I like this distinction a great deal:
Jurgenson told me that he draws a distinction between the traditional photograph as a permanent documentary object and the social photograph, which tends toward “ephemerality, playfulness, and expressiveness. When images are easy to make and easy to share, they come to be less about permanence.”
It comes from an interesting piece about the intersection of digital photography and memory.
Serious photographers have always distinguished between the “snap” and the “serious photo”. That distinction has taken on a much deeper meaning in the digital age. The social photograph is clearly a “snap”. But that doesn’t negate the role of the traditional photo.
I bought a new mirrorless camera last month, and I’ve really been enjoying disconnected photography for a while. It is a distinctly different experience to shooting with my iPhone.