Photolemming

Photolemming is a term used to describe a phenomenon observed in certain digital photography contexts, particularly with early digital cameras and some smartphone camera applications. It refers to a situation where a camera or application automatically and repeatedly takes a burst of photographs in quick succession without explicit user instruction for a continuous shooting mode. This often occurs when the user presses and holds the shutter button, or sometimes even with a single press if the device interprets it as a prolonged input.

The term itself is a portmanteau of "photo" and "lemming," evoking the image of lemmings blindly rushing forward. In the context of photography, it suggests the camera is "rushing" to take many pictures without necessarily being intended by the user for such a rapid sequence. This behavior was more common in devices with less sophisticated image processing and user interface design, where the distinction between a single press and a held press might have been less clear or the default action for a held press was to activate a rapid fire mode.

While sometimes useful for capturing fast action or ensuring a usable shot from a fleeting moment, photolemming can also be a nuisance. It can quickly fill up a device's storage with redundant images and may drain the battery faster. Modern digital cameras and smartphone operating systems generally offer more intuitive controls for burst photography, allowing users to select it intentionally rather than having it occur unintentionally as a default behavior. The term is less frequently used now as camera technology has evolved.