What is photography - a short text


In this short piece, I am going discuss the contexts that photography operates around and look at the question ‘what is photography?’
Before we answer that question, we should look briefly at ‘what was photography?’
Photography was (and still is) is a very scientific procedure, commercially introduced in 1839. Early constructive uses were to survey land when planning routes for roads and train lines.  Its early days were as a metal based daguerreotype process and were only afforded by the wealthy or those fortunate enough to be invited to pose for the camera.
A drastic change to modern society where anyone with a mobile phone can document and publish their work from a hand-held, internet ready device.
In the 21st century photography is not only used to capture a person or moment in time, it used to sell moments in time yet to happen with a big money advertising for clothing and perfume along with products such as cars and motorcycles.
Photography is used to sell ourselves online via social media and dating applications, it is used to push news and political opinions, it is manipulated for fake news and heavily retouched for fashion and lifestyle magazines.
Photography now is no longer one thing, it is many things and operates in any way we require it to.

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