Photogenic is a word commonly used to describe people or objects that look attractive when photographed. The pronunciation of photogenic follows the IPA phonetic transcription /ˌfoʊtəˈdʒɛnɪk/. The word is made up of two parts, 'photo' meaning light and 'genic' meaning produced by, and both of these are pronounced separately. The 'ph' in photogenic is pronounced 'f', while the 'g' is hard and pronounced as in 'get'. The stress falls on the second syllable, making it /foʊtəˈdʒɛnɪk/.
Photogenic is an adjective that describes someone or something as having a natural, appealing quality that translates well in photographs. It refers to the ability to present oneself or an object in a visually pleasing manner when captured through a camera lens.
When applied to individuals, being photogenic means possessing physical features, expressions, or a demeanor that effortlessly translates into attractive and captivating pictures. It suggests that a person has an innate ability to appear visually appealing, whether it be due to their facial symmetry, expressive eyes, radiant smile, or overall charisma. Such individuals tend to consistently produce impressive, aesthetically pleasing photographs, capturing attention and conveying a sense of charm and attractiveness.
Photogenic can also apply to objects, landscapes, or animals that have qualities or characteristics that lend well to being photographed. This might include vibrant colors, interesting patterns or textures, unique shapes, or a particularly picturesque setting. Essentially, being photogenic implies that an object or subject has qualities that make it easily and beautifully captured in a photograph, eliciting admiration and enhancing its visual appeal.
Overall, the term "photogenic" conveys the idea of aesthetics, presenting an individual or subject with natural beauty, poise, and an innate ability to appear visually pleasing when photographed.
Produced or created by light, as a picture, on the retina of the eye.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "photogenic" originated from the combination of two Greek roots: "photo", derived from "phos" meaning "light", and "genic", derived from "genēs" meaning "born" or "produced". Hence, "photogenic" can be understood as "born out of light" or "produced by light".