Landscape photography is as much about the photo as it is the story behind the photo. What was the location like? Why did the photographer choose that composition over others? Were the conditions that day ideal or challenging? How was the image processed? Were multiple exposures blended together?
While this website and blog have allowed me to explore many of those questions, there’s another level of fidelity to video that words can’t replicate. There’s something about seeing the location through the photographer’s eyes and being privy to their considerations and decisions in real-time.
Over the past few years I’ve dabbled in YouTube videos to take you behind the scenes of my landscape photography. But it’s only been in the past 12 months that I’ve invested more time in creating videos alongside my photo outings. From hiking through remote forests without a soul in sight, to discussing the application of colour theory to create balanced images.
I’ve filmed short travel films on my Sony A7RII and captured on-location vlogs with a pocket Canon G7 X Mark II. And while I’m satisfied with the results, I felt that my photography was impaired because of it. My attention and creativity are finite resources. The more I invested in video (taking time to consider frame rate, exposure, stability, framing), the less I was able to invest in my photography.
And so, in late 2020, I ordered the iPhone 12 Pro and assigned it as my main video camera.
Is the iPhone as stable as a gimbal? No. Is the image quality as good as my Sony? No. Is the built-in mic as clear as a wireless mic? No. But what it lacks in raw image quality (and is undoubtedly less than even the nimble Canon G7 X), it makes up for in ease of use.
I can whip out the iPhone on-location and start recording. No settings adjustments—or additional fiddly gear—required. I know the scene will be well exposed. I know the ultrawide lens will capture stable video as I vlog handheld. I know the audio quality will be decent. I know the device will be charged and ready to go.
Because I don’t have to second guess the video side with the iPhone, I can be fully immersed in my photography. I can freely talk you through my considerations as I frame the shot. I can film fleeting scenes (such as a short-lived sunrise), without having to choose between either getting the photo or getting the footage.
It’s beyond cliché to say that the best camera is the one on you. But for me, the best video camera is the one that slides in and out of my pocket. It’s the one that performs good enough while not diminishing my photography. It’s the one that helps to tell the story behind the photo and doesn’t complicate the process. For me, the best video camera is the iPhone 12 Pro.