Snapshot (photography)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Snapshots often capture memorable moments with family in imperfect images. In this case, glare weakens the image and exposes the photographer.

A snapshot is a casual photograph taken without any particular pre-arrangement, often of everyday events or sightseeing excursions. Snapshots are often imperfect or considered amateurish and may be out of focus or poorly framed or composed. However, snapshots document moments in life more "truthfully"; that is, the photos tend to be more spontaneous and unstaged.

The snapshot concept was introduced by Eastman Kodak with its Brownie box camera around 1900. Kodak encouraged families to buy the Brownie to capture the emotion of the moment, not the art of a perfect image. Kodak advertising still encourages consumers to "celebrate the moments of your life" and find a "Kodak moment."

The "snapshot camera" tradition continues with inexpensive point-and-shoot digital cameras that fully automate flash, ISO, focus, shutter speed, and other functions, making the shooting of a good-quality image simple. Such cameras are typically programmed to achieve a deep depth of field and high shutter speed so that as much of the image is in focus as possible. For expert photographers, who are better able to control the focus point, the use of shallow depth of field often achieves more pleasing images by blurring the background and making the subject stand out.

See also: Snapshot aesthetic; Vernacular photography

This photography-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.