Blog

Photography has evolved into something unbelievably beautiful, artistic, and technological since the first photograph was exposed and processed in 1826. Today we take for granted that our cellphones can capture sharp, high-resolution images, and send them around the world in seconds. 

As amazing as this science is, photography continues to evolve. What’s in store for photography in the next decade? Hopefully, this article will help you get a sneak peek into what’s next in the world of digital photography.

3D Photography & Modeling

The latest must-have feature on cameras and phones is a 3-D photography app. 3D has been around for special effects and high-end photography for a while. New applications have made 3D mainstream and accessible for anyone to use.  

Popular apps like Fyuse, OmniVirt, and PopPic allow users to take 3D photos using their cellphones. While most images seem a bit jerky, it’s still amazing to be able to move 360° around a 2D object on your phone or screen. As 3D photography becomes the standard replacing 2D, it’s only going to get better and smoother.

Camera Makers are Cutting the Cord

To compete with cellphones, camera manufacturers have begun to create wireless ecosystems that allow for greater flexibility from photo transfers to recharging.

Modern cameras can connect with other devices via Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC (Near-Field Connectivity). New WiFi-enabled memory cards pack more storage into smaller spaces and can also transfer digital photos, without a cable, across wireless networks. 

Depending on the manufacturer, these WiFi Enabled SD Memory Cards can hold up to 32GB and support photo and video file formats such as JPG, BMP, PNG, AVI, MP4, MOV, and 31 different RAW formats.

Look for wireless charging to be the norm. Like wireless charging for phones, wireless battery pack charging will allow photographers to shoot longer than ever.

AI Will Take Over Every Aspect of Photography

AI is present in every area of our digital lives, including photography. Camera and cellphone makers already incorporate Artificial Intelligence into the software that powers these devices such as automatic exposures, autofocus systems, tracking, depth of field (portrait setting), and stabilization. 

AI takes the guesswork out of taking perfect pictures. It doesn’t mean it’s going to take the place of a professional photographer’s trained eye, but it will help the rest of us improve our photography.

AI will also help us to edit and organize our photos faster. AI-powered photo editing software already recognizes faces on Facebook. Soon, it will quickly categorize and tag photos automatically for future retrieval. Wouldn’t it be great to not have to scroll through hundreds of photos to find the right face, or not having to type in keywords for every image? It will be a tremendous time-saver when your media folders can edit, cull, and organize themselves.

Computational Photography

Lenses and sensors have just about reached their limits of size and quality. So, how can the camera and phone makers improve their systems and photography? By coding, algorithms, and math. Computational photography is the new wave and part of the AI photographic ecosystem. 

A camera can only capture a finite amount of light with the lens and sensor. What the system does with that light will be the new cutting edge of photography. We’ve already seen how image stabilization can smooth out an otherwise blurred photo. The software automates many of the settings allowing amateur photographers to create high-quality images.

Compact and DSLR Cameras Will Become History

Digital cameras came to life in 1975, invented by an Eastman-Kodak engineer, Steven Sasson. Since then, we’ve seen many innovations and dramatic improvements in resolution and color. The DSLR camera (Digital Single Lens Reflex) was the gold standard of photographic equipment until the invention of the mirrorless camera. 

Mirrorless cameras are rapidly replacing DSLRs due to their smaller size and their ability to take better images. The lack of a mirror makes the camera virtually silent, with less camera shake, and they can take more pictures during continuous burst shooting.

Additionally, smartphone cameras are putting another nail into the DSLR coffin. Smartphones make point and shoot cameras redundant because you can send images instantly around the world and talk to the recipient at the same time.

Prints Will Always Have A Place in Photography

As digital photography continues to advance, there will always be a need to see a printed image. Digital images are ethereal, lasting only as long as we have electrical power, or we choose to view them. 

A photographic print is timeless. With the proper paper and handling, it can last for generations. For example, how many people today know what a 12-inch IBM floppy disk is? How would you recover photos from one? Photographic prints are “human-readable,” as you don’t need electronic equipment to view them.

Whichever method you choose to photograph and store your images, let Classic Memories convert those images into high-quality photo books. A photo book is the physical, old-fashioned, analog way to showcase your best photos. They offer professional photographers a way to introduce their work to new clients. Photo books are also the best way to preserve family memories for future generations. 

Please take a look at our samples to get ideas for your next photo book and contact us for a free consultation.