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Do you think that technology, over say, the last 15 years as improved photography and brought more people into the hobby.
I refer to the host of features on modern cameras, program metering, spot metering, auto focus lenses etc. Not to mention the advent of digital cameras, software photo manipulation and better quality scanners and printers.
Whether people understand what auto functions their camera is doing, I think it probably as brought more people into the hobby and hopefully they will learn the more technical aspects as they become more involved and want to learn more.
This can only be of benifit to photography.
Bill
One thing that helped when AF came in was older people who were having trouble with eyesight could continue to pursue their hobby. Photography magazines were at their height between 1988/91 and have since been on decline. This may not be that the hobby has changed just that more people have other pressures, and recently web has provided a replacement source of knowledge. I'd like to think digital will bring in a whole new group of younger people to the hobby, but when I launched Digital PhotoFX in 1997 I found that it was the typical PP reader who was moving over and not really a new audience.
My opinion : no. It has not improved photography . Those few of interest would have emerged no matter what. Cream rises to the top .
Improved economic conditions permit the well off to invest in expensive cars , watches and camera equipment.
Internet means that all can publish their efforts......
But, essentially , no I don't see any great strides made due to technology alone.
Just my 2 cents, now you can all have a go at me.....
Thats interesting Pete, it would be nice to tot up the average age of this sites members just out of curiousity.
My grandaughter is 8 and last year I coached her to achieve her photograpy badge at brownies. and I must admit she seems hooked. she goes out and about with my almost redundant EOS 300 albeit she is still using it on auto she really enjoys it and I can continue to increase her knowledge, and I get a great kick out of it as well.
Photoid I think you opinion has some merit you could be right. Although I like my new EOS 3 I still in many ways I much prefer using my old MPP 5x4 for different reasons.
regards Bill
Bill Few facts: We have an option for users to add their age...most don't! We only have 2800 members who have added their age. The youngest listed are three at the age of 14. The average age is 46 and here are the top ten. Age is left column number with that number of recorded users at that age in the right hand column.
42 84
54 80
45 79
56 78
50 78
35 74
55 74
44 74
32 70
30 70
Hi Bill.
I feel that you have posed a question that will never receive an answer that will satisfy any group in our craft; nevertheless a good subject for debate. I know I am not alone in finding that photography over the past fifty years
has changed so much that it it is very difficult to equate the old to the modern, both in equipment and technique. For me, I have been very fortuneate in that I have enjoyed my calling to such a degree that I never considered it work.
Yes, I started with glass plate and moved on to
many other formats. Most of my equipment is
of another era. I have kept all my cameras through the years as I consider them faithful friends that deserve to stay in a good home. They are still in regular use as I have them serviced
every few years. I get the most pleasure out of my old Sinar P and consider the time and expense
in using such a camera well worth the problems of weight and bulk. However, since digital came along I have used the system for distribution, but still prefer the basic old style cameras and the quality they are capable of producing.
Any craftsman, of any age, with the tools to hand of the time, is just as capable of turning out masterpieces; some are blessed with tallent, other have to work very hard just to make a grade!
Keep enthused. Stan. L-B
If it weren't for digital cameras, I wouldn't be taking photos semi-seriously again.
I used to be a club member etc, but hadn't used my SLR for >10 years. Then I decided to buy a digital camera for family use 2 years ago. Having no film costs, I took loads of photos and, as a result of self criticism, I got better. Then I grew frustrated at the lack of controls and the inability to change lenses, so went back to my SLR. 3 albums of slides later, I bought a s/h EOS30 and some lenses. Then a film scanner. Now I've had images accepted by an image library and I'm shooting loads. Today, I put a cheque in the post to pay for a medium format camera (found via this site).
None of that would have been triggered without being drawn back through the new technology of digital cameras. (And yes, the digital gets used by the family, especially the kids, for snapshots!)
DP
Stan,
it sounds like you and I have quite a bit in common. Have you still got any of your glass plates? I would love to see them. I am obviously not as old as you and have never seen one. Did you prepare your own plates?
You really have got me intrigue.
Regards Bill
Pete, Digital Photo FX was the first photography mag I ever bought. I came into photography from the digital side and am now "regressing" to film.
I stopped buying the mag round about the time you left (went downhill dontcha know) and now get PP and Outdoor Photography.
Bill, has photography improved over the last 15 years ? Well mine has 
I was never happier than with my Olypmpus OM-2 sp on manual mode. I should never have got rid of it, only the battery kept running flat as it had no shutter release lock.
I now use a Minolta Dynax 5 and after 18 months am still learning how to use it and losing shots in the process. I recently bid on a NIkon FE on e-bay.
In the last year or so I have become much more serious about photography and the more I learn the more I want to ditch all the auto functions and get back basics. Two things I wouldn't be without - built in flash for emergencies and a built in motor drive. I guess in a way though you can't 'pick your conveniences', it's all or nothing.
yes, over the years I have dipped in & out...Before the kids did loads of work, belonged to camera club & took part in competitions..I've had various SLR...Still love my old OM1..was my dads & has a good feel..& still takes excellent shots...I must admit digital has given me the love of photography back..I forgotten how much enjoyment it gave me..This is thanks to my mum sending me my first digital..which I have to say, I took ages to even get enthused about..now all I want, is time to get out there..& enjoy what ever come my way....
Digital has made it easier to process & display...busy life styles gives me instant enjoyment
I think that the onset of digital technology has got to increase the numbers of people taking pictures. Recent statistics show a massive increase in camera sales (digital) and these figures certainly out weigh traditional film camera sales of recent years.
Likewise I would have to say that professional and semi-professional photography has benefited in general from this onset of technology as nearly all photographers have technological tools at their disposal. This has released the true artist in some great photographers.
Take Adobe Photoshop as an example. Not so many years ago you would not have had at your disposal such a powerful tool to allow you such artistic license. True the Purists will probably say that this has reduced peoples artistic license or ability as you dont have to think about filters and the likes now but I dont agree because the only difference in my opinion is whether you use filters etc before or after the shot but the filters still apply.
People criticise the internet for a whole array of reasons but whether you like it or not it is responsible for Billions of images being published into a world wide market place, from simple little graphics to full on high resolution pictures and video.
Until three years ago I hadnt taken a decent picture in my life beyond the family snap shot. Being involved in internet design it was pretty obvious that I had to take on digital photography on a more serious level and thats it I fell in love with the subject.
Ive been back to college to study the subject in depth and I now earn a living from this so I now take your art VERY seriously indeed. My only regret is that this wasnt introduced to me when I was a teenager as I feel I have wasted many years but hey thats life.
Personally Ive invested heavily within the last 12 months and I am aware that there are gadget collectors out there whos only real input is to claim to have the biggest camera bag with the most expensive kit in it and I wondered if this was as a result of the Digital Age but then Im sure that this has always been the case?
I dont understand how anyone could think otherwise to your question Is photography improving because I think by default it has to, at no other time in history as the photographer had so many options available to them in terms of equipment and technology. The only people that can think otherwise are surely either stuck in a time warp or are unaware of just how much technology they now rely on (Computers, film scanners, Manipulation etc).
A new era of photographer is here and if the purists arent careful they could find themselves left out in the cold because if you dont move forward you will stand still, stand still and there will be a stampede straight over your heads and they just wont be able to catch up because of constraints like costs and knowledge etc..
Anyway I feel better now Ive got that off my chest and I hope you all have a great weekend.
Paul
J-P,
I know what you mean I was well into photography 30 years ago and had an OM1 with a set of prime lenses and they were good. I then, not really fell out with it, but other presures like a growing family I just stopped taking pictures.
I tend to disagree with your comment "you can't pick your conviences" with most modern cameras you can pick from program, shutter priority,aperture priority, or fully manual, even manual focus if you so wish. So you can have your cake and eat it.
Like you I wouldn't be without my in-built motor drive.
I certainly think its made it easier for the rank beginner to take acceptable pictures from the start with out the need to worry what the cameras doing.
After all I think a high proportion of lighting situations are metered for quite acceptably with modern cameras matrix or segmented metering patterns.
Bill
Bill,
I think the quality of Photography over recent years has improved. I think that Pete is correct re Af cameras. I think more people own a camera now but less people would consider their hobby as Photography. I know of someone who owns a good quality Slr that must be about two years or so old but only uses it when he goes on hols- Christmas etc. In fact he's considering trading it in as there is a newer version out now! He reckons he uses about 10 rolls of film a year at the most!"will look good around my kneck when I'm in Australia this year" I'm told.
Cameras have never been cheaper than they are now. I can remember saving for what seemed like an eternity to buy a Practica super tl in the early 70's. I think it cost about 70.00 then!
In fact, I've got a catalogue dated 1972-73 that makes me wonder how people could afford cameras then
Example: Pentax spotmatic 11 with with f/1.4 was 169.38. A Pentax 6*7 Large format was 403.67. A Nikon f with f/2 Nikkor was 195.48! If you purchased a Slr in those days it was for photography as a hobby or career. So camera purchasers "have never had it so good!"
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