j. white Posted February 6, 2008 Share #1 Posted February 6, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, Simple question here - What is the origin of the term, chimping? Thanks! -j. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 6, 2008 Posted February 6, 2008 Hi j. white, Take a look here Chimping. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest darkstar2004 Posted February 6, 2008 Share #2 Posted February 6, 2008 Says Wikipedia: Chimping is a term used in digital photography (especially when using a digital single-lens reflex camera or DSLR) to describe the habit of checking every photo on the on-camera display (LCD) immediately after capture. Usage varies depending on context and the person using it, but common uses include: when a photographer’s sounds and actions of reviewing frames on-scene appear similar to the actions of an excited monkey. (Oooh! Oooh! Aaah!) when a photographer is completely absorbed in the act of analysing, admiring or proudly showing a photo off to others. by experienced photographers to describe the actions of "wannabe" photographers. Having several digital photographers together will result in group chimping either during or after the event they are shooting. This is similar to actual chimpanzee grooming, which is a social activity. This makes me even more glad that I don't own a digital camera... Link: Chimping - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. white Posted February 6, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted February 6, 2008 Thanks Allan, This confirms my worst fears of its origin. And, doh! Why didn't I think of of the Wikipedia? -J. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted February 6, 2008 Share #4 Posted February 6, 2008 l Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest darkstar2004 Posted February 6, 2008 Share #5 Posted February 6, 2008 "Chimping" - now that's some funny stuff there! Is it just me or do people attempting to use their digital cameras look REALLY stupid?? The one I dislike the most is the "Frankenstein" stance: Schmuck or schmuckette stands there with a "camera" the size of a postage stamp in his/her hands, arms fully extended like Frankenstein stalking through the village terrorizing the fleeing villagers as they ponder the imponderable of how to work this damn thing, while staring desperately at their LCD, trying to compose and find the right button to push. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! Give me a handfull of roll film and my MP or Mamiya 7II any day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted February 6, 2008 Share #6 Posted February 6, 2008 Hi, Simple question here - What is the origin of the term, chimping? Thanks! -j. If you ever have a chance to attend something like a final four basketball game, where the photographers are lined up across the baseline three deep, watch what they ALL do as soon as there is a time-out. You will then know why it's called "chimping." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyp Posted February 6, 2008 Share #7 Posted February 6, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'd bet there are some good photos missed while the chimping goes on too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted February 6, 2008 Share #8 Posted February 6, 2008 Those without mature self-restraint avoid chimping by shooting film cameras. Those of us WITH mature self-restraint can shoot digital for hours without chimping. 8^) But yeah, it's a silly practice. The picture you've already taken is water under the bridge. The only picture you can do anything about is the picture you are ABOUT to take... Ook Oook OOOK! (I'll confess to doing a little chimping when I am first working with a new camera or lens, because it speeds the familiarization process. But after the first 10 exposures or so, the LCD stays off.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted February 6, 2008 Share #9 Posted February 6, 2008 But yeah, it's a silly practice. The picture you've already taken is water under the bridge. The only picture you can do anything about is the picture you are ABOUT to take... Ook Oook OOOK! I don't feel this way. The picture I just shot can often help me do a better job on the next one - improve the composition, get insight to produce a variation, give technical feedback, etc. It is very valuable to me. Additionally, it is always re-assuring to know that I nailed the expression or action that I was trying to get. A typical example for me whould be shooting dusk street scenes with streaking tail lights. After chimping, I might decide to wait until there are more cars moving at once, or make the exposure time longer, whatever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted February 6, 2008 Share #10 Posted February 6, 2008 Hi Alan! I guess I cover those situations the way I did with film - shoot scared, shoot more, shoot every possible composition, bracket, keep shooting until the light goes - after all, the electrons are free! I find that the more uncertain I am about the pix I already took, the more I try hard to get something better. I find hitting the shutter button is far more of a kick than thumbing the scroll wheel - so I do it a lot. And IMHO the best pictures are those that are totally unrepeatable...if I DIDN'T nail it, it's gone forever anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted February 6, 2008 Share #11 Posted February 6, 2008 The picture you've already taken is water under the bridge. The only picture you can do anything about is the picture you are ABOUT to take... If the lighting's a bit difficult I'll take a quick look as the histogram while the file's being saved. Very useful at times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted February 6, 2008 Share #12 Posted February 6, 2008 ...And IMHO the best pictures are those that are totally unrepeatable...if I DIDN'T nail it, it's gone forever anyway. Each to his own. I just don't think one should categorically dismiss the value of chimping and use it as a put down. I think many photographers use chimping to refine and control their images. And I sometimes need all the help I can get. If I shoot a test photo and chimp, then I don't have to worry about the focus, composition, and exposure on the rest in the series. (No need to bracket either.) So I feel more likely to nail the good one rather than risk having the best expression end up on a poorly focused or poorly exposed variation. And if I can show my subject what is happening, I often get more interaction and better results when it is a situation that requires collaboration between me and the subjects. Plus I can study what is going on and direct them better in subsequent shots. Here is a case where a little girl started jumping on the bed as I was setting up to shoot. I showed her the images as they appeared tethered on my laptop and she got into it and made more and more creative jumps. I shot about 30. Here are a few. I don't know if she would have been as interested if she couldn't see the results of her jumps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marquinius Posted February 6, 2008 Share #13 Posted February 6, 2008 The only thing I hate more then chimping is when some &^%$# stands in front of me with his cell phone and keeps on blocking three quarters of my view of the - fill in whatever - because he keeps it way over his head and wants to have the perfect shot ... which will be on a screen as big as postage stamp AND have all those wrigly symbols and letters all across it. But seriously: looking at your histogram is helpful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted February 7, 2008 Share #14 Posted February 7, 2008 OK, Alan, I'll buy your argument in terms of a) developing a relationship with a subject and being in studio or 'directorial' mode - where reviewing the shots is equivalent to shooting 'roids or getting 'client approval' where you are your own client. I don't think anyone ever called looking at a Polaroid test "chimping". And yes, on the relatively rare occasions when I'm shooting in "studio" mode, I've also used the LCD as a nice built-in flash meter, or 'roid for my lighting setup. And I must confess that when someone asks me to take their picture with THEIR digital P&S at a scenic/tourist point - I always ask them to check it and make sure what I shot is what they wanted. "Client approval" on a very informal basis. Most of my own work is just in a - different - mode. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted February 7, 2008 Share #15 Posted February 7, 2008 Monkeys hunched over scratching their Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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