I’ve been following Scott Bourne’s “Padpundit” since the first post and it’s hard to stay neutral in the face of Scott’s exuberance over this device. Be sure to read all three posts on how the iPad will change photography. Now Jim Goldstein has weighed in and offered his opinion on why the iPad doesn’t matter, and yet it does.

I’ll admit it; I’m a reluctant and resisting Apple fan-grrl. I’m a GUI-grrl, too, because I’m mildly CLU-less. The iPad, however slick, shiny and sex-ay, is a high-tech toy. I know, however, that the first time I have one of these things in my hands, my loins are going to ache. I’m going to *WANT* one. But…did anyone note the very audible wolf-whistle from the audience when Steve Jobs picked up the iPad in the keynote video? I did. I noted that it was just a tad bit early, ringing out just as Steve was turning the iPad on, and before he turned it to face the audience. I’m sure there’s a metaphor in there somewhere. The fan-chidrins are slavering like Pavlov’s dogs over something they haven’t even had in their hands yet.

Conversely, the haters and naysayers all weighing in on how it’s a glorified netbook, or an oversized iPod Touch without the camera, how it will change nothing, or it doesn’t matter. And all before they, too, have had one in their hands. Yes, Jim, I’m looking at *you*. And yes, Scott, I’m looking at you, *too*.

I think Scott has some good points–and the most notable is that the iPad is going to be a remarkable way to present your portfolio. That’s going to be my excuse for plunking down $500+ for one, if I ever get enough money. It won’t be for the eBooks–DRM laden files that will cost as much as a hardback isn’t my idea of how to spend my money; I want to be able to hand a book to a friend, and not worry about the copyright nazis coming to hunt me down. Nor will it be for games; I’d much rather be taking photographs than slaloming down a virtual slope, or driving a pretend car on the Laguna Seca raceway. Videos and email? Yeah, that might be good. What about AIM, or Twitter? Sure there’s a keyboard the good ol’ Steve says is “a joy to use”–I dunno, I’ll have to wait to try it to see. Web-surfing? Mmmm, I dunno; Call me a sucker for the pretty Flash content out there. I don’t want to see blue toy building blocks (don’t sue me, Legos!) when I go to a friend’s Flash-powered photo gallery. I do, however, like the idea of my finger being the point-and-click tool.

Let’s get back to Scott’s comment that the iPad will change photography. That’s a pretty broad statement–but before I go saying that it’s unwarranted, I’d like to know just what Scott means by “photography”. I suppose it could be argued that photography, like any art form, needs an audience. Displaying your art, having it seen, is what being a photographer is all about. Or not. Emily Dickenson was a poet for most of her life, and it wasn’t until after her death that her poems really were exposed to the world at large. I’ve met lots of photographers who will probably die with their work unappreciated by anyone outside of their small circle of friends and family. And that’s a shame. This device could indeed change that.

I would dearly love to walk into the Ansel Adams Gallery with one of these, and hand it to Glen as my portfolio. (Glen, don’t worry, I wouldn’t do that to you. Unless you asked me to.) What are the pros and cons of using an iPad as your portfolio? Well, let’s face it; It’s a slick, shiny, *sex-ay* bit of technology. It *screams* hip, savvy, elegant, technically competent. On the other hand, what if the person is more interested in the iPad than they are your pictures? Will this make me look like a wannabe-photographer with too much money to throw away on pretty, sex-ay, slick tech devices? If you’ve ever experienced a moment of doubt about your artistic ability, you’ll *know* in your gut what I’m talking about. The Eye of Argon printed on linen fiber paper, bound in fine Corinthian leather with 24 kt gold leaf embossing is still The Eye of Argon.

Gah. *shudder*. On the other hand, spending a lot of money to have your photos printed and bound into a professional portfolio is cost prohibitive, and once done, you have to pay *again* to put in your newer and better work. Let’s hope your prospective clients are able to focus on the content rather than the device.

Will the iPad change photography? I don’t think so. Good photographs are good photographs, and bad ones are still bad ones. Light is still light, darkness is still darkness. Will it change accessibility to photography? You *betcha*! Photography has undergone technical advancement; I’m a photographer because of those advancements. If it weren’t for digital cameras, I would never have pursued my talent, put my “good eye” to use. I could never afford the film, the processing. Nor do I have the option of using a dark room. The internet, too has made photography more accessible. I can read tutorials, get and give critiques, learn about the history of photography and the innovations of photographers before me. But through it all, photography remains an art form. It’s people who change photography by presenting new visions. We are the artists, we are the force that changes photography over time. Technology is a tool–it is not the art.

Now, that said, I think Jim and Scott share a damn good point; The iPad, at this point, is an entertainment device, more about consuming content than creating it. What’s really going to make this thing fly or fail is what sort of applications will be available for it. I’d like to be able to write my NaNoWriMo novel on it, use it to IM with friends around the world, compose and read twitter, update my Facebook and post to my web log. I’m sure if I can’t right now, I will be able to in time. Then it won’t merely be a mobile touch screen digital picture frame any more. I may wait until there’s a version of The Photographer’s Ephemeris available for it before I buy one. That would totally rock–especially if TPE takes advantage of GPS in a 3G enabled model.

The iPad isn’t a camera. It doesn’t even have an SD or CF slot. But wouldn’t it be cool if you could wirelessly transfer your photos right from the camera to this thing in the field to view them? Imagine sitting in your tent in the back country, reviewing your images of the day, sipping hot tea as a gentle spring rain rattles the canvas over your head. Bliss. Then opening your bookshelf and reading Jim’s eBook on photographing wildflowers, or Adam’s “The Zone System”. Then use the 3G network to send an email with your gps coordinates to your significant other back home, and a note about the bears you saw in the meadow sharing a meal of cow parsnips. Then consult TPE for locations, sunrise and sunset, moonrise and set. A quick entry in your private journal, or your blog, and then it’s time for bed. Sleeping bag. Whatever. Happy photo-hunting in the morning!

In closing, when I buy one of these babies, because let’s face it, I *LOVE* slick, shiny, sex-ay technology, I’m also going to buy one of these to keep it in:

The iMaxi. Just, you know, because humor is an art form, too.