Why Do You Tell People Not To "Chimp"?

[TATTRAT]

No one truly qualifies as a chimp until they throw some poo.

 

[peter27]

For me, chimping has something to do with the modern way of living, in which everyone wants (and expects) everything now - if not sooner. But, again for me, a good photo is like a good wine: it has to be nurtured and needs time to develop; it cannot be forced or rushed, and most certainly should never be downed in five minutes like a cool beer.

Why all the obsession with speed and instant feedback? Is it really necessary to know how a shot came out two seconds after taking it? Where is the mystique if this is so?

Photography is something to savour.

 

[Ballistics]

Why all the obsession with speed and instant feedback?

Because life is ridiculously short.

Is it really necessary to know how a shot came out two seconds after taking it?

Yes

Where is the mystique if this is so?

I don't photograph for the mystique of it. I do it because I like taking nice photos.

Photography is something to savour.

I savour the print on my walls. Everything leading up to it is labor to me.
If I can go from taking the photo, to literally printing out of camera without
spending anytime in photoshop, I definitely would. Getting it right
in camera is usually only half the process. Depending on the type of
photograph, I could (and have) spend 30 seconds in photoshop and then printing
right there. That's my favorite thing about photography lol.
Some people have the patience, and actually enjoy going the film route.
I could never possibly stomach that process. I respect it, but I would never do it.

 

[peter27]

I savour the print on my walls. Everything leading up to it is labor to me.

But surely a labour of love, otherwise why go to all the trouble? After all, you could buy nice prints from a gallery to hang on your walls.

Each to their own. Some like to save time and others like to take it.

 

[amolitor]

Painters should all paint with blindfolds on! A painting is something to savour!

 

[KenC]

I suppose those who dislike chimping think all of the old studio photographers who put Polaroid backs on their large-format cameras so they could check the lighting were just idiots.

 

[Ballistics]

But surely a labour of love, otherwise why go to all the trouble? After all, you could buy nice prints from a gallery to hang on your walls.

Kind of an obvious answer kind of question. You don't appreciate something as much when it's not done by your hands.
I hate cleaning, but I love the look of my apartment after it's cleaned. Doesn't mean I have to love the process to love the outcome.

Each to their own. Some like to save time and others like to take it.

Pretty much.

 

[peter27]

But surely a labour of love, otherwise why go to all the trouble? After all, you could buy nice prints from a gallery to hang on your walls.

Kind of an obvious answer kind of question. You don't appreciate something as much when it's not done by your hands.
I hate cleaning, but I love the look of my apartment after it's cleaned. Doesn't mean I have to love the process to love the outcome.

Yes, it was a rhetorical question.

 

[peter27]

I suppose those who dislike chimping think all of the old studio photographers who put Polaroid backs on their large-format cameras so they could check the lighting were just idiots.

For me, the two things can't be compared. A professional using a Polaroid back on a large format camera to avoid expensive mistakes is very different to the common practice of using the LCD sreen to look at every shot taken on a DSLR. By all means take a test shot and check that on the camera's monitor, but there's no need to check every shot taken, imo. But if this is what people are comfortable with, I'm not going to try to stop them. I just find it a little bemusing and perhaps symptomatic of the way many live their lives nowadays.

 

[amolitor]

The point really is this:

Looking at the LCD after a shot is just a thing you can do.

There are lots of things you can do. Some of them get in the way of what you're trying to do. Some of them do not. Some of them get in the way of what you're trying to do, some of the time. You might reasonably also say "don't lie down on your back when you're shooting" which would be a fair piece of advice a lot of the time, except when it's not good advice.

There is no doubt that gaping stupidly at the back of their camera is something that gets in the way of some people's shooting, some of the time. A little advice to "shoot more, chimp less" is perfectly reasonable here, assuming advice-giving is in the cards. If you've got someone doing a still life, and fussing with lights, telling them to stop chimping is the exact opposite of helpful.

In between, we will find a wide spectrum of possibility. As usual.

 

[bentcountershaft]

Ok, truth is I look after each shot because I'm checking for demons. That's the kind of info I need asap.

 

[amolitor]

Solid choice. I mean, nobody wants demons in their photographs, right? And Photoshop's Context Aware Demon Remover, well, don't even get me started.

 

[gsgary]

So, by this, you're saying that every person that has posted in this thread that chimps posts loads of crap?

I keep saying this to the guys that generalize members in a thread but never address anyone specifically. Name names gsgary.

That's exactly what he shouldn't do! This is the kind of baiting comment that causes things to go offsides.

Don't worry i'm not going to name names

 

[gsgary]

So, by this, you're saying that every person that has posted in this thread that chimps posts loads of crap?

I keep saying this to the guys that generalize members in a thread but never address anyone specifically. Name names gsgary.

That's exactly what he shouldn't do! This is the kind of baiting comment that causes things to go offsides.

Wait... What?!


That doesn't make sense. I'm not baiting him, as he already said something inflammatory directed towards everyone.
I merely suggested, if he's going to make generalized comments (implying generalizing comments that are insulting), he should say specifically who he's talking about.

I find it kind of funny how you targeted me and say my comment is the kind that causes things to go offsides, but gary pretty much insulting the entire thread
doesn't even get mentioned. Seems legit.

Sorry but i have a different sense of humour to most

 

[gsgary]

He could be talking about me... I chimp frequently because of changing light conditions and because I spot meter different colored birds and I do post mostly crap. lol Posted somewhat in jest to add levity to the thread.
But, most of what I said is true. I'm a chimper and proud!

Just had a look on flickr, yes mostly crap :hug::