There are many commonly used terms in photography I find more than a little irritating, but by far and away the words that grate on me most used in relation to the medium are ‘shooting’, ‘shot’ and ‘shoot’.
I have no idea where the origins of the association come from, the terminology has been around certainly as long as I can remember. But, if the individual responsible could be identified I’d take them outside and shoot them myself – not with a camera I hasten to add.
My best guess is that like most other bullshit words in photography it probably originates from second rate amateur photography magazines (I’d blame the Internet but this one has been around too long) and gradually found it’s way into acceptance through constant use by newbie photographers wanting to sound, cool and, or, more knowledgeable than they actually are!
I flatly refuse to use the words and tend to regard almost anyone who uses them with disdain. To my mind these words have no place in photography. Trust me, you don’t want me coming to ‘shoot’ you because it would only happen with a weapon in my hands, and I’m a pretty damned good ‘shot’ when I’m out ‘shooting’.
A camera is no more a weapon than a paintbrush or a keyboard. It does not kill, it does not maim, yet like a paintbrush or a keyboard, in the right hands it can be far more powerful than that.
You don’t need to dress up in combats, nor do you necessarily need to stalk your prey to call yourself a photographer. Photography is not quite so macho, or male dominated, as these stupid words would imply. Even girls can use a camera, and you’ll find that many of those girls are far better at it than you are!
…and don’t even get me onto words like ‘bokeh’, or the substitution of the word lens by the utterly pretentious term ‘glass’!
Don’t want to sound like a dick when you’re talking about your photography? Use proper language, drop the buzzwords and the photographic equivalent of text speak.
