Essay on Why You Should Study Photography

Published: 2021-08-18
864 words
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Boston College
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Argumentative essay
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Photography is the art, practice, application, and science of creating durable photographs via light recording or any other electromagnetic radiation. In simple terms, it is the practice of capturing and processing pictures for sentimental purposes or as a hobby. Photography is a field which allows people to express themselves and photographers are paid to do what they love. It also enriches ones personal life regardless of whether you are doing it for passion or living. Being a self-employed photographer, for instance, is a profession which comes with a lot of creative fulfillment since it allows people to express their viewpoints and personalities through their art. In this assignment, we will discuss the benefits of photography to determine why a person should study it.

Benefits of studying photography

There are a lot of advantages of studying photography. Some of these benefits includes, it creates opportunities for self-employment, creative self-expression, exposure, and artist relationships (Kurtz, 350). First, self-employed photographers tend to be their own bosses and have the freedom to create their own-schedules. Moreover, photographers can work from anywhere in the world, they do not have to be chained to an office or desk environment. Second, photography allows a person to express how he or she sees life in the form of photographs. It can create understanding and awareness by evoking emotions and reactions in others. In fact, many photographers often use images to share the feelings of people from various racial backgrounds, in the view of transforming societal perceptions. Therefore, it is fair to say that photographers get to influence others by expressing themselves creatively through pictures. Third, photography can lead to wide exposure of a person. In events where the work of a photographer is outstanding, their photographs can be published in international, national, regional, or local publications. Moreover, assignments may provide opportunities for international and domestic travel. This exposure offers a lot of benefits to a photographer including the freedom to interact and make friendships with people from different geographical locations.

Now that we have seen the advantages of photography it is imperative that we discuss different components that entail photography. Many photographers often use their creativity and technical expertise to generate photographic pictures. Moreover, photographers have the opportunity to specialize in a specific field of photography or just engage in general photography. Some people may choose to work as photojournalists or work in advertising photography. Others may even choose to work as freelancers for multiple employers. Travelling is a requirement for some photographers. For instance, travel photographers are hired to travel to different geographical locations which may land them in remote or exotic sites. Photographers also tend to ensure a measure of immortality by generating memorable or high-quality images. And since images are timeless objects, and they can last for many decades.

Business of photography

The business of photography is one of the lucrative business ventures one can indulge in without a lot of requirements to satisfy. Although there are people, who do photography as a hobby, for many photographers it is a business venture which earns them a living. According to a survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual average salary of most photographers ranges from $28, 490- $55, 785. Professional photographers usually work towards developing their business skills as well as their photographic and creative skills (Professional photography, 400).

Ethical issues in photography

It is not as plain as it seems to be to become a top-flight photographer. Some rules and guidelines should be observed to ensure professionalism in photography. Therefore, before venturing into photography, it is crucial to understand the significance of ethics in photography. Some of the common ethical issues in photography include image theft, photo plagiarism, and photo manipulation among other practices. Photo plagiarism occurs when a photographer borrows another persons idea without asking for permission. However, one of the most heated debates taking place currently is about ethical matters in photojournalism. Many people believe that photographers should think about moral ethics behind their images. Critics also argue that the absence of ethics in photojournalism and the world of information, in general, would create an unfair and perverse world. Should images show miseries, pain, and death scenes? Is this ethically acceptable? Photographers should ask themselves this question before taking any pictures. This is because people tend to react to photographs by their passion, mood, intelligence, culture, and sensitivity. In general, photographers are required to understand different ethical issues in photography to ensure production of high-quality imagery which has a huge influence on the society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I believe photography is one of the best disciplines one can study, not only because of its monetary benefits but also due to its ability to inspire creativity and passion. Moreover, photography preserves old and new memories, and most importantly it affords immortality. Whether you want to engage in photography as a hobby or as a business venture, photography will make your life better.

Works Cited

Kurtz, Jaime. Seeing through New Eyes: An Experimental Investigation of the Benefits of Photography. Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences, vol. 11, Mar. 2015, pp. 354358., doi:10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.51.

Professional photography. Langfords Advanced Photography, 2011, pp. 395408., doi:10.1016/b978-0-240-52191-6.10014-9.

The Importance of Ethics in Photography. Photography Life, 5 Feb. 2016, photographylife.com/the-importance-of-ethics-in-photography.

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