If I'm in a tourist area and someone or a group wants a cell phone picture then they aren't looking for portraiture, they're looking for a memory. I spend a minute or two and I always, always get a warm and grateful response. If I see a family and one parent is taking a photo of the family with a great background I'll offer to take the photo so they can all be in the picture. It's just common courtesy. It doesn't cost me anything and they have a photo to keep. I don't understand how that could be a problem. If they are asking for a professional service for free then that's a whole different issue and it can be educational to help them get over their sense of entitlement.

One can philosophize, and entomologize one's self to death to no avail. A PHOTOGRAHY is simply an image form with light's effect on some medium where it is an antiquated chemical process, a more current film emulsion or an electronic/digital imaging sensor.

Besides digital imaging safer, back in the old days of "mercuric fumes" they used to find lots of dead photographers slumped over their darkroom sinks.

I lie to judge photographs on criteria like their artistry, content, storytelling, impact, sentimentality, journalistic content, and technical savvy and excellence. Physics and chemistry are interesting but secondary.

Imaging technologies have changed and evolved. They are going to continue to do so. Just because a photographer does not salve over trays or tanks full of caustic, toxic, and dangerous chemics to create their images does not make them less of an artist or technician. Computer-driven technology may be more convenient but it requires just as many skill sets and artistic talent as the older methods. As long as I can produce prints with the same or better range, tones, paper surfaces and content, I have no reason to pine for the past.

I have many large prints hanging in my home- some that I produced 50 years ago. Yes- they may have a different look than my current output but things change, and we all should change along with them. If you are an old-timer in the darkroom, it's easy enough to apply all your aesthetical skill to modern techniques. Light is still light, contrast, tonality, composition, contrast control, image tome, range, and local controls like burning and dodging are all still at your disposal and easier to apply.

Come on y'all, put down the history books and the chemistry set and pick up your camera!