More and more we find a friend has acquired a digital camera to take those nostalgic club photos with. And what a great way to preserve those memories of our youth! But, what is it about these cameras that make us prefer them over our omni-present phones?
Why are we taking photos?
Taking photos has become an ever-increasing occurrence with the age of social media and posting pictures online. In the words of Emma Chamberlain:
“… I think part of it has something to do with this fear of losing a memory … We’re afraid of a magical moment in our lives happening and us not having a permanent version of it …”
Why the digital camera?
When we see old photographs of our parents in their youth we think of a time without phones, of merely taking the photo to preserve a memory. There is an added value to a photo taken by a digital camera, a nostalgic value. Even though those photos will likely be posted on social media later, followers know that in the moment of the picture being taken there was no phone involved. The digital camera is romanticised because it is a device from before our time, used by the younger generation to capture a moment in our time. It’s more than simply a retro trend. It’s nostalgia, a longing for the past.
Of course, the trend has grown thanks to the influence of social media. With the tag #digitalcamera having over 300, 000 posts on TikTok there is clearly a trend online. Through the same app’s shop, you can easily get your hands on a simple digital camera for less than £20. It is a trend accessible and attractive to essentially anyone, whether you’re an avid photographer or someone still learning the basics.
Students with a digital camera
To dive deeper into understanding the trend, students at University of Stirling were asked if they own a digital camera and why.
Maddie, 18, in first year replied that she was influenced by Instagram to purchase a camera. When asked when she uses it, she said: “Well I used it for fresher’s week and for like, Edinburgh markets when I do touristy stuff”.
Lottie, 18, in first year explained how she got inspired by her older cousin through being part of her high school photography projects as a kid. Lottie eventually realised that this was something she “quite liked the idea of”. Her cousin later told her mum about this and so she got a small pink DSLR for her seventh birthday. “And [I’ve] sort of built my way up from there,” Lottie continued.
To the question of when she mostly uses her camera, she replied: “Normally I bring it on nights out, or if I’m doing something I think people will want to remember.”
She goes on to describe how, “I just feel like there’s a vibe with the digital camera, that makes people look better and gets like more detail in the photo.”
While asking students on campus if they had a camera, many of those who said no still acknowledged that they have noticed the trend and have had friends taking their camera on nights out.
Conclusion
Digital cameras are a welcome trend and likely one to stay for a while. They may even be a means to replace our phones, at least to some degree. All in all, the pictures we have taken will be ones to reminisce upon, just as we have admired the old nostalgic photos of the generation before us.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels
2nd year History & Journalism Student at the University of Stirling. Moved over from Sweden in 2024 to study in Scotland.
