Working in the digital age

                 In recent years, the use of satellite phones has become increasingly popular. While regular phones have technology that would have been unthinkable only a decade ago, satellite phones offer a feature that regular phones do not. According to an article from Editor and Publisher, "these phones communicate directly with a satellite constellation orbiting the Earth. This allows them to receive a communications signal over a much wider area". For people who need instantaneous access to mobile communication in remote areas such as deserts, jungles, the middle of the ocean, war zones or disaster areas; cell phones just aren't sufficient. For these people and situations, satellite phones offer the ability to communicate regardless of the user's geographic location.

                 Photojournalists of the past during the pre-digital age may have valued picture quality over the speediness of picture delivery; however, the importance of speedy delivery in modern times has gained significant importance in the eyes of the public at a faster rate than picture quality. The use of the satellite phone can allow images to be transmitted instantaneously from any location. Additionally, when considering changes over time in public attitudes and expectations upon which photojournalists must serve, it appears the current limitations on the workings of the Satellite phone in providing superior photo transmitting to other electronic servers at an affordable rate, are no less flawed than those imperfections in photographic equipment of the pre-digital age. According to an article on science.opposingviews.com, "the cost of using a satellite phone is likely at least $1 per minute". This rate on top of the baseline cost of the device which can be upward of fifteen grand makes the use of satellite phones outrageous for the everyday individual.  Furthermore, in order to transmit images through the satellite phones, a portable scanner transmitter is required; another additional cost and piece of equipment. These types of large costs limit the number of individuals with access to this type of technology, and subsequently, the frequency by which they can be used. A final challenge of satellite phones occurs as they are used in war zones. According to the article on the Syrian government, " it's easy for satellite phone providers to accidentally disclose the location of users. In addition, technology is also commercially available that lets governments eavesdrop on satellite phone conversations and locate individual users"; a major downfall if you are trying to photograph highly dangerous areas in secret. 

               Despite the downfalls of satellite phones, the advantages that they have over previous pre-digital technologies are innumerable. Consider for example the use of wet plate collodion photography which was an original method in the first days of photojournalism.  In the wet plate process, the photographer had to travel with a mobile darkroom to develop his or her images. The photographer also had to work fast as the image would not develop if the plate’s solutions began to dry up. In order for the image to be processed successfully, it had to be completed in about 10 minutes. Furthermore, the collodion process also had an acute sensitivity to blue light which posed a challenge to shooting things such as landscapes with blue sky or water in the background. The equipment was heavy and not easy to transport making it almost impossible for photojournalists to capture “in the moment” images for news or current events. Lugging around large bulky equipment, cases full of film or other materials, typewriters for adding captions, and scanners for transmitting images have since been replaced by technologies like iPhones and satellite cameras which provide for much more freedom in movement around a location on site. Though they are far from perfect, and have much room for improvement, satellite phones represent the future of fast, in the moment photojournalism reporting. 

Photos taken by; unknown
Images from; http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/globalstar-information/iridium-smithsonian

An image of the first generation
9500 Iridium handheld satellite phone

A view of an Iridium satellite with solar panels used to capture 
satellite phone transmissions while orbiting Earth