It’s hard to remember a time before mobile phones, and yet it was only a few decades ago that they first became popular. In the time since, they have revolutionised the way we communicate and live our lives. From staying connected with friends to keeping up with the news, the impact of mobile phones on our lives has been far-reaching.
At first, the idea of a mobile phone was just a novelty. We used them to text our friends or make a quick call. But as the technology has advanced, so too has our reliance on them. Now, mobile phones are essential for so many aspects of our lives, from paying bills to keeping up on the news.
I look back to the first mobile phone I ever had with nostalgia in 1999. I decided while at college that it would be a good idea at the time (apparently it was also trendy) and made the bold decision to head into town and see what deals were available. I can’t remember specifics but settled with a BT Cellnet call plan at £10 per month. Seems cheap right? However this was in a day where free minutes and texts were not an option. If my memory serves me right it cost 35p a minute during peak time and 11p off peak. Texts were a standard 10p per message (I think).
This call plan soon added up and while I was away from college I kept in contact with my then girlfriend and would talk for ages. I remember being shocked one month with a bill of nearly £100. As as student, that was important beer money being wasted on idle chit chat!
The benefits of smart phones are ever more apparent. Being connected with friends and family is becoming evermore simplified with newer applications, updates and improved methods of communicating. My phone now is a Samsung S22 Ultra and is by far the best I have ever had it is just powerhouse with huge features and similarly as with most previous phones, a text now no longer just a text but a Snapchat, Whatsapp, Telegram or whatever. A phone call can now be a video chat, which I has brought me and my foreign family closer together than ever, with us touching base and keeping up with what’s happening in our lives on an almost weekly basis for no additional cost.
Smart phones have also changed the way we consume news and information. I feel better connected with the world and is affairs in matters which are close to me. The internet is accessible from practically anywhere, allowing us to access the latest headlines in a matter of seconds.
It’s now also, easier than ever to stay socially connected with media apps, like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We can post pictures, send messages and keep up with the latest gossip and updates from lives of our friends, family and colleagues. While I am not so much of a fan of Facebook as I once was, the social media platforms which show off examples of peoples skills of photography or filming such as Instagram are a valuable source of not just entertaining features but also provide amazing tips and educative videos on how to perfect photos and video footage. All of this is accessible on PCs and laptops but the ability to have this type of information in the palm of your hand and on the go is now almost vital in everyday life
As yet, I can’t possibly say that the smart phone overtakes the a stand alone camera in every circumstance. Clearly, the best shots are generally taken with serious kit but certainly there are occasions when the phone is more than capable of capturing a perfect moment. Not to mention its convenience! With smart phone, you don’t have to worry about hauling around a bulky camera and all its accessories. Your phone is already in your pocket, so you can take it out and snap a quick photo with ease!
The biggest benefit for me now though is being able to instantly share. As I said before, I am a big fan of Instagram and its community. With an interest in drone photography also, I am able to upload pictures received from the drone directly. Instagram has also made it possible to enhance your photos and pictures with some preloaded filters which really can make the scene stand out. I have also recently downloaded Adobe Lightroom app to the phone which gives me a complete camera to photo solution where I can enhance the photos I take on the fly.
As for keeping your memories safe? Again the social media platforms are a great place to demonstrate your skills as well as getting the shots out there for all to enjoy. I also tend to backup all my photos with an online cloud such as google and I also invested in a 3tb network attached storage drive (NAS). This just plugs into the back of the network router or via Wi-Fi.
Both the NAS drive and Google Photos have apps which again can be installed on a smart mobile phone or can be accessed via PC, giving you instant access (depending on network availability) to your all of your photo albums.
I’m certainly no expert photographer but what I have discovered is that simply taking time to really study your surroundings, when you’re motivated to get out and simply have an awareness of the scenery, you’ll find a perfect shot you can be proud of taking.
So if you’re looking for a fun and convenient way to get into a hobby you only need to take a few photos when you see that opportunity and snap it with your smart phone. Its a great way to de-stress as well as taking the time to appreciate the world around us.