The use of both Pictures and Photos is that they help people in preserving and conserving their memories of events, things, and people. They are taken to keep their memory or extraordinary events that happened in the past safe and secure.
Key Takeaways
- A Picture refers to any visual representation of an object, scene, or person, while a photo refers to an image captured with a camera.
- Pictures can be created through drawing, painting, or other artistic methods, while Photos are produced through photographic equipment.
- While Pictures and Photos can be used for artistic expression, Photos are often used to capture memories, document events, and provide visual evidence.
Picture vs. Photo
A picture generally refers to any visual art or graphic representation created by an artist or designer, including drawings, paintings, digital art, illustrations, etc. A photo is a specific type of image that is created by capturing light with a camera.

A Picture represents a visual of an object, a person, or scenery on a flat surface. On the other hand, a Photo represents a visual of any subject on a piece of paper.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Picture | Photo |
---|---|---|
Definition | A picture is a drawing, painting, or artwork created on a computer. A picture also describes anything created with the help of a camera. | Photo is taken with the help of a camera, digital camera, or photocopier. |
Visualization | The picture visually represents any object, person, or scenery on a flat surface. | A photo is a visual representation of any subject on paper. |
Includes | A picture includes drawings, photography, and paintings. | A photo is taken with the help of a camera. |
Type | The picture can refer to all types of visual imagining. | A photo is a type of picture. |
Talent Needed | Creating a picture of something or someone requires a lot of talent and dedication. | Creating a photo only takes a few minutes to create a perfect one. |
What is a Picture?
A picture is a drawing, painting, or artwork created on a computer. A picture visually represents any object, person, or scenery on a flat surface.
A picture is a graphical art that clearly shows what is being represented. Picture is a very old English word derived from the Latin word “pictura,” which means painting.
It was first used in the English language during the 15th century. A picture is also described as anything that is created with the help of a camera or scanner.
A picture is made by hand. Most of them are either drawn or painted.
A picture is an image where some groups of colored points on a flat surface look like an object, a landscape, or a person. A picture of objects, animals, people, scenery, or abstract images can be beautifully created with the help of colors, paints, pens, pencils, digital technology, printing press, and other mechanical and chemical.
A picture can easily refer to all types of visual imagination. Creating a perfect picture of something or someone requires a lot of talent, commitment, and dedication from the artist, as it takes quite a while to make a picture perfect and complete.
A picture is created with the help of light and digital imaging technology after it is taken or recorded on a camera.
Origins of Picture
The origin of the term picture can be traced back to the Latin word “pictura,” meaning a painting or drawing. Throughout history, the concept of a picture has evolved as artists have used various mediums to create visual representations of their surroundings or ideas. In the earliest days, artists employed cave walls and natural pigments to convey their experiences and emotions. As time passed, people developed more sophisticated methods and mediums, including frescoes, mosaics, and oil paintings.
When discussing pictures, it is essential to consider their role in preserving history and transferring knowledge. Early humans documented their lives and passed down stories through pictorial representations. This visual language later gave way to written records, but pictures played a critical role in communication and storytelling.
Picture Technicalities
When it comes to the technical aspects of pictures, there are a few factors you need to consider. First, you need to understand the elements that contribute to the quality of an image:
- Resolution: The amount of detail seen in an image, usually measured in pixels or DPI (dots per inch).
- Color: The balance, saturation, and accuracy of colors in an image, which may vary depending on the medium or device used for viewing.
- Compression: The method used to reduce file size can affect picture quality.
When creating a picture, you must choose the right medium or format to ensure it retains quality across different platforms. For example, while a JPEG image allows for smaller file sizes, it may result in loss of detail due to compression. Formats such as PNG or TIFF are better suited for preserving quality at the expense of larger file sizes.
Picture in Everyday Life
In your everyday life, you might use the term “picture” to refer to various visual representations, such as drawings, paintings, or digital art. This term is versatile and can describe any graphical art that clearly shows the subject being represented, whether it be a person, object, or scenery. You might also use “picture” when referring to images created on a computer since this term can encompass a wider range of visual media.
Picture’s Influence on Society
Pictures profoundly impact society as they hold the power to preserve memories, invoke emotions, and tell stories. They can represent reality or portray constructed narratives, influencing how we perceive events and situations. In addition, pictures can be used to promote ideas, beliefs, and values, playing a significant role in advertising, marketing, and politics.
High-quality images strongly influence the viewer, as they are perceived as more believable, visually appealing, and relevant to the subject matter. The inherent quality of a picture, like brightness, colourfulness, visual balance, and focus, can all contribute to its overall impact on society.

What is Photo?
A photo or a photograph is taken with the help of either a camera, digital camera, or a photocopier. A photo is a visual representation of any subject on paper.
The word Photo (also called Photograph) is a Middle English word that has its roots in the Latin word “pictura,” which means “painting,” has its roots in “pictus” or “painted.
The word Photo was used for the first time in the English language in the decade of 1800s. A photograph is taken with the help of the lens of a camera, and it can be further added to a photographic film, a CCD, or a CMOS chip.
The hands take a photo, but with the help of a camera, it is created and taken. An image is captured with the help of the lens of the camera.
It captures the new visual representation of a photograph, whether it is a person, thing, or scene.
A photo is a type of picture, but the reverse case is not true; that is, a picture is not a type of photo. Creating a perfect photo does not require a lot of talent, commitment, and dedication; it takes only a few minutes to create a perfect and complete photo.
Emergence of Photo
The emergence of photography in the 19th century marked a significant shift in how we perceive and preserve visual information. Invented by Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, the daguerreotype was the first successful photographic process, allowing people to capture accurate and detailed images of their world. This new technology revolutionized how society documented its history, as photographs provided a more objective and realistic representation of events and people.
With the introduction of cameras, photographs quickly became a popular method for capturing memories, scenes, and emotions. These realistic images changed how people perceived art, as they challenged the traditional role of painters and their subjective interpretations of reality. The development of photographic techniques and materials continuously improved, allowing for wider distribution and accessibility.
Photo Technicalities
As for the technical aspects of photography, several factors contribute to a high-quality photograph:
- Exposure: The amount of light entering the camera lens, which can be controlled through shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. Correct exposure ensures that your final image has a balanced brightness and sufficient detail in highlights and shadows.
- Focus: The sharpness of an image is determined by adjusting the lens to capture the desired subject.
- Depth of field: The distance range within a scene that appears acceptably sharp. Adjusting aperture can change the depth of field, allowing you to isolate the subject from the background or keep the entire scene in focus.
- White balance: Adjusting the color temperature to achieve a balanced, natural color palette, eliminating any color casts from various light sources.
Photo in Everyday Life
On the other hand, the term “photo” specifically refers to images captured by a camera. Daily, you would most likely use the word “photo” to describe an image taken with a digital or traditional film camera. This can include photos of yourself, friends and family, events, or even landscapes. When discussing images captured using a camera, you would be most accurate in using the term “photo” rather than “picture.”
Photo’s Influence on Society
Photos, a specific picture captured by a camera, hold immense power in shaping our society. They document history, capture fleeting moments, and convey authentic emotions. Photojournalism has played a vital role in political communication, war coverage, sports events, and other newsworthy subjects, effectively shaping our understanding of global and local events.
Moreover, photography has the ability to strengthen our connections with loved ones. Family portraits, vacation snapshots, and candid moments all serve to preserve memories and emotions. Photos can evoke empathy, inspire change, and raise awareness, demonstrating their significance in personal and public spheres.

Main Differences Between Picture and Photo
- A Picture is a drawing, painting, or artwork created on a computer. On the other hand, a Photo is taken with the help of a camera or digital camera.
- A Picture is a visual representation of an object, a person, or scenery on a flat surface. On the other hand, a Photo is a visual representation of a subject on paper.
- A picture includes drawings, photography, and paintings in it. On the other hand, a Photo is taken with the help of the lens of a camera.
- A picture is used to refer to all types of visual imagining. On the other hand, a Photo is a type of a picture.
- Creating a perfect picture of something or someone requires a lot of talent and commitment. On the other hand, it does not require a lot of talent and commitment to create a perfect Photo.
- A Picture needs time to complete. On the other hand, a Photo needs only a few minutes to be created.

Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.