On: Goodbye Aberration: Physicist Solves 2,000-Year-Old Optical Problem

[Retric]

Efficiency can turn something from useless to useful, which means the outcome is not inherently useful.

Thus if photography is required and the only thing that makes it possible then it as a means becomes and end to it's self.

Consider, in a pure nitrogen environment animals will suffocate under no great distress. The goal has become separated from the result.

[kragen → Retric]

You seem to be unclear on the distinction between means and ends, which is to say, instrumental and terminal values.