This is the NINTH and LAST part of an article from Popular Photography magazine
published in February 1944. Read the bottom of this note if you want to make
predictions about the future of photography in the next 1/2 century!
THE COMING WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Nine Outstanding Personalities in the Field Express
Their Views and Expectations of Postwar Photography
WILLARD D. MORGAN, ELLOT ELISOFON, BERNICE ABBOTT, C. B. NEBLETTE, PAUL STRAND,
L. MOHOLY-NAGY, H.A. SCHUMACHER, JOHN S. ROWAN, Sgt. ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN
in this segment: Sgt. ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN
AT PRESENT, hundreds of young men and women are being trained as photographers.
The various photographic schools of the armed services are turning out still
cameramen, motion picture cameramen, aerial photographers and darkroom
technicians. These newcomers to the photographic profession, in their
comparatively short period of intensive activity, are obtaining experience that
normally takes many years to acquire.
After the war, the old-timers will get some terrific competition from these
energetic, aggressive, well trained young photographers.
Today, cameras are being redesigned and new equipment is being developed for
the special needs of our wartime economy. Plastics and synthetic organic
compounds will create many pieces of equipment for the photographer. Cameras
will be more specialized than they are now. For example, the camera for the
news photographer should have no bellows, a self-capping focal plane shutter,
an accurate viewfinder, a built-in flash synchronizer and will be able to take
plenty of abuse. There should also be a roll flim cartridge attachment for
rapid successive exposures, a built-in rangefinder, and interchangeable lenses
small and compact in size.
There will be more cameras using a negative with an area approximating six
square inches. This will do away with the necessity for extremely critical
exposure and development required with the 35 mm size but preserve the optical
advantages and compactness. All these cameras will be made with an unequalled
precision in both mechanical parts and lenses. This will result from the
opportunities presented to U.S. manufacturers through the wartime removal of
foreign competition as well as the needs of the armed forces. The camera of the
present is a makeshift improvement on an old basic model with attachments as an
afterthought. We can expect it to be replaced by a camera that is designed from
the start so that all the essential parts in a coordinated manner.
Better-trained photographers plus better equipment adds up to better pictures.
We can expect higher aesthetic and technical standards for photographs. People
will demand photographs as an essential supplement to their reading. Wirephoto
and Radiophoto networks will make it possible for everyone in the world to see
pictures of news events at the same time. Newspapers and magazines will use
more color photography. We may see picture magazines printed in many editions
and many languages. Photography will find many uses in research along
documentary lines such as in anthropology and sociology. The field of visual
education will become increasingly important. Schools will use photo-exhibits,
filmstrips and motion pictures as educational aids. V-mail will have
applications in peacetime.
The war will bring photography out of its adolescence. In maturity, it will be
an exciting, profitable and expanding profession.
---- end ----
Do _YOU_ want to make some predictions about the future of photography
in the next 50-100 years and contribute to a compilation of predictions
by members of the PhotoForum mail list and others?
If you do then go to the following website and fill out the form there:
http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/pf/photofuture.html
- prepared and posted on this list by ADavidhazy - andpph@rit.edu
