Is It a Snapshot or Photograph?
Suppose you post an image to Instagram. If I comment, “Great photo,” you will probably feel pleased. If I comment, “Great snapshot,” you will possibly feel offended. The term snapshot is often used as an insult. Even if it is not intended to be an insult, it is likely to be perceived as one. Sometimes it is used as an excuse. If a photographer is embarrassed with a photo, the explanation might be “It’s only a snapshot.”
Most of us dearly want to avoid taking snapshots. Just exactly what are they?
Often a descriptor of snapshots is that they are taken by amateurs or they are amateurish. This does not do justice to the legions of truly excellent photographers who choose to not monetize their art. It is also true that amateurs don’t corner the market on technically poor photographs. But I do think that poor technical quality is one reasonable criterion to land a picture in the snapshot category. If a photo is poorly exposed, out of focus or poorly framed then it probably is rightfully categorized as a snapshot.
Photo. You can see deliberate composition. I think it is also fairly easy to understand my intent when I took this photo.
Snapshot. I rarely shoot without any intent. In this case I was looking for both bicycles and people sitting. I was using that search to help limit what was feeling like an overwhelming number of choices. However, there is no apparent intent for the viewer. This is truly a snapshot.
Another common descriptor of snapshots is that it was made by a cheap camera, most likely a small point and shoot, which is set on auto exposure. Gosh, I wish that having an expensive camera was a failsafe way to never take a snapshot. I have surely taken my fair share of snapshots using my Olympus or my Ricoh. I know of some truly excellent mobile phone camera-toting street photographers who can school us on how effective automatic exposure settings can be. As the technology improves over the entire price range of cameras, it is getting harder to identify the camera as the differentiator of quality photography. Furthermore, cameras are getting smaller and smaller. I don’t think a snapshot is about the camera that took it. I certainly don’t think it is about the size of the camera.
Photo. Often my intent is to get photos of unusual characters or groups. It was a fairly challenging task to separate this group out of the masses.
Snapshot. Whenever I see people dancing on Broadway I try to catch that enthusiasm and joie de vivre. I often do not succeed. I certainly did not succeed here.
We sometimes describe “snapping” a photo as the way we make snapshots. The implication is that the photo was taken quickly. That criterion is really funny to me and, I assume, to the sports photographers and other street photographers of the world. We aspire to perfect timing which necessarily requires that we are very fast in taking our shots. Perhaps a better descriptor of a snapshot is that it was taken spontaneously.
Photo. I found this to be a tender scene on the subway, although she is peeking at her phone.
Snapshot. I recorded a woman who was wearing interesting, for me, clothing.
The final, and I think the crucial issue, is artistic intent. Was the photo thoughtfully composed or was it taken without any planning? Was the photographer intentional? Did he or she have something to say? Does the shot record a scene instead of interpret the scene? Have choices been made, like depth of field, when the image was taken? Is this just a single shot or part of a body of work? Has attention been given to every element in the frame or is it just about the subject?
Snapshots have their place. They can bookmark memories, for example, of family activities and travel. Photos are part of the art community.