Q: iPhone 5

I have an iPhone 5 which went into automatic update yesterday afternoon.  Now since about 6 pm last night the Apple symbol is on the phone and will not go away.  What can I do without restoring the phone and loosing everything on it.  I have managed to turn it off but when I turn it back on the symbol reappears and that's all I see.  I can't use my phone to make calls or even do a back up.  is restoring the phone the only way I can get it to work?  This would also mean loosing everything, photos and contacts wouldn't it?