Noted: The Descriptive Camera

Sooo true, photography and the art of it sometimes gets taken for granted in our high tech digital society.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

I would say I prefer pictures a lot of the time over text.

I really love this idea. I think an engaging picture, with a succinct and well-written piece of prose included, could turn an image into something mysterious, perhaps even the start of a story. Having other users write a description is like getting a surprise gift; you never know what emotion you'll feel when the image prints out.

Love this post!

Good picture speaks...

The Descriptive Camera~ seriously cool!!!

So true, my husband has not seen even half of our kid' s photo

This is such a cool idea! We truly are overloaded with images nowadays, it's nice to take time to really appreciate everything around us.

Although words can never capture the feeling of an image (and vice versa, one can argue), this is an interesting exercise which can force us to think a little about photos that we often take for granted.

Considering that even the professionals have to take a ton of photos to get a few good ones, I dont think this idea is going to work. I delete many photos that I take. And who is to say that the description in the text is even going to cover what you actually are looking at? We all see things differently. Interesting idea though.

I'd prefer a captionable photo format so that not just the description of the photo is sent, but the photo with a story about the photo, similar to what the Center for Digital Storytelling does (www.storycenter.org). Together, they can communicate the stories of our lives in a fuller way.

Hmmm. Deep thoughts.

I know a really talented young photographer who has never printed even one photo she has taken.....All her photos will someday be lost because of it. A shame.

What a strange invention! I don't think a description will ever win over a photo!

I think that text and image are equally viable forms of communication. The challenge is deciding which is most appropriate when.

what a hoot.

No such thing as "image overload". That's why Pinterest is so pupular. While I think adding text limits it to the eye of the beholder it would be interesting to read the different interpretations of the same photo.

Depends on the photograph, and how good the writer is. Could be a great challenge!

Great concept. Like the one photo a day idea. You'd probably want to make that one the best you could.

pictures!

It would be neat if the descriptive camera could talk or print in braille. I would imagine that would be very helpful for blind people who don't get to experience looking at photos. Otherwise, I don't quite get it. I think I'll wait for all the early adopters to let me know how the descriptive camera turns out.

Fascinating idea - wonder if a descriptive camera might help me write more interesting Etsy product descriptions!!!!!

Great question, wow. This will make good table talk for dinner tonight. My first thought is that images have the potential to convey a message that words cannot. I like the idea though. Fantastic post!

I recently dusted off my trusty old film camera only to find out Kodak has closed in Rochester, NY. There is something about the feel of the photo paper in your hands and waiting for them to be developed. Printing from home isn't the same.

I kinda of want one of those cameras. I have never had an instant camera either, I think it would be fun to get one for the anniversary with my boyfriend this year though.

There's something to be said for old photographs vs digital. People could write the date, event, subject and 50 years later it's still there. We're taking a lot more photos now but they don't seem to mean as much.

The photograph made me open the link. lol

so much truth in this thats good and bad. the genuine artist must evolve to survive. in the end its a positive awakening that we are becoming more aware of our environments. quality will hopefully survive quantity.

100 people look at one photograph and would have a different reaction and therefore description. It is surely the interpretation and the association and our unique personal reaction that makes it different for each one of us? I love digital photography - I really do - but often my photos lie lost within a computer file. Only today I spent an hour looking at physical 'album' photos with my hubby and promising we would start to print and album again. Maybe it is a tactile thing? Print photos are still magic!!

Interesting post. But what's the old saying ~ A pictures worth a thousand words. Long before we had written language we were an image driven people just look at the ancient forms of writing and how they were more of images to convey the thought. I don't believe that has changed much. Look at Pinterest and how it is one of the fastest growing sites on the internet ~ just saying.

What I miss is the magic and excitement of watching an image develop in a tray in the red glow of the darkroom. You.ve seen the negative, maybe a contact sheet, but you still won't know if you "got it" until you make a print.

Hmmm. Might be interesting to see the description of a self-portrait photo.

I think Richardsen's invention, and the interplay between the photographer and the writing audience within, is curious and has room for a richness of experience and a kind of poetry. I think, though, that photographers, who are generally image driven, will still love/need the image, and will always return to actual photography.

Digital cameras, or worse yet phones, had destroyed the art of photography. The world is so poluted with bad photographs now.

I often times enjoy a viewers interpretation of my paintings just as much as the painting itself. If there is no passion or emotion behind the work, is there still a reason for the work?

What an interesting idea

i don't think words can take the place of an image, just think if an Etsy shop had only descriptions and no photos! how would it effect sales? is anyone willing to try it in their shop? oh, wait a minute, you have to have at least one photo for a listing. maybe a photo of the description written out! i love both words and images, they go together perfectly. i think they complement each other. i liked seeing the description and the photo side by side.

I think that digital is great but we still need to have old fashioned cameras around

such cool idea! i adore!

No. I think this is ridulous. I guess I'm just not hip enough. My print out would say "Your family looks at you like you are an idiot, and the barbeque is ruined."

Judging by the quality of the descriptions on the website (several of which include false information) for the Descriptive Camera, I would have to say NO WAY. Imagine describing Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother- "Woman in the center of the frame has her hand to her face and looks off camera as several small children cling to her." Ugh. Even with a description of a common snapshot, there's no way you could possibly come close to conveying the quality of the light, the emotional state/qualities of its subject, and all the other small details that would be impossible to describe altogether. It's an odd idea, but not something I'm remotely interested in exploring at all.

Even though I love writing/words, I think photography is always the most descriptive. Interesting post - I love photography. :)

Fascinating idea and use of technology...but I love the mystery that exists behind every photograph and the thoughts we all have within ourselves when we see something presented in a new way.

Really interesting blog post! No-one will ever win the 'images alone' Vs 'images with text' argument because although some images simply don't need it, text can enrich another photo's meaning and intent. Every picture does indeed tell a story - howit does it is up to the photographer.

Words and images are each evocative in their own way. I love printing an old timey photo and then letter pressing a word or two around it on the mat board with archival ink using vintage printer block letters.

COOL ARTICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOO INTERESTING!

great article, I like the idea of just one photo max a day

I have mixed feelings about this idea. As both a writer and a photographer, I feel that both have their own places and focuses. I like the idea of taking back the meaning of a photograph, but I don't think this is the way. I am always trying to get people to understand that photography is not as simple as snapping a photograph on their point and shoot or cell. The average layman can take a truly outstanding photograph maybe one in a thousand times they snap, at best one in a hundred. Even as a perfectionist (where I tend to take multiple shots of the exact same thing, most of which variations in focus or exposure), I can get a truly outstanding photograph maybe 1 in 4 or 1 in 10. Plus, I can take photographs that simply can't be taken on a point and shoot. And I haven't even gotten into my penchant for playing with GIMP (a free software like PhotoShop), which takes a great deal of know how. And while I love taking a photograph and writing a story from it, the story is not a replacement for the photo. They are different. Distinct. They can complement each other. But they can't replace each other, especially in a society that, more and more, doesn't or can't read. I have had people look at me funny when they ask me what I did over the weekend and respond, "I read a book." Or they'll talk about a new movie coming out this weekend or a recent episode of a popular show and I'm totally clueless because I don't watch TV. So I encourage everyone, put down the remote, pick up a book. Go to an art gallery or arts festival and don't think, "Oh I can do that," simply because they used a camera instead of a brush or a pen. It takes work, skill, money and talent to further a career in photography just the same as any other craft. Don't forget: Digital SLR...$700-1700 Macro Lens...$230-$500 Telephoto Lens...$400-$7000 Camera Bag...$90 Photoshop...$699 And that's just the tip of the iceberg and only for the E-series cameras for Olympus, one of the less expensive camera companies. Have a great day!

through the camera of an artist, a photograph can do a lot. through the pen of writer, words can do as much. i sure wouldn't want to put a limit on how many photos anyone should take, nor how many words anyone should write, or they may never bring their skills to the level of Art.

Personally, I love being able to take so many photographs now that I don't worry about wasting expensive film and developing. But I think we need to be ruthless about weeding through the photos afterwards so we don't store thousands of photos we don't even want to wade through! I love photos and words to tell the story together, that's why I love digital scrapbooking. Though sometimes the photo is all you need, and some things are better expressed through words. I'm very visual though, so I love pictures. :-) I do agree that photography seems to be taken for granted more now that everyone thinks they can be a photographer, but with more people taking more photos, perhaps some will come to appreciate the real masterpieces more. We can hope!

I've always thought words couldn't touch the specific emotion photographs, especially hard-copies, give off. When I gaze at one I am immersed, silenced and I don't want anyone giving me their interpretation of what I'm looking at. It's like watching a gut-wrenching movie and needing that time afterwards to let it all sink in. Sometimes words just muck it up.

overload or not, photography is an amazing medium and i'm happy that it became affordable & accessible for a wide scale of users. i enjoy takin pictures coz it's a part of my work, i'm a clothing designer and photographer. bein' able to photograph my designs is very important part of the whole process as well as it means a lot to me :) ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ actually i' workin on a post-production of my new collection right now and i'm truly enjoyin it! :::-) ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Very good article .

Awesome article!

I love photography, Pepole had from photographic film to Digital era now, camera had as a usual device, we would like record anything all around with us in any time if we want it. but it just like fast food can't enough real needed, and real need to do feast.

Its an interesting idea but I think ultimately images are more engrossing than text, maybe thats why we live in a more visual society?

Very true! Most of the photographs taken with a digital devices will never be framed or put into an album, like traditional darkroom processed photographs were back in the days. Personally, I grew tired of "instant" photography and post-processing and turned to totally opposite historic photographic processes. My photographs, taken on glass or metal, are created in a lengthy process and "by hand". Having said that, I think it's great that photography is such an open medium and offers something to everyone!

Interesting idea. I agree with Victoria Baker, that we are a visual society and that's why Pintrest and Facebook are so popular. I do like the challenge of one photo a day, though. It really makes you think about the moments in your life and how to best capture them to make the most impact.

Hmmm ... have to ponder this one a bit.

Hmmm, very interesting. Transforming one medium to another in a virtual instant.

True!such a great idea,we leave in a fast world,time to slow a bit...i like the idea of really take a photo and not collect photots...

Interesting..!

hmmm... I love the digital camera world...being able to shoot many pictures and just picking the right one is fantastic. No more waiting for it to be developed by someone else when you can edit it yourself. My 13 year old daughter and her friends are addicted to instagram. A great way to share pictures.

Super creative!

What a great way to "unplug" and get our imaginations working!

Wow, I had never heard of the Descriptive Camera before this post. It's very interesting, and almost reminds me of the concept of a camera fortune cookie. When I think about the concept of having a person you don't know interpreting the picture for you and sending you a description back, I think about how the person couldn't possibly put into words exactly how you're feeling at that moment of taking the picture. To me, what you feel when you wish to capture that moment is much more important than what it actually is. That is why I love my polaroid camera -- I get to hold the picture in my hand at the same time I'm feeling what I am about what is in that picture. Also why I love Instagram :) While I totally love your insight on only being able to take one picture a day, that would be so hard! There are so many things every day that I love to capture -- However, a great iPhone app I have called My365 is close to what you are suggesting. You get to post only one picture a day, for a whole year. I've followed through with every day since January 1, and I love to constantly look back at my memories. It helps me remember each day as something special!

great picture thank you