Photography Magazine
(with your permission...) Let's talk about photography by Pico de Paperis
Photography has become a global phenomenon, almost universal. At least in that part of the world where the problem lies in "how" to eat and not "when" or even worse "eating" in itself.
It was June 29, 2007, when a certain Steve Jobs dramatically changed the world of mobile phones with his IPhone. I don't think that even he himself could have imagined what kind of revolution that fascinating technological contraption/toy would have caused in the multimedia world in general. It is a Copernican revolution, in the world that concerns us, Photography (thanks to or due to, it is too early to say). Until that time, an area of low profile (at least for the most part of the above-mentioned world, a minor art for some of the more knowledgeable) and often considered almost mystical*. Where few great Artists, many good Authors and a great number of enthusiasts (obsessed, someone whispered) dedicated most of their time amid films, strange machines, lenses, chemical products, pans, bowls and sad dark rooms.
In a flash, all of this seemed to have been swept away. From a cultural, intellectual activity that it was, almost élite, Photography has run rampant, breaking all margins, becoming an appendage of the eye, the pen, the brain. EVERYONE takes photos, or at least think they are (it is not very important now-a-days to be very meticulous). Always. Anywhere. For a reason and often…without. Beyond the trends. The rational comprehension. Even logic. Photography today has become more and more subject to debate and analysis. Inconveniencing ethics, psychology and philosophy**
We too want to contribute by giving a responsible and knowledgeable contribution to this topic which is now universal. We have assured, therefore, the collaboration of an expert. Communicator, Photographer, but above all, photography critic and lecturer in many cultural events on Photography and the world of images in general. Our friend Gigi Lusini, (nickname Pico de Paperis www.gigilusini.it) recently honored by the Italian FIAF Association with an honorary award in photography, will accompany us in this endeavor to help us understand a little more about this very up-to-date topic.
* J.P. Montier H.C. Bresson. Lo Zen e la Fotografia/Electa Mondadori
** F. Scianna Etica e fotogiornalismo/Electa
Joan Fontacuberta La(foto)camera di Pandora/Contrasto
Fred Ritchin Dopo la Fotografia/P.B. Einaudi
FIAF Italiana Italian Federation Fotographic Association

Every day we are taking more and more photos with the IPhone. TV Advertising for Apple
After you have “accepted” the illness (Photography), let's try and briefly analyze the form. According to the old saying "if you understand something you can avoid it" but "if you do not understand it how can you love it"?
Today, its most detrimental form is bulimia. And advertising, as usual, gives us a hand (???!?).
Institutionalizing the concept of taking photos. More and more. Without a reason. It doesn't matter with what. Just take them. This is where we get to the heart of a debate which has no end to it.
I know a photographer. A good professional who praises himself by saying "I know how to take photos even with an iron". Now, aside the increasingly true and involuntary diabolical comparison between cameras and appliances, I ask myself, if this is true, why not buy one or more irons instead of using sophisticated an costly machines, it would be less expensive and easier. Seriously though, the equipment is an early form of awareness towards an approach to lady “Photography”.
It’s a choice that determines its fate. At this point it is opportune to quote a famous phrase of Joachim Spangerberg* “in wealthy countries, consumptions consists in people spending money they don’t have to buy things they do not want (or do not know what do with it – author’s note) to impress people that do not love (us)”.
And suddenly, like magic, somehow, the IPad comes to mind.
Yes, yes, the IPad. Used to take photographs, of course. Here is what a silly subliminal campaign promotes: “the important thing today is to photograph and, more importantly, to show yourself photographing”. Of course, I could make the same comparison using the cell phone with photo camera, in other words, the smartphone. But as soon as we can, we will dedicate a section exclusively to them. But not on the IPad. Taking pictures with an IPad is a blasphemy. At least photographically speaking. It is a modern, sophisticated instrument, with a rapid connectivity, a thousand virtues and which, almost certainly within a couple of years’ time, will substitute all laptops as well as the home and office PCs, to which two poor quality elements have been added; an embarrassment even in comparison to any compact camera that costs 5 to 6 times less.
It is used with pretension and in the most inopportune but always crowded places, preferably, to mimic the act of taking a photograph. Here you have it, besides the qualitative scruples of the means, this, today, is the biggest and most consequential degradation of photography.
And he who says that it is better than nothing should be burned at the stake! (a photographic one of course). The IPad has nothing to do with photography. Definition, quality, grip, perspective, discretion, concentration. This may seem a little too much for the digital natives, and we hope to have space and time for our crusade and woe betide anyone who thinks that this is a discussion against technology and all that is new and better. He did not understand anything. Technology is for progressing not regressing. Even something new needs to connect minimally with the brain. Therefore, tablet for navigating, reading ebook, play solitaire. And if you really do not know exactly what to do with it, use it as a slate to share household messages with your partner. But no photographs, please. They are a completely “different thing”. Please.
PdP
*Spangerberg (Vice-president Think Tank S.E.R.I. Austria assisting European Organizations with sustainable development strategies).