The End of the Photograph?

[Mike Farley]

An article from back in August by Stephen Mayes on the Time website which argues that the next revolution in digital imaging will not be a two dimensional capture of some of the photons of a scene, but will be a more immersive experience for both photographer (if that's what we will still be) and viewer.

http://time.com/4003527/future-of-photography/

I don't know about you, but there is something very satisfying about holding a print, rather than relying on some sort of machine which would undoubtedly be necessary to reproduce a moment from the past, in much the same way that a book is more tactile than an electronic reader. A projected image, be it analogue or digital, comes close as it partially recreates the original light, but is not quite the same. My argument ignores that more progressive artists always want to advance and use the latest medium and possibilities to produce new work rather than repeat what has occurred in the past, where quite possibly I am stuck. The technology companies, faced with declining camera sales, also need to come up with something new to sell us if they are to continue to exist. They tried with 3D television, but that foundered because the equipment was cumbersome. There are rewards for the first to come up with something which works well and who knows what will be on our walls in future?

What do you think?

[toms]

Hi Mike,

An interesting article which in reality mimics what is already happening both in the public forum and within camera clubs. On one hand we now have a generation who seem to be blissfully happy in keeping all of their images either on their hard drives or still on their mobile phones without any thought of backing up those precious memories. On the other hand the old format of taking care when taking a photograph (as with film) so that frames are not wasted no longer applies. As the article implies Photoshop and Lightroom have ended the 'out of the box' philosophy. How many images are shown at club level that have not been manipulated in some way? Show a judge a basic out of the camera images and I'm sure that the feedback will not be that great.

A shame, but that's technology although I agree that there is something tactile in holding an actual print. History has a habit of repeating itself and once the populous realises that their own family or towns history is no longer recorded for posterity then things might change. Thankfully manipulation is still frowned upon for journalism.

I suspect this thread might run and run.

Regards,

Tom