Digital Photography Evolution

Ben Oliver
DTC 375: Language, Texts & Technology
Dr. Farman
Jan. 27, 2009
Word Count: 807

Symbols have evolved. Simple doodles produced by the Michelangelo of the age using charcoal or squashed berries have, over time, turned into art and pictures and photos and more. In this manner of evolution I believe these simple symbols have become even more descriptive and less complex in design and at the same time have actually evolved full circle.

The symbols most of us relate to as being ancient are typically pictographs. More elaborate information could be shared by grouping several pictographs together and so the evolution began. At least for this example and in the simplest terms, visual representation eventually evolved into art then photography and then digital photography.

Unknown to many, digital photography is a compilation of symbols and is unique in many ways. Pictures can be produced, reproduced, shared, sent, or stored as easily as snapping the picture itself. This has lead to a different style of communication. A person may not know the name of a certain part for fixing his/her car however a simple picture of the part taken on a cell phone can prevent any misunderstandings and help identify the proper part at the local auto parts supply house. Ever try and buy a bag of bolts at the hardware store? You are typically directed to write down all the pertinent information with a nonexistent pen. Instead, use your phone to take a picture of the barcode. All these photos can be recalled at no cost and shared with whoever requires the information.

As with most new technologies digital photography was expensive in the beginning and limited to use by professionals with a specific need. Digital photography has evolved beyond the level of professional and prosumer. It has become communication for the masses. Special people, places and moments are captured without the slightest hesitation, instantly. Conversations typically start out with “Guess what happened last weekend” and somewhere in the middle the phrase “Wait, I think I have some pictures on my phone.” is injected. In fact many people don’t even have time to tell the story and simply direct you to their site on the web containing the pictures while they dash off possibly to take more pictures.

Digital photographs are not a replacement of another form of communication but more an enhancement like a flashlight in a cave. You could fumble around with words and descriptions that may describe something specific only to you but a photograph is more likely to mean the same thing to a higher percentage of an audience.

I choose to use this form of communication because of the return on investment. It is simple, cheap and reduces the opportunities for misunderstanding when trying to convey ideas. One of the largest returns on investment for me has been time. Meeting times have been reduced by injecting a digital representation into presentations. Concepts have been more readily received and quickly decided on. Even delays at the check-out line have been reduced, especially if you have the forethought to check your merchandise for the UPC symbol. If it does not have one, you better snap a picture of the one on the display to present to the cashier later.

Digital photography is teetering on the line of paying homage to analog photography while at the same time spinning off on its own. Animations are now produced completely digitally. Classic movies and animations are “digitally enhanced”. Movies are still very much a homogenous blend of digital and analog photography particularly for special effects, at least when initially created. Eventually productions are captured in a digital format to be reproduced en masse.

Not only does the ease of use or return on investment make digital photography appealing to folks with good intentions but it attracts the not so good folks as well. A crook may not be able to remember all the information on your check or credit card as he looks over your shoulder but you can bet his phone can, easy, quiet, and cheap. Simple invasion of privacy with digital video is almost commonplace in the news.

So how have we come full circle with symbols? How have we evolved from charcoal to art to photography to digital photography and back? In my opinion they all have a message or story to tell or it’s not communication. We have made a leap from a complex analog organic medium of many symbols to an electronic, digital, basic medium of two symbols that can be arranged to represent anything we can imagine. The symbols are either “ON” or “OFF” or 1 or 0 (zero).

Do you know what the following says?

0000000000000000000000000
0111110111110111110100000
0100000100010100010100000
0100000100010100010100000
0100000100010100010100000
0100000100010100010100000
0111110111110111110111110
0000000000000000000000000

Hint: Connect the ones to see what this is a picture of.