The Future of Photography?

[Nogbad]

There is an absolute plethora of Digital camera's on the market with new DSLR's and compacts appearing every month. It's hard to find anyone who does'nt have one even if it's only on their phone.

The amount of software available for manipulation, and enhancement is staggering, and even if you dont have access to these programmes most outlets have a print you own kiosk so you can do it yourself.

My question is; Has the mystery and skill been taken out of photography?

Looking at the Gallery it appears there is'nt a subject or location that hasn't been photographed comprehensively and with some skill!

Is it becoming more difficult to for aspiring photographers to achieve images with impact!

What are other peoples opinions?

Nogbad

[Saphire]

Nogbad.

The mystery I would say has gone but the skill hasn't, it still takes a very long learning curve to take that extra special photograph. The only thing I see different is in the processing side, in the past if you wanted to develop and print your own images, it cost lots of money specialist equipment and above all a darkroom. Digital photography I think has opened doors to a lot more people who own a computer which most of us have. There are still those who just want to point and shoot and leave everything to the processing houses.

[yelvertoft]

Has the mystery and skill been taken out? Certainly not from what I've seen on WPF. There's a whole lot of mysterious and skillful pictures in the gallery that amaze me.

The difference is that we can now so easily share these pictures, from around the world, from the comfort of our own homes. The pictures were always being taken, it's just the distribution was so much more limited before digital imaging and the internet happened.

Manipulation of images is certainly a lot easier and more widespread, but it still takes a lot of skill.

The growth of forums such as WPF has made things earier to share. It hasn't made taking a really good photo any easier, but the advice on how to improve is far more accessible.

The good photos were always being taken, it's just in the past, they stayed as prints in shoe boxes stuffed under the bed.

Duncan

[robski]

Too much focus on hardware. Knowing how to use the hardware and to get that image on paper or screen is the skill. It is having an eye for what would makes a good shot wether you have a camera with you or not. Cursing when it's not with you. Cursing because you can't stop in the fast lane of a motorway to get a sunset.

Some have an eye for the technical others for the beautiful or bizzare. It's what makes us human and different. A sign of a good photograph is when another photographer says to themselves I wish I took that.

Photography as a pastime has waxed and wained over the years but old photographers never die. I am in my second heaven with my DSLR kit.

Now to become one of the Greats that does take a unique style if you are coming up from nowhere, otherwise it's the same old story of money, connections and influence.

[Tyler Vargo]

I certainly agree with all above points...

Even with all of the new high-tech hocus pocus taking some skills out of the equation, such as being able to manually focus accurately, hold a camera steady and judge a proper exposure on intuition, composition and artistic sense are still required to take good photographs. I mean, over the years have you seen any decrease in the percentage of photographs that you see that are crap?

I think that, although easier, photography still takes skill and knowledge, maybe even more of the latter now as you really have to know your stuff to choose the right cameras and lenses, especially with all of the false advertising out there.

[Adey Baker]

I reckon that the more adventurous photographers will use all the latest features to push out the boundaries farther - at least, their own personal boundaries.

Those who think that the high-tec camera will do it all for them will turn out the same snapshots as before - they might be better exposed, etc., but they'll still show the same 'faults' as they always did.

Those of us who are regulars over on 'Birdforum' have witnessed the disillusion of several members who have bought the latest equipment, full of enthusiasm, only to find that the camera won't do everything for them - they have to go back to square one and really learn the basics (or put the kit up for sale and return to their compact cameras).

[robski]

Originally Posted by Adey Baker

Those of us who are regulars over on 'Birdforum' have witnessed the disillusion of several members who have bought the latest equipment, full of enthusiasm, only to find that the camera won't do everything for them - they have to go back to square one and really learn the basics (or put the kit up for sale and return to their compact cameras).

Now are we refering to the BF "Annual Sales" or "Monthly" in some cases

[Snowyowl]

I think that the biggest change has come from the freedom that digital gives us. People can take all the pictures that they want, they can experiment, all without having to pay the old processing costs. This freedom, I believe, is allowing people to become more creative and part of that creativity is exercised in the digital darkroom. Ordinary photographers are evolving into artists who follow the entire creative chain from recognizing a scene requiring a picture to producing a final satisfying image.
Mind you some people are very much better at it that the rest of us. but we still get the satisfaction of trying.

[Nogbad]

Interesting viewpoints.

Obviously the digital age has created an explosion of images available at anytime and readily available.

Yet I have been looking at some Photograpic books (and the WPF Gallery) to obtain inspiration, and to see how other photographers look at the world.

My impression is that there is a wider selection of images and talent on the WPF than in books.

Apart from one or two B&W volumes I have looked at, there appears to be a distinct lack of a type of style in some of the books I have looked at. They quite often seem to be much of a similar type of photography.

Ideally I am looking to develop a style of photography? Much like I assume the kind of photographers such as David Bailey, Lord Lichfield etc. Proffesionals to inspire different approaches?
I have looked at some of their books and their images are just so fantastic and you end up wishing you could take images with such impact.

As a new photographer it is always so difficult to look around and see something to photograph in a way that is different. I can see potential in almost everything I see but lack the skill to create the image I want.

I know it takes time and on the whole I am 70% happy with my images, I like what I take but, I also want the occasional "Wow! I did really well feeling", when you know you have captured a great image.

I guess patience is a virtue and perseverence even more so.

Nogbad

[rogerscoth]

Originally Posted by Snowyowl

I think that the biggest change has come from the freedom that digital gives us. People can take all the pictures that they want, they can experiment, all without having to pay the old processing costs..... Mind you some people are very much better at it that the rest of us. but we still get the satisfaction of trying.

Originally Posted by Nogbad

As a new photographer it is always so difficult to look around and see something to photograph in a way that is different. I can see potential in almost everything I see but lack the skill to create the image I want.I know it takes time and on the whole I am 70% happy with my images, I like what I take but, I also want the occasional "Wow! I did really well feeling", when you know you have captured a great image.I guess patience is a virtue and perseverence even more so.Nogbad

Along the lines of "It is best to have loved and lost..etc..", it is best to have tried and failed (i.e. from a personal perspective) than to have never tried at all, and then to try and learn from the experience. We can all take advantage of this new technology, that after the initial equipment cost that we each can afford, becomes quite cheap to use.

Roger