Digital Cameras in Contemporary Society

Digital technology is playing a big role in nearly everyone’s lives. Digital cameras are one of those devices which are basic tools of photography that digitally form and record images. Digital cameras are advanced because the technology made them possible and their advantages caught on among users (Milburn & Rockwell & Chambers, 2002). This device can do things that are not easily done with film cameras. It allows the users to experience instant gratification (Milburn & Rockwell & Chambers, 2002), which helps them to shoot and see their images right away. Being able to directly see the photographs would make people a better photographer in less time since they can judge right away what they did wrong and edit it. If users are not satisfied with the result, they can erase it and ensure that embarrassing shots have been removed. For many people, digital photography has also changed film for personal use. For instance, digital cameras with low-resolutions can even produce album-size prints and make it simply fast to share images through the Web (Milburn & Rockwell & Chambers, 2002). Instant communications are also good reasons because many professionals such as “legal researchers and real estate agents use digital cameras” (Milburn & Rockwell & Chambers, 2002). Moreover, this device does not require dangerous chemicals that could affect water supplies (Milburn & Rockwell & Chambers, 2002). Accordingly, digital cameras are both a personal technology and part of a media infrastructure since users can use the device to shoot the object and post it to the Web page within moments.

In order to use this device, users should look into the LCD screen or the viewfinder located on the back of the camera to aim it at their target. Once the users’ selected objects are in the screen, they have to make sure to hold the camera still until they press the shutter. Users can also view their own pictures by the playback button. To upload pictures onto the computer, they should upload by inserting their memory card or attach their USB cord to the computer.

Although digital cameras are a convenient technology to capture moments, the images can have a negative effect on personal privacy. In this journal article “Keeping track of photos is not an easy task,” Steve Dotto, the host and executive producer of Dotto Tech, states that digital cameras and wireless network has created an issue of privacy. He initially indicates that the convenience factor of digital cameras is massive that people take unlimited number of pictures and upload on shared networking sites to stay in touch with friends and family. On the other hand, the sharing media is so broad and wide that it makes people much easier to experience the “perfect storm for invasion of privacy.” Dotto points out that there is “little or no protection once a picture is captured” since people usually do not ask permission when they are taking a photo. Accordingly, this is becoming a huge privacy issue. Moreover, Dotto informs that “fun photos can come back to haunt [people] in the future.” He simply states that it is possible to ruin one’s career when fun photos, where the person appears to be doing something rude or drunk, is revealed at the wrong time. He highly recommends people to remember the fact that pictures can be posted to the Web “within minutes of shutter releasing.” Dotto merely reveals that the only way for protection is to begin creating “a culture of permission,” insisting photographers to ask before they shoot images.  

The utilization and convenience of digital cameras illustrate that it is a great technology. However, it has a negative effect since it is creating huge privacy concerns. As mentioned earlier, communication media is getting more advanced and immense that people, who desire to protect their privacy, are vulnerable against pirates who takes and uses photos without permission. Since digital cameras are a personal device which records and stores personal images, they are more negatively affected. For me, losing images is more devastating than losing a collection of songs. Hence, people may feel more loss toward their personal pictures because it is more of a part of their identity.

Accordingly, the reasonable way that this effect could be reversed is that people may take large number of images at any time in order to recollect memories and stay in touch with others. When there is piracy in privacy, people tend to increase the barricade that will eventually lead to lack of sharing and interaction with family and friends. Digital cameras enable people to recall the past since they can instantly see photographs of things and events that have happened. The phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” (Papertrail, n.d) is indeed meaningful since digital cameras have helped people to get a better idea of events through still images and helped to change the way people see their surroundings with easier process.

 

 

 

Reference:  

Digital Camera. (2006, July). Retrieved February 8, 2009, from Wikipedia:

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_camera

 

Dotto S. (2008, April 2). Keeping track of photos is not an easy task.

            North Shore News,19.  Retrieved February 9, 2009, from

            Canadian Newsstand Pacific database.

 

Milburn, K. & Rockwell, R. & Chambers, M. (2002). Digital Photography Bible (2nd ed.). Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley Publishing Inc.

 

Papertrail. (n.d). Photographic. Retrieved February 8, 2009, from

            http://papertrail.candutch.ca/index.php?pr=Photographic

 

 

 

 

 

 

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