"Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph." - 365 Project, Day 39

As is wont to happen, some people distinguish between photographs and snapshots.  The best example I can use to explain the difference is the distinction between a film and a movie.  A film is something deep, meaningful and tries to teach or say something about humanity or society.  A movie is something Hollywood produces to make money and serves solely as entertainment, while trying very little (or at all) to say something deeper than, say, aliens trying to take over the world and people trying to stop said aliens.

Keeping the comparison in line, a photograph would be something that would convey a feeling or a message.  As an example, perhaps seeing a homeless person asking for money on the street while, in the background, people are eating expensive meals in a very posh restaurant.  A snapshot, by comparison, would be taking a picture, say, of kids playing around a fountain.

Assuming then, that photographs and snapshots are different (given this definition), is a good photograph more valuable, more important than a good snapshot?

Films may say something deeply emotional, but they're generally not seen by many people.  Movies are potentially seen by millions of people, and bring a lot of enjoyment to those millions of people, even if they don't try to enlighten them.  They both have their uses.  Though snapshots may not mean much to other people, you know their context.  They bring back good emotions and make you smile based on your recollection of them.  Photographs can say something deep about humanity, but they may also be pretty depressing, which is not very enjoyable for some people.  Their message may also be pretty esoteric and not understood by some people.  Again, both of these have their uses and one is not necessarily more important than the other.  

This, of course, is all contingent on whether you distinguish between photographs and snapshots.

Let's take a look at today's, uh, pictures.

Frank

His note: Seems like these things are getting to be archaic .

Mandy

Her note: Fajitas. Om nom nom.

Shannon

Her note: While waiting for the bus this morning I turned around and saw my shadow. Thank god my legs aren't really that long!

Pat

My note: Nothing particularly special.  Just a brick wall I saw while walking home.

The weekend starts tomorrow, though I work.  I will hopefully get a picture of something more interesting than work.