Apple | Francis DiClemente

I broke down and bought an iPhone 5c last summer after the back plastic to my antiquated flip phone broke. And while this is no endorsement for Apple products, I soon discovered I was carrying a high-quality camera in my pocket.

I began using the iPhone to take pictures in my city of Syracuse, in particular while walking back and forth to my job at Syracuse University. These were mundane images of parking garages, old buildings and backlit trees—objects no one else seemed to notice.

The Space Between Crouse Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital (Photo by Francis DiClemente)

I realized that if I did not capture the photos, the pictures would be lost, gone with the shift of the clouds or the onset of night. And it became a game for me to snatch images that would otherwise be unseen.

Buildings in Alley (Photo by Francis DiClemente)

Recording these moments allowed me to examine life more closely, to pay attention to my surroundings and to seek beauty in the everyday environment.

And I did not take any selfies. Instead, I was inspired by Humphrey Bogart’s POV in the classic film noir movie Dark Passage. My goal was to use the camera to look out, beyond myself, to explore the world around me in search of something memorable.

Dining Room Sunlight (Photo by Francis DiClemente)

Working on the project also helped me to rediscover my love of photography. It made me recall my youth when I would walk around my neighborhood in Rome, New York, taking pictures with my Pentax K1000 camera.

Institute for Human Performance (Photo by Francis DiClemente)

I also realized that in this age of technology, the best camera is the one you have with you when you need it. Here are more selections from the iPhone Ephemera series: