Chapter 4: Working in the Digital Age

Wifi-Enabled DSLRS



Wifi-enabled DSLRs is a digital single-lens reflex camera that has a wifi connection option built in. This allows you to upload those images straight from the camera to another device i.e. laptop or phone. The set-up is simple, and really only requires accessing your wifi and knowing where you're sending your pictures. This allows you to send these out for editing with the tap of a button. Overall, you'll find that at least the practice of shooting and sending your images to be less back breaking in comparison to our photojournalist founding fathers' processes.

As brought up in videos by Professor Nordell, the process of mass communicating was much more complicated, whether it was having runners transmitting film or in the case of journalism itself, carrier pigeons sending messages. Let's be real, the process of even having to set up a transmitter is a hassle if you don't have that built in. A wifi-enabled DSLR eliminates that extra step of buying a physical attachment to your camera. Direct control of the transmitting makes for quick access to whatever publication you as a photojournalist is working for. I even use the feature with my own DSLR and find it's seamlessness to be relieving: I save space on my SD card because I can delete after transfering and I know I have my photos available at any time on my phone. Photographers like Mark Peterson use this wifi transmission to relay the images to his clients. Personally, this seems even more of a necessity in political events where stories are constantly being pumped out and images are in high demand and expected immediately, without excuse.  

image source: Mark Peterson

Situations like that of the article in module 4 regarding Bob Capa on D-Day is the first thought I had when it came to pre-digital technologies. Even on the frontlines, Capa was striving for top quality photographs because of the importance of relaying accurate representations of war time. Capa had to literally run for his life, protecting the camera and film from water, to quickly and efficiently develop film on another boat. Bob Capa's career ended when he stepped on a land mine while trying to get a close shot. But his dedication to his craft and his fearlessness to seek the truth in his photojournalism is what brings us to today. 
The idea of photojournalists having to have a strong back and endure unecessary equipment juggling in order to fulfill their duties is an unneeded requirement these days thanks to technology. It is ever changing and makes for more compact photojournalism and efficient mass communication. While plenty of photojournalists still put their lives on the line to get first encounter information, the process of "developing" or transmitting images doesn't have to be a life-threatening event in itself. Just the simple connection of camera to phone can cut out that Bob Capa run for your life just to develop a few pictures. 

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