Monday, August 17, 2009

Photo Bombing 101

Good evening readers. Today we are going to explore the concept of photo bombing. "What is photo bombing?" you may ask. Allow me to explain: Photo bombing is when unsuspecting individuals are posing for a picture and someone jumps into the shot at the last minute, often in the background, and quite unexpectedly. Photo bombing can be quite funny when one follows the appropriate guidelines for the proper situation and timing. Allow me to illustrate with a factual event:

Photo bombing was one of the topics discussed on our road trip north for the Mariner's game on Saturday. (Suzanne, Tim and Kari had all piled into the car with us to make the trip.) Upon arrival in Seattle, Tim made a couple of noteworthy photo bombing efforts within our own group...once at a restaurant and once just outside of Safeco. We laughed and agreed that a sporting event was the perfect setting for a photo bomb as it is such a casual atmosphere. We were seated for the game shortly after and the topic was all but forgotten in light of the action, as well as the surprising absence of photographs being taken around us.

About half way through the game, the guys and Suzanne got up to get some soft pretzels, leaving Kari and I to chat and watch the game together. Low and behold, in their absence, the group of ladies in front of us pulled out their camera for a self portrait! Just as the woman in the middle stretched out her arm, I nudged Kari and whispered, "photo bomb!" Well...Kari whipped into action without a moments hesitation...slumping down to get into the frame and giving an outstandingly flashy grin! I committed to the bombing, but with less flair than my dear friend. We chuckled like a couple of conspirators, and then almost fell out of our seats laughing when we realized our faux pas:

It is a digital era.

Think about it for a moment and let that sink in. (tick-tock, tick-tock)

Uh-huh. The ladies took the photo, and then immediately checked the camera to see how the photo turned out. We were laughing hysterically at this point, just waiting to be caught. Somehow, they didn't seem to notice; at least no one commented on it anyway. It is about this time that the rest of our group came back to rejoin us. Kari scoot down to give the guys back their seats, and before we were able to share what just happened, the camera came out in front of us another time! Without discussion or premeditation, Paul and Suzanne jumped into photo bombing action with great enthusiasm! Again, digital technology strikes, only this time the photo bombing was much too successful to be missed. The ladies point them out, turn around, and good naturedly say, "Hey!" as our group erupted into hilarity, sprinkled with a little embarrassment. Then they scanned to the previous photo and Kari and I were caught. Thankfully they were very easy-going about the whole thing and seemed to find the humor in the situation. We trifled with the idea of giving them our email address and asking them to send us the photos, but none of us quite had the courage for that!

So what can we learn from this, dear readers? Photo bombing is fun in your own group any time. Photo bombing CAN be fun amongst strangers in a casual setting, but only when it does NOT combine assigned seating with digital technology!

This concludes Photo Bombing 101. I hope you have found it enlightening :)

2 comments:

dshymas said...

fate is a prime photo bomber.. I'm always finding telephone pole growing out of peoples heads(background) or that devil red eye in the most inncent of kids or that one blade of grass hazy and unfocused in front of a prime bird shot. without even trying I get bombed all the time. ;^)

Kari said...

HAHAHAHA! I will remember this forever and always. And...I'm hooked. Now that I know the "rules" I intend to be the background subject of many a bombing, should the opportunity present itself. Mariner's game, anyone??