Years ago I remember talking with a photographer who was complaining about how auto-focus was giving people a misconception about the art and craft of photography. I admit I somewhat agree because when I look at the folks who shot film with slow manual focus lenses and made unbelievable images I hold them in a much different regard as artists and craftspeople. But innovations such as auto-focus and the like have allowed us to be better at what we do. I missed many more sports photos manually focussing than I do now--which means I provide a better product today--I tell a better story because I am capturing something I may not have before. It adds force to my might if you will. I'm a pretty retro guy overall, but I don't think to critically about advancements. I look at them and try to embrace the ones I think I can use as a tool to make my images and tell my stories. The iphone and apps associated with the iphone and like phone cameras are just that--tools to work. I use it almost as a sketch book--but also as an alternative to what can be possible in image making. Its still new to me, but I'll gladly pull out my phone to make an image if I think it will add something to the process. Sometimes it doesn't, I won't lie, but sometimes if helps me formulate better ideas and sometimes it makes an image that i just might not have been able to make with my dslr or any of my other film cameras. It is just another gun in the arsenal! and a fun one and ver accessible. For instance--this image was made after having a drink while watching a movie. I paused the film--somewhere around 2 a.m. - to get a snack or go to the bathroom and when I came back I made a few photos holding up my glass to the TV screen to see what it looked like. Its not a great image, but it is something unexpected and every time I do something like this it gives me ideas for other things to try. I don't disregard anything that can make me a better maker of images and a better story teller. It is fun to try ew things and I thank people who are making things for me to try! Keeps me young----ish! Photograph by Richard Sayer