The Network Age

I feel that the common practice of photography is more accessible as ever. Not ten years ago did everyone own a camera; yet in an age of cell phones, the internet, and ever increasing networking, accessing photos is done with ease. The transition from using chemical processing and darkroom practices to the “digital revolution” were not immediate at first, but in the early 90’s began showing up in consumer markets. With the addition of inkjet printers, scanners, and the home computer, imaging software soon appealed greater than traditional photo lab work.
What I found interesting about the reading is the return of the anonymous snapshot. With the frequency of pictures that are taken daily, how many of them were deleted for some reason? In an age that we can shoot, review, and delete in an instant, how many moments are captured without knowledge? Back when photographs were processed chemically, one would review all their photos good or bad. As many seasoned photographers know, a picture can be worth a 1,000 words even on accident. Rubenstein puts it well with “The delete button reduces the chance of discovering hidden truths in photography, a blurred face…closed eyes that reflect proximity of death…a stranger in the background that becomes a lover or friend.” These small moments of life that seem irrelevant at times are deleted to make room for possible future moments.
Online sites such as flickr, facebook, myspace, and other social networking devices are tremendous gateways for photography. Pictures can be uploaded from mobile phones instantly with no storage limit. In 2005, Photobucket was registering 1.3 million images being uploaded to its server daily (Rubenstein 2008). Photos of vacations, family gatherings, sporting events, and all facets of life can be shared, edited, and sent to nearly anywhere in the world with the click of a button. Some choose to share their lives through photos on the internet and some not so much, but the fact that it is possible just shows the significance of amateur photography in the future.