sevo
Fokutorendaburando
The same once has been said about the difference between using a Leica and using a real camera (i.e. large format). Every purpose has some break-even point between convenience and perfection...
newsgrunt
Well-known
Yes, his last sentence was pretty precious lol. Smartphones are killing p&s but it seems the amateur dslr market must be good since everyone seems to be offering or rumoured to be offering, new cameras.
He should have taken the discussion to the obvious next step and one I find myself doing more often….I don't take photos of the interesting and beautiful. Nothing can replace being in 'that moment', not even a gorgeous photograph. imnsho
In some ways, the camera separates us from the experience, which we *should* be enjoying. ymmv
He should have taken the discussion to the obvious next step and one I find myself doing more often….I don't take photos of the interesting and beautiful. Nothing can replace being in 'that moment', not even a gorgeous photograph. imnsho
In some ways, the camera separates us from the experience, which we *should* be enjoying. ymmv
Right, but we are talking about a "swiss army" style computer vs. a dedicated computer made for photography. I think the distinction is in if it is made solely for photography or not. A Leica and a LF camera where both made with the same goal in mind. A phone is made with many goals in mind.
konicaman
konicaman
What a load of narcissistic baloney - as if anyone would be interested in how fit the photographer was when making the photo or where he took a dump!
Background information can be interesting when you see photos from faraway places, but this sounds like information overflow to me.
Background information can be interesting when you see photos from faraway places, but this sounds like information overflow to me.
Mcary
Well-known
To quote the church Lady from SNL "Isn't that special"
Spicy
Well-known
If it wasn't already clear, all the smartphone-onslaught is doing is making it easier to separate those who are truly passionate about photography and those who care more about convenience than conceiving an image from start to finish. Sometimes convenience makes fleeting images possible, sometimes a calculated approach with heavy kit yields the optimal result.
Horses for courses. The same thing rings for me as did before though -- the cameras I prefer using all seem to require film...
Horses for courses. The same thing rings for me as did before though -- the cameras I prefer using all seem to require film...
______
Well-known
What is this obsession with instantly sharing (thoughts, moods, images)? As if anyone other than the sharer actually cares.
FrankS
Registered User
hepcat
Former PH, USN
I love the New Yorker, so be kind here. They need filler material ever since they opened their website, you know.
I read the piece as a pleasantly written 'blog entry laced with pointless observations.
I liked Phil's commentary (above) more
Merely the mention of "The New Yorker" evokes memories of sitting in my 7th grade English class during the Spring in Iowa... warm, flower-scented breezes wafting through the windows... the teacher, while teaching in the front of the class room, fading to a minor droning noise in the background while I devoured "The New Yorker" magazine. The Monopoly-style art deco drawings of men in tophats wearing tuxes and tails... women in flowing flapper's dresses... the reports of what was showing on Broadway... the news about town. It took me from a mundane classroom in the back waters of northwest Iowa to a place of excitement, elegance, and wealth. A place that I was certain always had something new, fresh and amazing to do and see.
Like Dave, I enjoy "The New Yorker" to this day. Like Phil, I enjoy photography, but believe that sometimes just living for the moment is truly fulfillment.
I don't know what all the vitriol is about here. "The New Yorker" is about entertainment, folks. I think that the article was entertaining and I enjoyed it. I'd suggest that you just enjoy it as entertainment too.
Range-rover
Veteran
Wow, That's the only camera's he used, the fun with photography and taking pictures
is using different equipment (if you Can). Now he's happy with a Iphone 5 whatever.
Range
is using different equipment (if you Can). Now he's happy with a Iphone 5 whatever.
Range
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Another smartphone vs cameras article :bang:
How it is relevant to photography?
Posting smartphone snapshots on Facepuke and to be annoying Twit?
What a smart ... to realize you don't need Hassy for it.
I went to Ontario Art Gallery few days ago to enjoy large b/w silver gelatine prints. This is where real photography is. Not on the network. Then I hold Ansel Adams book printed in Europe this feels and looks like photography.
But same picture on Flickr would be just small part of itself.
Am I old school? Well, even this networked guy writes something about taking your time and photography.
How it is relevant to photography?
Posting smartphone snapshots on Facepuke and to be annoying Twit?
What a smart ... to realize you don't need Hassy for it.
I went to Ontario Art Gallery few days ago to enjoy large b/w silver gelatine prints. This is where real photography is. Not on the network. Then I hold Ansel Adams book printed in Europe this feels and looks like photography.
But same picture on Flickr would be just small part of itself.
Am I old school? Well, even this networked guy writes something about taking your time and photography.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
"If you begin considering emerging self-metrics that measure, for example, your routes through cities, fitness level, social status, and state of mind (think Foursquare, Nike+, Facebook, and Twitter), you realize that there is a compelling universe of information waiting to be pinned to the back of each image."
Huh?
However, I've got no problem with "capturing the moment" using a smartphone, and even with sharing it with others. That's the value of such a device, so they do come in handy. I do agree with comments others have made, though, that I don't get this compulsion to share everything with your "network." Narcissism, indeed.
Huh?
However, I've got no problem with "capturing the moment" using a smartphone, and even with sharing it with others. That's the value of such a device, so they do come in handy. I do agree with comments others have made, though, that I don't get this compulsion to share everything with your "network." Narcissism, indeed.
L Collins
Well-known
He's correct to the extent we talk about this generation's use of photography as a means of communication.
Those of us for whom photography means black and white prints, mounted framed and exhibited, life goes on as usual.
Those of us for whom photography means black and white prints, mounted framed and exhibited, life goes on as usual.
russelljtdyer
Writer
Well Written, but Missing the Point
Well Written, but Missing the Point
I found it to be a well written article. His style of writing is excellent; his use of imagery and references to the technological history of photography, mingled with his own history, make the story very engaging. He makes a reader enjoy photography. And his understanding of photographic equipment, with no inaccuracies that I noticed, indicate that he has been a serious photographer.
I think the only flaw in the article is that he has decided after one trip that the convenience of a smaller device for taking pictures (i.e., telephone camera over micro-four thirds camera), and its ability to send quickly his photos to be viewed by many people for his enjoyment of their admiration, means that the camera as he knows it is finished. If I were his editor, I might have told him to change his conclusions or definitive statements to speculations or questions: "Is this an indication of the end of cameras?", and maybe, "What role will traditional cameras will play in our future?"
These are good questions. I like to think that cameras will soon be left once again to the professionals and aficionados, now that the general public has an acceptable alternative for recording their life experiences. The camera is in some ways a technological advance over drawing and painting. We have not given up on those art forms. Great paintings and painters are still admired. You can still buy sketch pads and paint brushes. I'm not worried about the end of cameras and photography. I'm pleased that soon I won't see people who know nothing about photography carrying expensive Japanese DSLR cameras and telling me how they are photographers as they show me badly composed photos on their cameras. People who own pencils don't claim to be able to draw (or write), so I hope the same of photography as it progresses technologically.
Well Written, but Missing the Point
I found it to be a well written article. His style of writing is excellent; his use of imagery and references to the technological history of photography, mingled with his own history, make the story very engaging. He makes a reader enjoy photography. And his understanding of photographic equipment, with no inaccuracies that I noticed, indicate that he has been a serious photographer.
I think the only flaw in the article is that he has decided after one trip that the convenience of a smaller device for taking pictures (i.e., telephone camera over micro-four thirds camera), and its ability to send quickly his photos to be viewed by many people for his enjoyment of their admiration, means that the camera as he knows it is finished. If I were his editor, I might have told him to change his conclusions or definitive statements to speculations or questions: "Is this an indication of the end of cameras?", and maybe, "What role will traditional cameras will play in our future?"
These are good questions. I like to think that cameras will soon be left once again to the professionals and aficionados, now that the general public has an acceptable alternative for recording their life experiences. The camera is in some ways a technological advance over drawing and painting. We have not given up on those art forms. Great paintings and painters are still admired. You can still buy sketch pads and paint brushes. I'm not worried about the end of cameras and photography. I'm pleased that soon I won't see people who know nothing about photography carrying expensive Japanese DSLR cameras and telling me how they are photographers as they show me badly composed photos on their cameras. People who own pencils don't claim to be able to draw (or write), so I hope the same of photography as it progresses technologically.
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
I'll see your koan and raise you...
Only the actor can identify the point where convenience outweighs perfection...
Photo_Smith
Well-known
I don't understand why it has to be the death of one medium and the arrival of a new one all the time.
Film vs digital, mirrorless vs DSLR and now camera vs iPhone.
Like a constant churn, as if the arrival of a new gadget will sweep all before it and become the one thing we all need.
Sure iphones are taking the place of the instamatic, that doesn't mean the enthusiast will throw out their cameras.
Film vs digital, mirrorless vs DSLR and now camera vs iPhone.
Like a constant churn, as if the arrival of a new gadget will sweep all before it and become the one thing we all need.
Sure iphones are taking the place of the instamatic, that doesn't mean the enthusiast will throw out their cameras.
David_Manning
Well-known
I guess I wouldn't criticize the writer for his "reasoning" for photography.
Some people love the machines, some people love the big prints, some people love showing their friends what they're doing, some people love having something to remember an experience by.
I think I personally go through ALL these phases at some point. Just because I don't tote my M9 to a school event, doesn't mean the event isn't important, or I don't take photography seriously.
By the very nature of this board, we tend to be gear-driven. That's okay. Who are we to pooh-pooh someone else's vision for photography, or their need for images?
Enough preaching from me. My own dirty little secret/admission is that my Ricoh GR is providing more photographic satisfaction to me than any camera I can remember. I like Daido Moriyama's philosophy (and also, lots of his pictures)...make the camera your slave.
Some people love the machines, some people love the big prints, some people love showing their friends what they're doing, some people love having something to remember an experience by.
I think I personally go through ALL these phases at some point. Just because I don't tote my M9 to a school event, doesn't mean the event isn't important, or I don't take photography seriously.
By the very nature of this board, we tend to be gear-driven. That's okay. Who are we to pooh-pooh someone else's vision for photography, or their need for images?
Enough preaching from me. My own dirty little secret/admission is that my Ricoh GR is providing more photographic satisfaction to me than any camera I can remember. I like Daido Moriyama's philosophy (and also, lots of his pictures)...make the camera your slave.
boomguy57
Well-known
I agree that social networking is confused with photography on some level. I enjoy both to some extent, and will often shoot the iPhone side-by-side with another camera. For example: my wife and I spent 2 weeks in Portugal nearly 18 months ago, and I shot snapshots with my phone which I then uploaded at the end of each day into a flickr set as a "travel journal" so that friends and family could see what we were up to. These shots were also of little things I didn't use a film camera for, for a variety of reasons. These are shots my wife and I still enjoy as well. I then shot my M6 for everything else. I then printed two books--one of iPhone snapshots, and one of more "serious photography". Both get pulled out and leafed through by us and our guests.
I guess my point is that social networking and photography aren't always the same, but they can be sometimes. The fellow who had his blog post featured on the New Yorker site has clearly lost interest in photography as a hobby years ago, and is much happier now (and would have been then) shooting and sharing with his phone.
It's his opinion, and that's all. If that works for him, why does everyone get upset when they read it? Are we so insecure about our own hobby? Like he feels the need to justify his use of the phone as a camera, do we feel the need to justify our NOT using a phone as a camera? Do we need to justify our use of cameras in general? Of just film cameras? Do we need to justify our need to be more/less networked?
Relax. Enjoy your hobby, and let him enjoy his. End of story the way I see it.
Photo_Smith
Well-known
Isn't that what the article is about 'the death of the camera'
Quote from the linked article:
It’s clear now that the Nikon D70 and its ilk were a stopgap between that old Leica M3 that I coveted over a decade ago and the smartphones we photograph with today.
It's not at all clear to me!
I'm not sure that I ***-*** (that's P00 P00 edited by the site) his vision, I just think it's unbearably stunted. The networked future when everyone shares your shots as you take them?
I'm not that sure that everyone wants to look at 'my vision' 24/7 some sort of 'live feed' of mediocrity–I think I'll give that a miss thank you very much!
I guess it's the tone of these articles that proclaim to have the answer for everyone... a one size fits all type of approach. I understand photography has many applications and is not used by everyone the same way. That leads me to believe that the tools for photography will be just as diverse in the future. Now, what are the intent of his photos? To show his friends and family it seems. There is nothing at all wrong with this, but these articles fail to realize that people don't all view/use photography the same way. Now, it was in the New Yorker and not in a photography magazine, so we are most likely not the audience he had in mind. However, the name dropoping of gear leads me to believe otherwise.
I'm not upset. I just think that these articles, which come out weekly and are treated like a mind-blowing revelation by its writer, are getting long in the tooth. Now, if I wasn't at work, I wouldn't have even read this article or commented at all.
Maybe another reason we get worked up is that many of us here are sensitive to what we use to make images, not because of IQ necessarily, but because of ergonomics, etc. Ergonomically we have certain expectations that phones don't match (yet). So, where's that Leica M Phone?