Mobile photography: The art of the digital snapshot

“Mobile photography keeps our creativity alive,” UPR-Carolina professor John Rivas writes. (Freepik)

By John Rivas

Special to The Star

Peek-a-boo… what do we see? Ever since mobile photography carved out its space in the world of digital phones, our surroundings have become more vivid, more noticeable. Everyday life -- its events, its fleeting moments -- now finds its chroniclers in urban photojournalists armed not with bulky cameras, but with sleek smartphones. These modern devices, fortified with high-resolution lenses, color calibration tools, special effects, and instant internet access, have transformed the way we capture reality.

The old 35mm cameras? Their glory days are fading fast. Photography and communication have migrated to a new visual universe -- one that fits in your pocket. Even space exploration relies on compact digital cameras, sending back breathtaking images from distant planets. These tiny lenses shrink the vastness of the cosmos into something we can hold in our hands, a testament to humanity’s visual conquest.

With a mobile camera, anyone can create clever, original, and artistic photographs -- no need for a traditional 35mm setup. What matters most is the eye behind the lens: that instinct for the perfect angle, the right moment. Today, countless works of art and historical snapshots displayed in museums were captured with nothing more than a smartphone.

This constant access to a camera has turned millions into artists. It has unveiled hidden talent, giving aspiring photographers the chance to explore their surroundings with fresh eyes. Suddenly, they notice details that were always there but never seen. I count myself among them -- an enthusiast who now sees the invisible objects hiding in plain sight.

Mobile photography keeps our creativity alive. To excel, you don’t need the most expensive gear; you need a trained photographic eye, capable of freezing in a frame what others overlook. As the saying goes: It’s not the arrow, it’s the archer. Likewise, it’s not the lens -- it’s the vision behind it.

From Louis Daguerre’s daguerreotype in 1839, to Kodak’s birth in 1888, to the rise of iconic brands like Nikon, Canon and Polaroid, photography has evolved dramatically. And now, the digital mobile camera has sealed the fate of the darkroom and instant film. The revolution is here -- and it fits in the palm of your hand.

Prof. John Rivas is an artist and head of the Graphic Design Department at the University of Puerto Rico, Carolina Campus.