Caedes

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Not a snapshot

::third_eye
08/30/07 10:15 PM GMT
I thought I'd upload a photo of a young boy (my friend's son) in an attempt to demonstrate the difference between a portrait, or other type of purposeful photo, as opposed to a "snapshot".

This isn't an open invitation to cannibalize one another, but to learn, to share, and perhaps, grow and teach. I'd like to hear from any and all, whether you agree, or not, and let's see what conversation this fosters.

let's start here
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::Hottrockin
08/30/07 10:24 PM GMT
Snapshot ala crop ehh??!!

That'd be like me postin' a pic of myself pickin' my nose or sumpin'!! 8~O

Diggin' deep...well, no it's not a wallpaper image so I agree. It's still just a photo of a kid eatin' watermelon and I see no real technical component to the piece via shading, lighting, color, selective focus, yadda, yadda, yadda. I've got tons like that too I'm sure...you wanted to know thoughts though.

~bites Rob's leg~

Ugh...needs salt!! 8~X
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Why do the pictures come out square when the lens is round?? Picture Purrrfect .
.alexis518
08/30/07 10:49 PM GMT
I left a comment at savoring the last morsels and I offer this. A good photograph or a snap?
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Much of the beauty in life is found in people who care.
::third_eye
08/30/07 10:51 PM GMT
Actually, there was an intentional focus on his face, specifically his eyes. Color, lighting, and other aspects such as gamma levels had been adjusted for a more natural feel. As forthe photo itself...yes, it's a photo of a kid eating watermelon. but then, so is this . see a difference?

aside from the technical adjustments, a difference lies in the composition, and subject matter as well. one is, well, just a kid (baby, actually). the other is too, but the photo isn't just "the kid" but it's about more. it's about his expression, and all of the intent and symbolism behind it. those types of things take a photo out of the snapshot classification, as I see it.

Next contestant....
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::J_272004
08/31/07 2:39 AM GMT
I would have loved to see the one that you class as a "Snapshot" cropped the way you did to the one on here, the eyes would draw you right into the pic.. but thats beside the point..

The pic you posted on here is a lovely portrait,there isn't anything around the child that distracts you.. it all focuses on the face.. you've captured his enjoyment of that delicious watermelon very well..
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MY GALLERY ........... "Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece"
.purmusic
08/31/07 2:39 AM GMT
Back up the truck ... I's confused. :o|

What about the images offered up by alexis518?

Even the one you point to above me Rob, if the background did not include the women's legs ... could be fixed in PS ... I would like it that much more.

Yours has more of an editorial feel ... much stronger visually in that regard ... on that note I would respectfully disagree with Randy ... I see merit in that facet as mentioned ... the flikr image is still a rather endearing shot of concentration, to my eyes anyways.

And just scanning your comments above ... I could see the second part being applicable to alexis's second example of the girls. There seems to be a connection within the composition with the girls' collective gazes.

I have no complaints against any of them, really ... lol. Alright, save the flikr one, if posted as is.
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"Sometimes me think what is love, and then me think love is what last cookie is for. Me give up the last cookie for you." - Cookie Monster
.alexis518
08/31/07 1:22 PM GMT
Thanks, Les, that truck sort of just slammed by. Another example here, this one fom Paul Gerritsen. A snapshot or a good photo? I think because of the emotions and the capture of action, that this is much more than a snap.
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Much of the beauty in life is found in people who care.
::Shewolfe
08/31/07 3:43 PM GMT
Personally, I think the only photo not a 'snap shot' so far in this thread is the first one.
It just seems more of a study type really..I can't find the words I want right now (overdone it today), but thats how I find them.
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Crazy doesn't even begin to cover it..
&Crusader
08/31/07 8:53 PM GMT
To me the first image is definitely not a snapshot. Lot's of thought/work went into the composition (even if it's been cropped after the fact). There's one central subject and the image tries to convey something.

The second image ("Faces of innocence") also isn't a snapshot, although it possibly tends to lean much closer to a snapshot than any of the others. There's quite a bit of improvement that could have been done to make the image a more "artistic" portrait. With worse composition, lighting etc. I'd start to view it as a snapshot.

"Dont Worry, be happy" is not a snapshot. Once again lots of effort/thought has gone into composition, usage of lighting and subject matter.

The Flickr image is most definitely a snapshot.

These images do, however, have a limited appeal as wallpapers, but given the fact that artistic images are also appreciated, they definitely have their place.

Basically when I need to decide whether an image is a snapshot or not I look at:
1. Subject matter
2. Thought/effort taken to compose/create the image
3. Presentation (composition,framing etc.)

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::Hottrockin
08/31/07 11:08 PM GMT
~wakes up in a daze~

What the hell ran me over, a Mac truck??

A kid eatin' watermelon...snappy shot sir!!

8~P

~hugz Rob~

Let's go grab a beer dude!!
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Why do the pictures come out square when the lens is round?? Picture Purrrfect .
::third_eye
09/01/07 4:11 PM GMT
Ok, I see I need to clariify a couple of things.

Firstly, in case anyone didn't realize, both the post here, and the snapshot, are both mine. I took them with the same camera (D200) on the same evening, within 10 minutes of one another.

The Caedes post I took my time setting up, did a quick circle-around to find the best angle, and was deliberate in my shot selection.

Then for the second shot, I just walked up to child #2, a different friend's son, and just *pop* took the picture.
That, in and of itself, to me, was the defining snapshot/non-snapshot action.

Ok, now for the second clarification. Alexis, no slight whatsoever was intended. If you look at our post times, you'll see what happened. My comments were in response to Randy's, not yours. Your portrait is actually quite effective, and touching. Other than the lobotomy prep done to the older girl(D'OH! :P) there isn't much else, other than technical adjustments, I could find fault with. I'd stop short of calling it a snapshot.

Now to answer Les, Jacqueline, and everyone else. The Flickr image was taken, purposely as a snapshot. That's why the woman (his aunt) appears in the background. While yes, his expression is a charming one, so are the expressions on thousands (millions?) of kids in snapshots taken every day. Also, the lack of a crop, or for that matter, any editing, establishes it as a snapshot.

The Caedes post, on the other hand, was, from it's moment of creation, never a snap, nor was it intended to be. It was selected, and once taken, carefully edited for coloring, sharpness, etc. That I cropped it was to further the effect, not to create it. Here is a copy of the original shot, and perhaps you'll see what I mean.

Hopefully, I've now demonstrated and explained the difference between a snapshot, regardless of subject matter, and an artistically created photo. I'm not an expert, and I'm not attempting to pass myself off as one. As a member of this community, I'm just trying to, as I wrote in my opening post, learn, share, grow, and teach.
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&Crusader
09/01/07 5:34 PM GMT
Well, Rob, I think you succeeded nicely. The point I was trying to get across in my reply (I might have failed) that the main difference between a snapshot and a good photo is the amount of thought and effort that went into it's creation.

If someone takes the time to properly compose, use lighting, framing etc. then that image is not a snapshot regardless of the fact that it might be a photo of a "flower", "dog" or even a "kid eating a watermelon" :P.

Of course there's no guarantee that the image will make it into the perms or get a massive C-index, but it definitely deserves its time on the site.

Snapshots however don't belong... unless they are from clueless newbies trying to learn something... and are actually open to suggestions and feedback from people that are more experienced than them.
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::third_eye
09/01/07 5:56 PM GMT
Whew! someone got it. hopefully everyone else will too, now.
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I'm not better than you, I'm just challenging you to be better than me.

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