So I’ve always been the guy who get’s in the background of other people’s pictures. It started in the 8th grade, I used to see girls getting their pictures together at the high-school dances and thought “Wow, these girls are going to have this memory keepsake for the rest of their lives… I should be the creepy guy in the background who’s a part of that memory”… and I was.
I still do this today (in fact I did it last weekend) but it does get a bit harder with the digital camera age because you can look at the picture right away to see that there is some tool in the background. Now I thought I was the inventor of this technique and thought that it was pretty underground… until today. I’ve since learned that this rogue ninja-like self portrait is actually called Photo Bombing, and is quite wide-spread around the world. Apparently I’m not as funny and creative as I thought I was.
The Urban Dictionary’s definition of Photo Bombing is:
The fine art of ruining other people’s photos. Usually by running in the background or making a silly face in the background. It’s usually done to strangers, but shit man, you better run if they notice at the moment, because you might get your ass kicked.
Well isn’t that nice.
I have a few friends that have created their own version of Photo Bombing; the difference is they will meet people, get to know them and then take a picture with them. But when the flash goes off they contort their faces and look at the unsuspecting victims in disgust, sometimes pointing at them just in case you were confused who they were making fun of. This is also quite funny… but not as sneaky and a little more offensive.
I strongly suggest you just Google “Photo Bombing” and go from there. It will provide you with hours of laughing at other people’s ruined memories, I find it’s also like a Where’s Waldo of sorts because sometimes you cant find the “bomber” right away. I’ve posted some of my favourite Photo Bombing incidents on my Flickr Feed if you would like to take a gander there first.
Cheers!
jordenf
Filed under: day in the life, the web | Tagged: photo bomb, photo bombing, rogue photographer, ruined memories, sneaky ninja
