Snapshotography = documentary photography: This is mostly what I shoot. I document events, places, interesting subjects. Sometimes I look for the artsy in a scene. I’m fairly advanced...

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

This is mostly what I shoot. I document events, places, interesting subjects. Sometimes I look for the artsy in a scene. I’m fairly advanced on the technical side but I rarely shoot outside of Program mode. This is what a photography hobby is when you don’t have much artistic vision. But I’m happy with it.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I have no artistic vision either. I shoot things that I like, trying to be as close to perfect as I can on the technical side like focus and exposure. When I post something I am first amazed if it gets past Upcoming Topics and second when viewers make kind comments about it.

I also make composites and abstracts in Photoshop. When I post one I have no idea whether it is good or not, only that I like it.

My personal conclusion: If it feels good and is fun, keep it up.

srt101fan

Curmudgeon wrote:

I have no artistic vision either. I shoot things t... (show quote)

You say: "I have no artistic vision..." "I also make composites and abstracts...."

I submit that making composites and abstracts involves at least some level of artistic vision. Don't sell yourself short.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

gvarner wrote:

This is mostly what I shoot. I document events, places, interesting subjects. Sometimes I look for the artsy in a scene. I’m fairly advanced on the technical side but I rarely shoot outside of Program mode. This is what a photography hobby is when you don’t have much artistic vision. But I’m happy with it.

I consider my self to have a modicum of artistic vision, yet most of my shots are of the document an event type. Probably because living outside Nashville, there are many events happening all the time.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Documentary photography and artistic vision are not mutually exclusive. When I think of the great documentary photographers like Walker Evans, Dorthea Lange, or W. Eugene Smith, they were artists as well as documentarians. To equate documentary photography with snapshotography is not accurate.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

What you call it is not as important as to why one shoots it. Is one looking for uuhhs & aahhs on UHH - many are, not taking any improvement suggestions kindly. Is one taking it to enter contests, display to others, or be admired by all? Etc. Or, if like myself and maybe yourself are you shooting your best, both artistically and technically, regardless of level, always willing to learn (myself for almost 60 yrs behind the lens) and shooting ONLY to please yourself. Some are great, some not so, but that is where my travel photography falls (to record a memory and enjoy when I no longer can travel). I see nothing wrong with that, although I appreciate those who post superior photos here with some information or provide excellent Information on questions. Why I am here.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

I don't consider myself an artist. I also document scenery and so on. But when the occasional photo has some artistic elements, it's on my living room wall.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

gvarner wrote:

This is mostly what I shoot. I document events, places, interesting subjects. Sometimes I look for the artsy in a scene. I’m fairly advanced on the technical side but I rarely shoot outside of Program mode. This is what a photography hobby is when you don’t have much artistic vision. But I’m happy with it.

You probably have more vision than you realize. In my opinion some of the past photography greats were little more than snap shooters. And when their work is on display does anyone ask what the camera settings were?

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

JohnSwanda wrote:

Documentary photography and artistic vision are not mutually exclusive. When I think of the great documentary photographers like Walker Evans, Dorthea Lange, or W. Eugene Smith, they were artists as well as documentarians. To equate documentary photography with snapshotography is not accurate.

When I implied they were equal I figured I’d get some pushback. Snapshots are more an informal method of documentary photography, a sub-set if you will.

Stephan G

gvarner wrote:

This is mostly what I shoot. I document events, places, interesting subjects. Sometimes I look for the artsy in a scene. I’m fairly advanced on the technical side but I rarely shoot outside of Program mode. This is what a photography hobby is when you don’t have much artistic vision. But I’m happy with it.

There is artist, one who is good at what he does. Then there is "artiste", one who tells you how great they are.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Boy, am I glad to hear you guys. I too am not artistic. But I see a lot world class photos here from you all. Landscape, animals, people, etc. So I only do photos for work, recording, for clients.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Stephan G wrote:

There is artist, one who is good at what he does. Then there is "artiste", one who tells you how great they are.

This rings an ironic note. My wife in a care facility and I were eating dinner when two nurses showed up at the table to snap her picture with the laptop camera, which the said they needed for id purposes. I said, " can take a much nicer portrait if you like." The new male nurse informed me that he "IS A NURSE!" I informed him, " Well, I am a photographer!" which I'm really not, but you get the point. PS, he didn't last two weeks, but not at all related to this incident, but certainly related to his deficiency of interpersonal skills.

Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY

Curmudgeon wrote:

I have no artistic vision either. I shoot things t... (show quote)

According to your reply, not all picture posts placed in Upcoming Topics make it to the Photo Gallery.
Are there any reasons for that?👮‍♂️🤨
Thank you

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

gvarner wrote:

This is mostly what I shoot. I document events, places, interesting subjects. Sometimes I look for the artsy in a scene. I’m fairly advanced on the technical side but I rarely shoot outside of Program mode. This is what a photography hobby is when you don’t have much artistic vision. But I’m happy with it.

I’m not exactly a creative person and enjoy the technical side also. I try to have my photography tell a story thru events or even thru a single shot.

tinwhistle

I also, do not consider myself an "artist". I do consider myself to be a "craftsman" as I enjoy the Post work almost as much as the photography. After about 65 years of "taking pictures" I found my niche and am quite comfortable there, and the fact that that now and then someone will approach me (with check book in hand) to take pictures makes it even more enjoyable .....