Shoot to Thrill: A Hard-Boiled Guide to Digital Photography

Chapter 7. From Chump to Champ: Tampering with Photos

“It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window.”—Raymond Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1940)

When I’m mindin’ my own business and a thug draws a snub-nose .38 on me, my goal is simple: Shoot the goon before he shoots me. Nail him with a steady hand right between the eyes—sharp, precise, no noise (TIP: Use a silencer)—then walk away like it’s a Sunday stroll. Never let ’em see you sweat.

It’s not unlike shootin’ a portrait: compose it in the viewfinder; aim for the eyes; keep a low ISO to minimize noise. Bang! Walk away, and pass right by the darkroom door.

Great ...