| Types of Automobile Snapshots per Taxonomy by James Paster |
| Gallery Collected by Jeffrey Sward |
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James Paster, in the article ""The Snapshot, the Automobile, and The Americans," presents a compelling taxonomy for snapshots of automobiles. [1] The snapshot is motivated by the simple wish to record and preserve mundane details of life and times. The snap shooter inevitably centers the subject while casually composing the rest of the snapshot by any convenient mechanical or optical means.
The following is the Paster's taxonomy of the five types of automobile snapshots:
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| Type |
Subject |
Automobile as |
Notes |
| 1 |
The automobile alone |
Achievement |
Automobile is main subject |
| 2 |
Automobiles in the background |
Ubiquitous presence |
Main subject of the photograph is something other than automobiles; automobiles occur incidentally; automobiles are unavoidable |
| 3 |
People arriving and leaving |
Potential mobility |
Automobile as instrument, conveyance, tool; doors or trunk open |
| 4 |
Automobiles in motion |
Freedom |
Taken from inside the automobile; through windows, other passengers, etc. |
| 5 |
People by the automobile |
Status |
Go-stand-by-the-car portrait, groups or individuals |
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Snapshot analysts have historically gathered personal collections of snapshot through estate sales, garage sales, or thrift stores. However, the creation of the internet has dramatically improved access to a wide variety of snapshots through image browsers. The following examples of each type of automobile snapshot are presented as culled from public sources.
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| [1] Paster, James. ""The Snapshot, the Automobile, and The Americans." Roadside America: the Automobile in Design and Culture. Editor Jan Jennings. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1990. |
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| Type 1 The automobile alone (achievement) [automobile is main subject] |
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| Type 2 People arriving and leaving (potential mobility) [automobile as instrument, conveyance, tool; doors or trunk open] |
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| Type 3 Automobiles in motion (freedom) [taken from inside the automobile - through windows, other passengers, etc.] |
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| Type 4 Automobiles in the background (ubiquitous presence) [main subject of the photograph is something other than automobiles; automobiles incidentally; automobiles unavoidable] |
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| Type 5 People by the automobile (status) [go-stand-by-the-car portrait, groups or individuals] |
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