Snapshots and Photographs

Some new to the business ask others if their work is art. An individual may ask if their work is good enough to be on a Print on Demand website for example. Others may answer them with a critique. The uploaded image may have issues such as a small number of pixels, cropping issues, etc. If someone is questioning whether or not their art is good enough then a Print on Demand site may not be the right place for their work. Their art may need time to evolve. Once the work has evolved then a certain confidence may be discovered.

Quality aside, some may offer comments as to the content of the image. One such criticism I have read refers to some photos as snapshots. A snapshot is assumed to be a photograph taken without preparation and possibly with basic photography equipment (e.g. smartphone). I contend that if an image is a snapshot that makes it no less artful than something that took preparation and extensive equipment.

Art is created when marks are made with the intent of conveying a message. In this case, marks are made via light and equipment. Art is simply a visual language. That being said, there is both good art and not so good art. This is where judgment should come into play. Picture 3 snapshots on the table. One is good, one is bad and one is mediocre. Now picture 3 photographs on the table. One is good, one is bad and one is mediocre. I am likely to prefer the good snapshot and the good photograph to the others. I may actually prefer the good snapshot over the good photograph. The point being that there are many elements to an image beyond its preparation and equipment. Ultimately, it is the photographer who makes a successful image.

Before you put something on a Print on Demand website you might ask yourself if you made a successful image. You can ask yourself a few pointed questions: Does the image convey meaning? Is there anything in the image that distracts from the intent? Is there anything that could be done to make this image better?

I hope we can get beyond labels and continue to speak in terms of what makes a successful and a non-successful image. A great snapshot may be worth a thousand and one words.