Do you feel Y/A needs a separate category for cell phone photography instead of visual arts/photography and wh?

No. And that took some pondering of this question. A great camera, a say 5D Mk iii for example (and in no way implying that this is the very best camera out there to the exclusion of all others), in the hands of someone who does not know how to use it is a large, heavy cell phone camera with a lot of MPs. A cell phone camera in the hands of a person who understands photography and realizes the limitations of the cell phone camera can make great photography with it. The emphasis is realizes the limitations -there is a fixed lens, a predetermined aperture, limited ISO and shutter speeds, which when used with consideration of these limitations can create beautiful work. At 8 MP the images could be printed acceptably - again the photographer would have to understand the limitations of the file: small jpg and use Photoshop accordingly to clean up the image. Some post processing is necessary, but if the photog understood they will get a noisy shot for example, and used the noise as an aesthetic device in the image, it could work out just fine. Composition and the use of lighting is the bedrock of good photography, as long as one realizes the technical limitations of the camera there is no reason one can't make great photos. It is analogous to Holgas vs. Nikons in the film camera debate. To make good pictures with a Holga you actually have to be a really good photographer. The same is true with a cell phone.

I've seen a lot of work in museums that would be absolutely shouted down in here. Holga work, digital work, landscapes shot with something other than a wide angle lens at is smallest aperture, portraits that show subjects in a clear, sharply focused environment rather than isolated using the depth of field (it ain't bokeh folks!) so you have to take this place with a big bowl of salt. It is what it is. The questions are getting dumber, the askers lazier, but that is how the world is going.

I do agree with Martin that a stupid question category could be very useful - especially if we could mark it as such by thumbing down the question itself. But then trolls would win.

No.

Just because it's a different style of photography doesn't mean it should be treated differently. I've seen a lot of snobbery towards cell phone photography and even Instagram and it drives me nutty. Yea, granted I sometimes can be a little snotty towards people who think their Instagram photos are the shizznit and/or think they can go pro. However, I feel that if they're having fun with it then it's no different than those who are picking up a DSLR and turning out similar shots.

I think it would great if they had separate categories for laid back hobby photographers and those more serious. That way people who take snapshot photos and are content that way could share with like minded people and have fun without getting looked down upon and then the people more serious who are trying to learn on a professional/advanced level could get more detailed meaningful advice and the people who want to offer a serious critique may not think they're time is being wasted.

No I don't. It matters not a jot whether the image was taken on an iphone or scanned in from a disposable camera. Photography is a wide field and I think we cover it reasonably well here.

photography needs separate sections for all the stupid questions too...

but as camera phone technology improves/develops, there won't be much difference between a camera phone and a compact cameras... then with the little lenses for iphones makes them look like the compact system cameras... go fig... :(

Pfft, no. Photography is photography. That's like asking if they need a separate space for painting and acrylic painting...

I believe that they should be separate. When I think of photography, I think of a planned out image not some crappy snapshot taken with an Iphone.

Personally, I think there should be a separate category for cellphone cameras. I use my phone camera quite a bit. Not because I think I can create great photographic masterpieces with it. But, because it's fun and convenient.

Whoever gave me a thumbs down for simply expressing my OPINION is welcome to shove it.