picture vs photograph (Page 3): :sm24: :sm24:...

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

According to the Reader's Digest's Encyclopedic Dictionary, "a photograph is a 'picture' taken by photography."

A picture is "a visual representation of a subject or scene on a flat surface, as a painting, drawing, engraving, or photograph.

From that, I would surmise that a photograph can be a picture and a picture can be a photograph. So, not much difference. Maybe it is only a matter of personal word choice.

You can go from there.

hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH

The funny thing, is that those of us who are photographers (amateur or prof), can’t hardly take a snapshot…your sense of artistic capabilities is always there, even for the quickest candid shot.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ruraldi wrote:

I'm doing a presentation for junior high children ... (show quote)

I use "picture" because it's a shorter word, and it gets the idea across. I don't especially like "photo." It sounds too amateurish.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Reframe it as a snapshot versus a planned shot.

alexol

Perhaps start with emotions and the emotions a photograph, picture (whatever you want to call it, makes no difference).

The entire purpose is to generate an emotional response of whatever kind the image creator - photographer, snap-shooter, painter etc - wants the audience to feel.

Far too often we get lost in the weeds (especially on sites like this!) agonizing over f-stops and shutter speeds and ISOs etc, all of which are mere tools.

When you look at a Michelangelo sculpture, no-one worries about the weight of his hammer; no-one cares about the exact width of Rembrandt's brush.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Ruraldi wrote:

I'm doing a presentation for junior high children ... (show quote)

I think your definition is misleading. Strictly speaking, a picture can be in any art medium and depict whatever the artist wants to convey. A photograph is a picture produced by a camera, and can similarly convey the artists ideas or vision to the viewer. Be straight up with the kids - they are smarter than you think.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I believe a picture is something that can be imagined that may be intangible. For example, we often say, "Picture in your mind...." or "Picture this..." It is also can be something envisioned solely in one's mind and nowhere else.

A photograph is a tangible item that can be seen as well as being handled.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

sippyjug104 wrote:

I believe a picture is something that can be imagined that may be intangible. For example, we often say, "Picture in your mind...." or "Picture this..." It is also can be something envisioned solely in one's mind and nowhere else.

A photograph is a tangible item that can be seen as well as being handled.

That's another use of the word picture as a verb. But that's not the main definition. Paintings and drawings are also tangible items, and they are also pictures.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Ringo doesn't want a picture. All he want's is a photograph.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

According to the Reader's Digest's Encyclopedic Dictionary, "a photograph is a 'picture' taken by photography."

A picture is "a visual representation of a subject or scene on a flat surface, as a painting, drawing, engraving, or photograph.

From that, I would surmise that a photograph can be a picture and a picture can be a photograph. So, not much difference. Maybe it is only a matter of personal word choice.

You can go from there.

Or that all photographs are pictures, but not all pictures are photographs?

delder Loc: Maryland

JerryS4605 wrote:

While teach High School students , I was appointed... (show quote)

This is a an unnecessary "Slippery Slope"

Pictures can include ANY image, from a pencil sketch to an oil painting, and includes images captured photographically.

Photographs run the range from SOC to highly edited
"Filtered" works of self-expression. [Watercolor Effects].

Guidelines [NOT RULES] for composition can easily transcend any given media.

anotherview Loc: California

I suggest that you contrast a snapshot with a photograph. Typically, the two will differ in their composition and exposure. You may also wish to address the importance of an interesting subject and the intention or purpose of an image.

Let me say further that you could emphasize that photography functions as a craft requiring practice and more practice to gain proficiency with it. This effort takes time.

Finally, you may wish to impress on your audience that not the camera and not the lens but the skill of the photographer produces a worthy photograph.

Ruraldi wrote:

I'm doing a presentation for junior high children ... (show quote)

MarkSki

I might argue that it’s the other way around. The picture is the result of planning, etc. Therefore, I agree with others who suggested focusing on the other aspects of composition.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

MarkSki wrote:

I might argue that it’s the other way around. The picture is the result of planning, etc. Therefore, I agree with others who suggested focusing on the other aspects of composition.

A snapshot is also a picture, so I don't see planning as defining a picture.

jcboy3

Ruraldi wrote:

I'm doing a presentation for junior high children ... (show quote)

Neither a picture nor a photograph are memories. They may represent, or stimulate, memories.

A picture is a representation of something; it can be a painting, drawing, sketch, print, image.

A photograph is a picture taken with a camera.

A snapshot is a quickly taken photograph, usually without a lot of contemplation of composition (but some people are practiced or natural at composition).

A portrait is a picture of a person, often only depicting the head and shoulders, but one in which the primary subject of the picture is a person (or persons for group portrait).

An artistic photograph is whatever you want.