Difference between a Photo and a Snap?
Discussion
Howdy all
Whilst looking through other canon forums I was looking at some wedding photos some bloke posted, he had a 40 or 50d with a 50mm 1.4 lens and I was quite impressed with the pictures..
One of the comments he had was along the lines of 'They are more snaps than photos'
I was puzzled by this but had a look back and out of the 5 I saw one piccie of the grandma + sister which wasn’t as nice as the rest.
So what constitutes a photo over a snap?
I am asking to help me progress and what to look for, I have been looking at composure/lighting etc but this kind of flummoxed me a bit
I'll see if I can find the post
Many thanks
Andy
Whilst looking through other canon forums I was looking at some wedding photos some bloke posted, he had a 40 or 50d with a 50mm 1.4 lens and I was quite impressed with the pictures..
One of the comments he had was along the lines of 'They are more snaps than photos'
I was puzzled by this but had a look back and out of the 5 I saw one piccie of the grandma + sister which wasn’t as nice as the rest.
So what constitutes a photo over a snap?
I am asking to help me progress and what to look for, I have been looking at composure/lighting etc but this kind of flummoxed me a bit
I'll see if I can find the post
Many thanks
Andy
I would have said they're all photo's regardless, however a snap is just - point and click, with no thought to composition, lighting or how to photograph the subject in question.
Thinking about these and other items (and of course taking the correct action) will lead from a normal photograph to a better photograph.
Thinking about these and other items (and of course taking the correct action) will lead from a normal photograph to a better photograph.
nick_bbb said:
The only difference is snobbery 
No offence, but that's a load of crap.When viewing an image I will not only be looking for technical competence in the image but will also be looking at the artistic and creative side of things. And that is what separates a snap from a photo.
Look at photojournalism images and then look at fine art images. Do you not see a difference?
itsnotarace said:
nick_bbb said:
The only difference is snobbery
No offence, but that's a load of crap.When viewing an image I will not only be looking for technical competence in the image but will also be looking at the artistic and creative side of things. And that is what separates a snap from a photo.
Look at photojournalism images and then look at fine art images. Do you not see a difference?
That's not to say a few of my "snaps" haven't turned out much better than I thought they would!
It also can convey an emotion, some of the most moving photos I've seen aren't actually that great technically, but they move you in a way what just makes you go "wow"
itsnotarace said:
No offence, but that's a load of crap.
When viewing an image I will not only be looking for technical competence in the image but will also be looking at the artistic and creative side of things. And that is what separates a snap from a photo.
Totally agree with you there. When viewing an image I will not only be looking for technical competence in the image but will also be looking at the artistic and creative side of things. And that is what separates a snap from a photo.
itsnotarace said:
nick_bbb said:
The only difference is snobbery
No offence, but that's a load of crap.When viewing an image I will not only be looking for technical competence in the image but will also be looking at the artistic and creative side of things. And that is what separates a snap from a photo.
Look at photojournalism images and then look at fine art images. Do you not see a difference?
I prefer your 'snap' to your photo.
There is only one person that determines whether it's a snap or a photo, (If indeed they feel they need to do so) and that's the one looking at it, NOT the one taking it!
IMHO of course.
GetCarter said:
I prefer your 'snap' to your photo.
There is only one person that determines whether it's a snap or a photo, (If indeed they feel they need to do so) and that's the one looking at it, NOT the one taking it!
IMHO of course.
My gran could have taken that snapThere is only one person that determines whether it's a snap or a photo, (If indeed they feel they need to do so) and that's the one looking at it, NOT the one taking it!
IMHO of course.
She could not have taken the photo
Therein lies the difference
Yet the Tom Charlton 'snap' is better to my eye. Go Figure!
<<< not looking at technique, like photographers often do.
ETA... oh and if anyone knows the difference between a snap and a photo, perhaps you can tell me which of my latest bunch is which?
http://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon.h...
Always glad to be educated.
<<< not looking at technique, like photographers often do.
ETA... oh and if anyone knows the difference between a snap and a photo, perhaps you can tell me which of my latest bunch is which?
http://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon.h...
Always glad to be educated.
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 10th August 18:37
GetCarter said:
Yet the Tom Charlton 'snap' is better to my eye. Go Figure!
<<< not looking at technique, like photographers often do.
ETA... oh and if anyone knows the difference between a snap and a photo, perhaps you can tell me which of my latest bunch is which?
http://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon.h...
Always glad to be educated.
They all look like excellent photo's to me! Man i would love to photograph a pine martin. i need to go to scotland!<<< not looking at technique, like photographers often do.
ETA... oh and if anyone knows the difference between a snap and a photo, perhaps you can tell me which of my latest bunch is which?
http://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon.h...
Always glad to be educated.
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 10th August 18:37
Working in a photolab i see a hell of a lot of snaps! I think the difference between a snap and a photograph is something that you cannot define, its very much open to opinion and is very subjective. In my opinion if someone has given even a momentary thought to lighting, composition, exposure etc then it becomes a photo. Most snaps record a moment in time, an event, a scene or a person/animal, without being nice to look at.
Edited by jimmy156 on Tuesday 10th August 19:07
I take loads of snaps. Taken as many "photos".
Some of the people on here make art with a camera.
It's judged by how you react to it. If you look at something and experience a strong emotional response it's probably art. If you think "ho hum" and move on it's likely it wasn't.
But since what will produce a strong emotional response is highly subjective?
It's art. Because I say so.
Some of the people on here make art with a camera.
It's judged by how you react to it. If you look at something and experience a strong emotional response it's probably art. If you think "ho hum" and move on it's likely it wasn't.
But since what will produce a strong emotional response is highly subjective?
It's art. Because I say so.
James
If you really 'need' to take a photo of a Pine Marten, then you really need to speak to me!
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Steve
If you really 'need' to take a photo of a Pine Marten, then you really need to speak to me!
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Steve
Thats amazing! They are such characterful animals, they always look like they're up to something 
. Thats some great footage too. I have been planning in my head a trip to Scotland to drive some great roads and do some wildlife photography (Pine Martins, Red Squirrels, Sea Eagles etc, stuff you just don't get down south) but it just hasn't come together yet. Is there a particular time of year you would recommend visiting?
. Thats some great footage too. I have been planning in my head a trip to Scotland to drive some great roads and do some wildlife photography (Pine Martins, Red Squirrels, Sea Eagles etc, stuff you just don't get down south) but it just hasn't come together yet. Is there a particular time of year you would recommend visiting?Edited by jimmy156 on Tuesday 10th August 19:39
jimmy156 said:
Thats amazing! They are such characterful animals, you can just look so cheeky . Thats some great footage too. I have been planning in my head a trip to Scotland to drive some great roads and do some wildlife photography (Pine Martins, Red Squirrels, Sea Eagles etc, stuff you just don't get down south) but it just hasn't come together yet. Is there a particular time of year you would recommend visiting?
Yep . Thats some great footage too. I have been planning in my head a trip to Scotland to drive some great roads and do some wildlife photography (Pine Martins, Red Squirrels, Sea Eagles etc, stuff you just don't get down south) but it just hasn't come together yet. Is there a particular time of year you would recommend visiting?I'll PM you (as in Personal Mail, not Pine Marten!)
Apologies to the OP for the thread hi-jack!
IMHO There are good images and bad images, but we all have different opinions on which are which! I could spend hours setting up a shot with tripod and mahoooosive DOF and it might look good to me, but everyone else in the world might hate it. I might point my camera at my dog in 'idiot' mode, press the shutter, and everyone may love it. If one calls it a snap... who cares.
As with music, the player and the listener both have to like it - the rest is bulls
t. The more people that like it, doesn't make it better though,(see pop music, Big Brother) it's the longer it lasts that determins long term artistic merit (see Brandt, Bach)
Only History judges us.
IMHO There are good images and bad images, but we all have different opinions on which are which! I could spend hours setting up a shot with tripod and mahoooosive DOF and it might look good to me, but everyone else in the world might hate it. I might point my camera at my dog in 'idiot' mode, press the shutter, and everyone may love it. If one calls it a snap... who cares.
As with music, the player and the listener both have to like it - the rest is bulls
t. The more people that like it, doesn't make it better though,(see pop music, Big Brother) it's the longer it lasts that determins long term artistic merit (see Brandt, Bach) Only History judges us.
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 10th August 20:15
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff