Capturing the Moment

I still remember when my dad had slammed an old box on the kitchen counter, this

peculiar box was the one in the attic coated with layers of dust from at least three different

decades. On that box was a label that read “Europe”. I forgot what was in the box, obviously the

continent of Europe was not inside, but that did not stop me from making wild assumptions, what

if there was a tiny European elf hidden away in this box? My expectations were quickly

squandered after we opened the box. There must have been at least two thousand developed film

photos that were crushing the film camera that took these pictures. I was not even alive the last

time this prehistoric box was opened, so opening it again was revolutionary. You never imagine

what your parents looked like in their twenties. It scares me seeing them so young and full of

life, it kind of makes me feel guilty. While I was looking at these pictures, the date was printed:

“7.12.88”, which meant they were taken almost thirty five years ago. I am not thirty five years

old, so needless to say, I was left out from these pictures. These photos should have no

sentimental value to me, yet they bring such an odd sense of nostalgia. I could tell my parents

felt the same way based on how they were reacting, but they had a reason, they were in the

pictures. I could not understand why these photos felt so different to newer ones. Was it the

lighting? Maybe it was seeing my parents so young? This is why I ask the question, how has

rapidly evolving technology changed photography composition for everyday use?

Before I begin, I want to define what factors make up the contents of my paper. In my

opinion, there are three main parts of taking a photo, but this list can differ from photographer to

photographer. My first criteria is what emotions are portrayed from a photo? After all,

photographs are physical reminders of memories, why not spend time to make sure you properly

capture the emotions of the moment? That being said, my second criteria is to make sure colors
and lighting are being used to your advantage, colors are much more important than recognized.

What a lot of people do not realize is that colors are able to portray emotions on subconscious

levels, even the smallest amounts of hues can portray unintended emotions that can throw off the

aesthetic of a photo. Likewise, proper lighting can also subconsciously portray emotions.

Lighting can separate a good photo from a great photo, but on top of going in depth on these two

subjects, I want to talk about how the development of technology has changed photography.

Furthermore, I will be asking about composition, what it takes to take a great photo. Finally I

will ask why vintage photos such as my parents' old Europe trip, are able to portray such great

feelings of nostalgia throughout the essay.

A major catalyst to photography, especially for new hobbyists, are the universally felt

emotions portrayed from photos, but why do photos portray emotions? According to the National

Library of Medicine, “Effective photojournalism provokes an emotional reaction and leaves a

lasting impression upon the viewer. Striking and memorable images are often said to possess

‘impact’. Within cognitive neuroscience memorable emotional images evoke a greater amygdala

response” (Ewbank). The amygdala is the part of the brain that is responsible for regulating

emotions, and studies have proven that pictures frequently are able to trigger emotional

responses in the amygdala. “Scientists report that people shown glimpses of childhood lore felt

lower levels of pain compared to the control group”(ASU Online). The reason that photography

has a major impact on the amygdala is because these vintage photos are able to create a strong

sense of nostalgia. More often than not, vintage photos provoke a stronger emotional response

than non-vintage photos. So if vintage cameras are better at capturing stronger emotions like

nostalgia than modern cameras are, why use a modern camera? While yes vintage cameras

capture moments with a stronger sense of nostalgia, modern cameras can do something that
vintage cameras can not. Modern cameras have more capabilities so they can do much more than

a vintage camera. Vintage cameras are known for only taking one type of photo really well, but

modern cameras are able to take a variety of photos really well. With the evolution of cameras,

photography sub-genres were discovered, with these new styles of photography, there are now

more emotions that can be told from one picture. Vintage cameras are great at capturing nostalgic

photos that modem cameras can lack. On the other hand, modern cameras are able to capture a

bigger variety of photos, allowing for more emotional value in different types of photos. So

modern cameras might be better at portraying a higher quantity of emotions, but lack the quality

of emotions that vintage cameras are able to capture. Overall, both vintage and modern cameras

evoke emotional responses based on the perception of the image, and both modern and vintage

cameras have their advantages and disadvantages, but one way cameras have evolved is by

capturing a wider display of colors.

Color theory has a massive effect on photography’s evolution progress. A great

photographer recognizes how to take photos that work in line with color theory. The basics of

color theory is, “Color theory is the collection of rules and guidelines which designers use to

communicate with users through appealing color schemes in visual interfaces. To pick the best

colors every time, designers use a color wheel and refer to extensive collected knowledge about

human optical ability, psychology, culture and more” (Field). What Field is saying here is that

colors can imply their own meanings, and by using these colors to your advantage, you can

express deep and intricate emotion just by supporting it with colors. “Understanding color value

and color terms can help you fully master the quality of your photography, as well as the

psychological and emotional effect that your images have on the viewer” (Masterclass). By being

aware of color theory, the natural hues that come with some films can be used to your advantage
to create deeply emotionally intelligent and expressive photos, and for digital cameras, filters can

be applied to create the same effect. Professional photographers know that great photos are made

up of fundamental aspects. During a private interview, professional photographer Anne Wladyka

says, “It can be a dramatic landscape that takes your breath away, an interesting expression on

someone's face, or just interesting shapes, colors or textures. A good photo may tell a story

without words or express a feeling.” A great photo needs to evoke emotion or has to tell a story

to be considered ‘art’. Expression, shapes, colors, and textures are what make up photos, and

understanding this makes taking better photos become much easier. In addition to this, lighting

also has a major impact on a photo. Lighting is an essential aspect of a photo that is commonly

overlooked as well. While it might not seem like it, lighting has a major control on determining

the mood, atmosphere, and tone of a photo. Not only this, but lighting is also what determines a

color's shade, so without it color theory wouldn’t exist. “Over the years, well-meaning

photographers have stressed the importance of light or have even been so bold as to say that

‘light is everything’” (Peterson 140). Peterson is one of the world's most famous photographers

and is widely known for his skill on capturing landscapes. Peterson acknowledges that different

moments of lighting can have the greatest impact on the overall meaning of photos. Lighting

adds a complex layer of sentimental value that is underappreciated because of its simplicity.

Although this may be true, these vital techniques do not quite explain how photography has

evolved over the years.

Photography has evolved a lot over the years, but how has the development of camera

technology improved the culture around photography as a profession, and as a whole. In recent

years, there has not been one smartphone made without the inclusion of a camera. Of course, it is

handy to have for taking photos in the moment, but it has also proven handy as a tool. For
example, taking a photo of a physical list, or sending insurance companies photos of your car to

make a claim, these would both be using it as a tool. Back when there were only film cameras,

this was not the case. Using a phone camera as a tool has since desensitized us from the meaning

of taking a photo. Since so many people have been accustomed to having their camera rolls filled

with uninteresting, boring photos, being able to take a good photo has become irregular. Before

phone cameras, you would need to lug around either a digital camera or film camera. While these

cameras were inconvenient, they can do something that phone cameras cannot, take a limited

amount of spectacular photos. But what makes these photos feel special? “There are many

factors that can make a ‘good photo’ or make it ‘special’, it just comes down to what the photo is

trying to say and who the viewer is”, says Josias Alvarado, Alvarado professionally photographs

sporting events, weddings, and much more. To provide clarity, Alvarado is saying what makes a

photo special is how the photographer is able to capture a moment of emotion being portrayed.

What this means is, a photo is not just a simple image captured by a camera, but it can also be a

powerful medium to convey emotions, stories, and memories. What makes a photo special is the

ability of the photographer to capture not just the visual aspect of the subject, but also the

emotional aspect. Furthermore, when Wladyka was asked, she builds on this idea further. “As a

professional [photographer] who really dedicates a lot of time, energy, and money into my craft.

I see a lot of people say ‘I’m a photographer’, it seems like everybody is an amateur

photographer, because the quality of the camera is so good that they think they can take an image

as good as someone who has been doing this for thirty years”. The biggest takeaway from

Alvarado’s and Wladyka’s words is that even though anyone can take a photo on their

smartphone, it takes time, effort, and an artistic vision to capture a photo that can portray an

emotion, which is what makes it special. A photographer’s job is to make a photo special, that is
what makes it so difficult. All in all, using phone cameras has desensitized us from the true

meaning of photography, which is to capture a moment of emotion being portrayed, and this

emotion is supposed to bring sentimental value. As camera technology develops, it becomes

more and more apparent that vintage cameras can sometimes create more aesthetically pleasing

images than more modern cameras. In fact, The advancement of camera technologies more

easily show the difference in standard between an adequate photographer and a professional

photographer.

Ansel Adams is the most famous photographer of all time, but what made him so

famous? Ansel Adams is an American photographer who pioneered photography as a culture,

and as a whole. Born 1902 in San Francisco California, Adams was an expert at composition.

His talents were recognized globally as he was able to take hundreds of stunning photos of

landscapes. Why Adams, what made him so great? Adams was known for going on month long

expeditions so he could compose the best photo he could. Ansel Adams had an unreal talent for

photography, using a technique called ‘visualization’ he was able to capture these stunning

images. Visualization is a technique used which is fairly straight forward, you have to use your

imagination and visualize what type of image you want (James). For a photo to be considered

amazing you need great composition. Of course, Adams had great photos but he was able to

compose such beautiful landscapes, with such perfect lighting and depth. Composition is a main

factor of photography, but what is it exactly?

Composition is quite simply the most important aspect of a photograph, but what is

composition? Composition by definition means, “the nature of something's ingredients or

constituents; the way in which a whole or mixture is made up (DK Illustrated Oxford

Dictionary)”. So the ingredients of a photo are what make up composition, too put it simply, yes,
but what are the ingredients of a photo? There are many different types of things that you can

photograph, landscape, portraits, animals, and even cars are just a few. But how do you compose

a great photo? First, you want to envision what type of image that you want, meaning what

emotions are you trying to portray in the image that you are about to take. Second, you want to

try and encapsulate all of the emotions by incorporating all of the aspects that can portray those

emotions. Lastly, what steps are you taking to try and achieve your perfect outcome, it takes

patience, visualization, and talent. With modern cameras, a lack of talent is a lot easier to conceal

because of how advanced they are, but they also embellish more talented photographers.

It is no secret that photography has become almost everyone’s mini hobby, and now that

almost everyone has a camera on their smartphone, it seems weird to think that there was once a

time where you could not just take a photo of whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. In the

modern world, there are more photos than ever being taken. A Photutorial claims that,“1.81

trillion photos are taken worldwide every year, which equals 57,246 per second, or 5.0 billion per

day” (Broz). CEO of Photutorial, Matic Broz, claims almost sixty thousand photos are taken at a

given moment. Going back thirty years ago, that number is not even a fraction of what it is today.

With so much accessibility to cameras, there are more photographers than ever, the U.S. Bureau

of Labor Statistics estimates that there are around thirty eight thousand employed photographers

with an average salary of thirty eight thousand dollars (BLS). That is only counting the

photographers who do it professionally. With more and more photographers, the difference

between a professional and a hobbyist has become quite immeasurable. So I decided to ask

Alvarado what the difference between a hobbyist and a professional was, this is what he had to

say.
 “Personally, the difference between a hobbyist and a professional is stress. As funny as it

sounds, a professional has to meet client expectations and deadlines to turn in projects. A

professional is not only a photographer but also even a small business owner, and as a business

owner you have other obligations to meet. While there is nothing wrong for just being a

hobbyist, there is a major difference. I prefer being a hobbyist at times.”

Alvarado’s words make it seem that photography can be picked up by anyone, which it

can and so many new styles of photography creating new innovative ways to think about

photography, reimagining the way that we think about it. In the early days of photography, it was

a relatively rare and expensive art form that required specialized equipment and skills. Only a

select few individuals had access to the tools and knowledge needed to create photographs, and

they were often employed by wealthy individuals or companies to produce images (Grundberg).

Furthermore, with the expansion and development of the internet and social media platforms,

being able to publish and share your talents as a photographer has only become easier.

Ultimately, the evolution of cameras have made photography more inclusive, allowing more

people to engage in the art form and share their perspectives with the world consequently making

more opportunities to create more unique individual styles that hobbyists and professionals alike

can share and explore.

Altogether, the art of photography has changed so much since the 19th century and with

the availability of it becoming widespread, it is inevitable that hobbyists and professionals alike

will find it gravitational. Composing a photo has not only become easier with the development of

the technology, but also there have been more ways to demonstrate skill and talent. Of course, it

is always satisfying to look at pictures of loved ones, or landscapes and to be brought back to a

different time. These vintage photos are able to create such powerful feelings of nostalgia that
now people are starting to buy older cameras to capture moments like these again. Furthermore,

by manipulating lighting, and color, the emotional value of the photo strengthens. Photography

should be seen as a creative way of expression, which is why after all, the experience of taking a

photo creates thousands of more opportunities for the average everyday person. To answer the

question, ‘How has rapidly evolving technology changed photography composition for everyday

use?’I believe that technology has made it more accessible for the average person, which creates

a stronger culture around the hobby. With that being said, it has become easier to compose a

great photo, but that does not differ talent, as a matter of fact, I would say that the evolution of

photography has made great photo taking even more great by allowing for more things to

compose in totality.
 Works Cited

Books:

Alinder, James, and John Szarkowski. Ansel Adams: Classic Images. Little, Brown and

Company, 1992.

DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary. DK Pub., 2003.

Peterson, B. (2016). Understanding exposure. Amphoto Books.

Journal Articles/Electronic Sources:

ASU Online. “Differences Between Digital and Film Photography | ASU Online.” ASU Online,

14 December 2021,

https://asuonline.asu.edu/newsroom/online-learning-tips/digital-vs-film-photography/.

Accessed 21 March 2023.

Broz, Matic. “How Many Photos Are There? (2023) 50+ Photos Statistics.” Photutorial, 10

March 2023, https://photutorial.com/photos-statistics/. Accessed 20 March 2023.

BLS. “27-4021 Photographers.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 31 March 2022,

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes274021.htm. Accessed 21 March 2023.

Ewbank, John.“Film vs Digital - A Photo Comparison - TheDarkroom.” The Darkroom, 27

February 2021, https://thedarkroom.com/film-vs-digital-comparison/. Accessed 22 April

2023.

Field, Nathan. “What Is Color Theory?” The Interaction Design Foundation, Interaction Design

Foundation, 23 Mar. 2023, www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/color-theory.

Grundberg, Andy. “History of photography | History, Inventions, Artists, & Events.”

Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/technology/photography. Accessed

20 March 2023.
“MasterClass Online Classes.” MasterClass, www.masterclass.com/.

Primary Sources:

Alvarado, Josias “Josias Alvarado Interview.” Personal interview. 15 Mar 2023

Wladyka, Anne “Anne Wladkya Interview.” Personal interview. 19 Mar 2023

Work Consulted

Castella, Tom de. “Five Ways the Digital Camera Changed Us.” BBC News, BBC, 28 Feb. 2012,

www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16483509.

Halber, Deborah. “The Anatomy of Emotions.” BrainFacts, 6 September 2018,

https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/emotions-stress-and-anxiety/2

018/the-anatomy-of-emotions-090618. Accessed 23 April 2023.

“Is Going Vintage the Modern way of Taking Pictures?” The Courier, 11 April 2022,

https://codcourier.org/is-going-vintage-the-modern-way-of-taking-pictures/. Accessed 21

March 2023.

“The amygdala response to images with impact.” NCBI, 17 January 2009,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2686226/. Accessed 22 April 2023.