Also referring, however, to the way photography can either reflect reality or create illusion, the author does understand the importance of the evolution of digital media. "Straightforward photographs can be used legitimately and effectively to show that things exist. But mislabeled or manipulated photographs can be used to create illusions of existence," ("How to Do Things with Pictures," p. 195). There is also a middle ground between these two extremes. A good photographer with deep familiarity and confidence in using multiple types of photographic equipment can represent reality while also transcending the problems that besiege the amateur. Any student of photography understands the frustration of not being able to capture an image that a more skilled artist can, due to the most basic elements of the science such as exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. Digital photography covers up for ignorance in many ways, allowing...
A digital camera armed with post-production tools does not have to be fancy to render reality well.
Before digital photography, there were manipulated images. Both the author of "How to Do Things with Pictures" and of "Analog to Digital" mention the fact that digital photography and analog photography share more elements in common than not. The days of manipulating photographs using darkroom tools have died away, leading to a new era in which digital manipulation reigns. I can place a UFO into a picture easier than my grandfather could, for example. In both cases, I am manipulating reality by showing the viewer what appears to be an accurate capture of the real world. Photography of all types is an art form, deserving of appreciation whether or not it represents the so-called objective world.
