Flickr, one of the most popular photo-sharing sites globally, introduced Virtual Photography as a category in 2022.
But is virtual photography really photography?
Let’s discuss the issue below.
What Is Photography?
Before we talk about virtual photography, we must first set a baseline for what photography is.
True to form, that’show a camera works, even a digital one.
Image Credit: Hanabi123/Wikimedia Commons
Photography can also serve as a medium of visual art.
Since photography is in 2D format, it easily follows the concepts, theories, and precepts of painting.
Now that we’ve defined photography, let’s judge how virtual photography stacks against these criteria.
Image Credit: Hanabi123/Wikimedia Commons
Since virtual photography is captured in a virtual world, how can it recreate the intricacies of physical photography?
Most games will just settle for the screenshot button and store your photo as is.
Does Virtual Photography Serve the Original Purpose of Photography?
That’s why photography has been instrumental in recording history.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean virtual photography has no place in making memories.
Virtual Photography as an Art
One thing photography turned into through the years is art.
Image Credit: Joe Rosenthal/Associated Press
It’s not just beauty and imagination that make virtual photography an art.
Can Virtual Photography Apply the Concepts of Real-World Photography?
By definition, video games are considered art.
When it comes to technicality, virtual photography still lags behind the real world, but not by much.
With that, developers can create algorithms that let players recreate real-world camera effects in the virtual world.
Besides, smartphone makers already do that withcomputational photography.
The only thing that virtual photography lags in is capturing history as it unfolds.
That’s because most events that impact massive groups of people simultaneously tend to happen in reality.
Although people already capture memories using virtual photography, these are usually just between small groups of friends.
And as it is, it seems that it’s unlikely to happen any time soon.
Should Virtual Photography Be Considered Real Photography?
In some ways, yes, virtual photography is comparable to real photography.
Image Credit: Jowi Morales/Flickr
Developers can implement algorithms inside their games that mimic how light and cameras behave in the real world.
