Chimping: Surrender Gracefully or Fight the Demon

[Keith]

I think it helps that digital sensors have become a bit more forgiving. I'll look occasionally but generally I try not to because it is a distraction and can reduce your flow.

With a rangefinder I tend to do it to check my framing more so than my exposure.

 

[jsrockit]

I chimp and I really don't care what others think. I don't chimp after most shots, but I will chimp after I think I did something better than the norm (thinking I nailed a decisive moment type of photo) and only after I'm moving on to the next shot... but, it is never for exposure and is only for composition / timing. I'd rather know if I blew it or not before I get home. I guess it is better for me to just get my disappointment over with rather than thinking I did something great for many hours (or days) only to find I blew it later. That said, I'm not obsessive about missed shots... there are always more.

 

[Huss]

I have to admit I chimp every single time with one film camera I like to use.



My Fuji Instax.

 

[RichC]

"The devil" implies chimping is a problem, that "real" photographers don't do it. It's only an issue if it makes your photography worse somehow.

I always chimp. I even chimp when shooting film (e.g. in my studio), if I have time, by taking photographs with a digital camera first, then use the composition and settings for the film camera.

I also use a "director's finder" to scout for shots and compositions - which cinematographers have used to "chimp" (well, "pre-chimp" I guess!) for decades. It's actually a Tewe multifinder I carry around on a cord around my neck!

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Just say yes or no to chimp. Who gives a rats ass. What is going on ???
Yes, I put 3 question marks.

 

[Michael Markey]

Haven't given it any thought
I do look at the screen sometimes but in the main I don't
I've never felt compelled to look at it
Not really an issue with me.

 

[JoeLopez]

If it's intruding into your shooting, I get why it's a problem.

If it's not, I don't understand why anyone wouldn't use something so useful.

Best response here. I'll never get the obsession with this discussion. Do what works best for you and move forward. Just like what gear to use 🙂

 

[x-ray]

My digital photography is almost exclusively for my commercial photography and rarely personal stuff. On the job I often use studio strobes even on location so I meter and shoot a flame as I would have shot a Polaroid in the film days. I download that frame to my laptop that I carry on location if it's a critical shot and with my client check the histogram and let the client approve the various elements in the shot. If it's a particularly complex shot I'll down load images at various times to let the client ok what were shooting and check details.

Basically after an initial check I only review images so the client can approve or ask for changes. The difference in film and digital for me is the ability for the client to say we've got what they want or make changes and shoot more.

Another use of previewing on the laptop is to see if the shot fits the designers layout. I keep Indesign o my laptop which allows the AD to bring a flash drive with a design file and see if the shot were making fits the design properly. For example it lets them check where text will wrap or call in open spaces in the photo. It's a fabulous tool.

As far as chomping, never. This comes with confidence in ones self an ones equipment.

In the early 70's I apprenticed in a commercial studio under a master photographer. He would only allow 1 4x5 Polaroid per setup. He said if you need any more you're a weak photographer. He said it was an un necessary crutch. Over my film career polaroids were more for the client than me.

 

[Ronald M]

Chimping is one of the best things about digital. That and quick access and being able to burn/dodge and otherwise modify before going to a commercial printer .

Money saving is certainly not one of them unless you are someone who uses hundreds of photos per week.

 

[35photo]

Reviewing images on the spot is not necessarily a bad thing. It can provide highly valuable feedback for many types of photography (portrait, landscape, macro, etc).

Then there are the types of photography in which the image made is a fleeting moment, never to be repeated. In my opinion, there is absolutely no need to review images for circumstances such as these. It happened, you did your best, it's over. Remaining in the moment is infinitely more valuable.

Shooting film forces one to be confident in his/her skill. Shooting digital and reviewing images is like putting the training wheels back on.

I always stay in the moment digital is no different for me than shooting film... always focusing on what is around me and looking for the next image..

 

[Huss]

I always chimp. I even chimp when shooting film

So do I.


Chimp by desmolicious, on Flickr

 

[a.noctilux]

Since last saturday, I can't review anymore :angel:
thanks M-D 🙂

 

[lukitas]

'ooh 'ooh 'ooh 'ooh, AAAh!

 

[PKR]

So do I.

I like it.

 

[skucera]

Even professional photographers chimp. I saw it several times last summer, when a guy from the local paper was taking pictures of parades, old car cruises, etc. He even commented about my Konica SLR. His chimping didn't seem to interfere with him getting shots that landed on the front page July 5th.

Scott

 

[Pioneer]

It would appear that the general consensus here is that there is nothing wrong with chimping. In essence, since the technology is available, why not use it? I don't actually think chimping is hurting my photography so much as it is reducing my enjoyment of digital photography. I know that doesn't seem to make sense, it must be another manifestation of my personal oddities.

I can say that the display screen has provided one major positive for my rangefinder photography. I can now tell immediately whether or not I remembered to take the lens cap off. With a rangefinder this is by far my numero uno bonehead move. With my M-A I can actually shoot quite a few photos before I realize the lens cap is still there.

Using RAW pretty much handles the remaining problems. Besides, Leica display screens are not really good enough for me to make any critical judgements on my photos anyway. Even using flashies to indicate over or under exposure can be very misleading on a display screen.

I did go out this weekend and was able to spend the entire day without calling up the display screen even once. Well...maybe once. I did have one rather tricky lighting situation where I looked at the histogram. But as it turned out I didn't care for the photo later anyway, even when it was properly exposed. I even accidentally underexposed a couple of shots but was still able to recover them in post.

Maybe there is hope for me yet. 🙂

And yes, I would probably be one of those who would buy an M-D, but I shouldn't really have to go pay extra for another camera just so I can avoid chimping.

BTW - my thanks to the unknown moderator who was kind enough to edit my title.

 

[David Hughes]

So do I.


Chimp by desmolicious, on Flickr

Wonderful.

 

[froyd]

I'd love an M-D, but I do think that having a screen would be a major boost to my questionable flash technique.