Janice Loc: Kentucky

I'm an expert at that - LOL

gzil Loc: San Antonio, TX

Some years back - the late 80's, I think, I belonged to the Texas Professional Photographer's Association. I took a photograph to a Guild meeting for critique. It was a beautiful close-up photo of my grandchildren (boy and girl), late evening at the bay. K's blond hair was blowing in the wind and J's nose had a scratch and showed some sunburn. I titled the photo 'Beauty and the Beast'. The 'very popular' judge looked at the photo and gave it a poor score. When I questioned him he said it was a snapshot. His explanation for a snapsjot was the fact that I had used a flash and it left hard shadows under the chins. He never even considered the content. To this day, that photo hangs in my son's home. It is the first thing people see when they enter the house. The usual expression is "oh, how beautiful, what photographer took that?

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

The way I look at (for my own photos)...

if I make my kids put on clean shirts and matching socks.
if I pay attention to the way the light is falling across their facial features.
if I plan on taking photos during the golden hour.
if someone ends up crying.
.... it's a photograph.

Everything else is a snapshot... this of course only applies to me. :)

jepoplin Loc: Steamboat Springs, CO

Janice, I think DK & buckwheat pretty much hit the nail on the head. But it depends on context. One area I see that comparison made a lot is with stock agencies... they are pretty particular about what photos they will accept, and those that they will not. But who is saying this? Is it in a critique? If so, do they not have any other way to critique a photo that to just throw out terminology that has no exact definition?

I think of it as this. My mom likes to take picture as a hobby where as I do it as a job. If we go somewhere together (say the mountains here in CO) and I stop somewhere, mom will just roll down her window to get the shot that she wants. And there is nothing wrong with that. I on the other hand will take more time to capture what I want. I'll look to compose the picture correctly (rule of thirds, leading lines, etc), make sure my lighting is correct and adjust setting accordingly... well the list goes on and on.

Janice Loc: Kentucky

In the eye of the beholder...

Janice Loc: Kentucky

LOL - I guess that works - my kid is grown and if I asked him to allow me to take his picture he would have a fit - he hates having his picture taken, so asking him to put on a clean shirt - LOL. Seriously, I see what you are saying but it still made me smile.

Janice Loc: Kentucky

I think I am some where between you and your mom :-)

FOTOSTAN Loc: Ca..NYC..Fla.

The BIG difference is... one, I made my living doing, and the other is, a "snapshot".

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

To me a snapshot is what comes out of the camera, any camera. A photograph is what that snapshot becomes once we process it in the darkroom. Of course, today's darksrooms are digital photo editing software programs like Photoshop, Paintshop Pro, Gimp, Picasa, Picnik, etc.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

People whip out their cameras and just take a shot--any shot, without thinking it through. You can see this at weddings, people will shoot from the pew, getting pictures at awkward angles. They'll take pictures of the bride and groom while standing well to the left or right of the party, with the party looking here, there and everywhere. A photographer takes that type of photo head on, asking the bride and groom to look into the camera.

Now, there are times I will whip out my camera and take a shot without setting it up. Usually it's the type of thing that if you don't take that shot, right then and there, you won't have an opportunity to take it again. A number of years ago I was on a whale watch on the St. Lawrence River. I took photos of the whales in the distance. Suddenly a whale came up right next to the boat, all of us jumped away from the whale (it was unexpected!). I was the only one to take the picture of the massive, greenish brown mountain arising out the water. Of course it wasn't in focus, but every time I look at the photo, I'm glad I caught it!

Janice Loc: Kentucky

That's a distinction that makes sense - thanks.

nikondaddy Loc: Mayfield,Kentucky

A snap shot is your uncleLouie and Aunt Em at Disney Land or your dog looking goofey on ytour couch. A photograph is the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in World War II where thousands died to get that land under ur control. A shot of your son on the first of school anbd one of him graduating with honors from Harvard 20 years later.

ianhargraves1066 Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida

Pretty much all of the photographs I post are "Snapshots" only when I go out and photograph a building or a product for a paying client do I consider the Photographs. If you like them that the best result , if someone else likes them too thats nice, if someone pays you for them Thats wonderful. I have never considerd my self as a photo artist but as a photo techician. And again if it makes someone else happy too it was a good day!

Ian

keeper Loc: Franklin, TN

When my son was in little league, I desperately wanted a shot of him hitting the pitched ball. This was during the days of only film cameras. I'd go to the game with a roll of 400 ISO, 36 exposure film in the camera in the camera. I'd wait until he had at least 2 strikes knowing he'd have to protect the plate and take a burst hoping he'd swing and make contact. I don't know how many hundreds of shots I took but never gave up.
Finally got the perfect picture, all of the kids eyes were on the ball (my son's, the catcher's and the umpire's), the ball clearly coming off of the bat, Dave's stance. the catcher's stance were all perfect. Snapshot or photograph? Who cares, I got the shot! I was happy and that's all that matters!

DK Loc: SD

Thanks for the advent of digital, now when you want that special shot, you can delete the bad ones and not have to pay for processing and prints on those 36 exposure rolls. Congratulations on getting the perfect shot. Persistence pays off!! Motor drives are good too.