Camera phones have undoubtedly changed the world of modern photography for better or worse, depending on who you ask. Photography is now as much about communication as it is about creation. In a medium that was once defined by patience and incredible attention to detail, smartphones have made it possible to create an artistic statement in just a few seconds. And far beyond that, you can share that statement with the world in an instant.
Photographers have been divided on the subject since its inception. Is it better that the camera phone has made photography easier? Is an iPhone photographer a legitimate photographer? But we were most interested, recently, in the intersection of photography and social media. How has the instant gratification cycle—snap, post, count the little hearts, wait for comments—affected modern photography? We asked five photographers to weigh in on the subject.