The future of photography may involve a shift in technology and a move away from photography. These predictions might not happen, but if they do, we believe there will be a positive impact for photographers.
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1.
There will be a further shift to digital cameras, and a rise in ‘photographer-ready’ cameras.
A few years ago, the number of digital cameras available on the market was relatively small. Nowadays, there are many different models to choose from and even though they cost more than film cameras, the price of a top-of-the-range model is low.
In addition, the majority of camera brands now offer ‘photographer-ready’ versions of their cameras. For example, Fujifilm produces its own range of cameras and lenses, which come equipped with a variety of photo features designed to suit the needs of a photographer.
Other brands of cameras will be produced in this way too, and many of them will be ‘pro’ quality, such as the Nikon D7000 and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
2.
In the near future, digital cameras will be seen more widely, and some people will take more photographs with them than they do with film cameras today.
We predict that the number of ‘digital’ cameras, such as phones, tablets and laptop computers, will increase rapidly over the next five years.
3.
Photography will become an easier and cheaper hobby, with more people taking pictures for pleasure rather than profit.
A recent survey revealed that nearly three quarters (73%) of people now say they have a personal photograph in their mobile phone, laptop computer or tablet.
There are now even apps designed to encourage you to take photos, such as Instagram, and many people find it fun to share their photographs with friends and family.
4.
In the longer term, there will be a shift away from traditional film photography, as the development of digital photography is likely to continue and grow. There will be fewer people producing their own prints from negatives or using enlargers, although people will still make prints for themselves and sell them.
5.
Some of the leading photographic companies, such as Nikon, have already announced that they are making fewer film cameras available, and some other manufacturers are doing the same.
Digital cameras will become more powerful and there will be more advanced functions in them, such as high definition video recording.
Digital cameras will become more popular than the traditional model of camera and film.
There will be a decline in the number of people who take photographs for a living.
This is because digital cameras and smartphones will make it much easier to create your own images.
At the moment, the majority of people who take photographs do so in order to produce their own pictures. It is much easier to make photographs using digital cameras and smartphones, than with conventional cameras.
Although a few professional photographers continue to use conventional cameras, the vast majority of photographers are now making their own images.
As the number of people taking photographs grows, it will become more difficult to make a living as a photographer.
For some people, it will be hard to adapt to this change.
For others, it will be a great opportunity to explore and develop their artistic side.
However, the most likely outcome will be a mixture of these two outcomes.
It’s unlikely that a sharp decline in the number of people who are photographers will occur, as it is hard to make a living out of a hobby.
For those who take pleasure in making photographs, digital cameras will make it possible to produce images in ways which were previously impossible.
It’s predicted that the average price of a digital camera will remain the same or go down, as the number of new models increases.
The price of cameras, such as the Sony Alpha a6000, will rise because of the increase in the number of features.
The best digital cameras will continue to get even better, and the prices of the top-of-the-range models will fall.
In the future, people will be able to download their images directly from their digital camera, and they will be able to store a large number of photographs on their devices.
There will be more opportunities to share your photographs on social media and by email.
Digital cameras will become more versatile and they will be used for a wide range of activities.
They will be seen as a useful gadget and not just a ‘point-and-shoot’ camera.
They will be used to take photographs for work, and as a way to record the lives of their children.
We’re not sure how it will work out. However, it’s not a certainty that photography will disappear completely, but we believe that it will play a smaller role in our lives than it does today.