To photobomb, or not to photobomb. That is the question!

[TreyQ3]

All photos are just a photo. Personally, I don't understand this photo-centric society (I'm not saying you are personally) but people need to take photos of every moment of their lives that I think some people forget to look up from a lens. (Again I'm not saying you personally)

I wouldn't never photobomb (family and friends - yes absolutely and I do on a weekly basis. But we all do it to each other) However (unless there is something obscene happening) it isn't a terrible tragedy. I have been photobombed twice at WDW and personally speaking, they were both fantastic. They are two of my favourite photos taken at WDW (and we were there for 6 weeks, we ended up with thousands of photos) but they are the best. They are candid and funny.

If you ended up with thousands of photos, I would interpret that to mean you are card carrying member of the photo-centric society. Welcome!


Deliberate P-bombing strangers is rude. We like to use a pic from WDW as our Christmas Card. Until last year my youngest DS would only smile in a manner that I would describe as a fish smile. Thankfully he has outgrown that. But if the one perfect picture where he smiled normally was ruined by a P-bomber, I would be more than a little upset.

I guess I'm an old fart - I just don't understand how P-bombing is fun.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Plus why should they have to? they didn't ask you to be in their photo. Another example of the "special" generation. I'm so important you should want me in your photo's.

I don't know.....I don't think its a generational thing. Based on the poll results, every single age group voted overwhelmingly in favor of it being rude versus acceptable.

I have an 18 year old son. He has been taught (and practices) courtesy and respect on our vacations. I have taken many of his friends with us on various getaways, and none of them have acted in the manner suggested by the OP .

Rather than a "generational" thing, I think its just a sad reminder of the entitlement mindset of society as a whole.

 

[mom2cinderella]

All photos are just a photo. Personally, I don't understand this photo-centric society.

However (unless there is something obscene happening) it isn't a terrible tragedy. I have been photobombed twice at WDW and personally speaking, they were both fantastic. They are two of my favourite photos taken at WDW (and we were there for 6 weeks, we ended up with thousands of photos)

A. You don't have to understand.

B. Good golly gee if I spent six childless weeks at WDW I wouldn't care about my photos either.

This WHOLE thread is a great example of the difference between those who let others effect/ control how they feel and those who choose not to give that kind of power over. I am absolutely shocked that so many here don't understand they have the ultimate say of whether they feel good or bad about a particular situation. YOU have control over how you feel...no body makes you feel anything. Your feelings are a signal to yourself of where your own sense of well being is. And, sadly, they will be utterly confused by this post as well. That's ok, though. I'm a happy person 99% of the time.

Right. Blame the victim. Gotcha.

And I imagine a lot of self-centered, self-absorbed people are happy 99% of the time.

 

[mom2cinderella]

If you ended up with thousands of photos, I would interpret that to mean you are card carrying member of the photo-centric society. Welcome!

Ha! Good point!

 

[TreyQ3]

wow I'm amazed at the photo shop skills of all these photo bombers, it isn't that easy with a busy background. sure in a simple plain one it is not so with a disney background.

I agree. I like to think of myself as having better than average photoshop skills. If all one needs to do is crop out the P-bomber then yes, that is easy. But if the P-bomber is in a critical area, there is virtually no way of removing that person especially with a moving background crowd. You would have to be very lucky to be able to blend a section from another picture to the P-bombed one. And to do that, you would be beyond the skills of a vast majority of people. Heck, just owning Photoshop is out of reach for most people.

 

[chrismb22]

If you ended up with thousands of photos, I would interpret that to mean you are card carrying member of the photo-centric society. Welcome!

My husband is an amateur photographer and can take a thousand photos on a week at the shore. He enjoys taking lots of shots of still life (waves etc) and I expect him to do this at Disney (don't worry -- he isn't that guy who holds everyone up or blocks people etc) he has a big lens and usually goes off to the side to get castle shots or lights etc. He likes experimenting with different angles/lenses etc. He is FAR from photo-centric.

Anyway, I brought this topic up to him as he is very proficient in photoshop and he says it's not as easy as it appears -- to be done correctly. As I said before, if someone jumps in and blocks say Mickey's head or whatever. You really can't just put Miickey on there without it looking silly.

 

[Luvchefmic]

the problem is your fun -the photo bomber- is spoiling my fun. That is where the problem lies.

do what ever you want to have fun if it doesn't impinge on someone elses fun. Sit on main street and act as goofy as you want, make all the faces you want. do all the stupid stuff you want in your own pictures, I don't care, just don't do them to me.

I just want one photo bomber to explain why their fun trumps my fun? what makes them so special? I didn't get the memo.

Hmm, you'll get an answer to that when I get an answer to the questions I have been asking through out as recent as a page or two ago They choose to ignore

and just for laughs one of the most out-spoken pro photo bomber jumps on a thread asking where all the PP photographers are Good Grief

 

[DVCJones]

Wow. 26 pages of this? If lives are seriously going to be ruined and garments torn asunder over if someone jumps into the back of one of the 275 pictures that people take at Disney on average just photoshop them out. Should you have to? No. But it seems like an easy solution to the rampant and flagrant photobombings that are plaguing Disney World.

Exactly!!! But what really gets me are the people who think it is ok to respond with physical violence!!! Talk about a skewed thinking...

God help the guy who walks by a would be photographer at that unlucky moment, only to realize they entered 'their photo space' which causes them to make 'oh no' face and have that photographer get physical with them over it.

Even if it is intentional, it is still a non physical action and ultimately they are not hurting anyone.

Physical retaliation should be reserved for life or death situations that may require you to defend you physical well being.

 

[DVCJones]

I'm so confused! I totally think photobombing is inconsiderate and immature, and I wouldn't want a special photo ruined by some stranger. However...every time I see a Disney photo that was photobombed, or read a description of one, I smile and laugh. They can be funny! Don't do it!* *But if you do it, be cute and clever about it.

I agree!

 

[shalom]

The thing is, no one only takes "one" photo today. Most people take 3-4+ photos of the "same" shot (eg: family in front of the castle) so even if one photo has "ruined" with a photobomber, chances are you'll have many more "perfect" shots.

You and I are not living on the same planet. Even now they're teens or older, getting a shot of all my kids at once is a serious challenge, and you don't get a second chance. Getting a shot of all of them looking happy at the same time? Even tougher.

Whether this is rude or not will not change the fact that many, many people like to prank others. It has become pretty mainstream in our society.

No matter how "mainstream" using others for your own entertainment gets, it's never going to be right, polite, or kind.

YOU have control over how you feel...no body makes you feel anything.

Try convincing a four year old of that. Or someone who has dealt with abuse. Or someone who is otherwise wired to be sensitive to people infringing on their "space."

Everyone has some control over their feelings, but to say that "nobody makes you feel anything" ignores the fact that feelings are the result of hardwiring combined with conditioning. Check out Nisbett and Cohen's cortisol and testosterone studies, for instance; cultural conditioning has a physical effect on body chemistry, and that physical effect influences emotion. People -- especially people in your childhood -- can "make you feel" things.

Most people can control their actions a lot easier than they can control their feelings.

Intentional photobombers are infringing on a part of another person's vacation experience (capturing special moments via photo). Their actions are affecting someone else in a potentially negative way.

Non-photobombers are not infringing on anyone else's vacation experience by attempting to take photos of their family members only (subject to someone walking into the frame accidentally). Their actions are not affecting anyone else.

The mystery for me is......how can the photobombers not see this?

Or, in my less classy summation:

Intentional photobombers; "I have the right to intrude on your photos -- but you don't have the right to get upset about it."

Non-photobombers; "Is it that hard to just leave me alone?"

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Exactly!!! But what really gets me are the people who think it is ok to respond with physical violence!!! Talk about a skewed thinking...

Oh my . I hardly know what to say to that.

Skewed thinking . As opposed to the rational, sensible thinking of the photobomber, who has so little self control and courtesy that he intentionally ruins the vacation photos of perfect strangers. And THEN, when those people get upset at his very deliberate, disruptive, rude and childish actions, he is surprised that they can't just "lighten up" because hey, he's had his moment of self-centered glory at someone else's expense, so all is well with the world, and it sucks to be you.

That's not "skewed thinking" at all.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

So the results of the poll show that 75% of people are opposed to Photobombing.

Therefore as long as you only photobomb 1 out of every 4 people you see, you should be ok.

 

[DVCJones]

Oh my . I hardly know what to say to that. Skewed thinking . As opposed to the rational, sensible thinking of the photobomber, who has so little self control and courtesy that he intentionally ruins the vacation photos of perfect strangers. And THEN, when those people get upset at his very deliberate, disruptive, rude and childish actions, he is surprised that they can't just "lighten up" because hey, he's had his moment of self-centered glory at someone else's expense, so all is well with the world, and it sucks to be you. That's not "skewed thinking" at all.

I'm not saying that it is ok to photo bomb anyone. I'm not saying you can't be upset if it happens. I am saying that it is not ok to get physically violent against someone who has acted in a non violent way against you.

The people who think it is ok to elbow, punch and even report (lie) they were assaulted IS skewed thinking.

I have never intentionally PBed anyone, I have been the 'victim' of PBers and found them quite funny and was not put off by them.

I just don't understand the end of the world mentality if it happens.

 

[chigirl]

We were pb'd twice by Disney characters...in 2009, I was taking a pic of my DH by Splash Mt and Goofy ran behind my husband and pb'd it, then he grabbed my camera and took like 5-6 selfies! We cherish these pics and this moment! He was goofing with my DH (who is a chubby guy, so goofy was really picking on him) and my 2 kids. It was early in the morning in June and the park was not busy yet.

We were then pb'd by Donald Duck in Epcot on Mexican Independence Day in 2012. I had a Mexican Donald t-shirt on and Donald must have noticed it, because as my DD and I posed for a pic, he jumped in, actually came out of the area he was taking pictures in a pb's us. We loved it...it was not quite the "unusual" experience I had with Donald in 2009 when he knocked me to the ground (in a joking way) while we were hugging and pretended to kiss me. THAT was a WEIRD experience! I think small children were scared. I still have the picture of me and Donald on the ground and me laughing my butt off. OMG, was his handler freaking out, kept asking me if I was okay.

But I would NEVER photo bomb a stranger! We do it all the time in our family functions, even my 75 year old mom does it, but strangers...no way. It's too mean.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I just don't understand the end of the world mentality if it happens.

And I, for one,, can't understand what would motivate an adult to act in such an offensive manner in the first place .

I am not advocating violence, nor would I be one to perpetuate that kind of response. But like I said before.....its the photobomber who acts first, and puts themselves in the position to receive a response (whatever that may be) from the victim.

 

[Burnedout]

So the results of the poll show that 75% of people are opposed to Photobombing.

Therefore as long as you only photobomb 1 out of every 4 people you see, you should be ok.

Lol, only if you do to take into consideration the population of the dis. It would be a guess that people here in general have or will visit more than once. Some moments in our history of many many trips have been once in a lifetime moments. But for the family who only visits once a photobomb for that one time only memory would be even more of a problem. Just thinking.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Lol, only if you do to take into consideration the population of the dis. It would be a guess that people here in general have or will visit more than once. Some moments in our history of many many trips have been once in a lifetime moments. But for the family who only visits once a photobomb for that one time only memory would be even more of a problem. Just thinking.

So what you're saying is, that if you can spot someone from the DISBoards, than it's better to photobomb them, because it would be less-likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip?

 

[seenellie81]

I see the biggest age group that thinks this is ok, and that is thankfully a small percentage or I really would loose faith in society, is the 30-45 age. A lot of these folks have children, wonder if they would think it so funny if people got between them and every picture with a character and their kid after waiting forever in a line? You know you'll be back in 3-5 yrs that 10 yr old will have the same reaction to Belle as the 5 yr old! Or I know walked past every character line and loudly said, "you know they aren't real, they are just college kids" "that's my neighbors kid, Hi Maggie" what if I found it hilarious to see little kids shocked and upset? Hey it's just a character meeting, no big deal right? I have the right to have fun.

Everyone has the right to pursuit happiness but not at the expense of others.

Everyone gets a trophy and everyone is special and can do no wrong is really starting to show up, I shudder to think how else it is going to reveal itself.

I dont PB and I dont love the idea of someone purposefully jumps into my picture. I have 2 kids and i am in the age group that you mentioned above. I also know that the likely hood of someone jumping into EVERY one of my photos is slim to none. I know that i take a ton of pictures, multiples in the same spot. If someone were to jump into my picture so be it. They were having fun. I love seeing people having fun. Better then a bunch of angry miserable people walking around and other people walking on egg shells not to upset them. I would laugh and move on. Not worth it to me to lose my cool over someone having a little fun, even if its not something that i would do. Now if they do something inappropriate and i see them doing it i wouldnt be happy thats disrespectful. Although if i didnt see it until i got home, and then noticed it... i think i may giggle a little.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

If you ended up with thousands of photos, I would interpret that to mean you are card carrying member of the photo-centric society. Welcome!

No my sister is We were there for 6 weeks and my sister is a professional photographer. I snap a couple of photos on my standard camera or phone and that's it.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I would. If they want to do something that stupid, they have to assume the risk. I'm not talking the person smiling in the background shot but you jump in and pull a Steven Tyler in my picture with Mickey or with my kid seeing the castle with Poppy for the first time, look for my knee or elbow to accidentally photo bomb your face.

This, I just don't understand. You'd risk going to jail over a photo? Sorry but that's where you would be headed if you assaulted anyone I knew or myself. (not that I photobomb but...)

A photo is 'just a photo'....I am most certainly not glued to my camera when at WDW. BUT...if I stand and wait for people to move out of the sight line, so that my photo can be as good as I can possibly get it, then yes, I am going to be peeved if someone thinks it's funny to jump in and photo bomb it. Most of the time, it wouldn't be a big deal. But if that photo is the one photo, that would have been perfect, and the one we would have used for our family holiday card? I certainly don't need you, being cutsie in the family photo!
There are plenty of strangers in my photos...and some of them are doing some pretty wonky things! I really don't care. It's just that one specific photo.

I personally don't photobomb. If other people are upset over others doing it, I can understand that. I don't share the view. I do understand it could be frustrating but it's not the "end of the world" that some posters are mentioning. It's certain not worth assaulting someone over (like in this above post)