Do you allow yourself to just take "snapshots?"

[suecassidy]

I've been a photographer for many, many years and it is only within the last ten years that I've finally given myself permission to take "snapshots." I guess I got sick and tired of the pressure to make EVERY shot a masterpiece and sometimes missing a milestone moment just because I knew I couldn't make an heirloom shot out of it. It really is freeing to allow yourself that latitude. How about you? Don't you love going somewhere where nobody knows that you are a professional, so there are no expectations of anything?

[Rudy M.]

I'm not a pro and shoot snaps all the time--way more now than I did with film because of the free processing. It's easy to delete the junk and show only my best. Sometimes I get lucky and get a number of good shots without planning--just run and gun on full auto so to speak (I mean sequential shooting mode here!) Shoot what is there because it is, and forget about set up--just walk around, check exposure settings, think about tried but true rule of thirds when composing and click away. Delete the trash and savor the best cuts. I don't care about the life of my shutter, batteries are rechargable, memory is cheap and erasable.

[chauncey]

For those of us that only function with the left brain, snapshots are the only way we take pictures. Sometimes we get lucky from dumb luck. That's why we shoot, that occasional dumb luck image.

[gjl711]

Absolutely, what’s wrong with a snapshot. I have a smallish Nikon8700 that comes with me just about everywhere I go. At family functions when I bring all the gear is scares folks away but a compact is more accepted. Besides, at those times I am not trying to capture a masterpiece (as if I ever could ;)) but I am capturing the moment.

[swimchic]

I never used to, but now that I have a baby I do all the time - I even got a P&S (which I never thought I would do) for the diaper bag. I just don't want to miss any cute pictures for the family because I didn't have a "set-up" ready. Plus it's easy for my husband to use. But family time (hanging out, vacations, etc..) is pretty much the only time I do "snapshots"

[ryant35]

I occasionally let myself take a snap shot or two.

I'm usually disappointed in myself when I do since most of the time my horizon isn't even straight.

[kennys350d]

I believe that a "snap-shot" can even be that "million dollar shot", because what is the difference between a snapshot photo vesus a serious photo? Maybe I have to go pro or something to get that answered.

[PacAce]

What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused. :confused:

[RTMiller]

What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused. :confused:
Nothing is different. If it turns out great, it is a photograph. If it is just so-so, it's a snap shot.

Personally, I never set out to take a snap shot, but I do end up taking a lot of them.:D

[gjl711]

What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused. :confused:
Use pop up flash.
Use "P" mode
Don't ask folks to pose.
Don't worry about background.
Don't worry about all the crap on the table or people in back.

It's just a quick click to capture the moment. JMHO ;)

[PacAce]

Use pop up flash.
Use "P" mode
Don't ask folks to pose.
Don't worry about background.
Don't worry about all the crap on the table or people in back.

It's just a quick click to capture the moment. JMHO ;)

I guess I must not take snapshots then, although I thought I did. ;)

[Curtis N]

What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused. :confused:We all have our own definitions. I think all snapshots are photographs, but not all photographs are snapshots.

To me, a snapshot is one captured with little forethought or consideration for how to best capture a scene.

As for gjl711's list, I think it's a little too specific. You can use a pop-up flash in P mode and make wonderful candid shots without asking people to pose, depending on the situation.

But in gross general terms, I think snapshots involve more camera automation and less deliberate control, less attention to background, DOF, lighting, timing and careful composition, vs. other kinds of photographs.

And by this definition, I don't take snapshots. My harddrive has enough useless crap on it already.

I do take a lot of carefully planned, deliberately executed shots that turn out like snapshots. ;)

[Jethro790]

For those of us that only function with the left brain, snapshots are the only way we take pictures. Sometimes we get lucky from dumb luck. That's why we shoot, that occasional dumb luck image.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while!

I take so many snaps it's not even funny. I can take 100 pictures of my dog drinking water in only a minutes time... out of 10,000 shots I may yield less than 10 that I am really proud of. If I didn't take snaps, my keeper ratio would be horrible.

[jmpsmash]

the worst part is sometimes i think and plan for a photo, and then it turns out worse than a P&S snapshot! :D

[bwolford]

I think I allow myself to take a photograph once in a while when I take snapshots. :D

[pos]

Shooting snapshots is fun and no pressure. I was at a friends house and was just taking random shots of their little girl (18 months } just being hersrlf and got a really great shot. I blow it up and mounted it and they just loved it. So taking snapshots you sometimes get lucky. pos

[NBEast]

Us relative beginners get to a point where we're so sick of sifting through carelessly shot photos (ie: snapshots) we start paying more attention to detail for sake of otherwise drowning. I've not even come close to mastering it, but that omnipresent attention-to-detail can get wearing too.

So; I'm hoping for the day that attention-to-detail, proper composition and precisely correct camera settings are so second nature that I would have to force their suppression.

To answer your question - on family outings I do stop "honing my skills" and just use my f4 medium zoom, select "P" mode (or even Auto), center compose everything, use pop-up as flash if needed, and just let the mistakes fly. I still limit the number of photos by simply missing a lot of stuff and not taking 5 shots of the same thing.

[StewartR]

I don't take snapshots. ... I do take a lot of carefully planned, deliberately executed shots that turn out like snapshots. ;)I think I also suffer from this syndrome. Is there a name for it?

[PhotosGuy]

I take snapshots all the time according to the first rule of shooting for pay: "Get SOMETHING on film!"
Then I'll refine it to get something worth being paid for. Even when I'm the only one paying me. :D

[gymell]

I guess it depends on what you mean by snapshot. I try to make my snapshots halfway decent - I'm not going to point my camera and just shoot with my eyes closed in the thought that any shot is better than nothing. I'll still try to make sure it's in focus, keep the horizon level, get the light and background as good as possible, etc. The shot doesn't have to be perfect, but I still want to get something worth looking at. Many snapshots I see from your average P&S shooter have everything crooked, completely out of focus, way overexposed or underexposed, etc. I don't particularly enjoy looking at those types of photos. Of course, I take my share of bad photos too, but I tend to throw them away. Just because it's a snapshot doesn't mean I can't still have some basic standards for it.

[suecassidy]

I suppose what I mean by snapshot is just taking out your camera at an event and snapping away like everyone else tends to do. Resisting the urge to pose people or turn them towards better light, or clean the table in front of them to get rid of distracting elements, or asking them to put their heads together. Nobody else does that, but I used to feel that if I wasn't going to do that, I didn't bother taking a picture at all and then I ended up with no record of the moment, good or otherwise. I didn't want anyone looking at that and thinking "and she calls herself a professional?". I'm over that now and will just "take the shot" like everyone else, perhaps because I feel I've prooved myself in that arena, perhaps I'm just more mature and comfortable, I don't know. I'm still waiting for a picture from my friend, another professional, who's newborn is now 8 weeks old and nobody has seen a photo of her because he is just "too busy". I suspect, truth is, he just can't bring himself to produce anything other than perfection to show people and he doesn't have time to do that. We just want to see what the kid looks like before she starts kindergarten....

[gymell]

Right, I understand that you can't always or don't always want to have people pose, or move stuff out of the way, etc. Not always practical or even possible, and like you say, you may lose the moment. I definitely agree with that. But for a snapshot I'd still make my best effort for all the basics to be there, at a bare minimum be in focus and have the horizon level. Also some steps can be taken to eliminate distraction and/or get more pleasing lighting and composition simply by making small adjustments your own position rather than other people or things. So I think a lot can often be accomplished in a snapshot with minimal effort, still aiming for as high a standard as possible in a given situation, while still recording the moment.

[Mum2J&M]

I personally hate the term "snapshot." To me, it implies no thought went into the photo at all - and I doubt anyone actually sets out to do this, regardless of their skill level.

[gjl711]

I personally hate the term "snapshot." To me, it implies no thought went into the photo at all - ....
Why assume no thought goes into it? How about just a little thought? How about a picture of opportunity, not a picture of composition?

[PhotosGuy]

How about a picture of opportunity, not a picture of composition? For a good example of "opportunity, and composition", check out some of Marie's threads.

[Mum2J&M]

I guess what I was trying to say is that the term "snapshot" has become somewhat of a derrogatory term, rather than just meaning a random picture taken to capture a moment in time. It's often placed opposite "photograph" somehow be-littling it's reputation. For instance, I'll read a statement such as, "That looks more like a snapshot than a photograph," seemingly indicating that it somehow has less value. It's more about the terminology than what someone's intentions are while taking pictures. I have nothing against anyone taking pictures for the sake of taking pictures and not intentionally turning them into works of art. For me personally, I can't control myself and everything must be done with all things considered. It can be really stressful, but it's the way I am. I can't just shut-off the hobbyist in me. ;)

[Moppie]

I personally hate the term "snapshot." To me, it implies no thought went into the photo at all - and I doubt anyone actually sets out to do this, regardless of their skill level.

Iv taken thousands of photos that have had no thought put into them, usualy because Iv had lots of alcahol poored into me :lol::lol:

Nothing wrong with the term snap shot, and nothing wrong with not putting any thought into taking a photo.
I often worry more about capturing the moment, the emotion on someones face, or something that will create a memory, more than I worry about composing the shot, getting the right exposure and focus etc.

Its a simply a matter of seeing an opertunity, snaping the camera up and getting the subject in the viewfinder then snaping the shutter as quickly as possible.
Who cares what the final picture looks like.

Of course I also take lots of photos where the complete opposite happens.



For a good example of "opportunity, and composition", check out some of Marie's threads.


She has to be an absolute master at it!

[Lord_Malone]

You mean, all the gear I own is not solely for snapshots? :(

[Mike R]

This thread makes me want to set the camera to the GREEN BOX and go for a walk.
No filters or tripod or raw processing or...Maybe just quality time with my nifty fifty.

Enjoy the day!

[thekid24]

Yes I still take snapshots. mY nephews and niece are more fun when Im running around chasing them and taking pics...they like it too.