In the early days of photography the camera was a novel idea when many people had a Kodak box camera. It was a time when it might take a week or two to get your prints back, when you hoped they would “come out”
Fast forward to today. Everyone has a camera which has its pros and cons. A few even have a basic understanding of exposure but this hasn’t improved our photography very much. Photography can entail a variety of factors but it starts with, what is in the frame. Since everyone has a camera… to add to the naturally camera shy we add the specter of “where will my photo end up” and are they going to photoshop this and make money from my image? In order to become the “Designated Photographer” or (DP) you need to have access. At least to some degree, the DP needs to have permission to make these photos. In some weird way the fact that we can snap away with our phones has brought us back to the real value of photography. That value is the creating of memories for years to come.
In order to become the “Designated Photographer” or (DP) you need to have access.
To further define the story, who is in the frame? Being the designated photographer means you have access to whatever is happening and the people involved. It also means trusting the photographer and understanding they are not going to print or circulate those awkward moments. It also means that the pictures aren’t going to be perfect. The static, frozen pose usually doesn’t convey the personality of the real person. When we look back we see the value of a person and what they meant to us; not whether their hair was perfect or whatever.
There are many types of photography and this refers to only one but it’s an important one. A photograph may have value for a variety of reasons but the ones we tend to prize are those with people in them. It takes us back to a time and place.