Valokuvamaiset

Valokuvamaiset is a Finnish adjective meaning "photographic" or "photograph-like." It describes images, scenes, or objects that resemble a photograph in appearance, particularly through realism, lighting, texture, and detail. The term is formed from valokuva, meaning "photograph," and the suffix -mainen, which signals characteristic or resembling. The basic form is valokuvamainen, with the plural nominative valokuvamaiset.

In usage, valokuvamaiset is common in art, design, journalism, film, and digital media to characterize visuals that look as if they could have been taken with a camera. It often implies strong realism, clear focus, natural lighting, and faithful representation of surfaces and colors. It can describe still images, video frames, or scenes in a narrative work. It contrasts with painterly or illustrative styles, such as maalauksellinen (painterly) or piirroksellinen (illustrative).

In contemporary discourse, the term is frequently used when discussing photorealism, CGI, and AI-generated imagery that aims to mimic photography. While neutral, valokuvamaiset visuals are sometimes evaluated critically for authenticity, staging, or biases in representation.