definitely, I’ve even seen someone using an iPad2 to shoot a show, he was accredited too.

On the other hand, some people just want the memory recorded, and if they can flick through their snaps on screen, that’s all they ask for, sometimes a photographers we think too hard about the tiny details, when really, it’s the memory that counts for some people.

I was discussing this exact same thing with my friends just the other day. The pictures coming out of India regarding the recent events have people taking pictures using the iPad. The pictures are wrong on so many levels that it is not even funny. Honestly, I feel it is just that these people want to be seen that they own a “cool device”. I believe, like you rightly pointed, most tablet users will probably have a smart phone with a much better camera. Why whip out the tablet?

I shoot professionally and I love to shoot with my cellphone! Just returned from the Canadian Rockies and some of my favorite images were taken with my iPhone.
But I also blur the line between art and photography and the iPads are fantastic devices for artists to take a photo and then begin to do their magic! Not all photography is for photography’s sake.
And don’t forget the fun factor! Camera phones and their amazing apps are too much fun and I use them when I’m at an airport or stuck waiting around. Creativity abounds in this area.

To be fair not everyone is on track to be a master photographer and mobile devices just make it easy to share a quick update. Still it was painful to see him fumbling with the iPad.

Cell phone cameras are everywhere now. In fact I see more people taking photos cell phones than point and shoot cameras. I wonder how badly mobile devices are impacting the P&S market. It also makes me wonder when camera makers will partner with cell phone makers.

Crazy how that has changed. For me I’ve seen that change in the last 18 months. The Android and iPhone cell phones have really hit a good level of saturation in the marketplace. Soon people won’t even think twice about having a camera they’ll just turn to their phone. As it is I unconsciously call my cell phone my camera when trying to get a quick photo of my son.

haven’t seen someone shooting with an iPad, but have seen one with a Samsung Galaxy Tab!…. I think its sometimes the basic ability of the device to take a picture that instigates people to test out its capabilities…. love for beauty had always been there… its these mobile devices that has given the power in people’s hands to capture that beauty in their own way..

I saw someone using an ipad 2 to take photos on safari! Made me chuckle

I noticed this while in the cathedral in Prague. A group of tourists had someone take a group picture of them from a few feet back using an iPad. This group looked rediculous, and the picture I’m sure was not as exciting as they hoped.

Hi Jim, I was a professional photographer for almost 30 years…and let’s get my definition of “professional” photographer out there. I attended and graduated from an accredited photography school, and made enough money to not have to have a second job to make a decent earning. I know that is not everyone’s idea, but my lawyer, mechanic, accountant and doctor are all professionals, and have the credentials and income to justify the label. No to try and dissuade those eager to capture lifes’ amazing moments with a camera, phone or pinhole device et al…just a reality check is sometimes needed; 
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1014&message=37418050&changemode=1

Regarding the issue of “everyone” being a photographer (loved the cartoon BTW!) since film has gone the way of the Dodo, it is effortless to create acceptable, and occasional brilliant images. Having said that, most are on peoples’ FB/Google+/Picassa pages, or never make it off their camera cards. I guarantee 10 years ago, when the professional world was  transitioning from wet to digital, most of today’s “professionals” could not afford the digital cameras we were using, and had no Idea what push or pull processing was, and a front or back clip, was thought to be a hairdressing term. 

For anyone wishing to delve into the dog-eat-dog world of professional photography, don’t give up your day job, and accept the label of “amateur” or “advanced amateur” …or my favourite..”freelance” I do not wish to dissuade those wishing to create marketable images for a living, just do your homework and set realistic goals. Learn how much stock agencies really pay per image, how many other photographers will be trying to get that advertising gig , and the different genres of photography pay enough to make a decent living…and remember, yes professional staff of every major and minor news outlet and wire service has shrunk substantially because of cellphone cameras, and all those seeking a quick buck and 15 minutes of fame. I worked for a German magazine during the 1988 winter Olympics, and even back then, the editors were accepting on the spot slides for possible submission…we looked at 3,500 in 2 weeks, and used 2 slides. They got a small amount for them. 

Most discover, that once they understand the tedious task of filling in..correctly..Exif information on every image, obtaining the usage or “model” rights from every person in the picture, realize that 12-16 hour days are the norm, and exhaustion and your tax accountant are your nemesis, are committed to upgrading your gear every 6 months, understand that you do need 5 extra flash units and assistants are grumpy and expensive, and to make any kind of real money, you will have to travel…lots..and know what a carnet is, and get used to sleeping with all your gear..with one eye open..in airports and other undesirable places. And that is the easy stuff, I won’t even get into clients, trying to get owed fees from them..on time.

And finally, forget “oh I can fix it in Photoshop” …no you can’t, and yes, paying clients can tell ;~) 

LOL! Chris….You didn’t get my point…if there really was a point. You are not breaking any news to me. I am the farthest from a digital Luddite as you will find on this planet. I also take sh*tloads of images with my crappy crackberry 5 mp when I forget my camera heading out to walk the dog, or head to the beer store etc. If I did have a point, I think it was that a person wanting to make a decent living as a photographer, will need to use the same tools as the rest of the pool..and yes, most professionals have a couple of point-and-shoot backups, and a cell phone camera as a last resort…however, not the first tool they reach for. Like I said, if you are never planning to print large format or museum grade images, or shoot sports etc, and just plan to post online, why invest in something that is big, bulky and very expensive?  I digress, I suppose I was just trying to explain the reality of choices, to those who would aspire to make money from a dying trade. I was fortunate and stubborn. Two assets in that world. The third, and most important, is a comprehensive portfolio. Wedding photography is almost dead, company groups-shots are taken by the person in  accounts receivable. More and more “contributor” shots are fleshing out news stories, and it’s saving ENG’s millions in staff wages and equipment. Newsprint is disappearing rapidly, and where a lead story was once (10 years ago) covered by a reporter and photographer, and Betacam operator, the reporter does all three. Yes Chris, I get it, embrace it, and use to teach it. When I informed my peers in 1996 that wet film would soon be dead, and digital would replace it entirely, I was laughed at quite heartily…and to those old friends, no…this is not a neener neener neener moment ;~)

A very useful articles, cause i have been learn about photography blog and recently i am using digital camera but i also used ipad before.  The best camera you have is the camera you have with you.