The Ever-present Camera: Understanding Photography On Your Smartphone

Corey Seeman

University of Michigan

cseeman@umich.edu

​

Web: https://www.squirreldude.com/

Program Page: https://www.squirreldude.com/photography-programs

Corey’s flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/cseeman

​

June 2026

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 1

Presentation Overview

• Introduction
• About Smartphone Photography
• Learning your phone
• Photographic sweet spots!
• Where does it go?
• How to manage your pictures
• Utilities and other fun things
• Some Homework!
• Questions?

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 2

Presentation Overview

• The smartphone has revolutionized photography by enabling almost everyone to have a camera with them at all times. With the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and Android phones a year later, the number of photos taken with phones far outnumbers the ones taken with digital cameras of any kind. This program is designed to provide an overview of smartphone photography, storage and some best practices so you can make the best use out of this amazing tool.
• Key Takeaways
• Discover an overview of the growth of phone photography.
• Understand where the images and videos are stored and how to manage them on the phone and the cloud (including backing them up).
• Learn the best subjects to use with a smartphone and where it is not as good as a camera.
• Review basic phone settings on both Android and iPhone/iPad devices

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 3

Presentation Overview

• Useful Links
• Program Page: https://www.squirreldude.com/photography-programs
• Everpresent Camera Page: https://www.squirreldude.com/photography-programs/everpresent-camera
• Photography Follow-Up Answers: https://www.squirreldude.com/photography-programs/photography-follow-up-answers (includes some good basic sites and links).

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 4

Introduction

• About Corey
• Librarian at the University of Michigan (since 2005)
• Formerly, an archivist at three institutions (including the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania & Chicago Historical Society).

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 5

Introduction

• Passionate photographer as a child.
• Done in by the double cost of photography (film and developing).
• Rekindled my passion for photography with my first digital camera back in 2007.

My older brother and me, in Matawan, NJ

(c. 1968)

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 6

Introduction

• Huge user on flickr
• https://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman
• I have participated in Project365 (one photo every day) since June 12, 2008
• Almost never without a camera!

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 7

Introduction

• Why do I take pictures?
• to document
• to remember
• to share with everyone
• to spread joy!
• to capture moments in time
• to tell a story (or lots of them)

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 8

About Smartphone Photography

• Cell phone photography is many things….
• Liberating
• Capturing and sharing with friends and families
• It is part of our language
• It is changing photography for everyone!

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 9

About Smartphone Photography

• Anyone can cook! – Chef Gusteau (Ratatouille, 2007)
• Everyone is a photographer!
• Authenticity of being where you are.
• Sharing your bad photo is sometimes better than sharing a better professional picture!

​

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 10

About Smartphone Photography

• The quality of smartphone photography is remarkable.
• While it cannot completely replace a camera for many types of photos, it is a far better options that early digital cameras or modest film ones.
• Some places will not allow cameras (MLB & concerts), but almost everyplace allows phones.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 11

About Smartphone Photography

• It has been often said by many ‘…the best camera is the one that's with you.’
• I have started to use it for wide-angle pictures when I have my long zoom. Lets me swap lenses less frequently

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 12

About Smartphone Photography

Livonia – early 1970s (Photography was a bigger deal when film is involved).

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 13

About Smartphone Photography

• Camera phones were not great, but available before the iPhone.
• The iPhone was first launched by Apple in 2007 and the Android (Google) was launched shortly there after.
• Other phones had cameras, but they would never be a worthwhile replacement.
• Smartphones have practically replaced point and shoot cameras.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 14

About Smartphone Photography

• Statista. (August 1, 2022). Number of smartphone users in the United States from 2009 to 2040 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/statistics/201182/forecast-of-smartphone-users-in-the-us/

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 15

About Smartphone Photography

• There is no definitive answer as to how many photographs are taken each year.
• Decent estimate from Matic Broz (Founder of Photutorial)
• https://photutorial.com/photos-statistics/ (Sept 2025)

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 16

About Smartphone Photography

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/rip-cameras-925-of-photos-are-now-taken-with-smartphones (Sept 2024)

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 17

About Smartphone Photography

• Flickr’s Camera Finder - https://www.flickr.com/cameras
• Phone mostly has replaced the point and shoot camera.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 18

Learning your phone

• Phone settings
• Sensor
• Lenses
• Digital Zoom vs. Optical/Mechanical Zoom
• Still modes or Action Pictures

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 19

Learning your phone

Phone settings

• Your phone can be used like a point and shoot camera.
• You will often get your best picture by letting it drive.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 20

Learning your phone

Phone settings

• What do the buttons do?
• Latest Android update changed the buttons a bit.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 21

Learning your phone

Phone settings

• What do the buttons do?
• Filters
• Motion Photo on/off
• Change the lens (MB)
• Img size (3:4; 9:16; 1:1 & full)
• Timer (group shots)
• Flash
• Settings

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 22

Learning your phone

Phone settings

• Options under MORE

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 23

Learning your phone

Phone settings

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 24

Learning your phone

Phone settings

• iPhones are all made by Apple and vary only by release.
• Android Phones (Google) can be all over and are made by many companies. Android software makes them somewhat more consistent, but not like Apple.
• Android phones include Samsung, LG, Google/Pixel, Motorola, etc.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 25

Learning your phone

Sensor

• The Sensor is the device on any camera where the image is captured (or what the film used to do).
• The larger the sensor, you get clear pictures and can do so with less light.
• Phone sensors are typically smaller than cameras, and that is part of the reason why things pixelate.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 26

Learning your phone

Sensor

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 27

Learning your phone

Sensor

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 28

Learning your phone

Lenses

• Most smartphones now have multiple lenses.
• My Galaxy 25+ has four lenses:
• 12MP Selfie camera
• 12MP Ultra Wide
• 50MP Wide-angle 2x Optical Quality Zoom
• 10MP Telephoto 3x Optical Zoom

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 29

Learning your phone

Digital Zoom vs. Optical/Mechanical Zoom

• The Digital Zoom can get pixelated when using longer zoom.
• You lose clarity and sharpness as you make pictures larger. Looks OK small.
• Optical or mechanical zoom lenses can give you more clarity as you zoom in or crop your photo.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 30

Learning your phone

Still modes or Live Photo (Apple) / Motion Photo (Android)

• Apple invented Live Photos – basically short movies.
• Android followed with Motion Photo.
• These take up a lot of space, so I tend to not use them.
• They are also a bit creepy.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 31

Photographic sweet spots!

• What photos work best on your phone?
• Not every camera and lens is perfect for each situation.
• Here are some ways that I use my smartphone camera.
• People
• Pets
• Plates
• Places
• Panoramic
• Paranormal

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 32

Photographic sweet spots!

• People
• Great for family gatherings and up-close pictures.
• Great fun for easy sharing.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 33

Photographic sweet spots!

• People
• Chris Pictures at Michigan - https://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman/albums/72157681253620030

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 34

Photographic sweet spots!

• Pets
• Great for closeups especially if they are being somewhat still.
• Great fun for easy sharing.
• Not great for action

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 35

Photographic sweet spots!

• Pets
• Take lots of pictures – you will be happy with SOME of the results.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 36

Photographic sweet spots!

• Plates (food)
• Why does it work well here? Lower f-stop will create more even focusing.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 37

Photographic sweet spots!

• Places (indoors)
• Fabric stores
• Less obtrusive.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 38

Photographic sweet spots!

• Panoramic Pics
• Outdoors – large panoramic photos are fantastic.
• Zoom never works as well.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 39

Photographic sweet spots!

• Panoramic Pics
• Outdoors – large panoramic photos are fantastic.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 40

Photographic sweet spots!

• Paranormal
• SO….if you see something amazing – take a picture so people will believe you.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 41

Photographic sweet spots!

• Paranormal - my pictures of Bigfoot

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 42

Photographic sweet spots!

• Pictures with large zooms simply are not great*.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 43

Photographic sweet spots!

• So….about long zooms….
• Coyote in Ypsi (100 yards) – Morning September 30^th, 2025
• Moon over Ypsi (239K miles) – Morning September 8^th, 2025
• WHY??? https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-galaxy-cameras-combine-super-resolution-technologies-with-ai-to-produce-high-quality-images-of-the-moon/

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 44

Where does it go?

• Every photo and video gets stored onto the camera and (normally) shared to the cloud – assuming there is space.
• You do not want to run out of space with either!

​

Orange is bad…. red is worse!

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 45

Where does it go?

• When you take a picture….
• It goes into the phone’s gallery.
• (Typically, while on the Internet) it also gets moved to the cloud.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 46

Where does it go?

• When delete it on your phone, you save storage in both locations.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 47

Where does it go?

• Your settings here will help you manage where your photos are and should be.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 48

Where does it go?

• Why store images on the cloud?
• This is insurance against a damaged, lost or stolen computer, ipad, phone, & camera.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 49

Where does it go?

• We almost lost pictures on an iPad when it stopped being able to be charged.
• Cloud storage keeps content safe – a backup that is not dependent on a single device.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 50

Where does it go?

• It’s a constantly changing environment!
• Benefits and drawbacks of cloud storage.
• Some good guidelines
• Be cautious of automatic uploading. Might bring up pictures not worth saving.
• You do not want to pay monthly storage fees for junk.
• Like everywhere with images, folders are your friends.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 51

Where does it go?

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 52

Where does it go?

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 53

Where does it go?

• Typically, your photos get backed up when you are on wifi. So if you are traveling, it may not happen until you are back home.
• This way, you are not backing up data when you are on a cellular signal.
• I take pictures on my phone – but then pull them to my laptop to manage them.
• I periodically purge pictures from my phone account – but after I have saved the ones I want to keep.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 54

Where does it go?

• With iPhone – if you do not have iCloud space – it is still in your Library (Photos app).
• With Android – if you do not have Google storage space – it is still in the Gallery – but not on Google Photos.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 55

How to manage your pictures

• Google Photos enable albums – easy way to find items.
• Google Photos is more focused on AI and facial identity.
• On your phone, the similar pictures are bunched together.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 56

How to manage your pictures

• How to weed and save
• Short term value and interest (grocery lists, parking spots, stupid pictures)
• Long term value and interest (things that are more important to be shared, family, vacations, etc.)

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 57

How to manage your pictures

• How to make it easier to find pictures?
• Natural way photographs are organized is by date taken.
• How do you want to show and share?
• Weed junk.
• Move stuff you like into albums.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 58

How to manage your pictures

• Deleting pictures, here and there (phone and cloud)
• Since you do not want to pay to store bad pictures, delete ones that are redundant or out of focus.
• Google and iPhones have utilities to help clear out photos that are blurry.
• Removing them from the cloud might leave them on your phone. You can do that with a separate step.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 59

How to manage your pictures

• Description does not help that much with findability like it does on places like flickr.
• The focus is on AI – what it can pull from a photo is more important than the description.
• https://photos.google.com/search/thank%20you (My photos – search of “Thank You”

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 60

How to manage your pictures

• https://photos.google.com/search/squirrels (My google photos – search of squirrels

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 61

How to manage your pictures

If you want to move some to flickr – here are my steps:

1. Take photos – phone, camera, or scan (older print ones).
2. Download pics and merge them (use date and time).
3. Review and Toss bad and redundant shots.
4. Rename all the files (you can do in bulk by selecting all and changing the name of the first file).

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 62

How to manage your pictures

5. Pick out the ones you want to highlight
6. Update or write description
7. Load pictures
8. Add location
9. Share!!!!!!!!!

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 63

Utilities and other fun things

• AI and Panoramic Photos
• Google AI will be able to work on pictures in your account.
• Google AI Tried to pull together pictures to make panoramic ones. It is often very successful….sometimes, not.

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 64

Utilities and other fun things

• Google Photos has some great AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools for tagging picture.
• Still a work in progress…

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 65

To Review

• Take lots of pictures!
• Weed through pictures that are not needed.
• Be respectful and nice to others.
• Organize them into albums.
• Share with people you choose.
• Your bad picture is better than AI any day.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 66

Some Homework!

• Your Homework!
• Find your pictures – on your.
• Organize into three or four groups
• Pets
• Christmas
• Food
• Take the largest group – then break that down into Sub-groups

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 67

Some Homework!

• Your Homework!
• Look at your three or four groups
• Start thinking of what you would call these items so you can find them.
• Move them over to albums for easy retrieval.
• AI is good – not great.
• You need to only enough terms to find it again.
• Give Google time to index the search terms.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 68

Some Homework!

• Your Homework!
• Start finding the ones you do not want to save.
• Select them and then delete.
• If you change your mind, you have 30 days!
• When in doubt – please ask me! I will help find an answer.

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 69

Questions & Thank You

Corey Seeman

University of Michigan

Email: cseeman@umich.edu

​

Web: https://www.squirreldude.com

​

Program Page: https://www.squirreldude.com/photography-programs

​

Corey’s flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/cseeman

​

​

​

Ever-present Camera

​

Seeman

June 2026

​

Page 70