For the French artist and photographer Axel Morin, the camera on iPhone is “like a brush to a painter.” The versatility of iPhone provides a new base for creation, and the immense variety of features offer endless creative possibilities. “iPhone is light, fits in one hand,” says Morin. “It’s perfect to capture every moment with authenticity. And it’s also the best tool for visual experiments.”
This month, Morin will be showcasing his iPhone photography over the years at “GSM,” Morin’s first exhibition since the launch of his limited-edition print newspaper project of the same name in 2021. The exhibit will include an audio and visual experience to accompany his photography that immerses visitors to the Paris cultural hub 3537 into the world of Morin, from his inspiration to his emotion as articulated in each photo.
Since the original iPhone launched with its 2MP rear camera in 2007, to the new 48MP camera on iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone photography has continued to evolve. From continuous advancements in true-to-life colour, to computational photography features like Night mode and Portrait mode, and the Ultra Wide camera on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro that enables macro photography, iPhone is enabling photographers to capture life’s moments — the way they see and remember them.
To celebrate the opening and his creative evolution with iPhone, Morin reflected on some of his most captivating images.
Florence, Italy
2022
Imperfection often hides a very unique kind of beauty. This image was captured in Florence at a printing house, in the midst of a turbulent day. The blurry effect comes from the reflection of a passerby on a metal plate. The visual poetry of this lonely soul-like silhouette felt exhilarating. The camera revealed a moving ghost that resonated with the ambient mood of the place, and those warm colours simply struck me. It shows the extraordinary sharpness of iPhone 14 Pro and how well it transcribes textures and colours. Many of the images in “GSM” are taken in movement. If it is not me who is in motion, it is the world around me. The use of the 24mm camera also allows me to keep an image sharp while leaving hints of an energy, whether it comes from a silhouette passing behind a window, or a reflection dancing on the wall.
Paris, France
2021
I like to explore the versatility of the Ultra Wide camera on iPhone. This way, the smallest detail and the largest element are combined to capture the contrasts of the city. An image is above all a story — a reflective moment of our daily landscape, captured and immortalised. An image reflects the truth of a moment, where the tiniest details come together to create an emotion.
Paris, France
2020
Opposed themes tend to inspire me. A wall, a finished structure that stops every organic thing from passing through, and the shape of light, painted what felt like a portal to another world. The elegant and debonair shape sparked my imagination, opening a world of thoughts.
New York City, USA
2020
New York has something extremely electric. You can feel it in the air throughout the entire city. That night, winds were strong, people were rushing, and this transparent force was ethereal. I took out my iPhone and made a movement of the wrist. This created this unique effect of scrolling lights. Those stray lines perfectly encapsulate the electroshock that this whole city represents. While I use multiple iPhone features, I really like to use Night mode. Night photography is quite technical; it takes time and precision. Since “GSM” is about spontaneity, it’s a real opportunity to have an easy tool that allowed me to capture the beauty of a city by night.
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