Informal photographs taken quickly and spontaneously, or brief summaries of situations at particular moments.
Compound of 'snap' (quick action) + 'shot' (photograph). Coined with the development of portable cameras in the 1890s that allowed quick, informal photography without elaborate setup.
The term 'snapshot' revolutionized photography by suggesting anyone could capture moments instantly, democratizing what was once a formal, professional art. The metaphorical use for 'brief summary' shows how photography concepts entered general language.
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