that is too big. He can’t fit it into his pocket. What’s the use of that. I don’t want to carry my phone in my hand all the time.
If I want the bigger function I’ll take my iPad with me. I took it with me to the Heath Brothers concert because I still had my 4, and the pictures and video I took with it came out awesome. You can see the iPad pictures on the post I wrote. But stiinking WordPress wouldn’t let me load the video. Yeesh.
Anyway, I say stop obsessing and just take the updgrade one or the other. I vote 6 because of the pocket size. Go 6+ if you want the big screen for any reason at all and don’t mind carrying the phone in your hand when you’re walking around.
You will like its functionality, that’s for sure.
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funny I am a techy with some things, but struggle a bit with my phone. Took me a year to figure out how to use the flash! Looks great it is amazing how good cell cameras are becoming!
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It is amazing how good the cameras are, UpMom. The 4 wasn’t great. The 6 is great. Yay.
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I am impressed! Nice shots! You made a good deal, and with as often as you take photos, it will be well worth the cost.:)
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Thank you for supporting my financial deal, Rachel. I appreciate that. 🙂
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All i have is my phone camera, Samsung Galaxy S5. I have been working with downloading different camera applications for different types of shots. Nothing groundbreaking to report on that, but it is fun to read the reviews and see what is out there. 🙂
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I have yet to go for any apps, Jeanette. I suppose I could read up and try. I think I am an iPhone purist. What a rationalization that is. 🙂
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Oh, Mark!!! Great photos, my friend! IF I could I would run out to buy ALL that is on my dream list. An iPhone is one of them. *sighs* Gotta focus on getting a free domain so I can make some $$$ with my photography. That is on my list odf to-do’s. You motivate me to do this so that I can in turn um buy my TOYS. LOL (((HUGS))) Amy
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I want you to make some cash, Amy. You deserve it. I want me to make some cash, too. We work hard at this. 🙂
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You’re darn right we work hard. I do plan on going free domain with the help of a computer guru. LOL He has done it with his photography and just one photo, for example, got over ONE MILLION HITS. So, you deserve to make money as well. Come on, Mark, let’s do this!!!! (((HUGS))) Amy
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I recently switched from an iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S5. The Galaxy is supposed to have a way better camrera, but so far, most of my pictures look blurry. I think I might be doing something wrong. 😉 Since it’s my only camera, I should probably work it out. (Other than that, I adore the phone!)
Nice shots of the game! (I grew up in Raleigh where the decision to be a Duke, Tarheels, or Wolfpack fan is as important as deciding who to marry – usually more in a basketball context than football. It was always Duke for me.) 😀
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Nerdy, you are a Dukie! Breaks my Terrapin heart, you know. 😦
You must work the photo issue out on your Samsung, yes. The Galaxy s5 is very large. It should take wonderful pictures because it looks like it can negotiate world peace, cure cancer and predict tomorrow night’s megamillion numbers. 🙂
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The photos look pretty good to me. Enjoy your new phone.
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Thank you, Kim.
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Have you tried the panorama feature yet? I took a shot with it yesterday and thought it was a nice feature. I like the 6.
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I have to try it to see if my hand and patience can be steady enough, Kate! Put some Disney cruise pix up at your place maybe?
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I want a iphone 6 😀
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You do so good and pretty with your camera, Leyla. But the iPhone 6 is quick and easy! ❤
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Thank you my friend…
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I love zooming along with you, Mark!
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What is your phone that you do so well, with, Ann? I guess it’s a 5. I am guessing a lot yesterday and today, huh?
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It is a 5, Mark! You are a zoomin’ good guesser.
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I’m still learning how to use my new phone, but I really like its camera and being able to immediately share to my blog, Facebook, etc. Definitely helps when I’m at a taping of The Nite Show and want to share what’s going on behind the scenes…
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It is a handy blogging tool for sure, Austin. I have been using it more on Twitter, too, lately. Go in to the setting feature and add your Twitter account and you can get the picture right on your Tweet!
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I’ll have to look into doing that. Thanks!
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‘welcome.
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