No, Dan, Shoot the Villagers
This is no photochop. What you are looking at is a genuine, Vietnam era camera gun. It gives new meaning to photographers everywhere saying they’re going to go “shoot” their subject! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!1!
But seriously, it’s pretty impressive from a situational engineering standpoint. Gizmodo was able to get a hold of a guy who was a war photographer in Afghanistan recently. He gave a good, detailed explanation of the why behind carrying a camera gun. He has some other term than “camera gun” (rifle stock), but really camera gun is pretty much the coolest term I’ve heard in a long time so we’re going with it.
It was developed as a way to have really steady long zoom shots, while being able to get out of your way in a hurry. I think rally car photographers should think about this one too. And maybe wedding photographers who specialize in the action sequence of the ceremony.