Alon Goldsmith – iPhone Street Photographer Who Shoots from a Bicycle

Alon Goldsmith is a Los Angeles-based street photographer and copywriter whose mobile photography has earned him recognition in numerous international contests. A longtime member of Julia Dean’s photography collective, he has become known for his creative approach to iPhone photography and his documentation of Venice Beach’s vibrant street life. His work appears in the new book “[Where the Streets Lead]” and he is the featured photographer in the July 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine.

While many photographers dismiss mobile phone cameras as inferior tools, Alon Goldsmith has built his entire street photography practice around his iPhone, proving that great images come from vision rather than expensive equipment. His journey began fifteen years ago when a perfect storm of circumstances—a new job within cycling distance, his first iPhone, and a daily commute through Venice Beach—sparked a passion that would define his artistic voice.

“I really got into photography and street photography through my iPhone and a bicycle,” he explains. This shaped his approach to capturing the street life in Southern California, an area often overlooked in favor of more traditional street photography destinations like New York.

Alon’s technique is simple and clever. He mounts his iPhone on his bicycle’s handlebars and uses a Bluetooth remote shutter that he operates while riding. “I use my bike as a tripod,” he says. “I’m completely invisible because I can actually aim my bike at anything that I want, and no one has a clue that I’m taking photos because I’ve got this remote shutter.”

This stealth approach has allowed him to document Venice Beach’s eclectic street life. His famous photograph “Surveillance,” shot during the pandemic using the Hipstamatic app, captures a homeless man on a skateboard with his dog. It’s an image that later took on deeper meaning when Alon learned the dog had been taken from its owner by police.

Alon has developed a fascination with one location on the Venice boardwalk, which he calls “811.” “That’s been one of my sort of… it’s my Venice muse” “I just keep going back there and I always think I’ve done the ultimate shot there, and I still keep trying to get an even better one.”

Currently, about 90% of Goldsmith’s personal work is shot with his iPhone, though he switches to traditional cameras for commercial assignments. Although, some clients specifically request his iPhone aesthetic, recognizing the unique quality of his mobile photography.

Beyond individual images, Goldsmith has pioneered a project called “Going Places,” where he stitches together multiple photos from the same location to create panoramic narratives of people moving through Venice Beach. These composite images showcase his vision and demonstrate how digital tools can extend the possibilities of street photography.

For Alon, the iPhone’s greatest strength lies not just in its convenience, “you always have your phone with you,” but in its ability to make both photographer and subject more comfortable. People seem to be less guarded around a phone than a big camera.

So, have a listen to Alon tell his story on today’s episode and be sure to read Ashley’s feature article about him in the July 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine.