The iPhone as an Artefact in the History of Photography - Coursework Example

The iPhone as an Artefact in the History of Photography Introduction Since its introduction, the iPhone has been growing in popularity among its users. Although it is used as a communication device, the iPhone, through its camera and other technological features, has grown in usage as an artefact of photography. In this essay, the role of the iPhone as an artefact in the history of photography is critically examined. Throughout the essay, it is argued that the iPhone, by virtue of different factors, has played a key role as a technological assemblage in the history of photography. The essay is divided into two broad sections. In the first section, the iPhone as an artefact of photography is examined in light of the general history of photography. This places the use of the iPhone as a technological assemblage within the context of developments in the practice of photography. In the second section, different ways in which the iPhone has made an impact as an artefact in the history of photography are presented. It is argued that through simplifying usability, use of social-technical systems and the Internet, the iPhone has made an impact as an artefact in the history of photography. The context of the iPhone in the history of photography Essentially, the iPhone can be viewed first under the general umbrella of technological assemblages of communications which include cars, computers and telephones (Irwin & Michael 2003, p. 142). As such, use of the device fulfils the functions of merging the concepts of time, place and space into a single assemblage (Ek 2013, p. 41). The popularity of the iPhone as an artefact of photography can be placed in the larger context of the history of photography itself. The history of photography has developed in the form of specific periods of technological developments. In between these periods of technological innovations are long periods of time during which there has been relative stability. This stability has been manifested in the usage, form and general practice of photography. Particular kinds of cameras have been used at particular times in the historical development of photography as an art. Also, the stages development entailed various changes in the production, processing and distribution of photographs. Photography has developed through several stages. In the first stage, photography was a complex scientific process that entailed the use of specialist knowledge, complicated equipment and expertise (Cruz & Meyer, 2012, p. 6). As such, the processes of creating images, processing them and distributing the processed images were restricted to a select clique of individuals in the society. Although the technical aspects of the process were of low standards, compared to the developments that were to follow, the practice was restricted in its usage in the society. This was, in part, as a result of the art being in its infancy stage of development. The usability of the process was much simplified with the introduction of the initial Kodak camera back in 1882 (Munir & Phillips 2005, p. 1670). It is important to point out that with the introduction of this initial product, photography was influenced in several ways. For instance, the complex and technical nature of making photographs was much simplified. This led to a general rise in interest in photography in the general public as no special knowledge was required to make them. Although photography had been viewed as an engagement in which the general public developed interest, this changed in the later years. Following the identification of photography as a form of art, there emerged a specialist group of professional photographers. This separation between professional and amateur photographers was developed along the lines of the equipment used, techniques developed and the circuits used to distribute the photographs. With the emergence of digital technologies, the practice of photography was transformed in several ways. For instance, with reduced costs in terms of the number of photographs taken, users are able to take many photos without worrying about additional costs. Also, digital photography has enhanced the entire process of photography by simplifying the process of making and processing the photographs (Hand 2012, p. 137). Essentially, the history of photography has been a complex interplay of different factors arising from changes in technology, culture, the economy and society in general. It is through the complex interaction of these factors that photography has developed over the course of time. According to the social-technical network theory, technological developments take place within the context of both technical and social factors. It is these factors which determine the design, usage and general form which a technological device or artefact takes. According to Latour, Maugin & Teil (1992, cited by Tatnall 2008, p. 7), technological artefacts bear the semblance of both human and technological aspects in their development. It is also observed that technological objects, as a result of being the product of a complex interaction of different factors, can effectively act as actants in social technical systems (Tatnall 2008, p. 8). What this means is that in such a system, both technological and human aspects interact in a heterogeneous fashion to fulfil particular functions (Strand 2007, p. 31). It is important to note that photography can be effectively interpreted under the terms of this theory. The camera, which acts as a technological artefact, interacts with human and other social – cultural aspects to make the entire process complete. Interaction of the technical processes involved in photography and the human aspects that are represented by the art of photography interact to make the entire process complete as a socio – technical system (Meyer 2007, p. 80). This means that between the processes of actually taking a photograph to the consumption of the final product, photography incorporates a complex interplay of human, cultural and social factors. This way, photography is seen as an incorporation of both social and human aspects. The history of the iPhone as an artefact of photography can also be understood in terms of general patterns that have been prevalent in amateur photography. Since the introduction of the film camera to the rise of digital photography, the process has varied in terms of different factors. Factors such the economic model employed, the ways the photographs are captured, manipulated and finally, consumed have been changing through the history of photography. For instance, with the use of the film camera, the practice of taking photographs was confined to specialists who relied on complicated knowledge and equipment. Also, since the process of manipulating the photographs involved expensive specialist processes, the economic model employed meant that companies such as Kodak had complete monopoly over the industry. With the rise of digital photography, there was a remarked change in these factors. For instance, the use of memory cards and inkjet printers meant that the media used in photography could be reused (Hand 2012, p. 140). Also, with the rise in the use of computers, digital photography was enhanced as the photos could be easily be manipulated by users of personal computers. The use of personal computers on digital photography also meant that individual could easily share their photos on online sharing and discussion fora, thus transforming the way the photos were distributed. Ways in which the iPhone has made an impact as an artefact in the history of photography One way in which the iPhone has had an impact as an artefact in the history of photography is by changing the way photographs are shared by individuals, through the rise of internet usage. Essentially, increased internet usage has developed as a result of overall improvement in information and communication technologies (Storni 2009, p. 4). Although the internet has been in existence for a considerable length of time, introduction of the iPhone was based on increased speeds and efficiency in the use of the internet. With the introduction of new networks, the iPhone enhances increased distribution of photographs by its users. This is so since the device is based on providing its users with not only access to social networking sites but also unlimited internet connectivity. This way, the device acts as an important artefact in the history of photography by influencing the way consumers can share and distribute their photographs. Another way in which the iPhone has developed as an important artefact in the history of photography is by providing to the users advanced technical applications that are used in photography. Although such processes were separated from the users of cameras during the initial stages of the history of development, the design of the iPhone not only incorporates such devices and processes within a single device but also makes it easy to use them. This has been achieved in several ways. For instance, use of the iPhone camera allows users to access different applications that can be used to edit the photographs taken. Since these applications form part of the larger iPhone ecosystem, consumers are able to access and utilize them at ease and at a small fee. What is important is that such applications are a replication of factors such as lighting, shade and colour which were important during the initial stages in the development of photography. Whereas these factors were within the control of technical experts, their inclusion in the form of easy to use applications on the iPhone has made individuals have control over these factors. Therefore, as a result of a complex interaction of technological, social and cultural factors, individuals are able to use the iPhone as a single device for not only making but also processing their photographs. In addition to this, the iPhone has influenced the history of photography by transforming the way users can control the process of creating photographs. With the rise of digital technologies, users have been able to easily control the process of making, processing and distributing photographs. Unlike the earlier times when control was limited to the availability of dark rooms and other technical facilities, the emergence of digital photography meant that uses of digital cameras could easily take the photographs without much complexity in terms of materials and other facilities required (Sirota 2009, p. 49). This great ease in usability underlies the development of photography as a process that incorporates both technological development on one hand and social development on the other. With the iPhone, users can easily take photographs, edit them and share them across different online platforms. This means that the use of the iPhone, as well as other digital camera phones, has not only simplified the processes involved in photography but also given much control to the amateur photography. This is in contrast with how the situation was during the earlier stages of photography where control over the process was either wholly in the hands of specialists or was shared between professional users and specialist companies. The iPhone has also had an impact on the history of photography by influencing the way photographs are distributed. Traditionally, distribution of photographs followed publications of specialist magazines and general newspapers (Cruz & Meyer, 2012, p. 10). With the rise in the use of photography as an art, distribution networks were depended on developments in the post system for efficient distribution of photographs. However, the way photographs are distributed has radically changed with the introduction of the internet (Delaney 2005, n.pag). Essentially, the use of digital photography was simplified with the use of computers that allowed the users to easily store and share their photos with family and friends. It can be seen that with the rise of the digital age, the photograph was transformed into a digital product which could be easily shared endlessly without any loss to the person sharing them. The process was much enhanced with the rise of the social media. For both special and general purpose sites, photographs play a key role in the profiles and content generated and shared by the users (Storni 2009, p. 3). The iPhone has captured this trend in several ways. With the inclusion of special interfaces that offer the users direct links to different social sites, the phone has changed the way users share their photographs. What this means is that the iPhone has made use of the trend in which social networking sites have been linked to photography as a way of enhancing how users can create and share photographs. Also, such an ecosystem is enhanced by social aspects that are manifested in the way users of the phone can share experiences about the device. Through specialist blogs and sites, individual can share their experiences of the iPhone. This is important in that it creates a socio - technical ecosystem of users of the iPhone for photography. According to Schafer (2011, p. 18), such socio – technical ecosystems can act as actor – within an - actor network through being incorporated with other socio – technical systems. It can be pointed out that this is similar to the way earlier users of cameras established themselves as experts. With the use of special skills, equipment and processes, photography was identified as an art and the practitioners identified themselves as specialists; thus differentiating themselves from amateur photographers. Although, strictly speaking, the iPhone has been developed to make amateur photography a pleasant experience, the fact that there are many users of the the iPhone who like to identify themselves as such makes the device an important artefact in the history of development. Another way in which the iPhone has had an impact in the history of photography is by transforming the technical knowledge and skills required for effective photography. Throughout the history of photography, the knowledge and skills required have changed with the development of new technologies. For instance, during the time when photography was at its infancy stage, the entire process of taking, processing and distributing photographs entailed the use of complex technical knowledge that was a preserve of a selected few in the society (Cruz & Meyer, 2012, p. 8). Although following the introduction of personal computers in the process of editing and distributing photographs simplified the process, using the computer in the art of photography always meant that individuals required a good understanding of computer software. The effect of this was that as much as the process was simplified, the technical knowledge on how to process photographs remained in the hands of experts of personal computing. The iPhone played a key role in transforming this process. This occurred in several ways. First of all, it is important to note that with the convergence of the digital camera and the mobile phones, users gained much control and access to technical knowledge that goes in to the process of making photographs. With this, there has been a sharp rise in amateur photography. This practice has not only been promoted but also enhanced by the rise of digital photography in general (Larsen & Sandbye 2014, p. 7). Conclusion In conclusion, it can be seen that the iPhone is a technological assemblage that combines technological, social, cultural and economic factors in its use as an artefact in photography. In this essay, the role of the iPhone in shaping the social technical aspects of photography has been examined. From the discussion, several things can be concluded. For instance, it can be seen that the iPhone as an artefact of photography falls within the time frame of digital photography. This was enhanced by the rise of digital technologies and overall information and communication technology. Also, it can be seen that because of a broad range of different applications, the iPhone has simplified the process of photography by offering users control over the technical processes involved. Further, with the use of the internet and other applications, the iPhone as an artefact of photography has transformed all the steps involved in the process of photography. 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