Please define "chimping"

[Curtis N]

I usually have enough sense to figure out what words mean by listening to the context, but this one has me baffled.

I would really like to learn how to chimp, because it sounds like so much fun! I just hope it doesn't require a trip to the zoo.

[pcasciola]

Chimping is checking your shots on the camera's LCD while you are shooting an event rather than just shooting and looking them over when you are done. Some people say it's only chimping if you actually make the "ooh ooh ooh" sounds when you get a good shot. :D

Here's a funny video about the topic on Sportsshooter.com:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/special_feature/chimping/index.html

[sdommin]

The less we promote idiotic terms like "chimping", the better. Let it die.

[Curtis N]

The less we promote idiotic terms like "chimping", the better. Let it die.
Seems pretty harmless to me, Scott. With any new technology comes some slang (I'm "surfing" now).

Thanks to pcasciola for the insight.

[Ballen Photo]

Here's a funny video about the topic on Sportsshooter.com:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/special_feature/chimping/index.html

I didn't know there was a part 2 for this little production. I LIKE EM they're Funny clips. ;)
Thanks for posting this. :D
-Bruce

[Curtis N]

Thanks, Bruce!
Personally, I NEVER chimp! I was just looking at my histogram, I swear!

[Ballen Photo]

Thanks, Bruce!
Personally, I NEVER chimp! I was just looking at my histogram, I swear!
;)

[jfrancho]

I chimp in the closet.

[Jon, The Elder]

When I get a "perfect" histogram, I walk around and force others to chimp it until they admire the shot - then I move on to the next victum-
Some get quite upset - but I think it is just jealousy.
Sometimes I "preload" a bunch on the CF card and then lie like crazy about my settings - that really gets'em.
Notice how I only used the "C" word once, so as not to offend purists too much?

[jfrancho]

When I get a "perfect" histogram, I walk around and force others to chimp it until they admire the shot - then I move on to the next victum-
Some get quite upset - but I think it is just jealousy.
Sometimes I "preload" a bunch on the CF card and then lie like crazy about my settings - that really gets'em.
Notice how I only used the "C" word once, so as not to offend purists too much?You're a serial chimper.

[Jon, The Elder]

I take PHOTOGRAPHY seriously - but never myself. If you can't laugh at yourself before you laugh at others - you have missed a big part of life.

[CyberDyneSystems]

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/chimp.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gif

[Viking Joe]

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/chimp.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2hdzu/pics/banana.gif

Too funny! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pcasciola]

http://members.bellatlantic.net/%7Evze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/%7Evze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/%7Evze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/%7Evze2hdzu/pics/chimp.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/%7Evze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifhttp://members.bellatlantic.net/%7Evze2hdzu/pics/banana.gifLOL!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[CyberPet]

Darnit, I've been a "chimper" without even knowing it!!

Is there any professional help for this, or is it just something I have to live with? I mean, any settings I could use to avoid this chimping? :D :D

[Curtis N]

any settings I could use to avoid this chimping?
Yes. It's an older file format called F.I.L.M.

[CyberPet]

ROTFL!!!!! :D

[Hellashot]

The less we promote idiotic terms like "chimping", the better. Let it die.

I agree. It sounds moronic. You HAVE to look at the LCD screen for histogram info.

[jfrancho]

Ewwwwww! I've exposed to the left.
Ahhhhhhhh! I've exposed to right.
Sounds like chimping to me.

[Andy_T]

Sometimes, you really should be chimping ...

I was on a walk with my son recently and took pictures. I hadn't noticed that the main switch of the camera had been moved from 'Av' to 'M' :o

Needless to say, the hit rate with a constant setting of f/5.6 and 1/320 second was not too high ... had to throw away 40 out of 50 pictures, among them some definite 'keepers' :confused:

Only noticed when I took a backlit picture and the 1/320 did not change.

Should've chimped...err, checked the histogram.

Best regards,
Andy

[Jon, The Elder]

Right on Andy ! I have had the exact same experience (not walking with my son).

Somehow 20D went from Av to M - same results as you.

Added this to mental check list for start up:
CF format+ISO+WB+AI servo+single or burst+ etc.

[queenbee288]

I guess I am not a true chimper or I just haven't gotten to the ooohh ahhhh stage yet, mine is more like ehhh, ahhhh, ok , yep that's it, perfect.

Char

[Citizensmith]

I was on a walk with my son recently and took pictures. I hadn't noticed that the main switch of the camera had been moved from 'Av' to 'M' :o

I'd guess its a minority of photographers that haven't ever done that. I've often forgotten to change the ISO back after pushing it to 1600 the night before, or same as you, left it on manual when I'm usually on Av. Always makes me feel dumb for doing it and sure I'll be better at checking next time. Except I never am.

[jfrancho]

I'd guess its a minority of photographers that haven't ever done that. I've often forgotten to change the ISO back after pushing it to 1600 the night before, or same as you, left it on manual when I'm usually on Av. Always makes me feel dumb for doing it and sure I'll be better at checking next time. Except I never am.I'm a repeat offender. I'm sure I'm on a watch list: Dumb fools that shoot at 1600 in full sun.

[aam1234]

Thes best way around this is to put the settings back after you finish with the camera. That's what I do.

[Curtis N]

Thes best way around this is to put the settings back after you finish with the camera. That's what I do.Back to what?
How do you know what conditions you'll be shooting in the next time you use it?

[Kelv2888]

I'd guess its a minority of photographers that haven't ever done that. I've often forgotten to change the ISO back after pushing it to 1600 the night before, or same as you, left it on manual when I'm usually on Av. Always makes me feel dumb for doing it and sure I'll be better at checking next time. Except I never am.

Too bad you cant see the iso info in the viewfinder on the 20D:rolleyes:

[CoolToolGuy]

Okay, confession time -

Although I'm getting better at it, I regularly forget to change the ISO and/or WB back to defaults when I'm done with a shoot. As I said, I'm getting better, so now I might take only one or two shots before noticing. However, chimping is what lets me know that, so no apologies.
I have been pretty much all digital since I got my Drebel, so I have developed new habits. I recently went to a vintage sports car race and decided to take some film as well as digital this year. There were several 'DOH!' occasions where I chimped on my A1 or Elan 7. Again, no apologies.
Have Fun,

[aam1234]

Back to what?
How do you know what conditions you'll be shooting in the next time you use it?

Anything that you consider normal for your use. For example, was shooting at iso 1600, when at home I turned it to 100. And the biggest one is to put WB to auto if you have changed it. I'm sure everybody has a "base" setting.

[jfrancho]

Since one day I could be taking shots of the flowers in the garden, later that night, a band in a small club, and the next day at the zoo, there isn't really a "default setting" that will work for me. I find it best to give the camera a "run down" before I start shooting, setting up WB, ISO. I also go and set up each of the creative zones and their respective settings, along with setting the EC +1/3. For M, I usually go for an obvious aperture for the situation - open, f/8, f/16. These are all arbitrary settings, but the seem to be a good starting point for me. It helps to review EXIF on pics similar to the situation you're going to be in as well, a little homework. So I guess that is similar to aam1234's method, just that I do it before I shoot. If I pick up the camera and don't have time to check the settings, I'll shoot in full auto first, and then set up the camera properly to try a few shots. This is where the WB and ISO goblins come out.

[Curtis N]

Okay, confession time ... There were several 'DOH!' occasions where I chimped on my A1 or Elan 7.I just had to laugh at that, because I've done the same thing, only it was someone else's 35mm single use camera!

[Ballen Photo]

Okay, confession time -

Although I'm getting better at it, I regularly forget to change the ISO and/or WB back to defaults when I'm done with a shoot. As I said, I'm getting better, so now I might take only one or two shots before noticing. However, chimping is what lets me know that, so no apologies.
Good point Rick.


I have been pretty much all digital since I got my Drebel, so I have developed new habits. I recently went to a vintage sports car race and decided to take some film as well as digital this year. There were several 'DOH!' occasions where I chimped on my A1 or Elan 7. Again, no apologies.
And THIS was good for a LAUGH! Wait! I still have film bodies. :shock: I've done that. :shock: :shock: UH OH.;) :lol: :cool:
-Bruce

[Citizensmith]

I just had to laugh at that, because I've done the same thing, only it was someone else's 35mm single use camera!

And you should see the reaction from my kids when I use a film camera. They pretty much expect to see the photo I just took. They always pose a lot better when they get to see the results. So if there isn't a little glowing rectangle on the back showing what they were doing they really get disappointed.

[dispatchermike21]

I agree. It sounds moronic. You HAVE to look at the LCD screen for histogram info.

Yes those of us into perfection but not yet perfect must do all we can and if it means CHIMPING then thats what we will do no sacrifice is to great for our art . :evil:

[robbiewangyang]

Darnit, I've been a "chimper" without even knowing it!!

Is there any professional help for this, or is it just something I have to live with? I mean, any settings I could use to avoid this chimping? :D :D


You may try to either break the LCD screen or not look at it!:)

[mastertech01]

The first known widespread cases of Chimping occured in the early 1960s with the development and release of the Polariod Swinger Land Camera and its many derivatives. Just snap the pic, out pops the photo and you just stand there and watch it develop before your eyes. Such Excitement! And so easy even a CHIMP could do it! :)

[DAMphyne]

I never Chimp, and I don't want to start now.

[JWright]

Some people take it to extremes...

[Jon, The Elder]

The less we promote idiotic terms like "chimping", the better. Let it die.

Amen.

[Tee Why]

After doing extensive research online for a PhD in Chimpology, I've come to the following conclusion.

Chimping in the straightest of definition is looking at the LCD and making monkey like sounds, most commonly, the "ooo... ooo... ooo... aah... aah... aah," as a display of joy at viewing the shots. It is the most uncensored expression of joy of discovering one's vision coming to fruition. This form of chimping called "overt chimping" is more common of folks that are getting into photography via a digital format with no or very casual film experience.

Some loosely refer to any LCD reviewing as "chimping" and add a negative connotation to the act. Usually these are often the "old farts" of photography. They usually state things like "I never had to review my stuff in the film days." They often reminisce about the "good old days" when mastery of photography was more difficult and time consuming due to the time and money involved with film delivery and slower feedback. This mainly is due to the lost superiority they no longer feel as any young wipper snapper with a few years on dslr can now shoot at their level due to a much faster learning curve. Often times, they will get some LCD curtain or some hoodsman device that closes off the LCD altogether, so they can once again try to seperate themselves from the "lesser" shooters who resort to such a lowly amateurish act of "chimping" to make sure they got it right. These shooters know that they got it right, and in Manual mode too!

Lastly, we come to the more modern interpretation of "chimping" as a common more accepted term that people use to refer to reviewing a shot on the LCD, whether for self amusement, with or without the ooo's and aah's, or for technical reasons to review the settings. To these folks, chimping has no real context, it's simply something one does, much like IM'ing, surfing the net, photoshopping, and Googling. These are the more adept that have accepted the digital age of photography as the norm, including reviewing your composition and settings immediately after shooting for feedback.

Class is dismissed.
ooo ooo ooo aah aah aah.

[Reefbone]

Is it just me or is this thread over 2 years old? I'm sure Curtis (The OP) is pleased to see it back.

Incidentally Chimping has been added to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimping)

[JWright]

Is it just me or is this thread over 2 years old? I'm sure Curtis (The OP) is pleased to see it back.

Incidentally Chimping has been added to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimping)

That's the thing about a continually changing membership... The old threads that should have died a merciful death get reincarnated periodically. :cry:

[Reefbone]

That's the thing about a continually changing membership... The old threads that should have died a merciful death get reincarnated periodically. :cry:


I find this one especially funny because Curtis is somewhat of an authority around here now. Can you imagine him asking this question now? :D

[Curtis N]

I find this one especially funny because Curtis is somewhat of an authority around here now. Can you imagine him asking this question now? :DCorrection: Some people consider me an authority, ever since I wrote a series of basic guides on flash photography. Truth is, I did little more than summarize what I have learned here from the real experts. And I did it mostly because I got tired of answering the same questions every week.

But this rather amusing situation illustrates how much a person can learn in a short time with the vast resources of this forum. I was a clueless noob when I joined here, a little over 2 years (and over 10,000 posts) ago. I had just bought my wife a 300D and was hungry for knowledge.

Now my wife and I have three digital bodies, a small pile of lenses, a large pile of flash units, and a website. I'm really still a noob, but maybe not quite so clueless. :D

And I chimp shamelessly, but all I really look at is the histogram and the EXIF data. ;)

[Reefbone]

Correction: Some people consider me an authority,....

I said SOMEWHAT of an authority. :) :) ( Double Winky)

[JWright]

"Chimping" is just another manifestation of young people's tendency to create a slang word for everything... I mean, really, "gianormous"? Not to mention all of the different slang names for some of Sigma's lenses...

I personally refuse to use the word "chimping"... I think it's demeaning and insulting to Chimpanzees.

[Familiaphoto]

Never thought of myself as a chimper. But being on vacation with my wife for a week she is asking me constantly to see what I just shot. So I find myself taking a photo and then showing it to her. I don't look at them though...is there such a thing as a back seat chimper? Kind of like a back seat driver. :D

[steveathome]

I'd like to know where the word "Bokeh"came from, I never heard of it in my film days.

[Reefbone]

I'd like to know where the word "Bokeh"came from, I never heard of it in my film days.

Bokeh (from the Japanese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_language) boke ぼけ, "blur") is a photographic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic) term referring to distorted out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera) lens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_lens).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh#_note-0) Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject.

See Wikipedia Bokeh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh)

[JWright]

I'd like to know where the word "Bokeh"came from, I never heard of it in my film days.

I hadn't either... It's possible it was around in Japan a while back, but didn't become as widely know until the advent of the internet.

[Jeff]

Chimping in the straightest of definition is looking at the LCD and making monkey like sounds, most commonly, the "ooo... ooo... ooo... aah... aah... aah," as a display of joy at viewing the shots.


Is this reverse Darwinism? We humans develop the ability to speak, then we give it up when we go digital.:lol:

[bwolford]

This is chimping (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2007-12-03-chimp-memory_N.htm?csp=34) :D

[cosworth]

http://www.shootingchimps.com/

[the_incubus]

The act of throwing your feces at other people...at leasts thats what it meant when i was growing up. :p

[Tundrasport]

I only chimp for the articles....um....histogram...yeah thats it...the histogram...


Whats more fun than a barrel of monkeys?

A chowder of chimps! http://www.streetzen.net/nyc/chimps.jpg



SEE SIG!

[SlowBlink]

Ok, I get it now. I'm setting my Review setting to OFF and see how long I can stand it.

[FotOz]

Damn.
Sorry I asked!