The Hipstamatic

In a recent class, our discussion led to the use of the Hipstamatic application for iphone. We used this story as our reference for both pictures and the background information: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/through-my-eye-not-hipstamatics/ . The person of interest in this article won third place in a photography contest; he used his iphone with the Hipstamatic app. to create his images.

During our discussion some people in class commented on how every one can now make a good picture and that the artists (trained photographers) are getting mad that these photos were even given recognition. In my opinion, I think the photographers, those who have spent many years of both their time and money working and learning photography have the right to complain and be mad. Those of us who are spending our time and money to go to school and learn are having our techniques, that we worked so long to master, taken away from us with the push of a button. Those of us who have taken our time to create intricate photographs and who have done editing that could only be achieved before in Photoshop with many hours of work, are being under minded by an amateur using an iphone that does all the work for him. The hard work a photographer does in the editing process is being given to just any one with this application. Sure the photo looks cool but the person using the phone did nothing but push a button to get it to look that way.

The skills and practice of an artist/ photographer are being thrown out the window because now everyone is able to create an image and any one can be a photographer. It takes more practice and knowledge to be able to create an image then clicking a button. I'd like for the amateurs using this app. to trade in their iphones and pick up a real camera (NOT a point and shoot) and take a good picture. I dare them to explain to how shutter speed and aperture work and what lighting they used in order to create their shot. Then I'd like them to use Photoshop or go into a dark room and edit their work. Many people have the notion that photography is easy, it's not, those experienced make it look easy but really it take a lot of time and attention to detail to make some thing look good. 

There is more to photography then clicking a button.

Film vs. Digital

Unfortunately the art of film processing and photo enlarging in the darkroom is a dying art. Darkrooms are being phased out everywhere and slowly, film will be unavailable to those of us who desire to make our art in the darkroom.

The esthetic film has compared to digital is very profound. There is a different quality with a black and white film image compared to a digital one. The quality of film can not be reproduced digitally. The quality of the image is much more bold and profound and in some causes effects the context our your picture.

One day those seeking to learning about photography will miss out on the experiences of the dark room and what it is like to watch your images appear on your paper as you develop or have the ability to develop your own film. There is such an accomplished feeling that comes with doing this all by hand.

Although I speak highly of the darkroom, I am very much a digital person. I am impatient and like the instant ability to view my images right away to know that I have gotten the perfect shot. With film you have to be super careful in what your taking a photo of, there is more thought involved. You only have 36 shots to get the one you need. As for digital I have thousands of shots to get it right.

Just a Quick Statement

It may be bold to say that I am one of the few people of my class who have actually taken photo courses. I have taken darkroom class, working with black and white 35 mm film, digital classes, I've used photo shop and I am currently taking a class specifically for lighting. These are only a few of the classes I have taken over the past 3 and a half years that I've been in college.

I have the experience in shooting and being able to see the world in pictures, I am able to look at a situation and know right away whether or not it would make for a good picture.

There isn't always a meaning behind a photo. As an artist my work is supposed to provoke an emotion and an opinion. My photos show my interests but I am more than what my photos portray. I am not a big fan of editing a photo to the point where it doesn't look natural. For example the editing that goes into magazine shoots to make a person look 10lbs lighter. A photo should be natural and stay fairly close to the way it was originally shot.

Composition and lighting especially lighting is what makes for an amazing photo.