Shifting Perspectives: Evolving Thoughts on Photography and Perception

It has been said, ‘Change is the only Constant’. Things change, for better or for worse. This is just a summary of my observations regarding the change around me in the last few months.

(Trishul Peak on a clear morning, after rains)

Instagram

There was a time when Instagram was new and purely about sharing photographs. When I joined as a latecomer, it was already on the decline. Photographs were heavily processed, and networking prowess often overshadowed quality content. Now, things have evolved even further with the introduction of Reels. In my opinion, this has been one of Instagram’s worst developments. People now spend hours glued to their screens, watching low-quality, repetitive Reels set to trending music with little substance. Personally, I find these Reels frustrating and mind-numbing. This blog reflects my viewpoint.

Recently, I’ve discussed this with active creators on Instagram who are experiencing dwindling views, a trend echoed by others I’ve spoken to. The platform is now inundated with mindless content, making it difficult for meaningful posts to stand out amidst the bombardment.

To compound matters, there’s endless scrolling—a boon for content creators but a ‘time-sink’ for users. Nothing consumes time quite like mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, particularly through its Reels.

The friend who introduced me to Instagram, left it many months back. I am stuck since my customers, check it out.

Mobile Phone Cameras

Phones with vastly improved cameras are now available in the market compared to last year, and we can expect even more capable cameras in the coming year.

Many of my contacts who started their photography journeys with decent cameras have now switched to mobile phone cameras. While these phones are good, dedicated cameras still offer superior quality. Unfortunately, some new users who invest in dedicated cameras expect effortless magic when they take photos, only to be disappointed. Without fully utilizing the camera’s potential, they become disillusioned and often switch back to mobile phones for photography.

The strides that technology is making in mobile phone cameras are not ahead of dedicated cameras. Actually, the improvements in camera technology are now being implemented to some extent in phone cameras. So, as the things stand, on any day, a dedicated camera will always be better than a mobile phone camera, technologically speaking.

The Touchy Students

With today’s short attention spans, mindless scrolling on social media, and the prevalence of over-processed images and advertisements, aspiring photographers can be quite sensitive.

About a month ago, I was on a photowalk with a gentleman experimenting with long shutter speeds. He expressed interest in mentoring, so I offered two minor suggestions. First, I recommended setting the ISO manually to control shutter speed and aperture better, especially for capturing motion blur. He welcomed this advice. However, when I suggested adjusting the camera position for a stronger composition, it unexpectedly upset him, despite being asked for guidance.

A similar incident occurred when a couple struggled to capture the right colors during alpenglow. Upon their request for advice, I suggested adjusting the Auto White Balance to Daylight, which also didn’t sit well with them.

It seems photography students and learners today are more sensitive. I’ve learned to approach mentoring differently now. Instead of offering unsolicited advice, I demonstrate what I’m doing and how I approach photography. I leave it to the students to decide whether to adopt my methods or explore their own perspectives. Unlike the interactive discussions of previous photowalks, I now focus on answering specific questions and sharing my own techniques.

Computer Upgrade?

My computer, once customized to specifications that even vendors struggled to grasp, now feels oversized in my small new apartment. Every square meter of floor space is precious. I’m contemplating upgrading to a low-profile model to reclaim space. Visiting a physical computer store, I found a compact computer that fits neatly in a desk corner. However, the monitor I prefer is larger than my current one, which might still require placing the computer on the floor even after downsizing.

One compelling reason for the upgrade is my newfound need to work with videos. I’ve recently started using DaVinci Resolve, requiring a more robust computer. Although my existing setup handles the new version of Affinity well, the upgrade appeals to me for three reasons: video processing demands, achieving a smaller form factor that can sit alongside a monitor on my desk, and succumbing to the capitalist influence on my minimalist mindset.

Books and Music – Two of my Other Loves

I still find joy in reading books. To me, the experience of reading is far more engaging than watching videos. Even simple topics like ‘how to grow your own vegetables’ resonate better when I read about them rather than watch a YouTube video. Because of my love for reading, I continue to write as well. This blog remains active, offering insights that photographers might find useful.

When it comes to music, I prefer using a full-size music system over tiny Bluetooth speakers. I prioritize flat response and uncolored music reproduction. I enjoy listening to albums from my physical collection rather than streaming them online. Occasionally, I do stream high-quality FLAC files, which I store locally. While I understand that my hearing may have deteriorated over the years, making it hard to discern differences in streamed, lossy music files, I still prefer physical media and occasional FLAC files.

Change is a Constant – but these overcooked photographs, the mindless short videos and reels, the endless scrolling, the short attention spans? I just hope that even these will change. It is just a matter of time.

This article, originally published on my photography site, is now archived here; while some details may have lost their original context over time, it still offers an intriguing read.
Complete list of archived content – Photography Articles