📘 Part 3: Photos

This episode's vocabulary

Raw (adj.) - raw information has been collected but has not yet been studied in detail.

To commemorate (verb) - to remember officially and give respect to a great person or event, especially by a public ceremony or by making a statue or special building.

Perspective (noun) - a particular way of considering something.

Go to great lengths (idiom) - to try very hard to achieve something.

To manipulate (verb) - to control something or someone to your advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly.

Framing (noun) - the way that the parts of something such as a photograph or scene in a film are arranged so that the objects, colours, etc. around the edges draw attention to the main feature of the image.

Standpoint (noun) - a set of beliefs and ideas from which opinions and decisions are formed.

Privilege (noun) - an opportunity to do something special or enjoyable.

Lucrative (adj.) - (especially of a business, job, or activity) producing a lot of money.

Unparalleled (adj.) - having no equal; better or greater than any other.

To whip (verb) - to bring or take something quickly.

To snap (verb) - to take a lot of photographs quickly.

Utility (noun) - the usefulness of something, especially in a practical way.

Photogenic (adj.) - having a face that looks attractive in photographs.

Perception (noun) - a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based on how things seem.

To align (verb) - to be the same or similar, or to agree with each other; to make two things do this.

Trait (noun) - a particular characteristic that can produce a particular type of behaviour.

To evade (verb) - to avoid or escape from someone or something.

To frame (verb) - to carefully plan or organize ideas, suggestions, methods, etc., in a particular way.

To come in handy (phrase) - to be useful for a particular purpose.

Niche (adj.) - interesting to, aimed at, or affecting only a small number of people.

Questions and Answers

M: Do people take more photos now than before?

R: Oh, I suppose in terms of raw numbers, yes. There are more cameras, more people and an increased demand to take them to commemorate events. So it wouldn't be a surprise to me if that was the case.

M: Do you think equipment is important to photography?

R: I mean, from the perspective of a good photographer, yes. You need to go to great lengths to take a really good photo, like manipulating the lighting, getting framing right and controlling for distractions in the background. If you're not, though, it probably doesn't matter.

M: Do you think being a professional photographer is a good job?

R: That's a good question, really. In a world where everyone has a camera who needs a photographer, right? So from an economic standpoint, generally no. However, if you're a really good professional photographer, you can teach people how to take great photos and charge them for the privilege of that then it could be highly lucrative.

M: Is it easier to take pictures now than in the past?

R: You'd think so, wouldn't you? I mean, historically, people have never had such unparalleled access to cameras, so they're more used to being around and using them. That probably makes taking them easier than before just by being around them so much.

M: Why do people prefer their phones to take pictures and not cameras

R: There's a great deal more ease of access, you just flip or whip out your phone, snap a picture and you're done. Whereas cameras can be big, bulky and expensive. And all the while lacking the utility of a phone.

M: What makes a good photograph?

R: Well, lots of things. Like lighting, framing, position of the subject and the objects that surround them. You need to get all of them right to take something photogenic. And then there's the perception and perspective of the people looking at the photograph, which all have to align with these traits I mentioned before, that's really difficult to do.

M: What skills should a photographer have?

R: The technical terms evade me right now. But I think, what was it, being able to frame the shots, imagine or picture how it will look in your head, and all the forward planning and organizational skills related to that. As well as knowing your equipment and its use as well. That will all come in handy.

M: What do you think is the future of photography?

R: I mean, I imagine they'll keep improving cameras in smartphones to the point where separate cameras will become increasingly niche items. Aside from that cameras themselves might become more sophisticated and complex since that's the trend now. Though, what shape that will take remains to be seen. I can't predict the future that way.

Discussion

M: Hey! Rory, thank you for your questions and answers, and answers and questions. Dear listener, do you like this topic, photos? Because I think everyone is taking photos this day. It's like everybody.

R: Everybody's a photographer.

M: Like show me a person who doesn't. Okay? If you don't take a photo of your food, you haven't eaten anything. Okay?

R: What a great diet to go on.

M: And do you have this situation? Like you keep eating cold food, because you take these photos all the time and just the food is cold. They bring warm food and then it just gets cold, because of your photos.

R: No, because I live in the moment. But other people have this problem.

M: So, take photos. Okay? Not make photos, not do photos, we take photographs. It's like gimme that. We take photos. Raw numbers. So people do take more photos now. In terms of raw numbers, yes. Just simple numbers, just pure numbers. Raw numbers, right?

R: Yeah, just you see the numbers and compare them to 100 years ago and you will see many more photographs being taken by more people. For sure. I would put money on it.

M: You see? There are many more photos being taken. So people are taking photographs, photographs are being taken. Okay, dear listener? Passive voice. And there is an increased demand to take pictures, all right? Or there is an increased demand for pictures, right? For something.

R: Well, for pictures to be taken. Oh, wow, talk about passive voice. But yeah, there's an increased demand for something or an increased demand to take pictures. An increased demand to, to capture the moment.

M: And photos commemorate events. So they kind of they freeze an event. So commemorate events. Could you give us an example with this commemorate?

R: Oh, people often commemorate their wedding by hiring a wedding photographer to take photos and videos.

M: Yeah. Commemorate is C2, proficiency level. To remember officially, okay? To remember, usually, a public ceremony, officially, commemorate. For example, a statue was built to commemorate the anniversary of somebody. Equipment is important in the photography. So equipment, what do you mean? Like a proper camera, then the lighting.

R: Yeah, a camera, a stand. All of the things you need to do.

M: A stand is where the camera is?

R: Well, a stand is what you put the camera on in order to take a photograph if you're not there to take it yourself.

M: So a proper camera, a stand, the lighting. Okay? All these lights. Getting the framing right. What is framing?

R: Framing? Now, I'm going to grossly oversimplify this, but I love this because I met a photographer in Naples like two years ago. And he talked to me about the different aspects of photography. So I always remember this word whenever I talk about photographs. The framing is what the main object of the photograph is surrounded by on different sites. So for example, a photograph of the city street could be framed by the buildings on either side, or it could be framed by the washing lines hanging overhead, this kind of thing. It's what creates the shape. I'm really making this very simple. The explanation that Kolya gave was much more complex, but that's what it is.

M: But it's not equipment. It's just like technique, right? It's your skill to do this.

R: It is, yeah. But you can do things in order to get the framing right.

M: Okay.

R: Like manipulating the lighting.

M: Manipulate the lighting. So you do something with the lighting so it's good. So you manipulate the light. And, like, you need to go to great lengths.

R: Lengths, going to great lengths is like doing a lot of things in order to achieve something.

M: Yeah, and equipment is important. Even if you talk about an iPhone or a phone, you need a good camera. Right? A professional photographer is a good job. And Rory reacted to the question. That's a good question. Really. And Rory, which intonation did you use? Did it go up or down?

R: I think it went up. Like that's a good question, really. Because it is a good question. In an age where everybody has a camera, why would you need a photographer?

M: Like everyone has a camera, who needs a photographer, right? And you can ask a question, like a rhetorical question. So from an economic standpoint, no, like a professional photographer is not a good job according to Rory. But if you are a professional photographer, you can teach people to take great photos and charge them. So you can charge people for teaching.

R: Yep.

M: And it could be highly lucrative.

R: Yeah, but lucrative just means you can make a lot of money.

M: Lucrative. Lucrative business. Also C2, dear listener. Proficiency, it's just the highest level of all English levels. So producing a lot of money. Okay? So it was very lucrative for both companies. What else could be lucrative?

R: Oh, gosh, lucrative business opportunities. That's also a phrase that's used.

M: Yeah. Or we signed a lucrative contract, for example.

R: Yes. That would do. A contract that makes a lot of money.

M: Yeah. Can I say like, I have a lucrative career as a lawyer?

R: Yeah, if you're in high demand.

M: And you can say like being a professional photographer is highly lucrative. Or is it a highly lucrative career? Don't forget the article. A highly lucrative career or could be a highly lucrative career. A typical question is comparing now and in the past. So is it easier to take photos now than in the past? More people take photos now than in the past. Yeah? And here we do need Present Perfect. So people have never had such cameras, or people have always had a desire to take photos, yeah? Rory told us about unparalleled access to cameras.

R: Well, that just means like there's nothing else like it in history. At no time in history before now has anyone had access to so many cameras or the opportunities to take pictures.

M: And it's insane. Like everybody. Like it doesn't matter what phone you have, you just... And people are surrounded by cameras, and being around cameras makes it much easier to take photos. So we take photos using our phones, not cameras. Okay?

R: Well, we use the camera on the phone to take a picture. But yes.

M: And again, Rory told us about this access to cameras. There is a great deal more ease of access. So ease of access?

R: Yes. So it's easy to get a camera, and it's easy to access a camera to take a photo on your phone.

M: Yeah, so a camera on your phone. And then you say, you can just flip your phone out. So flip your phone out, when you just like... And you just get it ready, okay? Or you can whip your phone out. Are they the same or they're different? Flip your phone out and whip your phone out?

R: I think the motion will be slightly different. But the idea is that it's a quick action that you can do as opposed to a camera, which requires you to bring it up and adjust and get everything ready and then do it.

M: So, dear listener, you can flip out your phone, or you can flip your phone out and snap a picture. Just... Or even without any sound, just snap a picture, take a picture. A very good synonym. So it's very easy to flip out your phone and snap a picture. All right? Whereas, or while, but cameras can be big. Cameras are bulky. Bulky? They are large, they're heavy.

R: Difficult to move around.

M: They're difficult to move around, you need some specific thing to, I don't know, to carry it. They are expensive, right? But phones are easy to carry and it's easy to flip out your phone and snap a picture. Done. A good photograph. Ooh-la-la. What's a good photograph? The lighting, framing, and position of the subject. The subject here means a person you take a photo of, for example.

R: Or the thing that's the focus.

M: When we mean lights, we say the lighting, right? The position, the objects that surround them, or the background is important. Yeah? You need to get them right to take something photogenic. So what is photogenic?

R: Well, usually it's used to describe people that look good in cameras, but actually what it means is something that just looks good in a picture. Or it can be something that produces light. Some animals are photogenic, which means they create their own light sources. However, we are talking about cameras here. So photogenic means to look good in a picture.

M: Yeah, photogenic. If you have an appearance that is attractive in photographs. For example, Rory is photogenic.

R: You think?

M: Yeah.

R: I like that. In pictures and only in pictures. In real life, it's like meeting the Loch Ness Monster.

M: No, no.

R: Yes, yes, yes. There is the perception and perspective of the people looking at the photograph. You mean like I take a photo, and then it's your perception of my photo? Or what? Perception, perspective.

M: Well, perception is how it's seen. And perspective is the point of view, like the mental point of view and the understanding of people. They're close, but they're not the same thing.

M: So okay, I take a photo, and then people look at this photo and what they see, and what they have in their head when they look at my photo, right?

R: Yep. So one is about what you actually, well, they're both about how you see something. But one is the ideas that you bring to it and one is the things that you've had before. But it's a really small distinction that divides these two things. I really just wanted to use two advanced words. That's all.

M: Yeah, so you kind of say about things a photographer does. The lighting, the framing, position of the subject, background, and then you say how people look at the photo. So it's also about people's perception and perspective, right? So people who look at your photo, may understand something else, right? So it's the perception and perspective of other people who look at the photo. A photographer should have certain skills, right? So a photographer should be able to frame the shot. So remember, a shot of me means a picture of me. So to frame the shot, to frame the picture. Or imagine how it will look in their head. Right? So a photographer should have planning and organizational skills and should know about the equipment and use it well.

R: I mean, I guess they should, some people don't seem to. But maybe that's just how they make it look.

M: Yeah. Or for example, planning skills come in handy. If something comes in handy, it's useful. So like knowing your equipment, knowing what cameras are the best ones comes in handy. The future of photography.

R: I love this question. As if I'm some sort of expert in photography.

M: Yeah, but also, dear listener, it's a typical question, right? About the future of something. So, one typical question is to compare the present and the past. Another typical question is to talk about the future. So any topic, think about what you can say about future history. Oh, what? What about the history and the future of... Future of history...

R: Exactly. You can see what I mean.

M: History in the past and the future of history. No, like in the future, will people learn more about history? Something like this. And Rory told us, people will keep improving the cameras on smartphones, because every year, like we, we've seen this. Yeah? And in iPhones is it true? Like they are improving their cameras.

R: It looks like it. Well, but they keep saying this, I don't know if it's true or not, but people keep talking about it.

M: And also cameras themselves, so like proper cameras, might become more sophisticated. So like proper cameras will also be improved, sophisticated, and more complex, right? And then you can say that what shape that will take remains to be seen. So kind of I don't know what will happen. What shape will it take remains to be seen.

R: The shape of things to come.

M: Yeah, the shape of things. Like how things will turn out? Like we don't know. Rory, tell us, what's the thing about this episode?

R: Well, I did... What do you think the answer is? Tell me.

M: Yeah, I think, here you are reacting to questions in different ways.

R: I am. But there's a very specific reaction that I want to draw attention to. Because I did a little bit of research while I was in Turkey. And this is me putting it into practice. So one of the things that somebody wrote a research paper about was ways to bring up IELTS speaking scores. And they talked about different ways to talk about perspective. So that's just different ways of talking about how things can be seen. So here, in just about every question, I have used specific phrases to talk about the perspective. So for example, in the first question, do people take photos, more photos now than before, I said, in terms of. So from the perspective of looking at the raw numbers. In terms of is pretty good. In terms of how you see it. In terms of how other people see it. And then I got a lot more explicit for the second question. From the perspective of a photographer. So, just to say outright, I'm seeing it from a different person's point of view. And then I leapt into something different for the next question. This was another phrase to talk about perspective, an economic standpoint, so a standpoint of perspective. And then to give a general standpoint, I used an adverb generally. There are a few more. Yes, I also did it for the next question. I didn't say generally, I said historically, from the perspective of the historian. And following that, there was another thing. This was about a more general perspective, I used there's. Now, there is, there are, or it's are used to things to talk from a general perspective as well. And then I kept talking about perspective, but only in the sense of how a photographer would see it. The perception and the perspective, that's not something that you could easily transfer. The other ones are, and then we moved on to, well, we moved back into the general statements. Sweeping statements. Like I imagine they'll keep improving the cameras, they'll keep improving. They? People, in general. I don't know who the people are. The people responsible for this.

M: Wow, this is so cool. And this does raise your answers to a higher level. Right?

R: It should. It worked in 90% of the case studies that they worked on. So I should say, this is not foolproof, it's possible that your score will stay the same. But that's only if you adopt this strategy. There will be others. But this is one that I'm integrating because it seems to have a little bit of an evidence base.

M: And if you don't know how to answer the question, this could help. Right?

R: Yes.

M: Answering the question from different perspectives. Nice.

R: And you will be seeing more of it in the future.

M: Thank you very much for listening! And we'll get back to you in our next episode. Bye!

R: Bye!

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