Photobombing

Photobombing is the act of purposely putting oneself into the view of a photograph, often in order to play a practical jokes on the photographer or the subjects.[2] Photobombing has received significant coverage since 2009.[3] In discussing a "stingray photobomb" picture that became popular, Andrea DenHoed suggests that the photobomb label "implies a narrative of surreptitious sabotage,"[3] although in the sense of unintended and/or initially unnoticed people in the background of spoiled photographs, photobombs have existed for much of the history of photography.

This image taken in Wales in c.1853 is possibly the earliest example of a photobomb[1]

Photobomb in Iowa City, 2010

Photobombing has been known to get global exposure, mainly due to the bandwidth and ease of dissemination afforded by the Internet, and the abundance of snapshots by smartphone cameras and other hand-held devices. A number of websites include sections on them, or are entirely devoted to photobombs.

In 2014, "photobomb" was named Word of the Year by the Collins English Dictionary.[4]

Photobombing can be described as a person, intentionally or unintentionally appearing in a photograph of someone or something else and intentionally or unintentionally taking the focus and attention off of the intended subject.