You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In today’s digital age, anyone with a smartphone can capture and share photographs. This accessibility to photography diminishes the value of professional photographers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.  

Write at least 250 words.

 REPORTED ON 18 JANUARY 2024

It is a fact that smartphones have democratized the field of photography, and hence it is argued that professional photographers have lost their demand. I agree to the statement to a great extent.

The first reason why I agree to the notion is because of the added convenience that the smartphone give to its user when compared to professional photography. To be precise, at an affordable cost, smartphones provide their user the freedom of space, place, privacy and personal choice. To explain it further, unlike professional photography, those who take pictures can have the freedom to take a picture anytime, anywhere and with anyone with his own personal choice, and share it online free of cost.

Apart from the aforementioned benefits, many smartphones have inbuilt applications to filter the images taken and enhance their clarity. In the past, these were done exclusively by professional photographers, for which they charged a handsome money. However, even an adolescent knows how to take a good quality picture on his smartphone and use Instagram filters to enhance it. Like any other commodity or service, as the supply increases, the demand of professional photography diminishes.

Accepting the fact that professional photographers have high standards of professionalism, I have to point out launching of the most advanced camera features by smartphone companies. Apple, Samsung and Google phones now have a tough competition in this area. Tutorials are also available online how to take a photograph in a professional manner on a smartphone and how to process it. The irony is that these are done by professional photographers themselves.

To conclude, though professional photographers are experts in their field, the unprecedented growth in smartphone technology has belittled their service and made them a vulnerable group.

EXPECTED BAND SCORE: 7