Dan Chung live blogs from the Olympics with iPhone and Snapseed

Irony. The linked page with the images can't be viewed on an iPhone.

Think photographers are snobs? Check out the high-end stereo folks!

This whole thing was a viral for iphone.

The pictures are what you would expect, good for a smartphone, but nothing more.

It's like cooking a chicken in the microwave.

The points I see in this project, are:
1. This is nothing but an advertisement for Iphone.
Apple have a smart non standard and effective way to advertise their products. This article is a very good example.
2. ”It's not the camera, but the lens” in this case, binocular as telephoto lens, wide angle adaptor for fish eye efects.
If Dan would like to convince me that ”it's not the camera but the photographer” I suggest him to shot a wedding with a smart phone as a next project, and name it ”wedding album shot with a smart phone” without mentioning the brand.
I also suggest him to use the new 41mp smart phone for abil
ity to heavy crop the images.

I am impressed.

Way to go Dan Chung- nice to see some out of the box thinking. Shows talent + creativity + taking advantage of an opportunity = results. A few Picasso quotes come to mind: All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Also another: Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.

My personal take on this is a little different and what I think is a bit down to earth.

Every now and then I'll meet another parent who makes the comment that they wish they had a "good camera" like my dSLR. They are under the impression that if they had a "good camera" they would get better pictures of their kids, and then they go on to mention how bad their compact camera is. And they don't even consider trying to take good pictures with their compact camera.

I try to tell them, with a few tips-and-tricks, their compact camera can take amazing pictures. But they aren't convinced. Which is a shame, because they are losing a lot of opportunities to get better pictures of their kids with the camera that they have now. But they just don't believe.

I'm going to share this article on my personal Facebook page with my friends to show what a professional can do with a less than "awesome" camera . . .

Gotta weigh in.

I think it's perfectly fine that a guy is taping a phone to his binoculars and posting the photos to a blog. Why not. My only worry is that there is a strong popular pressure to accept everything as "good enough". It's an extension of the "anti-intelectualism" we've been famous for since Andrew Jackson's time. And it's not just in photography, but in English - you're just being arrogant if you worry about using "your" in the wrong place. Or go to Home Depot and look at the quality of building materials available. These athletes spend a great deal of their time and energy and resources getting to the olympics. I'm happy to see Canon and Nikon rolling out their best for the occasion as well.

And what about this photographer going the way of retro, using nothing less than a Graphlex (as far as I can see), to shoot the olympics?

https://plus.google.com/u/0/111834234095682920754/posts/FG8r9ckKvvY

I did not expect images this great from a communication device coupled to some binoculars. Dan Chung showed me it is actually possible. Bravo!

Dan Chung will do anything as long as you pay him.

So many awesome pictures, to see, thank you! He is definitely a clever talented and hard-working guy (I am envious lol)!

I don't get the negativity about this. It's an interesting experiment. Obviously he's had to cheat a bit by using the binoculars, but that in itself is interesting. I didn't know that was possible. Trying different ways to get the best out of a phone cam. Showing good pics can be achieved. Most people in the crowd will be using either a compact digicam or a phone cam. This shows what can be achieved with experimentation and a good eye. There will be tens of thousands of pixel perfect images of the Olympics online for those who desire that sort of thing. This is something different. (Although it'd have been interesting to try the new Nokia Pure View 808 without the binoculars.)

This is great.
I hava a Canon 7D with lots of nice lenses, I also have a Canon S95.

But as the proverb:
"the best camera is the one you bring along"
Thats why I take a lot great pictures on my iPhone.

It is inspiring to see Dan force him self to push the limits with the iPhone.
For many purposes it is good enough!

I really like when people push the limits to make this blog or to record a whole film or record a music record only using the iPhone or such!

Dan and others , keep up the great work - never mind some people whining and nagging:)

Stefan

I think this shows that
a) You don't need pro gear to take a good shot. It takes imagination and an eye and skills to use what you have well. How clever using the binoculars! Lol!
and
b) smartphone cameras have come long way. Todays smartphone camera is the modern box brownie.

I feel a point will be proved if he uses a smartphone solely for all pictures in a year; job and recreation. Well, is he frustrated with the device yet, or did his skills with it eventually allow him to take the most amazing photos with it?

Though Dan covered several events, still once it's done he doesn't need to confine himself to the iPhone for the points to make on a blog. And as for these pics, several are good enough to make one think twice it was a phone, while most others.... yeah, no second looks

Many "photographers" here really had a big problem against iPhone or any smartphone users. Many of these "photographers" really complain on the technicalities side of photography like resolution, pixels, white balance. Is photography for these complainers is all about pixels, resolution, etc..? I guess they thought if they had the "best" and most expensive camera equipment out there, they feel like they're "professionals" and a good photographer. I guess these people complain against people using iPhones to create photographs can't create great photos from a "crappy" cameras...

BFD .... you mean the iPhony that is a rip-off of the 2007 PRODUCTION LG Prada shown 9 months before the first peek of a mock up iPhony at MW???

I look at a photo and either I like it or I don't, mostly based on composition. I think many on this site have a different method.

1. Did they nail focus
2. Is it sharp
3. Is it clean at 100% view
4. Is the white balance spot on
5. Is it high resolution
6. Was it made with the best gear? (extra points if same gear I own)
7. Is the exposure exactly right (if not, it should be pushed at least 4 stops and be as clean as if you had exposed it correctly, one speck in the shadows and it's crap)
8. How did the sensor in the camera that snapped said photo fair on DXO?

Then if those criteria are met, and only then, actually look at the subject and decide whether you like the photo or not.

Nice photos Dan.

The title says it all. Bla, bla, Guy uses iphone at Olympics, bla, bla.

When was the last time a photographer wanted to be primarily known for the camera he uses? That's right, when he's going out of his way to make a hipster comment about technology.

I'd have a lot more appreciation for his effort if he used a higher quality camera, then transferred or uploaded the pics to his phone (or other mobile device) for posting in near real time. You know, like what the umpteen thousand other professional photographers are doing because they are taking their job seriously over there.

-Suntan

WOW this site amazes me. You call yourselfs photographers? Really? Shouldnt you be supporting a fellow photographer no matter what he used to take the photos? They are photos. Just that. Nothing more. A moment captured in time. You guys are nothing but gear heads that pixel peep and totally miss out on the big picture. I can only hope you're not like this in your everyday lives and I surely hope you don't act like this around your children if you have any. WOW.

Some great images ...you guys do know these are downsized for a blog right?
But, people tend to get really defensive when they throw so much money at an item thinking it will make them better photographers.

Heard this young, talented piano player the other day. He created magic with a Pearl River. Can't wait to hear him again on a Steinway...

To the a...holes posting snide comments about this: when was the last time you took a picture with your expensive gear that was half as good as those posted by Dan Chung? When was the last time you got half as many good pictures as are in that blog? Probably not in your whole lifetime. Losers...

Dan- Congratulations with a great image stream, you proved that gear is not a limitation when it is in good hands. Of course that goes poorly on a gadget frak site like DPR.

What Dan Chung really proved is the limitation of the iPhone. Just compare to other professional photos like those on olympics.org and you can see what's lacking:

. Resolution
. Athlete's face expressions
. Actions at their peak
. Sharpness for low light actions
. Subject isolation

Now imagine what the pics look like without binoculars and the clip-on Schneider lens, and without Dan Chung. Actually you don't have to, there are plenty of them from the audience posted on Flickr and Facebook. Horrid.

Some good thumbnails ;)

Ho Dan Chung! I hope you are having a blast! What are you proving? You are proving that no matter what camera we own, what we can afford, we can have fun with photography and create photos that we can look back on with great memories. Yes you could do better with a more "professional" piece of equipment, we all know that, but I really appreciate what you have done with what you have been given! Great talent, the oportunity to be there, and lot's of just plain hard work. I do not have a TV. I would have missed the Olympics once again. But these were a treat. Too bad you could not have been everwhere at once. :)
Thank you very much. You inspire me to work harder at my photography. After all, is'nt hard work what the Olympics are all about?

This looks more like an "I can do this with one hand tied behind my back" bet. Some of the images are great, some are mediocre, many suffer (imo) from poor subject isolation due to the large depth of field or lack of dynamic range to capture the event, and some of the really cool shots are function of the positioning afforded to pros.

I think it's an interesting study simply because it shows you what the limits are with a talented photographer. Despite a couple of really great shots, the majority have the flat look of very limited equipment. They would be useful as a way to dress up an otherwise text-only narrative but do not make for a compelling photo-blog.

(note: I have an iPhone 4 and one of the standout features is the camera. It's awesome to have "all the time," but it stays in my pocket when I have another camera with me)

OK, I checked out his pics. OK snapshots with the equivalent of a decent point and shoot. Made possible only because his employer told him "we're going to experiment here. Use your iPhone and let's see what happens", not "and make sure you get the shot". Great work if you can get it.

the iphone takes decent throw aways.

Like the G5 Olympic photos, these are fine at 460px wide, and the shooter has concentrated on taking actions shots where he can easily predict the action. When I see some G5 or iPhone shots of a soccer match that rival those taken by a pro with high-end gear,I'll be impressed. Neither camera is useful for taking shots of quickly moving subjects and continous AF. I like Chung's shots, but they illustrate a very skilled shooter who is living within the limitation of his tools, not the capability of the tools.

I would really like to see how he made the binoculars/iphone setup.
Has anyone a link?

Like I said with the G5. All you people out there that think if you guy the best gear available you become a good photographer. Think again. It does not matter what you use. A good photo is a good photo regardless of what you use. I have seen some terrible photos taken with D4's and 1D's using the best glass. And....welcome to the digital age, where 90% of your photos will be viewed at around 2 megapixels. When was the last time you printed one of your photos larger than A3 ?