Through the Lens: A Different Perspective Standing, breathing lightly, inhaling the springtime aroma around me, I poise myself to get the perfect vantage point and hesitantly push down the glistening silver button on my camera thinking, “Is this how I want this moment to be remembered?” Through the eyes of many, a camera is just a tool that you point at an object to take a picture; to a photographer, it is so much more. According to Dictionary.com, the definition of photography is, “The process of producing images on a sensitized surface by the action of light.” However, there is one point that this simple definition fails to state, and that is photography is used to capture a single moment in time, in one frame. A single picture can tell a multitude of stories, and can hold countless memories. Whether done as a profession, a hobby, or a creative outlet, the art of photography can appeal to everyone in the world. Known as a “camera obscura,” the first elements of photography were shown in 384 BC when Mo-Ti, a Chinese philosopher, created the device (Camera Obscura History). The physics behind his invention was that when a lighted area was separated from a dark area with only a pinhole opening between them, it created an inverted image of the lighted area. This technology was further improved by inserting a lens to create a clearer picture (History of Photography). Since then, the art of photography has continued to evolve. Many photographers still rely on natural lighting in their pictures, however today photographers choose to use digital photo editing with programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Light Room. These great advances in technology and the progress of manipulating pictures using computer programs has led me to the question: How have advances in photo technology and digital photo editing changed the way that we take pictures? I believe that if I were to dive into the world of photo editing and post-processing, I would first need to understand the mechanics and equipment involved in taking pictures. Of course, modern cameras have been greatly upgraded since 384 BC, and there were many steps along the way, the first being George Eastman’s invention of film in 1884, followed by the Polaroid camera in 1948, digital cameras in 1984, and many more (Bellis). One of the most monumental advances in the photography world by far has been the invention of the D-SLR. Even for the most amateur photographer, a D-SLR (digital single-lens-reflex) camera will yield far more pleasing results than any point-and-shoot camera could. There are a plenty of reasons that the price range of these types of cameras can get quite pricey, but to a photographer it is worth every penny (Heller 36). A D-SLR provides more creative control and with its flexibility of options, and just about anyone can expand their photography horizons. One of the reasons that these cameras are so flexible is the sheer amount of options not only inside the camera, but outside as well. Any D-SLR system includes a broad range and quality of lenses, flash units ranging from weak to powerful, and accessories for advanced applications such as filters and teleconverters, which are mounted to the camera as what is called a secondary lens to create many different effects for certain kinds of shots(Burian 42). On the inside of the camera, many settings are adjustable, such as the focus, the speed at which the shutter of the camera opens and closes, the aperture to vary the depth of field to determines how sharp the focus on the object of interest will be, and the amount of light let into the camera’s sensor to create a brighter, darker or more aesthetically creative picture. Any of these options can drastically change how a picture comes out, and they can all be used in different combinations based on what the photographer wants. That is the beauty of modern photography; with more and more advances in photo technology, the possibilities never end. With this never-ending amount of customization, a picture can turn into anything you want it to be, and there are no limitations as to what you can take a picture of or where you can take them. It was a bright sunny day in our small suburbia known as Walnut Creek. I ventured up the all too familiar street to Northgate’s neighbor, Borges Ranch. After driving through what seemed like never ending winding roads and passed the unpleasant aroma of horse manure, I arrived at the small dirt covered parking lot, and wrapped my yellow Nikon neck strap around my neck. As soon as I stepped foot out of my car, I heard the crunching of rocks and gravel under my feet. Upon entering the park, memories flowed back to 7th grade when my entire class took a field trip to the murky pool and green parks of Borges Ranch. After progressing about half of a mile, leaving footsteps in the dirt trail, the road progressively became rougher, and the photographic opportunities began. I felt as if I was in the wilderness, all alone. I had passed the miniature basketball courts, and all that was left was unexplored land. Immediately I began thinking of what makes a good picture; what is it that people want to see? Or more importantly, what is it that I wanted to see? I have already taken countless pictures of still objects and that is when I came to the idea that I wanted to capture action, and I was already in the perfect place. I then realized that it was all under my nose the whole time. I noticed that in this area, covered in trees and landscape was actually covered in life! The amazing thing about new camera technology is how easily and flawlessly it can capture life in a single frame on a small screen. Everywhere I looked, I saw at least one living thing, flying, walking, running or crawling, and that is when I knew I was in the right place. All I needed to do was get the perfect shot, which is easier said than done. I continued my walk until my feet became weary. The ground under me was rough, but the cool breeze was refreshing. I inhaled the fresh scents of nature and was constantly snapping pictures of everything that I saw. I took advantage of the sun’s natural lighting and adjusted my aperture and shutter speed accordingly, constantly remembering a few of the basic rules of photography like “The Rule of Thirds,” sometimes holding my breath to maintain steadiness in my pictures. Using the Rule of Thirds was useful because it creates a better composition in pictures, which is largely intuitive (Heller 23). This process took a vast amount of time, but after countless shots, and a lot of sweat, I was satisfied with my shots, because the thought of being stranded in the mountains with only moonlight to guide me was frightening to say the least. Now all I had left to do was edit. Editing a picture is the final step in the path to a perfect photo. Changing a picture is where a great deal of the creativity happens, whether you want to add light, increase exposure, and change the vibrancy, contrast, or perhaps nothing at all. “I prefer editing pictures rather than keeping them un-changed because the goal is to make them look more aesthetically pleasing. With Photoshop and other editing tools, you can make colors more vibrant and real; more like the way you saw them,” said my interviewee, Chris Fuller. Fuller is very experienced with photography, and has accumulated a great amount of experience over the past 3-4 years. He stated that one of the aspects he enjoys most about photography is that it can be practiced anywhere, and by anyone. At first photography started as just a hobby, but it later grew into so much more. He is self-taught, and has shot many pictures varying from family portraits to weddings. When I visited his home in Emeryville, I absorbed a lot of information from his interview, which motivated me to pursue photography even more. One particular answer stood out when he said, “Anybody can take a good picture. However that depends on your definition of ‘good.’ If you think a picture is good, then you think a picture is good. It really depends because it is subjective to the viewer. You don’t need a fancy camera to take good pictures, but it also depends on what you want to take. If you wanted to take a close up and detailed picture of an eagle, you wouldn’t get that with a point-and-shoot.” In short, although the lens of a D-SLR will provide the best quality of picture, that does not allude to the fact that it is needed to pursue photography. Not only have there been advances in photography equipment, the digital aspect of photography has evolved just as much. In the past, a photographer would have to be very patient. They would have to lug their cameras with them at all times in hopes of running into something special. To catch a sunrise, they would have to wake up at the crack of dawn. However this has all changed due to the development of Photo Editing. In today’s time, if you see an amazing picture, after the initial awe you start to think, “Wow, that has to be Photoshopped.” (Campbell). In many ways, editing photos using programs such as Photoshop has changed the world of Photography. This digital editing software has greatly influenced many photographers and artists today. It has changed the way in which we see the world. Digital artists use Photoshop to turn ordinary pictures into symbolic photographs with deep hidden meanings. Not only that, digital photo editing has affected many subjects like how we advertise and how to make fantasy become reality (Campbell). Digital artists, with the help of Photoshop, have made their dreams and fantasies become real and have expressed their imagination in many different ways. Family friend, experienced photographer, and Northgate alumni Stephen Chow had explained to me, “A lot of people express themselves with Photoshop because it is fun to put symbolic meaning into pictures. Although it is easier to add light through editing, it is a lot more accomplishing to take a picture that is all natural, however there are just some things that can not be accomplished without a few tweaks here and there.” Essentially, Photoshop can create things that would not be possible with a camera alone. Numerous photographers say that they miss the period in which you could assure the fact of whether or not a picture was edited. During the mid 1900s, there were ways in which one could edit pictures, but they were so complex that the average person would not be able to (Campbell). With the simple layouts and innovative programs, just about anyone can make a picture look stunning with a few clicks of a mouse. In the history of photography, we have never had such phenomenal results from editing. From all of the tools on the computer and the Internet, by far the most renowned is Photoshop. The program is so popular that it has become synonymous with the words “altering” and “enhancing” (Williance). In a way, Photoshop has revolutionized modern photography because it can morph a picture into exactly what you want. “The color of light changes throughout the day; even though our eyes tend not to notice the difference.” (Burian 84). This is where photo editing comes into play. A picture can change drastically even if they were taken just a few minutes apart from each other. With the help of Photoshop, anyone can manage to create a picture exactly how he or she prefers it. One of the overall goals of photography and the most important part of being considered a good picture is to make it aesthetically pleasing. With the simple addition of photo effects and editing, photographers can now change their pictures to re-create the moments they missed. There was a time at which photography was a hit and miss. Photographers would try to take pictures, and if they did not like how it turned out, or if it was not developed correctly, the photo was simply disposed of. Then, along came digital photography. Pictures could be disposed of without wasting materials, and the options within a camera became more malleable and advanced. One of the biggest improvements was integrating a screen onto the camera body to let the photographer view the pictures being taken instantly, thus greatly improving photographic capabilities. Today we have reached a new plateau in the digital age, and new milestones are constantly being reached again and again. Photographers do not need to rush to the scene to capture that perfect moment. Photo editing took care of everything including removing blemishes and enhancing colors for emphasis, all without leaving a single trace behind (Frost). If I were to explain what editing a picture entails, I would simply say, it makes a picture become more realistic. Photography has evolved tremendously since the beginning in 384 BC. Cameras and the technology that comes with them have transformed the world we live in today. The overall convenience has changed to help the average photographer, and the equipment used has yielded outstanding results. Photography is an art that can be practiced by anyone, anywhere; and it is going to continue advancing for a long time. If the digital photo industry can evolve this much, I cannot wait to see how it will turn out in the future. While researching my paper, I learned a lot more than I was expecting to. I learned about how passionate and creative many people are about photography, and there is a lot more to it than I imagined. Just witnessing the artwork that people create can be mesmerizing at times, and these people, these artists, are absolutely inspiring. Since the start of my paper, I feel a lot more motivated to express myself through different means such as photography. After seeing what people could create with just their imagination, I definitely wish that I took a photography class at Northgate. I want to be one of those people who can create mind-blowing things with just a camera, a computer, and an idea. In the quest of writing this paper, I met some of these people who have showed me that maybe I can also pursue photography in the future. All I need is practice, one shot at a time.

Works Cited
Book Sources

Burian, Peter K., and Robert Caputo. National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Secrets to Making Great Pictures. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 1999. Print.

Heller, Dan. Digital Travel Photography. New York: Lark, 2007. Print.

Internet Sources

Bellis, Mary. "Photography Timeline." Inventors.com. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/Photography.htm>.

"Camera Obscura History." Historic Camera. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. <http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium/pm.cgi?action=display>.

Campbell, Steve. "10 Ways How Photoshop Changed the History of Photography." Makeuseof.com. 2 Apr. 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2012. <http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-ways-how-photoshop-has-changed-the-history-of-photograph/>.

Frost, Annabelle. "How Photoshop Changed Photography and the World." Boost Inspiration. 07 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <http://www.boostinspiration.com/photography/photoshop-photography/>.

"History of Photography." Fi.edu. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. <http://fi.edu/pieces/watson/hist.htm>.

"Photography." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/photography?s=t>.

Williance. "How Photoshop Has Changed Photography." Squidoo. Web. 24 Mar. 2012. <http://www.squidoo.com/HowPhotoshopHasChangedPhotography>.

Works Consulted
Ang, Tom. How to Photograph Absolutely Everything: Successful Pictures from Your Digital Camera. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2007. Print.

Hany, Farid. "Photo Tampering throughout History." Photo Forensics Software. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <http://www.fourandsix.com/photo-tampering-history/>.