Lytro - the future of photgraphy?
Nov 11, 2011 10:19:13 #
Traditionally, photography has produced a slice of life - a subject in focus, a foreground and background less so. This new camera to be introduced in 2012 takes a "cube of life". Everything in the cube, once it is brought into the computer, can become the subject and into perfect focus...any and every point can become the focal point, and the data captured can be viewed in 3D, with special glasses. The captured photos can be easily emailed along with the software necessary to view them. Atlantic Magazine says it will "revolutionize photography". The New York Times http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/lytros-camera-shoots-first-focuses-later/?scp=1&sq=lytro&st=cse is nearly as entusiastic. "Autofocus" takes on a whole new definition.
My first instinctive reaction is that automation is replacing creativity, but for many people "easy" and "flexible" means better. Thoughts...
My first instinctive reaction is that automation is replacing creativity, but for many people "easy" and "flexible" means better. Thoughts...
Nov 11, 2011 10:29:52 #
Well to begin with the focus is not very good. Not sharp at all. But this is still new so I assume that will improve.
As far as the future or how it will affect people like me that shoot for a living? I don't think it will. No matter what technology that comes out or how our industry changes, there will always be a market for people that excel in creativity. That embrace it, but apply their knowledge, skill, experiences, and understanding to make it better than the regular Joe that just grabs a quick pic.
So I say embrace whatever comes out, and be better at it than the next guy. Or at least try.
As far as the future or how it will affect people like me that shoot for a living? I don't think it will. No matter what technology that comes out or how our industry changes, there will always be a market for people that excel in creativity. That embrace it, but apply their knowledge, skill, experiences, and understanding to make it better than the regular Joe that just grabs a quick pic.
So I say embrace whatever comes out, and be better at it than the next guy. Or at least try.
Nov 12, 2011 06:28:01 #
Nov 12, 2011 09:01:16 #
It's interesting. But you can't make prints. You need to boot up your computer to show off. It's a fun diversion, and who knows where the technology will lead... but BC Photo is right, nothing replaces creativity. Just try a pinhole camera (invented in the mid-1800s) and get some amazing results.
Nov 12, 2011 09:57:39 #
I have started taking a Polaroid 600 to weddings and routinely throw my iPhone into the mix for weddings as well to keep those creative juices flowing.
Nov 12, 2011 10:25:06 #
Nov 12, 2011 10:56:03 #
Nov 12, 2011 14:14:38 #
There have always been new wiz-bang products and goodies in photography. Imagine what Matthew Brady could have done with a D3, but he did pretty good with bulky, fragile wet-plate technology.
If I were given the finest, acoustically perfect rosewood available on the planet, I couldn't begin to make a Stradivarius violin out of it (excuse spelling). The bottom line will always be the skill of the practitioner.
(Google a poem,"The Touch of the Master's Hand")
If I were given the finest, acoustically perfect rosewood available on the planet, I couldn't begin to make a Stradivarius violin out of it (excuse spelling). The bottom line will always be the skill of the practitioner.
(Google a poem,"The Touch of the Master's Hand")
Nov 12, 2011 15:27:03 #
lesdmd wrote:
Traditionally, photography has produced a slice of... (show quote)
I see problems with needing certain hardware, probably their software to convert it to 2D and print, a 3D viewer software that goes with the emailed photo, 3D glasses, etc. Stuff that uses proprietary equipment and/or software and not just your common PC and common software normally has a tough time getting a grasp on a market because clueless people don't get it.
I think this will go down in flames personally. Steve Jobs isn't here anymore to shove it down everybody's throats as the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel and make billions on it.
Nov 12, 2011 17:05:20 #
Many interesting thoughts raised here. I throw in several related questions:
1. Can a manufacturer create a new product and demand for it, or is the popularity more the result of brilliant design satisfying a need?
2. Will this new camera, price somewhere around $500, be sufficiently novel and exceptional to satisfy consumers as a picture taking device and/or a toy?
3. Will 3D television ever become the norm?
4. Do you think we will, in our lifetimes, be talking about technology that produces holograms much the same way we produce digital images?
1. Can a manufacturer create a new product and demand for it, or is the popularity more the result of brilliant design satisfying a need?
2. Will this new camera, price somewhere around $500, be sufficiently novel and exceptional to satisfy consumers as a picture taking device and/or a toy?
3. Will 3D television ever become the norm?
4. Do you think we will, in our lifetimes, be talking about technology that produces holograms much the same way we produce digital images?
Nov 12, 2011 18:10:22 #
frankly, I still struggle a bit with digital photography and imaging software. Anyone can take a great looking pic if it was fair to begin with. With film, you got what you took, putting even more challenge on you to get it right. But I do also enjoy not wasting film either.
Nov 12, 2011 19:49:23 #
Patrick1958 wrote:
frankly, I still struggle a bit with digital photography and imaging software. Anyone can take a great looking pic if it was fair to begin with. With film, you got what you took, putting even more challenge on you to get it right. But I do also enjoy not wasting film either.
Sorry, I don't get your point, especially the part about "fair to begin with". Digital photography still involves the essentials of using a film camera: one chooses the "film" (sets ISO), the photographer or the camera on his behalf, determines exposure time, focus, and aperture, and one gets a picture. As you say one doesn't waste film or pay for developing, one has the benefit of instantaneous feedback about what was done (terrific for learning from mistakes), and one can, if so desired, do phenomenal things with the digital file. There's no law that imaging software has to be used, and if it is one click fully automated adjustments can be used. Is it any wonder that film cameras are disappearing (said with no disrespect to anyone with the skill and perseverance to continue using them)?
Nov 12, 2011 20:07:32 #
Remember when consumer-level digital cameras first came out? 1 megapixels, couldn't shoot a decent picture unless the lighting was perfect, and then it was mediocre at best. I go into Camera Wholesalers in Stamford, CT from time to time. They'll deal with anyone, but a lot of their clients are pros. A few years ago, it was 95 percent film, a handful of digital cameras. A year or so later, it was almost the reverse. Now, film is an endangered species. The Lytro is a "Version One Point Oh" product, just like those 1 megapixel cameras. When version 2.0 shows up, things could get real interesting. Think of the current Lytros as the original Macintosh, vintage 1984.
Nov 12, 2011 20:56:02 #
JBTaylor
Loc: In hiding again
Well it is a fascinating product. Apparently, I'm not the only one to be reminded of Apple products by it. Until I got a closer look at the sharpness or softness of the focused on part of the image, I thought it might take off with the people who buy Apple products. But it is fascinating for snapshot situations. No lag for auto-focus. I read that it has a 8x zoom with a f/2 aperture throughout the zoom range.
Nov 13, 2011 00:18:57 #
I'm guessing that a lot of additional information is captured than is true of a more conventional digital camera. If that's true, then the effective resolution of any view is correspondingly small, probably less than any of todays P&S models. It won't be a mature product until you can save a view in a standard format for printing or post-processing.
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