Has photography as a craft become extinct?

Question: Has photography as a craft become extinct!?
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In many ways I believe it has!. It seems as though few people are interested in actually learning how to take a good photograph by knowing about light, f-stops, shutter speeds, ISO and composition!. The mentality is "Take hundreds of pictures and hope some turn out" and/or "I can fix it in Photoshop"!.

How many times have we seen the question "What is the best setting to use for taking pictures outdoors" or "How do I make the background all blurry" or "I set the shutter speed to 1/1000 and the f-stop to f16 and all my pictures turned out black" or "When I use my flash the people are all washed out" or "Why are all my pictures blurry"!. Its as though actually reading and studying about photography and how to use the camera is a thing of the past!.

I often wonder if people confuse "digital camera" with "magical camera" and really think that just buying a camera and learning how to turn it on and then pointing it at something will result in a good picture!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You know when Kodak introduced the box camera and roll film a little over 120 some odd years ago people worried about the same thing!. Whereas previously photography was only in the hands of professionals roll film and the box camera opened up photography to a lot more people!. Just because photography was opened up to more people did not negate the aesthetic sensibilities of either the collector or the artist!. In fact a lot of good photography was created during hte 20th century despite the fact that every decade which passed photography became easier to practice (SLR design, 35mm,1 hour processing etc!.!.!.)!. About this same time that all the professionals were complaining that photography was being spoiled because of the introduction of the box camera and roll film there was a Renaissance in fine art photography in the United States as promoted by Alfred Stieglitz and the photo secessionists which raised the aesthetic and conceptual standards of Photography in America!.
Now perhaps you are right in the fact that some of the most prominent figures in photography in terms of publications are for the most part computer geeks and not serious photographers!. Unlike 30 years ago, if you put out a how to on photography you also had to be a recognized artist, for instance the Ansel Adams series of photography books!.
Now in terms of a loss of craftspeople, I dont feel this is the case!. Photography has always been driven by technology but if one wants to be a good practitioner of photographer one does not approach photography as merely a computer scientist or chemist if their true intent is to be a good artisan/crafts person!. Knowing how to mix chemistry or use photoshop should not in any way negate the integrity of your artistic sensibilities, and just because digital photography is less visceral of an experience than say traditional silver process photography does not mean that their work is of less value!.
Additionally I have noted that there has been a resurgences interest in antiquated silver and non silver processes!. Look at groups such as APUG!.org or Alternativephotography!.com membership is up at these places!. Then again you can create just as much junk using silver processes as you can using digital processes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i dont think so!.

i agree that yes, most have moved away from smelly fixer hands to carpal tunnel wrists, but there is still a craft there!. How you capture and process images is different, but in the end its still based upon the same principles as film was in light, shadow, color, and angle!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No, just more challenging!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Sort of, its more computer geeky in the post side now!. Except for handling tools during the shoot its sort of less crafty now!. I dont miss the chemicals that much!.!.!.!.!.!.

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sorta the photography classes I'm taking next year is all based around the whole dark-room developing your own pics process !.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Since well over 80% of photographs are now "photoshopped," what used to be called photography is now paint by numbers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com