DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

This sums it up nicely. There should be no further comments made.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I have to withdraw my erroneous assertion. My D5600 does allow RAW images with Auto mode.

PS: My D800 doesn’t have Auto mode.

courtland43 Loc: Central Florida

To me its a matter of whether I would rather be a good photographer or a lucky photographer. Doesn't mean one can't utilize one of the auto modes, it just means if you do you should understand what it is doing to your photo. Otherwise its just a snapshot. But you could get lucky.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

I hope the portion of your statement that I put in bold type does not imply that AUTO mode is only for snapshooters. My definition of a snapshot is a photo that is taken without careful attention to lighting, composition, framing, etc. It is often an opportunistic shot of a fleeting moment that has a very singular focal point (e.g., a funny expression) that is probably best captured using an AUTO mode because you don't have the time to set controls. Another definition of a snapshot is an attempt at creating a good photo that failed to achieve its impact.

Using an AUTO mode is more about getting an acceptable exposure and less about all the other elements; and the difference between a snapshot and a great photo is less about exposure than it is about the other elements of good photography. Sure, dramatic lighting effects that are achieved by manipulating exposure can turn a so-so photo into a more stunning image, but I am quite happy to let the camera help me set exposure while I worry about the rest. And the whole point of this thread is that if you save as RAW then an AUTO exposure mode should give you a "very useable negative" from which to create a good final image. You can adjust "exposure" of the RAW file more easily than you can adjust the rest of what makes a good photo (other than cropping).

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Just a snapshot? How snobbish.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I think the problem and the controversy in this thread is that different people have different definitions of what a snapshot is. Even when searching online I found varying definitions. Those of us who use the term snapshot in a way some find incorrect, or even offensive, are using it to define images such as backyard cookouts by those with limited technical skills, and limited understanding of photographic concepts, and composition. Once understanding that, if people still find that offensive, I guess we're still in an America where mediocrity is rewarded and every one gets a trophy for just showing up. Some may find it snobbish, but this is a photography site after all, and we should be striving for excellence not mediocrity.
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ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Still snobbish, if you're implying someone has to study to take a good photo. I'm not in America by the way.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Unless they have natural-born compositional skills an understanding of the use of light, and an understanding of basic photographic concepts, studying is exactly what they have to do if they wish to improve their photography. Photography is a craft, it's a craft that requires skills that need to be developed. There's no magic bullet. Anyone can take a crappy picture. If you strive for better than that you have to work at it. People who do not want to put in the effort to understand and develop their photographs.skills are not photographers, they are weekend snapshot shooters.

BebuLamar

I shoot in manual most often and sometimes in aperture priority and I would never use the full AUTO mode. With that said, if someone can make good photographs that is all is matter. How the person did it doesn't matter. You can call something a snapshot or not but you must determine that by judging the photograph and not the method with which the photographer took it.

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

This kind of snobbery really is something I don like about these forums. It's very judgemental.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Of course it is judgemental. This is a photography site. We should expect our members to actually have an interest in photography. I am a member of at least a half a dozen other photography websites. On each and every one of them the members strive for excellence.

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

It's a forum. Photography is my hobby. By your reasoning, my photos are only snapshots because I've never taken a course.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

That's not what I said. Studying is not just about taking courses, although it could be. Out of curiosity I actually took a couple of extension courses in photography a number of years back but they spent far more time on post-processing then they did on actually learning the art of taking pictures. Studying is reading, viewing videos, talking to others and asking questions, and more than anything else practice, practice, practice. Hours and hours and hours of reading and practicing. Practice all the things that you read and learned about, all the concepts you've heard about. As I said photography is a craft, and it takes effort and time to develop one's skills, like any other craft. Some people are naturally born with an artistic eye, and understand the use of light and understand composition naturally. For the rest of us we need to learn it. Those who do not have the interest to take the time or effort to learn it are not photographers. Just pushing a button on a camera, even an expensive one, doesn't make you one.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

No. That is not what was said. As a Brit I can legitimately ask if you comprehend English.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Most likely.

But that isn’t the cause/effect. The effect is caused by lack of skill. If you obtained skill otherwise, e.g. apprenticeship under a professionl or extensive reading and feedback from professionals, then you might have gained skill that way.

No way for us to know.