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That is a truly hilarious thought ... “definition of what a pro photographer is”.

No offense intended. If you haven’t already encountered what makes it funny, just start yet another thread about “what makes you a pro ... “. Not joking. Try it and see for yourself !

bittermelon

Try looking at photography classes at community colleges and 4 year colleges. I have taken some classes and I can tell you, there is no shortage of young people interested in photography. It was very difficult for me as an older adult competing with 20 yr olds in these classes, doing weekly projects and handing in assignments.

In the pre-cell phone days, not a lot of people walk around with a camera. Now with the cellphones, the overall population of "photographers" has increased tremendously, but still, the core group of more "professional" photographers remains steady. It's just that as a percentage of overall "photographers", the core group seems less. But in terms of absolute numbers, I don't think so.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I was late to the cell phone crowd. But I was running a farm part time and eventually I found I needed a phone for business purposes. Got the cheapest phone I could which was a flip phone (I figured it clamshelled up which would protect it in rough environments such as my pocket). Phones evolved, and so did my needs. Got a smartphone because I had started to use the flip phone camera for documentation and it was too limited. The smart phone could email the documenting images to someone (or even to myself at home) and having internet in the field was a plus. You really have no idea how valuable a weather radar can be when you're out in your field. And texting enabled me to coordinate things with other local farmers (like borrowing equipment to keep capital costs down).

I even went so far as to write some apps for the phone which would enable me to keep track of irrigation zones in real time (and keep an online record of when things got turned on and off). That meant I could tailor the irrigation zones to specific crops rather than just a whole field. And since it was online, my help could use it independently of me. Another app to keep track of product purchases and sales. Another app to keep track of product picked, prepped, and packed (again with an online record for product tracking).

The phone is like most everything new. Once you have a new tool you find an application for it that it was never designed for.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

13 X 19 prints can certainly be done from smartphone cameras, and they can look great.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Your question goes far deeper than photography. There is a book written several years ago called "Bowling Alone" that may help answer your deeper question.

It appears that young people, for the most part, do not belong to clubs of any kind. Your observation for photography would be true for Ham Radio Clubs, Stamp Clubs, Kiwanis, Model Rail Road Clubs, etc. One reason may be the young folks are burdened by student and other debt so that disposable income is lacking.
I went through graduate school without debt. I was even able to save some money.

The internet and computer games play a role. In Japan there are folks that live inside a game arcade and play games after work to the exclusion of all other things including girlfriends and sex. To a lesser extent it is true here.


In the past, only a few dedicated souls devoted themselves to serious photography. Photography was expensive. Even in the more recent past most individuals have satisfied themselves with "Instamatic Camera" pictures. The cell phone largely fills this role. Just as in the Instamatic days you can get a passable photo of little Jimmy blowing out the candles. I have interesting photos taken with a home made pinhole camera.


Serious and professional photography is, however, all around us. Look at the internet - photos everywhere.
My equipment allows me to take photos that would otherwise be impossible.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

No, I do not. Just Facebook for family and friends, but a lot of other garbage shows up. None of my connections have used the term, yet.
It's only the second time I've seen it.
The first time I blew it off as the person hit "send" before they finished their statement.
I suppose soon we'll be back to hieroglyphics also...

Thanks. Learn something new every day.

alwazbusy1 Loc: Montana

I am in my 60's but my daughter and son have 4 friends in their late 20's to mid 30's who are actively professional photographers. They all focus on engagement/wedding and family.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Younger photographers don't waste much of their time lurking all day on forums, they are too busy shooting and experimenting with photography. They may pop up on a forum now and then to get some quick info, but not much more. Getting a lecture from a condescending senior citizen (who is often less tech savvy than they are) is not what they want.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

5 minute, 10 minute, 30 minute video is a waist of time.
I can see a 100 or more photos in that time and get the whole "picture" .

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

You might be watching the wrong videos.

Of course, at UHH I guess I'm part of that "younger" crowd, so a good 5 minute video on a specific subject presented by a knowledgeable person is well worth the time.

Hip Coyote

There are some excellent young photographers on the web, doing YouTube instruction, equipment reviews, etc. The mostly use pro gear.

I THINK the future of photography will be artificial intelligence. Phones may be used as CPUs using lenses or other electronically tethered devices. Using AI, the concept of pixelization may not even exist. For instance, it is now possible for AI to somewhat determine what the backside of someone's head might look like even though it is not photographed...allowing a 360 image. Can a picture or video be taken minimally capturing a scene only to have AI totally fill in all blanks (missing pixels or a new kind of scheme) and the picture be nearly perfect for display? Probably so.

OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

I started out in grade school with a shoebox pin camera and got to develope them in B&W in a dark room. I was hooked. High school a Canon AE1 and now moved to a Canon 90D from a Canon Ti6. Life is good and understand by the best glass you can afford and change bodies. The longest I have kept a phone was about nine years a Samsun note 3 and moved up last year to the note 9. Have two family members who use DSLR and phone camera's One is a Nikon fan and the other a Canon. All has gotten better from film days and some continue to debate that just as in vinyl and tape compared to HD electonic immaging. Nothing like a great pair of head phones and electronic format from my perspective.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Nice.

ILFarmer

We have taken a couple bus trips in the last few years. The last time, a couple years ago, I was the only one on board taking pictures with an actual camera. Point well taken.