Keiry Hiraldo

Mr. Johnson

Sustainable Development Honors

20 October 2017

Game Changer: The Camera

The camera is a huge game changer, which affects modern society in an enormous way. Today,

we depend on cameras for many things. Teenagers and young adults thrive off of taking “selfies”,

snapchatting and capturing a photo of everything they encounter. Modern society is basically addicted to

this technology. The camera went from being big bulky photo taking device, to being easily integrated

into all devices such as computers, phones and gaming consoles.

Before the camera, the only way to capture portraits and scenery was by painting. These portraits

were painted by artists. High quality paintings took a very long time to paint, and it was essential done for

the rich because it was so expensive. Cameras changed the way we keep record of moments. With

cameras, everyone has access to obtain portraits of themselves or a scenery instantly. Artist are rarely

needed capture moments anymore.

Cameras transformed the way we communicate with others. Before the camera we could only

perform regular telephone calls. With modern technology, camera were integrated with cells phones and

computers giving us the advantage to video chat. Video chatting has giving people the ability to ‘talk face

to face’, people are allowed to do interviews or talk to someone long distance. Cameras are making it

possible for innovations in technology, ​360-degree video, 3D imaging and depth sensing exist now or will

in the near future.1

1
​http://time.com/4691749/smartphone-cameras-photography-snapchat-instagram-iphone-samsung/
 Camera also brought upon many advancements in careers. According to ​www.allartschools.com​,

photography is a growing and competitive career, it takes a lot of skills to successfully be a photographer.

The camera game changed art, it brought upon a new style of art. Photography allowed photographers to

capture visible data in a way that surpassed the ability of a painter.2 With the camera, photographers were

able to intricately focus on lighting and colors.

With the invention of the camera and photography, new social media came about. Due to smart

camera phones and people's interest in taking pictures, social media platforms were created for people to

specifically share their photos. People use cameras and social media, like ​Instagram ​to share their life on

the go.3 Ansel Adam states, ​“Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications,

offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.”, people are able to express

themselves through these social media platforms. ​Www.time.com​ also believes that communication is

becoming more visual, “There's good reason for smartphone makers to be leaning into camera tech.

Whereas smartphone communication used to be about phone calls, texts and emails, it's become an

increasingly visual medium, thanks to apps like Snapchat and Instagram.”

Many may argue that the innovation of cameras and smartphone are taking over people, turning

them into “cyborgs”. Cameras have game changed many things such as art and communication. Cameras

have led to other advancements such as x-ray technology which is a tool crucial in hospitals. Cameras

have changed the way we perceive the world, people are capturing the beauty around them. I for one,

enjoy going into nature and discovering cool places to take photographs of them and sharing it with

others. People are connecting differently through art, video chatting, and social media because of

cameras. It has changed technology and has allowed us to advance in ways we would not be able to

without it.

2
​http://char.txa.cornell.edu/art/fineart/change/change.htm
3
​https://www.inc.com/30under30/2011/profile-kevin-systrom-mike-krieger-founders-instagram.html
Citations

“BBC – Sign In.” ​BBC News​, BBC,

session.bbc.com/session?ptrt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fmagazine-16483509&
userOrigin=news&context=news​.

“Photography School, Degree and Career Guide.” ​All Art Schools​,

www.allartschools.com/photography/​.

Declanmalonephotography. “Does Photography Influence Our Lives?” ​Declan Malone Photography​,

11 Oct. 2012,

declanmalonephotography.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/does-photography-influence-our-lives/comme

nt-page-1/.

The Nature of Changes In the Fine Arts​, char.txa.cornell.edu/art/fineart/change/change.htm.

“How Your Smartphone's Camera Will Change the World.” ​Time​, Time,
time.com/4691749/smartphone-cameras-photography-snapchat-instagram-iphone-samsung/.