It’s an iPhone Revolution
So, I’ve been following this guy on Tumblr for a little while (oh Tumblr, what wonders you expose me to) and I’ve reached the stage where I just can’t not tell you about him.
There is something very special about Misho Baranovic’s work. And it isn’t just that his photos are all taken on the humble iPhone. We’ll get to this later.
Misho Baranovic | North Melbourne Station
The special something about Baranovic’s photographs is the same special something that makes me never tire of art, and never tire of writing this blog. It’s that feeling you get when you come across the needle in the haystack that makes you catch your breath, surprises you, catches you off guard, renews your faith in originality and ability of beauty to continue to exist.
Not just beauty, but new beauty. Beauty that is being made, found, uncovered in this very moment. Beauty that doesn’t exist right this second, but will exist tomorrow. The fact that it isn’t just something that has already happened.
That’s how I felt when I first came across Baranovic’s work, and how I feel every time I go back to look at it.
And I’m not just saying that because I know he’ll be reading this.
Who is Misho Baranovic?
Misho Baranovic is a Brisbane-grown, Melbourne-based photographer who mostly uses his iPhone to capture scenes from everyday life in Melbourne. As you can see by the body of work I have rather presumptuously included below, Baranovic generally prefers black and white photography over colour.
Me personally, I think some of the more recent colour photographs are quite lovely as well.
Street photography
Baranovic’s work generally falls into the category ‘street photography’, that is, the photos he takes are generally everyday scenes that you come across, y’know, when you’re just walkin’ down the street.
The thing about street photographers is that they capture images that are visually interesting and beautiful from scenes in our everyday lives. As can been seen in most of Baranovic’s work, there is beauty even (especially?) in the mundane.
Misho Baranovic | Brunswick, Melbourne, VIC
“It has always been the lack of a subject that has in many ways separated the street photographer from the photojournalist or reportage photographer. The main difference is that the street images are more spontaneous, surprising an unexpected because of the very fact that the photographer was not mentally editing his subject matter as he went along, he was simply reacting to quickly changing circumstances”. — Nick Turpin, street photographer.
As is true of all photography, however, the key to Baranovic’s work lies in its composition, as well as its use of light.
Misho Baranovic | Armadale Station, Melbourne
The iPhone
I mentioned earlier that these photographs are all taken on an iPhone. It’s referred to as iPhoneography.
Having had a look at them, I bet you don’t believe me. I didn’t believe me either, but Baranovic wouldn’t lie to us.
In fact, iPhoneography is something of an emerging medium for photographers in this digital age. There is a whole magazine dedicated to it: PIXEL: the Art of the iPhone.
If I had an iPhone, or knew anything about iPhones, this would be the place where I talked about the logistics of iPhone photography. But unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and I, and therefore you, shall remain wholly ignorant on this front.
I can, however, refer you to what looks like a very useful website.
(If you couldn’t tell by my thinly veiled bitterness, I wish I had an iPhone).
Some of my favourites
Misho Baranovic | Lavendula Farm, Hepburn Springs, VIC
Misho Baranovic | Degraves Lane, Melbourne
Misho Baranovic | Brunswick, Melbourne
Misho Baranovic | Brunswick, Melbourne
Misho Baranovic | Toorak Station
Misho Baranovic | Brunswick, Melbourne
Misho Baranovic | No. 59 Tram, Melbourne
I think maybe Baranovic catches a lot of public transport. Catching people completely unstaged, unaware and in their everyday lives - I guess there’s no better place for it.
Aren’t they beautiful? I think so.
