What makes a photograph a photograph?

joshhuntnm

I hope this stimulates some discussion and provides some deeper insight:

What makes a photograph a photograph? What is the difference between a photograph and a snapshot?

~Jan~

I think the difference between a snapshot is all about composition, background, focus, color...and it depends very much on the viewer!

Swartzy

Josh, just so you aren't alarmed (if it happens), Richard may move this to a different thread.

Now, on to your question:

You'll have a different answer from each person who posts....so...I'll be the 2nd to chime in. A photograph is an image one makes. A snapshot is something that captures a moment of time without much regard to the necessary components of "making" something.

To make a photograph, (and IMHO) one needs to grasp which tools to use. Here are the basic pallettes for the photographer/artist: Light, composition (a big word for getting the right elements within the parameters, eliminating things that distract and highlighting the subject), technique, knowledge and of course, a camera of some sort. Planning is key to making a photograph, just as it is with anything of value in life. Sometimes we capture those spontaneous moments but should not be confused with luck nor lack of preparation & knowledge.

Far too often people get caught up in the "tools" and forget about making the photograph. Anybody with extra income can go out and buy a 5D with a 24-70 attached but they'll still take snapshots. Kind of like building a house....doesn't matter if you have Makita/Milwaukee tools...if you don't know how to "make" a house the tools won't be of benefit.

I could go on for an hour...but...I'd better stop.....:D:D:D

Richard

Swartzy wrote:

Josh, just so you aren't alarmed (if it happens), Richard may move this to a different thread.

Yep. I don't want to inhibit discussion, but the People forum is about shots, so I have moved this to The Big Picture.

Regards,

PhilCollum

Swartzy wrote:

A photograph is an image one makes. A snapshot is something that captures a moment of time without much regard to the necessary components of "making" something.

This really sums up my opinions neatly. IMHO there is a distinct difference between "taking a photo" and "making a photo".

But I would also say a photograph is something that is perceived as being made through the knowledge and abilities of the artist. Sometimes the process of making a photo may take hours of setting up equipment, preparing models, waiting for light, and even trial and error. Other times it all happens in a split second. Yet even in the split second, the photograph is made by the artist's recognition of photographic elements (such as light, line, form, frame, color, center of interest, etc.) and his/her application of knowledge and technique to correctly capture those elements. No matter how long that process takes, a photograph is made through the use of those techniques to capture the elements, and the resulting image looks like it was made that way.

I say "perceived as being made" becuase I believe it is possible for a snapshot to be taken by the most novice of amateaurs and end up looking like a something made by an experienced professional. I venture to guess that many of us have seen amateurs capture images that correctly capture all the important elements, yet look at the image hanging in a frame and assume it was captured by a pro. Is it right to still call that image a snapshot, even if you don't know the source? Is it right to call that image a snapshot even when you DO know the source?

Yet at the same time I believe a snapshot is something that is captured with little (if any) thought of photographic elements or techniques, and the resulting image makes that apparent.

I believe its your perception of the elements in the image that makes the difference between a photograph and a snapshot.

PS - Thanks for the fun topic to dig into! I'm sure this will be a fun discussion.

gus

Joy ...power...horror...sorrow...fear...mystery...love...awe..shock... just keep looking up the dictionary.

It needs to stop you in your tracks an make you think about what is in front of you. It must arouse emotion inside you.


.

Richard

Snapshot seems to be a term of derision used by people who (think they) take better shots. I get impatient with attempts to categorize because I think they are often pointless. I think of a snapshot as a pic that may have value to the person who was there but that doesn't mean anything to anyone else. Perhaps there is a continuum from snapshot through photograph to art. But if so, the boundaries are fuzzy.

ziggy53

To me, a great photograph:

Tells a story.
Conveys an emotion.
Captures an important moment.
Captures a significant view.

(Mix and match, any or all of the above.)

In addition a great photo usually has attention to composition and exposure (at least), careful processing and appropriate presentation.

Occasionally, I see something truly wonderful that breaks many of these rules so feel free to create your own version of "greatness".

Angelo

Swartzy wrote:

A photograph is an image one makes. A snapshot is something that captures a moment of time without much regard to the necessary components of "making" something.

and yet a snapsnot is a photograph.

Josh I think you're trying to get to the point of defining "art" within the medium of photography. And since art is subjective how does anyone argue what's good or bad?

As Gus said; "it has to stop you in your tracks...make you think"

David Hockney created huge artworks that consisted of nothing more than snapshots, sometimes polaroid snapshots. But his brilliance in doing so was his ability to envision what 200+ snapshots would look like when assembled as a giant collage. I recall seeing one at the Contemporary Museum that encompassed a wall about 20' x 40'

See here, here, here and here.

Now you may not like Hockney but again art is subjective. I always ask "when's the last time your work has been displayed by museums around the world?"

[Deleted User]

OK, a photograph is a snap shop, it is a split second in time taken with a camera and reflects what the user saw at that moment. From here a small amount of correction can be done to resolve the imperfections of the camera and the user.

A photograph is a piece of art when the picture is taken and radically changed via a lot post processing so that the end result is not what the person saw but what the person felt it should of looked like

Tim

SavedByZero

Angelo wrote:

and yet a snapsnot is a photograph.

Yes and some of the greatest photos from the past were in fact snap shots taken at random.

Angelo

SavedByZero wrote:

Yes and some of the greatest photos from the past were in fact snap shots taken at random.

Exactly!

gus

This may answer some questions...check out this fellas 'commissioned' stuff. Now thats a good eye !!

joshhuntnm

SavedByZero wrote:

Yes and some of the greatest photos from the past were in fact snap shots taken at random.

true. If you line up 100,000 duffers at a par three and have them hit all day, you will occasionally get a hole in one.

silversx80

As mentioned before, A photo captures something significant, a snapshot just captures something.

SavedByZero

Is this a snapshot or photograph??

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/06/nyregion/06kiss.2_span.jpg

(Above Link: Alfred Eisenstaedt, Time-Life/Getty Images)

MOD EDIT: I changed the above posted photo into a link, as this wasn't your photo.

Richard

SavedByZero wrote:

Is this a snapshot or photograph??


(Photo: Alfred Eisenstaedt, Time-Life/Getty Images)

It's a cultural icon, really. But it is also a good example of the distinction I was trying to make earlier: it is a photograph rather than a snapshot because it means so much to so many people.

SavedByZero

Richard wrote:

It's a cultural icon, really. But it is also a good example of the distinction I was trying to make earlier: it is a photograph rather than a snapshot because it means so much to so many people.

Now it is but the day after it was taken did it mean the same to so many??

SloYerRoll

SavedByZero wrote:

Now it is but the day after it was taken did it mean the same to so many??

IMO
Yes, it probably meant more the day after since ppl were still reveling in their returns back from their tours.