capture the moment, then distribute by telecommunication
The wide opening in the rolling, sandy topography here in the lee of the Lake Michigan shoreline makes for a beautiful scene to observe or to record and send to friends and family far away. Amateur and personal photography is one kind of culture in the life of a person or the life of a society. Compared to the earliest times when boxy cameras on tripods with light-sensitive glass plates, the shirt-pocket power of a cellphone with camera is mind-boggling; not only is it so portable and capable for so many subjects and lighting conditions, but editing and transmission are only a few taps, swipes, and keystrokes away. Form-factor that minimizes the friction of those ancient cameras means that a majority of people can now record moving and still images at a moment's notice, more or less spontaneously. As technological advances give a person more and more ways to use visual records of events, property, process, and outcomes, the meaning of making & using pictures also changes.
In this example, what might be motivating the composition and then the subsequent use of the captured moment? (1) record of personal accomplishment or place visited, (2) emotional response to beauty recognized in the setting, the light, and the relationship of self to the surrounding space, (3) something considered worthy to share with others, both known and dear (friends/family), and those less well known (social media that is visible to all sorts of viewers), (4) a trophy or notch in one's hiking season, (5) aide de memoire so that a place can be revisited electronically. Perhaps there are other meanings to the act of snapping a photo: showing off a new gadget to fellow hiker, challenging oneself to use the range of user controls in the camera to faithfully represent the colors and lighting, or maybe a personal project such as "one photo per day" blog.
Press L for full-screen view; Z (or click the image) for full-file size view.
capture the moment, then distribute by telecommunication
The wide opening in the rolling, sandy topography here in the lee of the Lake Michigan shoreline makes for a beautiful scene to observe or to record and send to friends and family far away. Amateur and personal photography is one kind of culture in the life of a person or the life of a society. Compared to the earliest times when boxy cameras on tripods with light-sensitive glass plates, the shirt-pocket power of a cellphone with camera is mind-boggling; not only is it so portable and capable for so many subjects and lighting conditions, but editing and transmission are only a few taps, swipes, and keystrokes away. Form-factor that minimizes the friction of those ancient cameras means that a majority of people can now record moving and still images at a moment's notice, more or less spontaneously. As technological advances give a person more and more ways to use visual records of events, property, process, and outcomes, the meaning of making & using pictures also changes.
In this example, what might be motivating the composition and then the subsequent use of the captured moment? (1) record of personal accomplishment or place visited, (2) emotional response to beauty recognized in the setting, the light, and the relationship of self to the surrounding space, (3) something considered worthy to share with others, both known and dear (friends/family), and those less well known (social media that is visible to all sorts of viewers), (4) a trophy or notch in one's hiking season, (5) aide de memoire so that a place can be revisited electronically. Perhaps there are other meanings to the act of snapping a photo: showing off a new gadget to fellow hiker, challenging oneself to use the range of user controls in the camera to faithfully represent the colors and lighting, or maybe a personal project such as "one photo per day" blog.
Press L for full-screen view; Z (or click the image) for full-file size view.