It’s safe to say that the Internet and electronic technologyhave completely revolutionized the way our society usesphotography. Taking a picture has always been the way to freezetime and capture important memories, but never before has it beenso unbelievably easy to record those moments and share them withpeople in every corner of the world.

Popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, SnapFish andImageShack make it easier than ever to instantly upload picturesand share them with an entire network of people. Friends and familywho live across the country can stay up to date on each others’lives simply by getting online and browsing through recentlyuploaded pictures. Many of these sites also provide an option toupload mobile pictures directly from your camera phone, so you caneven share those moments for which you didn’t have a camera.

Camera phones have also contributed to a different kind ofinformation sharing phenomenon. Their wide accessibility has madeit possible for ordinary people to capture pictures of newsworthyevents and instantly share them with the entire world. Cameraphones allow anyone who is in the right place at the right (orwrong) time to engage in impromptu civilian photojournalism.

Anyone who has taken the most basic photography training understands the well-known mantra that apicture is worth a thousand words – and this is especially truewhen it comes to news reporting. A journalist can write a highlyemotional story, but without an accompanying picture it tends tolack a certain amount of humanity. The significance of the eventitself is still great, but it is the images of destruction, sorrow,rage or all-consuming joy that tug at the heartstrings of readersand allow them to connect with the story.

A number of significant events from the past six years wouldn’thave been so expertly captured if it wasn’t for the individuals whohappened to be there with camera phones. Because it’s so easy toupload pictures, the photographers at these scenes were able toinstantly send their influential images to major newspapers anddistribute them on the Internet to people all around the world.Some of the major events that were captured by civilianphotojournalism include:

* The tsunami that tore through Southeast Asia in 2004

* The terrorist bombings in London in 2005

* The execution of Saddam Hussein in 2006

Clearly the photography industry has changed significantly inrecent years. The combination of affordable cameras, accessiblecamera phones and simple photo uploading techniques has made iteasier than ever to capture important events and share them withloved ones or strangers worldwide.

In the same way, professional photographyis much different now than it was 20 years ago. Students pursuingcareers in this industry today have to take a diverse selection ofphotographycourses that incorporate all the different photographictechniques, tools and technology that currently exist.

Whether you want to pursue a career in photography or simplyenjoy the convenience of sharing your pictures on Facebook, therapidly evolving world of photography has something for you. Besure to always have your camera phone or digital camera on you,because you never know what you’re going to witness and who elsewants to see it.

Information in this article was provided by IADT – Tampa.Contact IADT – Tampa today if you’re interested in developingmarketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with anindustry-current degree program. (IADT – Tampa does not guaranteeemployment or salary.)

Courtesy of ARAcontent