The democratisation of photography is perhaps one of the most interesting develop- ments in recent art history. The capability to create is constantly with us; smartphones have become like another pair of eyes ready to document, edit, curate and publish at any moment. As Om Malik noted in The New Yorker in September 2016: “We are splintering what was the ‘camera’ and its functionality – lens, sensors, and processing – into distinct parts, but, instead of lenses and shutters, software and algorithms are becoming the driving force.” (With the iPhone 7, Apple Changed the Camera Industry Forever) Six years later, in 2022, Apple’s iPhone sales are thought to exceed 300 million, so the question of fine art versus data becomes ever more prevalent. Glenn Homann, a winner of the 2021 iPhone Photography Awards, explores this new technology, producing bold, abstract snapshots that turn Brisbane into a saturated wonderland. instagram.com/blueboy70.

Image Credits: Glenn Homann, Untitled (2019-2021). Courtesy of the artist.