mellino1974@sbcglobal.net

www.mellinophotography.com

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the "birth" of the smart phone!

In my personal artistic practice, I occasionally do use my cellphone to capture interesting, unusual moments worth "shooting", and I am actually surprised at myself for having accepted and actually incorporated this photographic modality in my own work. However, having witnessed the incredible technological advances found in today's cellphones, I have to admit that cellphone photography is ok, it's here to stay and it's more than acceptable, if an actual camera is not at hand...and to prove it, this month Photoblog is totally dedicated to this photographic modality. All the images presented here to you were shot with one of two different cellphones over the last few years; some post-production adjustments were made in the phone, with occasionally some further manipulation taking place in the computer.

I certainly would love to hear your comments and impressions on this work; however, I do believe that most of these images are of very good quality and rather difficult to differentiate from a camera generated image.

Enjoy, and ...have fun!

The common denominator of all these images is the sudden appearance of the scenes in front of my eyes: no time to plan, to look for a better angle, to find the best light...you either shot NOW, or it's gone for ever! So, the real trick is to be able to "see" beyond the actual moment, in order to capture the meaning, the essence of the moment.

The immobile street artist seen in Tampa was indeed mesmerizing for most passersby, as were to me several beach "catches", while on a long morning walk in Florida.

The theatrics of children could be at any moment magical...as well as horses or other animals discovered in their own world.

And...what fun IT is to drive at night around Cleveland during a wintery snow storm, right?

I would at times use my cellphone to photograph from my car, when at a red light or stuck in traffic, or when driving around the Italian countryside.

Some comical situations can be immortalized anywhere, as with the sunbathing group, I suppose a family vacationing together, with one of the kids being the subject of their attention!

A stunning lake Erie sunset could not wait for my camera, as my beautiful puppy Gwynby, or the three very young robins who were born by our kitchen porch and who were constantly waiting for their next feeding, or the tired worker who found the perfect bench for an impromptu nap...

Wild flowers found a welcoming home along an old stone stairway; a spectacular view of a small mountain lake in Umbria while waiting for lunch to be served, and a warm grain field along a little creek filled with trout.

Below, lunch was served...!

A wind surfer well at ease along the coast of Rhode Island during a very windy afternoon, and a cold winter day down in Clifton Beach, with hundreds of seagulls singing and flying around!