Why I love the VSCO Cam app

Sometimes I don’t understand the snobbery that comes with some people’s attitudes to mobile phone photography, more specifically, the iPhone.

Sure it is not the greatest camera out there, but is it meant to be? I mean, the image quality and user flexibility is never going to hold up to the likes of a Nikon D810 or a Fuji X-T2 is it? It’s like comparing a Kodak Fun Camera with a Nikon Fm2.

There might be a time that it might catch up, but that time is certainly not now.

“I always make it a point to carry a camera with me at all times… I just shoot at what interests me at that moment.” – Elliott Erwitt

Essentially, for me, my iPhone has become that camera I always carry with me. While I often try to bring my X-Pro 1 or Nikon FM2n with me, sometimes (especially with 2 kids in tow), it’s just not practical. However, I always have my phone with me and I’m always taking photos with it when I don’t have a more reliable camera in my hand.

I feel that the one downside is the images always look a little bit flat and lack a certain bit of character.

As I’ve already stated, the iPhone has limitations (at least in my hands). Being a fan of film photography and the imperfections that comes with it, I’ve learnt to embrace that – so for the most part, whenever I take a photograph on my iPhone, I tend to open it up in VSCO Cam and edit the image a little bit more – where I can apply some grain, fade the images and a cross process effect.

While the UX leaves much to be desired, the filters and editing tools have come leaps and bounds over the years. And essentially, the app, has become my go-to edit tool for my iPhone images.

Below is a selection of iPhone images I’ve taken using the app over the last year or so.