Photography is slowly becoming a lost art.. in my very unprofessional opinion. This probably sounds like the world's most contradictory statement, but think about it for a sec. Anyone with a quality camera and a handy editing software can make average photos spectacular these days. So what really distinguishes someone who knows the art and truly has an eye for it from the everyday Joe with an iPhone?
To be honest, I have no idea. I'm just reflecting here. Especially because as a person whose photographic knowledge only goes so far as knowing how to operate her digital camera, I certainly cannot distinguish good photos from great ones. But that's my drawback. I am fairly certain there are people out there who are more than capable of distinguishing an edited photo from art.
Still, it's a little disappointing to know that digitization and technology has taken away from appreciating true art. If every second one of your friends on Facebook has a DSLR or iPhone, and uses Instagram (koodos to these companies for doing what they do) to give their photos a rustic, artistic quality, then where's the novelty of an authentically rustic photograph? Say, when you uncover your grandparents' stash of pictures that captured their childhoods, their wedding, the most important moments of their lives. What newness, what excitement is there left to feel? If it keeps on like this, our next generation, hell even our generation, will look at a precious old photograph and think: "Oh I can do better on Instagram!"
Thanks technology.
