“A daily newspaper in Brisbane needs an experienced newspaper photographer?” or “A Schools photography company based in Colchester, Essex, is seeking experienced photographer”.

Looks familiar? These are of course the run of the mill ads that come in the media for the job of a photographer. Going along with the trends of the time, the creative horizons of photography is thoroughly explored and gains momentum day by day. This makes a photographer a much sought after commodity in the market. For the soaring creativeness of a photographer, sky turn out to be the frame to absorb the beauty of the world.

Significance of photography

What actually is Photography? Well, a simple definition can be “freezing frames on film’ or “capturing a precious and cherishable slice of life and putting it away for the generations to come”.

Being a very resourceful and imaginative medium of expressing one’s self, the art of photography has a history of over 150 years. In the past, taking photographs were the only solution to preserve the present moments for the next generation. Even now when science and technology has acquired larger dimensions, photography still reigns the unrivalled master in this realm.

Want to be a part of this highly inventive field? The unwritten rules are: You need a keen eye for aesthetic details of what is "photo-worthy"; an exhaustive awareness of different cameras and the techniques involved in taking pictures, of light, distance and perspective; a ‘quick to respond’ and reflective nature; last but not the least; the nerve to take it up as a profession.

I should admit that I lack the above mentioned intuitive and in-born traits of a photographer. Needless to say the trials I have made in this area have become apologies for good photography!

Study centres of photography

Photography as profession is no child's play and unfortunately many talented photographers still remain amateurs unable to overcome the hurdles on the way. The ascend is tough and tiring, and the financial returns are quite unsatisfactory for the beginners. Only those with determination and a never-say-die attitude, coupled with a real love of the medium can cling on.

For this, the career-minded photographers, students, artists and people who has an inclination to it should learn photography systematically with theory and practical sessions from a person who has mastered the art. Several institutes offer courses to meet the needs of those who intend to take photography as a part time/full time profession, as a passion or as a pastime.

Photography is such a flexible and versatile art which has branched out to specialized areas like press, sports, nature, wild life, bird photography etc. So if you are keen on any of these fields, you will be benefited as these courses lay basic foundation for all these branches of photography. Most of the courses are carefully woven with theory and practical sessions to give in-depth practical knowledge of the subject.

These courses will train your eyes and help you tame the camera.

·The Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
·Icon Photography School, Vancouver, BC
·Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, CA
·Harrington College of Design, Chicago
·McIntosh College of Dover, New Hampshire
·American InterContinental University Study, London
·Photographic Society of India, Mumbai
·Verve Visuals, Bangalore, India
·India International Photographic Council, New Delhi, India

Restricted areas of photography

‘The police in Hull, UK, seized this guy's film because he was taking photos of 'sensitive material' in a city center. A spokeswoman for the force told Amateur Photographer: 'Camera film was seized by Humberside Police following a complaint from members of the public about photos being taken in the area of Prospect Centre, Hull.’
(Taken from Boingboing: A directory of wonderful things)

You may think that ‘how can we expect privacy in a public place’! Or ‘is not a photographer licensed to capture anything that he finds interesting?’

But it is a very sensitive issue. This is a very unpredictable world. If there are no framed rules in this area, we might be unknowingly giving liberty to the untamed terrorist or illegal activities to mushroom around us. So photography is strictly banned in certain places of political or strategic importance, legendary monuments, interiors of some worship places, or even taking photographs of individuals without their permission.

Scope of Photography in film industry

Photographers in television, video, and motion picture capture images that often tell a story, inform or entertain an audience, or record an event. Film and video editors edit soundtracks, film, and video for the motion picture, cable, and broadcast television industries. Some photographers do their own editing.

Photographers use professional television, video, or motion picture cameras to shoot a wide variety of material, including television series, studio programs, music videos, motion pictures, news and sporting events, documentaries, and training sessions. The resultant product is a collage made from many different shots by film and video editors. With the increase in digital technology, much of the editing work is now done on a computer. Many professional photographers and editors are employed by independent television stations; local affiliate stations of television networks; large cable and television networks; or smaller, independent film production companies.

Creation of commercial-quality movies and video programs requires technical expertise and creativity. Producing successful images requires a skill in the choice and presentation things in an interesting way, selection of appropriate equipment, an aesthetic eye and a steady hand to ensure smooth, natural movement of the camera.

Photographers/cinematographers employed in the entertainment field use motion picture cameras to film movies, television programs, and commercials. Some specialize in filming cartoons or special effects. Cinematographers are an essential part of the action, using cameras in any of several different mounts. For example, the camera can be stationary and shoot whatever passes in front of the lens, or it can be mounted on a track, with the camera operator responsible for shooting the scene from different angles or directions.

Use of photography in printed media

The story is unfolded through their pictures. The work requires journalistic ability combined with technical skill. There are a great variety of subjects and locations and the timings may be irregular. They cover various subjects such as the life of prison inmates or drought conditions in a stare or schools at work in different places and so on.

Evolution of media

Prior to exploring the specifics of the print and digital media revolutions, we will have a look at media in general:

How do we define media? On the other hand, how do media define us? Is media a catalyst of cultural change? How do print and digital media differ?

Progressions in media technology are now becoming the calibration marks for history's major paradigmatic shifts. At present, "Mediology”, is an accepted and ever-expanding field of study.

Regis Debray, a French radical theoretician, suggests three historical ages of transmission technologies: the logosphere (the age of writing, technology, kingdom, and faith), the graphosphere (the age of print, political ideologies, nations and laws), and the newly formed videosphere (the age of multimedia broadcasting, models, individuals, and opinions).

Even though these chronological strata have not been thouroughly accepted, Debray's work illustrate the fact that the technologies of transmission have become almost omnipotent, as media now get acclaim for shaping not only to the information we distribute and consume, but our powers of observation, our political, social and economic systems, and our general understanding of truth.

Media and its far-reaching effects have been present ever since humanity has been developed into tribes and nations and developing methods of communication.

Article by : Rarima N S
SBL – Technology People Trust