Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

          Photography has already become an authentic memorial thing to the lives of people. This is a method of recording images by the action of light, or related radiation, on a sensitive material. Photography was derived from the Greek words, “photos” which means light, and “graphein” which means to draw. Basically, photography is also an art and now, a vast art form because of its types, features, and techniques used. (http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/stilphotography.htm)

          Technology, having a relation to photography, made more complications and advancements. Cameras have evolved from a pinhole up to the latest and accessible SLRs and DSLRs. Underwater, disposable, and film and digital cameras were also invented during that period. The increasing knowledge of people to photography and cameras contributed a lot in order to make more innovations through the years. Therefore, taking photographs, recording images and moments, and sharing the art formed became easy and fast. (http://www.photography.com/articles/types-of-photography/types-of-photography/)

          Since computers were invented, taking and storing photographs have improved. Nowadays, storage of countless photographs is not anymore a problem because of the invention of memory cards in which the files can be transferred into the computer. Also, software was made embellishing the photographs taken through editing (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Photoscape, Instagram). This software has greatly developed a convenient and attainable way in expressing the art styles and techniques that photographers want to achieve with their photographs.

          With the application of technology to photography, this made an impact to the society. According to Roland Barthes, a pre-eminent theorist of photography, photograph is the “sovereign contingency” which means being dependent on something else happening. Photographs seize historical and real life events which help in remembering significant things and happenings. Photography has also contributed to Science in terms of space and underwater explorations, microscopic and wild species of animals and insects, and the changes in the environment itself. Employment also increased with the introduction of new cameras and jobs for photojournalists, reporters, editors, and even in films. And since photography is a form of art, artists find new modes of operation and seismic shifts in art production. (http://www.ehow.com/list_6982192_impact-photography-society.html)

          Above all, photography has greatly influenced the youth. With the use of new gadgets and inventions starting from digital cameras to the current high-resolution cameras in cell phones, iPhones, and laptops, photographer can now be a job of anybody, either amateur or professional. An editor is a free occupation to the ones who are good in editing photographs using software. Moreover, the newest part of a youth’s social life is the social media sites wherein sharing and uploading the photographs taken from their phones and cameras are very swift and comfortable. Youth’s accessibility to computers and other inventions is not doubtful because of the getting smarter generation. But the question is how does photography technology affect the life and culture of the new generation?

          This study is conducted to explain the effects of photography technology on youth culture with regard to their educational, social, economical, emotional, and even psychological aspects of living.

B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer this question:

1.      What are the effects of photography technology on youth culture?

C. Significance of the Study

Parents. The discussion and findings of this study would greatly benefit the parents. Knowing the effects of photography technology on their children would help them understand their behavior and way of thinking. This will also help the parents to make the necessary actions regarding this issue.

New Generation of Photographers. Everyone knows that age is not a requirement to be a photographer. Anyone who has a camera can be a photographer and so, this study would benefit the new generation of photographers. The awareness about the effects of photography technology on youth culture would inform them about the specific results to a person using this.

Professionals in the Field of Photography. The professionals in the field of photography would also benefit from this study using the gathered information and inferences. Through the outcome of this study, a wider knowledge about the subject, and how it is affected by photography technology will be imparted to them.

Future Researchers. Because of the limitations of this study, and it focuses only on the effects on youth culture, photography technology can still be a good research topic to the future researchers. Other aspects and areas can still be considered and relate to photography technology rather, they could also conduct studies related to youth culture, and expound more on this through the findings from this research study.

D. Scope and Limitations

          This study focuses on the effects of photography technology on youth culture. Youth has been considered since they have more access and knowledge on the new gadgets and software, specifically, on photography. This study will emphasize the effects regarding the youth's educational, social, economical, emotional, and psychological ways of living with the application of technology on photography. This study will no longer discuss about the history of photography and other related areas of photography. Time constraints and inadequate resources also give restrictions to this study. This is due to insufficient related researches about this study, and youth is considered the most users of photography technology.

E. Materials and Methods

         This research uses a descriptive method in which the researcher's goal is the acquisition of factual, accurate and systematic data that can be used in averages, frequencies and similar statistical calculations. According to Alan Valdez, descriptive research is concerned with the description of data and characteristics about a population. And since this study will gather data from the youth, the descriptive method is very much appropriate to use.

         The information used in this study was gathered from the articles and other reference materials from online sources. A survey is going to be conducted for gathering opinions and insights from the youth which mostly come from high school and college students, and also to support the discussions made. The questionnaires will include questions regarding the following parameters which form the youth's way of living: education, social, economical, emotional, and psychological aspects.

F. Definition of Terms

Photograph. A picture produced by photography. (http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/2062)

Photographer. Someone who takes photographs, especially as a profession. It could be said that a good photographer is a combination of an artist, craftsman and scientist, since knowledge and skills from all three professions play a part in good photography. (http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/2062)

Processing. Producing an image (either negative or positive) from exposed film or photographic paper by developing, fixing and washing it. (http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/2062)

Card reader. A digital memory card reader used in transferring data, including image files, to a computer drive. (http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/1594)

Camera. It is a device that records images that can be stored directly, transmitted to another location, or both. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera)

Youth. The time of life between childhood and adulthood (maturity). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth)

Culture. The integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture)