Is it "Foto" or "Photo"? [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

cdifoto

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 18:55

fotografi to stand out from the crowd in English.
fotografia in italian, portuguese, spanish
fotographie in german

In other words: it depends on the language.

c2thew

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 18:57

I understand that some spanish people say "foto" but is it purely marketing forces that propogate this word? It just irks me every time i see the word foto. but hey, if it increases sales.... why not right? it makes sense for those who didn't learn english as their primary language.

cdifoto

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 19:10

It sounds the same no matter how it's spelled.

It's pretty cool to know I can irk you just by posting to a thread you're reading though. :D

Guapo

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 20:08

You get irked that different languages have different spellings of similar words? I pity you.

cdifoto

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 20:13

You get irked that different languages have different spellings of similar words? I pity you.
I have to use my pity sparingly. I don't have a very large supply of it.

SkipD

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 20:27

What I get irked about every time I see them here are the terms "photog" and "tog", stupid abbreviations of "photographer". I am neither a "photog" or a "tog".

yogestee

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 20:55

Photography = Greek for "drawing with light"
Photo = shortened
Foto = marketing

Yep,,this is the original spelling and meaning.. Indo-European languages like Italian, German, Spanish etc don't have "ph" in the language unless it's been adapted from another language.. Any word with "ph" in it has been adapted from the Greek..

The word "foto" is used in German, Italian, Spanish and probaly most Indo-European languages except English..

yogestee

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 20:57

What I get irked about every time I see them here are the terms "photog" and "tog", stupid abbreviations of "photographer". I am neither a "photog" or a "tog".

Geezus Skip,,I shudder everytime I read or hear phototog or tog.. It's a blot on the English language and an insult to the craft/profession of photography..

It must be stamped out now!!!

Digital_zen

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 21:35

Calicajun

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 22:06

I thought it came from the old FotoMat drive through film stores.:lol:

advaitin

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 22:20

I've been around the business long enough to be retired. 'Tog is just internet shorthand--saves a few keystrokes--natural shortening of photog'. But a bunch of folks I know and with whom I am joined in association, refer to themselves as PJs, instead of the long form photojournalist, or shooters. Naturally, some other friends of mine, engaged in quite a different profession, consider themselves shooters, too, and more effective ones--if you prefer a kill to a capture.

Why get uptight over a name.

c2thew

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 23:07

it's not that i get uptight about it, it's that some companies such as kodak purposely use foto to differentiate themselves?

tonylong

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 23:10

it's not that i get uptight about it, it's that some companies such as kodak purposely use foto to differentiate themselves?

As does iFoto, but I don't see that as anything to waste my energy about:)!

_aravena

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 23:22

I understand that some spanish people say "foto" but is it purely marketing forces that propogate this word?

I read this and wonder if you were really that dense and uneducated. I still don't have an answer. Stupid foreigners and their language right?

20droger

17th of August 2009 (Mon), 23:34

Just do what I do. Completely ignore anyone who bastardizes the language out of laziness (posters) or for commercial gain (Kodak, etc.) Let them do their thing. It's their right. Just let them do it completely without me.

Why do I do this? Because I love English.

Does it hurt them? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But ask me if I care.

It hurts posters when I have knowledge they need and I won't share with them. If one wants advice from me, one must refrain from treating me with disrespect.

It hurts commercial enterprises when some other company gets my hard-earned cash simply because they chose to be "cutesy" or, as I prefer to think of it, insulting. There are many companies with whom I shall not do business simply because I find their advertising and/or marketing offensive.

yogestee

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 00:05

I read this and wonder if you were really that dense and uneducated. I still don't have an answer. Stupid foreigners and their language right?

Everyone is a foreigner to someone, somewhere..

_aravena

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 00:08

It was sarcasm man. I'm Chilean...but yeah.

tonylong

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 00:09

Everyone is a foreigner to someone, somewhere..

Hey, Jurgen, I represent that statement:)!

gcflora

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 00:16

Lots of info to debate about here:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/foto

:D

yogestee

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 00:23

Hey, Jurgen, I represent that statement:)!

Me to Tony.. Check out where I live..

yogestee

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 00:26

How about "fotog" ?
I use the terms photog and tog, I for one am proud to be a tog.
If people using shortened versions of words really upsets you that much, then perhaps you should think about whether you might be taking yourself too seriously.

"Tog" or togs is the Australian term for men's swimming trunks.. I just don't want to be associated with anything hanging or being in contact with male genitalia..

c2thew

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 00:57

so fotographie is lyke awsum!

ok no more ranting. i see it is much like tomatoh, tomato. as long as people understand what the message is, than all is well with the rainbows and unicorns. night

timmyeatchips

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 06:28

"Tog" or togs is the Australian term for men's swimming trunks.. I just don't want to be associated with anything hanging or being in contact with male genitalia..

Then I guess you wouldn't appreciate 'fishtog' when you were the official photographer... =D

RDKirk

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 07:13

"Tog" or togs is the Australian term for men's swimming trunks.. I just don't want to be associated with anything hanging or being in contact with male genitalia..

"Togs" used to be slang in the US for "clothing," although I think we both get it by way of the Brits.

Then, there is "thong" which used to be a term in the US for "flip-flops" but now means something else.

advaitin

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 08:15

"Tog" or togs is the Australian term for men's swimming trunks.. I just don't want to be associated with anything hanging or being in contact with male genitalia..

That covers a lot of territory, including vaginas.

20droger

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 09:43

Okay, you guys are officially weird.

nphsbuckeye

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 12:58

That covers a lot of territory, including vaginas.
I don't think I've heard that one before here.

tommykjensen

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 14:30

And where did the idea of "foto" come about?

In danish foto = photo.

advaitin

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 14:54

I don't think I've heard that one before here.

Female genitalia--would that work?

nemo man

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 14:56

In Welsh it might be ffoto.

CyberDyneSystems

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 15:19

...

It hurts commercial enterprises when some other company gets my hard-earned cash simply because they chose to be "cutesy" or, as I prefer to think of it, insulting. There are many companies with whom I shall not do business simply because I find their advertising and/or marketing offensive.

I'm usually not too worried about these things, however, in my neck of the woods it is unusually popular for shop owners to decide that whatever they are selling, it somehow needs to have some form of "old New England" flavor in the title, and thus a large percentage of the Shops around here are "Shoppe" ... or sometimes even "Shoppee"

Now, we aren't talking about just nick-nack stores, one of them I drive by daily is a Window Hardware store!

I have no idea what they think they mean by that, but I can assure you, to date, I have yet to enter such a place.

nemo man

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 15:31

I have no idea what they think they mean by that, but I can assure you, to date, I have yet to enter such a place.

Huh! Even Superman has to buy groceries...:)

superstes

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 16:01

Huh! Even Superman has to buy groceries...:)

From a Window Hardware store ? :D

superstes

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 16:07

Now, we aren't talking about just nick-nack stores, one of them I drive by daily is a Window Hardware store!

I have no idea what they think they mean by that, but I can assure you, to date, I have yet to enter such a place.

Sounds like you don't need to.

You have a great view from your house CDS, you must have good window hardware :D

nemo man

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 16:19

From a Window Hardware store ? :D

Maybe he gets his Kryptonite from there?

superstes

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 17:00

Maybe he gets his Kryptonite from there?

Or eats the glass, at least you did not mention underpants and aliens :rolleyes: :lol:

20droger

18th of August 2009 (Tue), 19:00

Huh! Even Superman has to buy groceries...:)
Yes, but he doesn't have to drink his coffee in the "Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe." Which (assuming the existence of coffee as a beverage when people actually spelled like that), would have been pronounced "The Old Coffee Shop," no matter what the current (mis)spellers might think.

CyberDyneSystems

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 12:17

Sounds like you don't need to.

You have a great view from your house CDS, you must have good window hardware :D

The Fortress of Solitude is decked out with Pella Windows, Pella Patio sliding glass door, and Velux skylights...
All installed in the last two years by me,.

...None of which came from a place claiming to be a "Shoppee" .. see how much business they lost :)

cdifoto

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 12:31

I think I'll name my future studio "Ye Olde Fotographie Shoppee - In Der Back Auf De Haus. An Auforvised Pella Dealer."

20droger

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 12:44

Just a thought.

Maybe it's neither "photo" nor "foto," but rather "pfoto," as in "Price Pfister."

"Ye Olde Pfotograpfie Studiou" has a certain charm. What kind of charm,exactly I refuse to say.

cdifoto

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 12:45

Just a thought.

Maybe it's neither "photo" nor "foto," but rather "pfoto," as in "Price Pfister."

"Ye Olde Pfotograpfie Studiou" has a certain charm. What kind of charm,exactly I refuse to say.
Or "Pfizer Pfarmasuetickles"

20droger

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 12:58

Of course, this whole thread is nonsense. It's "photo" if you're speaking English. Period.

One might as well ask "Is it 'camera' or 'kamera'?"

Yes, I know. Some people type it as "foto." They're in the same crowd as those who type "gr8" instead of "great." I don't know what that is, but it isn't English.

Like the person who sent me a resumé that included the term "lol," and couldn't understand why he didn't get the job. Or the one who dotted all her "i" characters with little hearts. Very professional! Bound to impress.

cdifoto

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 12:59

20droger

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 13:07

My business name is CDI Fotografi. But I provide photography services. Yeah. It's a marketing thing. But it works. My website header stands out in the sea of "photographer/photography/photograph"s. It also shows creativity.

Besides, CDI Photography just looks stupid.
A trade name is something else entirely.

First, it's a proper noun. A proper noun is correctly spelled any way the originator/user so chooses.

Second, If you wished to use it as a trademark, you would probably have trouble getting the normal word "photography" approved.

Third, the spelling looks foreign, which gives you a certain air of mystery and artistry. Except, of course, to those of us who know you are as mysterious as an old pair of slippers.

Oh, yeah. You mean you provide photographic services. "Photography" is a noun.

cdifoto

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 14:09

Hey, I never said I provide proofreading services. :D

oaktree

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 16:50

foto probably propigated because of some lazy people wanting to shorten "ph"...

Same reason "phish" was changed to "fish". :)

yogestee

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 19:52

My business name is CDI Fotografi. But I provide photography services. Yeah. It's a marketing thing. But it works. My website header stands out in the sea of "photographer/photography/photograph"s. It also shows creativity.

On US based websites this may be the case but in Europe your business name wouldn't stand out,,it would be as common as the next business which uses Fotografi.

CJinAustin

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 20:15

I'm the type of tog who thinks other fotogs should be able to spell foto any way they please.

cdifoto

19th of August 2009 (Wed), 20:22

On US based websites this may be the case but in Europe your business name wouldn't stand out,,it would be as common as the next business which uses Fotografi.
Yeah. Lucky for me I'm in the US. The European allure is partly why I chose it.