|
May 31, 2009
The Trifid Nebula is a star forming region in the plane of our galaxy and is about 40 light-years across. This image is taken with a SBIG ST4000 color camera:
Ed Henry, Trifid Nebula, Astronomy Picture of the Day
Are these kind of space images posted on Flickr? Heaps from a quick look. I guess there would be less camera lust--desire for the ideal camera?--- in these groups. There would be less emphasis on the passion for new technology or the idea that the camera makes the picture.
Camera lust, or techno-lust, is deeply entrenched in photographic culture. The subtext is that the latest DSLR, or the 'need' for new gadgets, will enable the amateur to become the closet professional photographer they desire to be. Becoming a Serious Photographer is all about the technology you use.
The camera and lenses are lusted-for objects, rather than mere tools to take worthwhile pictures. Our culture fetishizes a tool and a fetish as an object or feature of an object functions to solve some need though the user of the object cannot articulate precisely what that need is. A camera becomes a gadget when its basic function---- to take a picture ----overwhelms the user, forcing him or her to select from ten automatic picture-taking modes in order to get a decent image.
Computers, cameras and other electronic junk, called e-waste, are what come of our lust for upgrades to gadgets. This year's new iPod is next year's throwaway; or last year's chunky screen is on its way to the computer crematorium
|
