Grip and Rip

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What does the phrase “grip and rip” mean in photography?

The phrase “grip and rip” means exactly the same thing as “spray and pray”. It means to set your camera in a fast burst mode, shooting several photos per second, and then to simply hold down the shutter button while hoping to capture the perfect image. The phrase is a bit of a dig that with this technique it could be seen as blind luck rather than skill whether you actually capture a great image.

Dan Carr Red Bul Illume
In some cases you can actually use a grip and rip technique to great creative effective, as with this award-winning sequence image that I took of a professional skier.

Sometimes it is used in a more beginner/intermediate manner when a photographer is not familiar with the subject they are shooting, and therefore unable to predict exactly when the right moment might occur. However, sometimes there might also be legitimate practical uses for the technique when shooting fast-paced action where it would be nearly impossible to press the shutter button at the correct time. For example, photographing a diver entering the water at the perfect moment, or an eagle grabbing a fish from the water with its talons.