Digital Photography

Term: Digital Photography
Description: Digital photography is a form of image capture and processing that involves taking pictures with a digital camera, smartphone, or other digital device. Rather than using photographic film, the images are captured as digital files which can be stored on a computer or other medium. Digital photography offers an array of advantages over traditional photography such as the ability to quickly store and share images on the internet, make basic editing adjustments with relative ease, and print high-quality prints without the need for a professional darkroom. As technology has advanced, digital photographers now have access to even more features such as the ability to duplicate images, merge multiple photos into one composite piece of artistry, and process raw data. With its ease of use, affordability and ongoing advancements in technology, it is no wonder why digital photography has become so popular among both amateur and professional photographers.

Has Digital Photography Made Us Better Photographers?

The evolution from film to digital has been a topic of much debate in the photography community. While film belonged to a previous generation is has made comebacks in various ways via trendy Polaroid cameras, filmic presets and filters, and of course, the ultimate hipster accessory of sporting an older film camera. But has the technological revolution of cameras really made us better at what we do? Or are we hindering our own abilities by solely relying on smarter tech?

For this Candid Chat we asked our community of 70,000 photographers the following question:

Digital photography has made photographers better. True or False? Defend your answer.

We first took to Twitter to ask our followers in this short poll and here were the results:

As you can imagine this sparked much debate and garnered over 300+ comments on Facebook. Let’s take a look at the reasoning behind why people are leaning one way or another.

True: Yes, Digital Photography Has Made Us Better Photographers.

Those that are in support of the digital revolution ultimately find that the evolution of technology came the ability for photographers to be able to fix mistakes before they press the shutter without having to worry about whether or not the shot came out as envisioned or wasting their film. This is one of the biggest downfalls of film photography and why camera technology eventually developed into what it is.

Learning Photography Has Never Been Easier

Making mistakes and learning from them has never been so efficient thanks to digital tech in cameras. With digital cameras, photographers receive instant feedback and are able to fix issues on the spot. See why photographers are quick to defend how digital has helped them learn and grow in this field:

Better Tech = Better/More Creative Pictures

Several mentioned that with the progression of better sensors, lenses, and other camera specs, the possibilities to create extraordinary images are endless.

False: No, It Isn’t About the Camera, It’s About the Artist.

The arguments for why digital cameras haven’t changed a thing stems from the idea cameras at the end of the day are just a tool, it is the photographer that makes the photo.

Has Digital Photography Made us Lazier?

While some photographers defended how technology has helped photographers learn techniques quicker and has expedited the education process, others claim that we’ve become too reliant and lazy on technology and forget to learn the basics/foundation of the art. Now everyone thinks they are a “photographer”, even if you just use your mobile phone camera.

It’s Not About the Gear, It’s About the Education

Some argued that learning how to use a camera, disregarding whether it is film or digital, is truly what differentiates the skill level of a photographer. Absorbing educational workshops, videos, and books will inevitably get you in the right place to succeed in this industry.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Would you say that digital photography has groomed better photographers? We wanted to end this article on a positive note that may inspire other photographers to go back to the roots of what made photography so accessible and enjoyable in the first place: