I’ve got a pretty swell camera at my disposal, but sometimes cellphone pics are just the thing. For example, when my arms are tired and my nice camera seems so heavy. Or when I’m in a crowded bar and there isn’t room to maneuver a big lens. I could get a smaller camera, a point-and-shoot that would fit into my pocket. But the truth is, I love the way cellphone pics look. They have a way of simplifying the scene that I find quite refreshing. They also add an extra element of surprise: I never know what they will look like on my computer screen.

Below is a gallery of 50 cellphone pics from the past month or so, ending with a dinner the Red Bats attended to celebrate the commencement of the Year of the Ox. Click on the right side of the photo to move forward, and on the left side to move back.

And in these times of economic restraint, don’t forget to love the camera on your phone, if you’ve got one. If you don’t have a camera phone, love the cheapest digital camera you can find. Because making do with fewer pixels is just so chic right now.

CLICK RIGHT SIDE OF PHOTO BELOW TO SEE MORE!

You may remember that I said I’d post more photos from New Year’s Eve after I had my coffee. At least a dozen cups of coffee later, here they are:

Fireworks by the clock tower on Pacific, in front of the Rush Inn, just as the new year began. More photos to come (maybe) after I’ve had my coffee. May this year be wonderful for all of you!