My sentiments exactly. Shouldn't we all (i.e., those of us who love photography) celebrate the fact that technology in the form of the digital camera (whether point and shoot or DSLR) has made photography (whether snapshots or so-called "artistic"images) easier and, therefore, more popular; which will result in more technological advances in cameras, make photography easier yet, and become still more popular -ad infinitum.Our goal should be to encourage everyone to become a "photographer" in one form or another . The more people engaged in the creative process the better. What's wrong with that? What appears to have been overlooked in this discussion is the definition of "photography" - the "art or process of producing images of objects..."This discussion has engendered a lot of value judgements whether a person using a P&S or a DSLR on auto can ever produce artistic or even good images. Of course they can.A person with a device that "produces images" is a Photographer. How the image is produced is irrelevant if the image produced pleases the photographer. Ninety-nine per cent of us calling ourselves " Photographers" produce images only to please ourselves. The other one per- cent produce images for sale and, therefore, must please others. I do value the judgement of other photographers in the interest of becoming a better photographer; but in the end it's my judgement that matters most. Even if the image is technically deficient; if I like the image for whatever reason I keep it. I'm realistic enough about my own photographic abilities to know that only very rarely will I ever produce an image that is both technically and artistically perfect ; even though I try to do so with every single shot-whether using the auto mode, one of the scene or so-called "creative"modes ,or full manual. Whatever it takes. These modes are only the means to produce an image that pleases me and the people for whom I take photographs i. e., family and friends. The primary reason I love photography is to capture a moment in time (whether of a person, scene, or event), that is meaningful to me (because the person or event is important to me personally or the scene is beautiful), and that will evoke a pleasant memory when I look at the image in the future. My only disagreement with the sentiments expressed above is that you can "enjoy BOTH the process and the pictures",just let go of your ego and pride about both.

Was watching TV last night and just happen to stop surfing on a shopping channel that was selling a brand name DSLR. Decided to listen for a few minutes and wish I hadn"t. In summary they said; you can put the camera on Auto or one of the special settings (portrait, landscapes, etc.) and take great photogrpahs. That's all there is to it. They then showed some really good photographs and told the audience that they were taken by someone with no camera experience and that you too could do the same. One spokesman did say briefly that the camera could be set to manual just in case someone "else" in the family was familiar with that type of camera. But then went on to say basically that it didn't matter, with this camera you can't go wrong and will be taking great photographs in just a few days. At that point I had had enough and resumed surfing. Problem for me is that there is some truth in what they said. The quality of today's cameras in picture taking ability is fantastic. And the level of knowlege and experience necessary to take good photographs is, lets be polite and just say not very much. If a person has a naturally good eye for composition then the camera can do the rest. Must admit that this makes me mad. As an elderly curmedgeon I do resent that after all the years I spent learning and practicing, beginning with 35mm film, folks can, without any understanding of what the S, AV, and M camera settings do, consistently take very good photographs. What further makes me mad is how many don't really care to learn or who want the information spoon fed to them. I know, get over it, this is the digital age and learn to live with it. I will, but not without a fight. Also know it is a losing battle.

Maybe I should learn to use the auto settings on my cameras. I have been taking photographs for 36 years. Today I am mostly using Nikon D600 and D200 and I almost never am happy with my photos until I have processed them in at least LR4. There is some lens vignetting, highlights or shadows or the horizon or something else I have to adjust in the afterprocess to be happy with my pics. And I switched to Dslr from rather good point and shoot because I very seldom managed to get fairly good pics with my point and shoot. I really envy people who have the skills to get perfect pics from auto mode point and shoot cameras.