In the age of advanced cameras, equipped with cutting-edge technology and blistering burst rates of 20, 30, or even 120 frames per second, there’s a trend that’s become borderline absurd: the compulsive overuse of rapid-fire mode. It’s time to ask the hard question—why are so many photographers spraying and praying, even when their subjects aren’t moving?
Let’s be honest. Do you really need 47 nearly identical images of a stationary flower? Or that immobile building you’ve captured on your travels? Is your cat lounging on the couch really so unpredictable that you can’t time a single shot? Rapid fire has become the crutch of choice for many photographers, but here’s the hard truth: it’s killing your skills and flooding your hard drive with useless files.
The Purpose of Burst Mode
Burst mode has its place, don’t get me wrong. It’s a godsend for fast-paced action like sports, wildlife, or fleeting moments like a bird taking flight or a sprinter crossing the finish line. It’s a tool, not a default. Its job is to ensure you don’t miss a moment that’s too fast for human reflexes.
But here’s the kicker—burst mode is unnecessary for things that don’t move. Stationary objects like landscapes, architecture, or posed portraits don’t require the machine-gun approach. A carefully composed, well-timed single shot can achieve far more than a dozen near-identical frames.
The other thing that I don’t understand is that when amateur photogs use burst mode, they still keep their camera on single shot focus, so in theory only the first shot they’ve taken for their fix of burst mode shots will be in focus. Odd.
Does using Burst Mode make you Feel Good?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: some people overuse burst mode simply because they think the rapid shutter clicks sound cool, like they’re on the sidelines of a World Cup final or covering breaking news for National Geographic. It’s performative nonsense—an ego-driven habit meant to signal, “Look at me, I’m a serious photographer.” Newsflash: the sound of your shutter doesn’t make you a pro, and firing off bursts while photographing a stationary lamppost doesn’t impress anyone. If you’re more concerned with how your camera sounds than how your images look, you’re doing it wrong. Photography is about vision, not noise.
The cat is not going to move. You do not need to turn on burst mode for this photograph.
Why Overusing Burst Mode Is a Problem
Burst Mode Encourages Laziness
The rapid-fire mentality shifts the focus from skill to luck. Instead of carefully observing the light, composition, and timing, many photographers rely on sheer quantity to (hopefully) produce one good shot. This shotgun approach reduces photography to mindless button-mashing.
Burst Mode Devalues the Art of Photography
Photography is an intentional act. When you fire off 50 shots of the same scene, you’re diluting the thoughtfulness behind capturing a moment. The best photographs tell stories with precision and intent, not by accident.
All the files taken in Burst Mode creates a Nightmare of a Workflow
Sorting through hundreds of burst-mode shots is a time sink. For every one “keeper,” you’ve got dozens of duplicates, each slightly different in a way only pixel peepers would notice. Good luck finding the perfect frame when you’re drowning in unnecessary clutter.
Burst Mode is a Storage Hog
In the era of 45MP sensors and RAW files that eat up 100MB per image, rapid-fire shooting obliterates your storage space. Why waste precious gigabytes on photos you’ll never use?
The Underlying Problem: Fear of Missing Out
At the heart of this burst-mode obsession is fear—the fear of missing the “perfect” shot. The irony? That fear often blinds you to the perfect shot in the moment. When you’re firing indiscriminately, you’re not actually seeing what’s in front of you. The photographer becomes a machine operator, disengaged from the scene, clicking mindlessly instead of connecting deeply with the subject.
Great photographers don’t just shoot; they observe. They wait. They time their shot. Burst mode removes that discipline. The result? A camera full of mediocre frames instead of one or two exceptional ones.
When You Should Use Burst Mode
Let’s not demonize burst mode entirely. It’s invaluable for:
- Capturing fast-moving wildlife or sports.
- Complex moments like confetti falling at a wedding or a champagne cork popping.
- A child’s unpredictable facial expressions.
But here’s the thing—these situations involve movement. If your subject is static, why are you treating it like it’s a Formula 1 car?
Retrain Your Eye, Not Your Shutter
The next time you feel the itch to fire off a dozen frames, pause. Think. Ask yourself:
- Is this subject moving?
- Can I capture the moment with one well-timed shot?
- What am I trying to communicate with this image?
Take a deep breath and focus on your craft. Frame the shot. Adjust your settings. Wait for the decisive moment. Then press the shutter—once. You might be surprised how liberating it feels to create something with intent rather than hoping for accidental brilliance.
The Bottom Line: Respect the Art of Photography
Rapid-fire mode is a tool, not a lifestyle. If you’re leaning on it for every shot, it’s time to reevaluate your approach to photography. Respect the art form. Embrace intentionality. Use your camera like an artist, not a machine gunner.
The next time you’re tempted to rapid-fire at a still subject, resist. Slow down. Frame your shot. And remember—you don’t need 50 frames to capture the moment. You just need one great one.
