Photo vs Photograph
The words photo and photograph are used interchangeably to refer to the same images that are created on a photographic paper or film when light is allowed to fall on this light sensitive paper. The word photo is an abbreviation of the actual word photograph and is accepted at all levels of people whether they are novices or expert photographers. Though having same meaning, there are some more usages of the word photo that will be discussed in this article to differentiate between photo and photograph.
Photo finish is a word that has become very common in sporting events where two competitors finish the race (whether running, riding a horse or driving cars) at the same moment. This is one instance, where split micro second photos are resorted to, to declare the winner of the race.
You call physical pictures developed on photographic paper as photographs as also those that are published in newspapers, magazines and the ones stored in an album. In all sorts of forms that are required to be filled up by candidates, it is their photograph that is asked to be affixed in the specified place. This is because though we have accepted the use of word photo in our daily lives, it is still photograph that is used in formal places and occasions.