Are photographs becoming less valuable?

[jfretless]

Hello all.

I find this forum has a lot more depth than the others, so I will pose these questions here.

1. Are there more cameras (all types) is use today than twenty years ago?

I think the answer to that is a YES.

So, assuming that is the case, we can assume that there are more images being produced.

2. Do you think that makes images hold less emotional value?

I know for a fact that I do not have any "good" photographs of my childhood. Mainly just the average family snapshots. That is the main reason I got in to photography, to make sure my kids won't have that problem. Prior to digital, I would shoot on average of ten rolls a months of my kids. Then with digital, the numbers increased.

Fast foward twenty years, there will be quite possibily a 100K images of my kids. Probably more. So, say out of those, there will be 250 top notch images of each child. Really good portraits.

That's not to mention any images taken by other parents at school or events, friends, etc... With the internet, photo hosting sites, a camera on every device... Everyone will be able to search their name and a whole portfolio will come up.

Of course a great majority of them nothing more than snapshots, but you get the picture...

Thoughts?

Thanks.
John