Phones, photography and the Snapchat factor | John Naughton
As some readers may remember, I'm a keen photographer. For many years, I've always carried a camera. In the early days of digital photography, that meant a succession of small point-and-shoot cameras - Canon Ixus and S models generally - concealed in a small leather pouch attached to my belt. And then there came a point when I stopped carrying these charming little devices. Why? Because I'd just bought my first iPhone. Since then, I still always carry a camera. Except that it's not called a camera any more: it's a smartphone.
Living and working, as I do, in a historic city that is swamped by tourists in the summer, I regularly get the opportunity to do some photo-ethnography. You can tell someone's age by the kind of camera they are using. Elderly folks are still using point-and-shoot compacts. Middle-aged folks are sporting "prosumer" digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) from Canon, Nikon, Fuji and Panasonic. But as far as I can see, everyone under the age of 25 is using a smartphone, possibly with the assistance of a selfie stick.
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