Difference between snapshot and photograph: Yesterday our portraiture class went to a gallery that had two main exhibits...one by Sid Avery (The Art of the Hollywood Snapshot) and the...

charryl Loc: New Mexico, USA

Yesterday our portraiture class went to a gallery that had two main exhibits...one by Sid Avery (The Art of the Hollywood Snapshot) and the other by Vivian Maier (an amazing street photographer whose work was discovered after her death). This led to an interesting discussion about the difference between "snapshots" and "photographs". A lot of photojournalism and street photography have the casual characteristics of snapshots but clearly there is something that distinguishes them to make them more. I thought I would post this question to learn your thoughts.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

It's a subject that seems to have no end.

I see some images that to me, are just snappers and they are supposed to be the epitome of the art...so who am I to say?

I don't think that there is a right answer, only that there are interesting images, and not so interesting images.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

charryl wrote:

Yesterday our portraiture class went to a gallery ... (show quote)

"Snapshot" was coined by instant-shot - e.g. point-and-shoot - cameras, mass produced in the mid-part of the 20th century. Fixed lens, little to/no control of elements or light, and processing done by commercial labs.

The camera development, with an ancient past going back nearly 2 centuries, has led us to modern cameras and controls. Ansel Adams, though not the first pioneer, was known to have brought the zone system to modern photography.

Vivian Maiers (God bless her!) would have been considered a master by any stretch of the imagination.
http://www.vivianmaierprints.com/

"Photographers" are classed as a group distinct from P&S in only one aspect - control. When you can control the elements within the photograph to respond to the photographer's lens, you have a "photographer"....

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

To me, the way that you are phrasing the question leads to a simple answer. A regular snap shot is a photo of a time and a place that is relegated to a photo album that when viewed, is simply a reminder of an event at a given time. But a photograph that evokes an immediate impact or emotion whether it be a candid or otherwise, would be in the category that you imply as being a "photograph".

For instance, some one goes on vacation and takes a picture of the Grand Canyon. Fine. Nice picture that goes in the scrap book. Then there are the photos of the grand Canyon that are absolutely stunning that one would see hanging on a wall.

To me, a snapshot is a rather flat picture. Nice but flat that says nothing other than what is shown. A good candid such as what Vivian shot brings out a story and a feeling that one can almost touch upon. This would be emotion. It does not matter if it is color or black & white. Visual impact is what sets them apart to me. A flower is another good example. Everyone has seen pictures of flowers. Very pretty. Then there are photographs of flowers that make one exclaim. "Wow!". That is the difference. This of course is just my opinion the best way that I can explain it.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Oh, and it makes no difference as to what type of camera is used. My daughter has had numerous showings of her photographic art and she used nothing but a Kodak Point & Shoot. Almost all in color. She has received lots of praise for her work. When her baby was born, I gave her a very nice dslr to use thinking that something will come of it. Nope. Just crappy photos of her kid.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

To me a snapshot is what a person takes say, hey love, nice beach, snap, and ends up in the holiday album to be seen one in a lifetime, a photograph is where someone puts SOME thought into it.

I don't take snaps

ftpecktim Loc: MONTANA

JR1 wrote:

To me a snapshot is what a person takes say, hey love, nice beach, snap, and ends up in the holiday album to be seen one in a lifetime, a photograph is where someone puts SOME thought into it.

I don't take snaps

Please...That "kitty" post of yours and the son abducted by storm troopers are definitely snap shots.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

ftpecktim wrote:

JR1 wrote:

To me a snapshot is what a person takes say, hey love, nice beach, snap, and ends up in the holiday album to be seen one in a lifetime, a photograph is where someone puts SOME thought into it.

I don't take snaps

Please...That "kitty" post of yours and the son abducted by storm troopers are definitely snap shots.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

ftpecktim wrote:

JR1 wrote:
To me a snapshot is what a person takes say, hey love, nice beach, snap, and ends up in the holiday album to be seen one in a lifetime, a photograph is where someone puts SOME thought into it.

I don't take snaps

Please...That "kitty" post of yours and the son abducted by storm troopers are definitely snap shots.
:thumbup: :thumbup:

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

To me, photography is a subjective medium, it means differnt things to differnt people. One persons "photograph" can be another presons "snap shot" and vise-versa.

charryl Loc: New Mexico, USA

tainkc wrote:

To me, the way that you are phrasing the question ... (show quote)

charryl Loc: New Mexico, USA

charryl wrote:

quote=tainkc To me, the way that you are phrasing... (show quote)

Sorry...misplaced my response paragraph.

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

I think snapshots are done to remind us of special places, people, and times, capturing the reality of the moment as seen by the camera.

Photographs do likewise, but also show those same places,
people, and times with an artist's interpretation, which may be a reflection of reality, rather than reality itself.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Treepusher wrote:

I think snapshots are done to remind us of special places, people, and times, capturing the reality of the moment as seen by the camera.

Photographs do likewise, but also show those same places,
people, and times with an artist's interpretation, which may be a reflection of reality, rather than reality itself.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

charryl wrote:

Yesterday our portraiture class went to a gallery ... (show quote)

Although I don't agree with this, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it... snapshots are shots you take in JPEG, and photographs are shots you Post from raw. I'm encouraged that ignorance has not reared its ugly head yet. :-)