Over the last year I've really embraced a new app called Phhhoto. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't. Taking images on my phone is nothing new to me, but learning to refine my skill in pictures that loop and repeat has been a fun challenge. There are a dozen different apps out there that do the same thing, even Instagram has gotten on the bandwagon, but Phhhoto is my favorite by far. I wanted to walk through a few examples of how I'm using Phhhoto and why I feel it adds more depth to my work.
Example 1: Hands and Feet
You don't have to search very far for them. Literally, they're attached to your body. But sometimes even the simplest things can make a big impression. The examples below were inspired by the moments I found myself, whether in the middle of working or just sitting down relaxing. Bright colors and harsh light were really helpful in the making of these as well. But what I focus on most in all my phhhotos is keeping a steady hand while shooting.
Example 2: What I'm Working on
One of my favorite uses of Phhhoto is sharing what I'm working on. Whether I'm sitting down to draw or paint I like to take a few minutes and capture the small movements of my brush or pencil. The key here is only capturing the movement in one direction, slowly, so when it loops and repeats itself the movement looks more fluid and natural.
Example 3: Capturing Light
Being an early riser I love capturing the morning light. The greatest thing about using Phhhoto is it adds another dimension to a single moment in time. So instead of having one frame of a beautiful sunrise, you get 5 frames stitched together and repeated. I have had to train my eye on how to take a Phhhoto differently from a normal photo. My process is slower and usually takes a good 5 to 10 shots before I'm happy with the outcome.
Example 4: Portraits
Capturing people in Phhhoto is a lot more trial and error than anything else. Again, as with any good image, light plays a huge part of making a good portrait. The difference between a still image and a moving image is you need your subject to remain rather still for 3-5 seconds. Which doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me it can make all the difference.
Example 5: Fuzzy Vision
Have you ever squinted your eyes so hard just to get a sense of the basic shapes and colors of a scene instead of the hard lines that define it? One of the ways I like to use Phhhoto is to lock down my focus on something close (like my hand) and then capturing a "fuzzy" image. It adds almost a certain kind of cinematic quality. I like it because it's just a little different.
Example 6: Just For Fun
Don't take life too serious. I am constantly reminded of this day in and day out with my daughter. She is so full of life and whimsy. She makes me laugh and act like a kid again. And that is something I need to be reminded more of, especially in my work. So don't get caught up in the numbers game or you'll miss what Phhhoto is all about... fun.
So there you have it. Six simple examples of how I've learned to use Phhhoto and what it has taught me about capturing images in motion. Hopefully you'll give it a try. Let me know if you decide to try it and what you think. One last thing worth noting, there is a lot of noise out there and the only way I've found to break through it all is by creating honest work.
