instantanées

Instantanées is the feminine plural form of the French adjective instantané and noun instantané, used to describe things that occur in an instant. As a noun, an instantané denotes a photograph captured quickly, typically without elaborate posing; the plural instantanées refers to several such images. In French, the term also conveys immediacy or spontaneity in events, reports, or observations.

In photography, instantanées are closely associated with candid or snapshot images. The expression gained prominence with the development of instant cameras in the mid-20th century, notably the Polaroid system, which produced a finished print shortly after exposure. The concept persists in the digital era as “instant photographs” or spontaneous images shared online, even though no chemical development is required.

Beyond photography, instantanées can describe rapid, on-the-spot reporting or observations in journalism, ethnography, or fieldwork, where notes or scenes are recorded immediately to capture the moment’s accuracy. The term emphasizes immediacy and authenticity, often contrasting with staged or carefully planned images or narratives.

Etymology: instantané comes from Latin instantaneus via Old French, formed around the sense of present or occurring now. The plural instantanées follows standard feminine plural formation.