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The Current State of Photography

The expression “Everything old is new again” certainly applies to the current state of photography. On one hand, technology reigns and continues to impact every aspect of our lives, especially in the world of social media. It isn’t enough to have a quality profile picture but it better move, talk and anything else humanly possible. Clients, Art Directories and Galleries are all looking for the “Wow” factor, including bold colorful filters and virtual reality. VR headsets once reserved for gamers are filtering more and more into the mainstream, thanks to reduced prices and better quality results. I recently watched a music video shot entirely with a car backup camera. Camera mounted drones have had a huge impact too and imagery that was once only possible to create by way of an airplane or helicopter, are now available to all of us.

However, at the same time, nostalgia is once again vogue. We see it in everything from fashion photography to the use of collages and diptychs. Black and white imagery is king again and there has been a return to 35mm film, as well. Now, does that mean we better get back into the darkroom? Well, maybe for some, but it is costly and certainly inconvenient and will likely be reserved for fine art and special projects, but the debate will continue. Frankly, I think we are going to see more of a merging of technology and old-school techniques but, more than likely, those techniques will be created by way of Photoshop and modern post production. Nostalgia has found its way into branding and the advertising world, too. Currently, truth in advertising is the trend and there are less and less flashy elements.

Speaking of flash, Flash Photography is another exciting new trend in photography, along with fancy new instant cameras. My advice would be to try it all. Experimentation is the best possible way to find your voice and that often happens by verging both old and new school technology. Meaning, don’t be afraid to draw, paint, scratch, scan, apply filters, whatever it takes!