Why, hello there. I am so happy to meet you!
Allow me to introduce myself. I am the new Worth1000. Is this your first time meeting the new me? We should get reacquainted then. So many things are different about me now. Come and learn more :).
- Topics & Arenas
- # All
- # Effects
- # Illustration
- # Multimedia
- # Photography
- foto Adv. Photo
- fotot Tm Photo
- fotob Beg. Photo
- fotoh HxH Photo
- # Writing
- # Community
- # Corporate
- Recently visited
- foto Adv. Photo
- # All
- fx Adv. Effects
I did ask this in "Contact us" about 4 days ago but haven't had a reply so I've decided to ask the forums.
What's considered a snapshot?
So I ask, what's classed as a snapshot exactly?
[Edited by Moderator on 11/7/2009 2:05:16 AM]
[Edited by Moderator on 11/7/2009 2:05:43 AM]
(Please do not discuss contests that are open for voting.)
A snapshot is considered an image that seems to have been shot without consideration for background, composition and/or aesthetic value.
This is a subjective viewpoint, and will differ from person to person. Often the photographer may well have given thought to composition and/or backgrounds, etc. and despite this, others may still think it appears to be a quick grab shot.
Generally, if the shot appears to have been taken and processed in a hurry and isn't thought to exhibit evidence of forethought and planning, it is deemed to be in this category.
Possibly the best way to think about whether your image would be classed this way is to consider whether it would have meaning or value to anyone else but you. Snapshots often don't have wider appeal than for those who know the subjects, or who were at the scene on the day. And often for the participants and photographer, they have extremely special significance and it is therefore hard to see that others may not feel the same level of attachment to the image.
Images that are deemed to be snapshots are less tolerated in the Advanced section contests.
I urge you not to be discouraged if you have received this kind of criticism on one of your images. Criticism is a good way to learn about what others see in an image.
Am I correct that you can ask for a private critique in the critics corner before a contest has closed for entree?
kimbomac said
(Please do not discuss contests that are open for voting.)
Oh, sorry about that!
And thanks for the info, I'll keep that in mind when I'm entering any advanced (Or beginner) contests next time :)
I must admit that I wondered a bit what exactly are are classed as 'snapshots' when I first came on worth. In a short space of time I realized I had spent 30 odd years taking snapshots!
I would say this. There are a lot of simple things that can be done to make images better, little rules that an experienced photographer would never ignore. Examples: a lake that slopes, a distracting element to one side that could have easily been cropped out, point of focus on a secondary element rather than the subject, not respecting basic composition rules etc etc. The list is long.
Trouble is that these things are, to a certain extent, subjective. Look at photos from famous photographers and it is easy to find examples were they break these rules. The difference is that good photographers only occasionally break the rules here or there, and when they do it is in situations were it does not really matter or were it actually enhances the image. The snapshot, on the other hand, has a complete disregard for the rules and this has a detrimental effect on the image, it could easily have been much better.
The best way to learn these basic rules is in beginners contests. When we vote on these we assume that submitter is wanting to learn the basics and any contravention of basic rules has been done through lack of experience, not for deliberate effect, and as such you will find explicit comments such as "perhaps better rotated a bit to the left" etc. In advanced contests comments you kind of assume that a "mistake" has been left deliberately for effect, and hence the comment may be far more cryptic and less informative, such as "the composition does not really work for me", which is not that helpful to a beginner.
So the short answer is, enter lots of beginner contests, read the comments, apply them on successive entries, and you will soon learn what is a snapshot and how to avoid taking them ;-)
