Chimpping

[DarkDTSHD]

What exactly is "chimpping"? I've heard this term used again and again in podcasts.

Thanks.

[Hawgwild]

I'm pretty sure it refers to the practice of checking the LCD screen on the back of your camera after taking the shot :-)

[DarkDTSHD]

Hawgwild wrote:

I'm pretty sure it refers to the practice of checking the LCD screen on the back of your camera after taking the shot :-)

That sounds fairly close to what I heard discussed in the podcast. But why do they call it "chimpping" versus "checking"?

[Illuminati]

Wikipedia provides a great article on chimping:

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 admiring a photo or proudly showing it 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.

I try not to chimp, but I can't help it if I have family around.

- Jason

[JohnG]

Actually I'm occasionally guilty as well. I'll do it to some degree when I'm shooting sports - mostly so I can delete shots I know weren't as good as I wanted (assuming the situation allows). Not many "oohs" and "ahhhs" but an occasional curse word when I had a great shot opportunity and botched it or instead ended up with a ref's arm thru the frame :G

[wsandman1]

Legend has it that a professional photographer scolded a fellow photographer on the sidelines of a sporting event;telling him to "quit chimping and start shooting". The term stuck.

[BillDrew]

Whenever possible, I shoot in manual mode using the camera's histogram/flashing-image as a light meter. Since my camera does not have a live view, some folks may think I am chimping (Oooh, Oooh, Aaahh, Oooh...). That is a simple demonstration of their ignorance.

Metering that way is the reason I'd like a live histogram view on a cSLR.

[Alan T]

The solution to this public derision problem is to go back to the birth of photography, and have a black cloth over the head. This was one of my many solutions to the problem of seeing nothing but a beautiful reflected image of me, rather than the intended subject,on the LCD screen in all but ideal lighting conditions. This isn't ideal, but at least you'll look like a retro-photographer rather than a chimpanzee.

Now I have an electronic viewfinder on a 'hybrid' camera so I can chimp while looking as though I'm taking pictures.

PS. Love your new avatar, Bill. My beard has some way to go, because my wife keeps chopping it off when she spots too much debris in it.

[DarkDTSHD]

Thanks guys. Chimping. Every one does it no matter how experienced you are. No big deal. As long as you end up getting the shots you want.

And I suspect new owners of the Sony A700 are chimping quite often cheicking shots on their 920k LCD (and soon owners of the Nikon D3/D300).

"Photography on guys!". Onto other topics...