Chimping & Pixel-Peeping

[TheStunch]

I believe the people who use the term chimping in a disparaging way have embraced the idea that the act of checking the shot indicates a lack of skill, but in the digital era, this is simply a fact of photography, and by not checking the shot, you may well, in the future, send the message that you don't care about your work, rather than suggesting that you have a higher skill level. This theory gains more support as mirrorless gains a stronger foothold, since not only are you staring at a digital screen, in many instances, to get the shot in the first place, and the image will usually display immediately after the shot, but it also seems prudent to check the shot afterwards, since you're not actually looking through the lens, and at least for me, and I’d imagine some others, this creates a bit of a disconnect between the subject and the shooter, causing me to want to verify the shot.

 

[photoguy99]

Sometimes I chimp to check exposure. Sometimes I chimp because I'm working the image and I need to see it flat before I know the next step.

In these cases the last exposure I make is almost always the best one. For obvious reasons.

Sometimes I don't chimp because things are unfolding fast and there's no time.

Sometimes I don't chimp because I know I got it.

Sometimes I don't chimp because I'm shooting film and that right there makes me basically a god.

 

[gsgary]

removing the display screen on a digital camera offends me as a UI designer.

It's not a problem for film shooters, thats what its aimed at because when they take a shot they know the exposure will be ok

Designing to legacy offends me as a ui designer.

Yes looks like they did a good job, what the **** is a UI desifner

 

[TheStunch]

they design user interfaces

 

[JTPhotography]

Not sure about all this chimpy nonsense but I have a definition to throw out there.........

Intelligent Photographer -- one who knows his craft and, when time permits and without regard for other silly photographers who make up idiotic terms to label others, takes advantage of the technologically advanced features on his DSLR, such as the LCD screen to check focus and exposure via the histogram, if for no other reason than to limit the amount of 40 megabyte files he is uploading onto his hard drive.

 

[imagemaker46]

Does anyone really care? I look at every image I shoot, I delete all the ones I don't want to keep, why sit at the computer and spend more time than needed. I check exposures, especially when shooting under changing light. It's no different from my film days when I used a light meter to make the changes before I shot.

It gets annoying when you're standing next to a photographer that wants to show off every image they shoot.

 

[Mr. Innuendo]

I chimp all the time. The LCD is there, so why not use it?

Pixel peeping is something I've never understood. Blowing up a small section of a photo to the size of the sun and being critical of the results simply makes zero sense to me.

 

[runnah]

Does anyone really care?

Only those who feel the need to draw imaginary "skill lines". Those who crow about using M mode, not chimping etc...

 

[runnah]

Pixel peeping is something I've never understood. Blowing up a small section of a photo to the size of the sun and being critical of the results simply makes zero sense to me.

I do it all the time. Everything looks sharp on a tiny LCD but I magnify my focus point to make sure I have a good sharp image.

 

[petrochemist]

I see photogs on TV at sports events, and the vast majority are chimping away! I always laugh, because the consensus on most forums is that it's a bad thing. At least, that's the impression I got when joining the forums as a newbie.

Generally the Pros at motor sports events will check their images when first moving to a spot (or just before the start of the event) then shoot with little or no reference to the rear screen until there is a lull in the action or lighting changes etc. I'd expect other sporting events to be similar.
For us lesser mortals it can be a case of 'Once I've got a good image of A I'll switch to B...' Panning with the lead car every lap would probably give me no chance to photograph those in 2nd/3rd place, but it's good to make sure I've got at least one keeper before switching target.

 

[Braineack]

When shooting I don't aim, focus, set shutter speed, aperture or iso, or look at the lcd screen--sometime I don't even turn the camera on or put in cards.

When I download my images, I make sure to strip all the EXIF data and I immediately send them off the India for processing--without looking--where I have them send them back to the client.

I have no idea what my pictures look like or how I can improve.

 

[gsgary]

they design user interfaces

That sounds boring

 

[gsgary]

When shooting I don't aim, focus, set shutter speed, aperture or iso, or look at the lcd screen--sometime I don't even turn the camera on or put in cards.

When I download my images, I make sure to strip all the EXIF data and I immediately send them off the India for processing--without looking--where I have them send them back to the client.

I have no idea what my pictures look like or how I can improve.

It shows

 

[Braineack]

yeah but at least my camera looks really cool and I'm poor now.

 

[runnah]

Gary, don't be a dick.