Four Ways Smartphones Have Transformed Our Perception of Photography | Knowledge #11

The widespread adoption of smartphones has brought about a significant transformation in our photographic culture. Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our daily lives.

This article focuses on the everyday uses of smartphone photography that we now take for granted, exploring how these practices have shifted our perspectives and perceptions.

Whereas cameras were once reserved for special occasions, smartphones have seamlessly integrated photography into daily life. From meals to workout progress, a wide array of subjects are now documented. Scenes that previously went unnoticed are now captured, broadening the scope of our visual attention. In the era when only film photography was available, it would have been unthinkable to use expensive film to photograph a delicious dinner or a cute pet. Shooting everyday moments on film is a sensibility unique to our contemporary era. 

The selfie is a defining element of smartphone photography, playing a significant role as a tool for individual self-expression. People photograph themselves and share those moments, enabling more personal and distinctive forms of communication. However, according to a visual literacy research journal, a study of Australian users found that only about 14% of smartphone users surveyed actually use the selfie camera function, suggesting a reluctance to be perceived as narcissistic.

The vertical design of smartphones and the emergence of apps such as Instagram and Snapchat have led to an increase in vertically oriented photographs. It may not be long before we can no longer distinguish whether the 'default' is portrait or landscape orientation.

Sources of aesthetic inspiration have shifted to social media platforms like Instagram. Especially among younger generations, visual learning about photographic subjects and techniques is increasingly mediated through social media. The prevalence of centrally composed images is a notable example of this trend.

These trends illustrate the profound influence technology has on our perspectives and modes of communication. Photography is no longer merely a means of documentation, but has become an unconscious extension of visual expression. Because cameras and photography are so deeply embedded in our daily lives, it is sometimes necessary to consider their social implications and impact. In doing so, we can better understand and share our everyday experiences and culture.

Cover Image by Yusei