Evolution of Photography + Tips & Tricks

Thanks to the advancement in technology, photography has evolved to what it is today. From the increasing number of rear lenses on a phone camera to more digital cameras with the latest and newest features, cameras have gone through many changes.

Written by: Natalie Yee & Sophie Loh

From taking selfies to pictures of food we eat everyday, photography is not something out of the ordinary for us. Whether we keep these photos for ourselves or share it online, they are our means of holding on to a memory.

The art of photography has evolved for over a century, and will continue to do so. 

The three notable points in the evolution of photography are film photography, digital photography and moving on to mobile phone cameras. 

To many, film photography may be complicated but it isn’t as tough as it seems. Film photographs carry a distinguishable look, and it may look grainy or produce colour casts, but that is what makes film photography special. 

Film photography first started in 1888 by George Eastman, founder of Kodak. Kodak was also the company that invented the widely known 35mm film camera in 1913. This marked a significant era in the history of photography. 

In 1986, Nikon came up with the first model of a digital camera. Unlike most of the digital cameras we own now, it could only record and take photographs in black and white. Media formats like JPEG and MPEG, which we are familiar with now were created a few years later, by compressing image and video files for storage.

Then came the first camera phone, J-Phone, which was produced by Sharp in 2000. In this day and age, every phone is expected to come with certain camera features. From front-facing cameras to panorama and time lapse features, the variety of settings in phone cameras increases as technology advances. 

In addition to that, there have been various softwares and applications created to replicate the styles of digital cameras and film cameras. This makes photography simpler as many would find it more convenient bringing their phones out instead of carrying their film cameras or digital cameras. 

“Portrait mode” that we usually find in our smartphones (iPhone, Samsung, XiaoMi, etc.) has the ability to replicate the effect on a DSLR camera. “Portrait mode” is a photography effect where the subject of a picture is the main focus while the background is blurred. This creates a certain depth to the photograph, making it look less mundane.

Apart from the "portrait mode" that is in-built with a phone camera, there are apps that are able to recreate the effect of a DSLR camera. For example, “Halide” on iPhone provides an exact copy of the DSLR’s camera interface. It allows its user to adjust all the settings exactly like that of the DSLR.

We have also found a way to mimic the film camera effect on photos taken with a phone camera. For example, “Huji Cam” is a camera app that creates a film effect on each photo taken. Unlike actual film cameras, “Huji Cam” develops each photo right away and even includes the date at the bottom of the photo.

Thanks to phone apps, most desired outcomes of a photograph that were once complicated to create through film cameras or DSLRs can be achieved with just a phone camera. Despite the fact that camera phones are always undergoing improvements, digital and film cameras are still present. This could be because people value the experience of adjusting and taking a photograph with a manual camera. 

Whether you are helping to take a photo for a friend or taking a photo of scenery, here are a few simple tips & tricks for you to get your photography journey started.

Tips & Tricks

1. Use the rules of thirds

Not many people use these grids. This rule helps you to have a focus on your photo and help you to catch eye-catching photos. 

2. Fake that height, 180cm 

When you are helping to take a photo of your friend, simply stick one foot out and balance your weight on your belly button. Place the phone on your belly button area. Tadah! You are done!

3. Lighting

We can’t emphasize how lighting is so incredibly important in your photo. You do not want your image look too dark or too overexposed. Lighting sets the tone, mood and atmosphere. Good lighting is what makes a good image.

4. Play around with that angle

Change your perspective on the object you are taking. Changing your angle and perspective allows you to see how you see your subject.

5. Get Inspired

Expose yourself to many different good photos by looking through Instagram or Pinterest for ideas. Every single one of us has a unique style. So find a photographer or a particular style of photography that speaks to you.