Taking a photo with a firearm?

[Tigurius]

I've seen a few photos of firearms being used as props. i've always wondered, how often are these firearms real? Another thing I've noticed, is the photos tend to be "highly" unlikely, as the person with the firearm always has their finger on the trigger when not aiming (such as taking it out of it's concealed place or pointing it at their face to "blow" the barrel... with their finger still on the trigger), in the real world, I would never have my finger on the trigger unless I'm ready to shoot, in fact if you look at any photo of pro shooters they never have their finger on the trigger unless ready to shoot... anyway!

To the point of this topic, let's see some of the greatest photos out there that use firearms for a prop.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Tigurius

I've seen a few photos of firearms being used as props. i've always wondered, how often are these firearms real? Another thing I've noticed, is the photos tend to be "highly" unlikely, as the person with the firearm always has their finger on the trigger when not aiming (such as taking it out of it's concealed place or pointing it at their face to "blow" the barrel... with their finger still on the trigger), in the real world, I would never have my finger on the trigger unless I'm ready to shoot, in fact if you look at any photo of pro shooters they never have their finger on the trigger unless ready to shoot... anyway!

To the point of this topic, let's see some of the greatest photos out there that use firearms for a prop.

There was a shot in the Art Nudes section a few days ago that had a model holding a pistol behind her back, her finger on the trigger. The same question was asked, so I'll field it.

In most cases, the weapon will either be real, a replica, or a non-firearm. When it's real, its usually being handled or has been prepared by someone who knows what they're doing. At least I should hope so. This means that the magazine is empty, the chamber is empty (and triple-checked) and the weapon is safetied.

If it's fake, its usually some kind of cap gun (they can be VERY convincing in certain situations) or a replica of some sort (say a model, or a training tool). Many Police forces use plastic or metal weapons that are essentially all but the interior mechanisms. For all intents and purposes it's real, except that it'd never work.

Then there's the non-firearm weapon, something akin to a CO2 or Airsoft weapon. These fire non-lethal plastic BBs using compressed air. There are some almost-exact replicas that would fool even the most die-hard weapons aficionado. They are, however, totally non-lethal (point blank they do some slight damage, but theyre pretty hard to use to kill).

In all cases, though, the finger is on the trigger for "effect". Most people are not weapons range masters, and therefore dont know the "rules" of gun safety.

[no.absolutes]

I did a set with our wedding rings and my husband's pistol once... it was completely unloaded - the only ammo around was also used as prop as well. I would never ever ever think about using his gun as a prop unless he were with me to double, triple, quadrouple check that it were unloaded and safe.

[candleman]

i've used a capgun once..(you know the orange end on the barrel) with finger on the trigger.

it was pretty obvious it wasnt real by the embossed bullets on the side, and i still had a knuckle-head belch at me about gun safety. it ticks me off when idiots say from their high horse "finger off the trigger for safety" when they are too stupid to see its not real,
for goodness sake eating is more dangerous.

if its safe.. whats the problem? put the finger on the trigger if it adds to the image.

[WooD]

It's about photography, and the story the photographer is trying to tell, not a class on gun safety.

I saw the mentioned thread in the nude section, and thought the finger on the trigger was appropriate for the image.

I've yet to use a gun in an image, but my dream shoot will involve a Thompson machine gun. It wont be a real full auto, and I might have to even go with a fake, but if I can get all the props together, its going to be a bad ### shoot.

Sucks I had a semi auto version a few years back, and traded it off for another rifle.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by WooD

It's about photography, and the story the photographer is trying to tell, not a class on gun safety.

I saw the mentioned thread in the nude section, and thought the finger on the trigger was appropriate for the image.

I've yet to use a gun in an image, but my dream shoot will involve a Thompson machine gun. It wont be a real full auto, and I might have to even go with a fake, but if I can get all the props together, its going to be a bad ### shoot.

Sucks I had a semi auto version a few years back, and traded it off for another rifle.

You had a Thompson and you traded it off?!? 'Scuse me while I go figure out how to send you a slap in the face through the mail.

[tonyniev]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

There was a shot in the Art Nudes section a few days ago that had a model holding a pistol behind her back, her finger on the trigger. The same question was asked, so I'll field it.

In most cases, the weapon will either be real, a replica, or a non-firearm. When it's real, its usually being handled or has been prepared by someone who knows what they're doing. At least I should hope so. This means that the magazine is empty, the chamber is empty (and triple-checked) and the weapon is safetied.

If it's fake, its usually some kind of cap gun (they can be VERY convincing in certain situations) or a replica of some sort (say a model, or a training tool). Many Police forces use plastic or metal weapons that are essentially all but the interior mechanisms. For all intents and purposes it's real, except that it'd never work.

Then there's the non-firearm weapon, something akin to a CO2 or Airsoft weapon. These fire non-lethal plastic BBs using compressed air. There are some almost-exact replicas that would fool even the most die-hard weapons aficionado. They are, however, totally non-lethal (point blank they do some slight damage, but theyre pretty hard to use to kill).

In all cases, though, the finger is on the trigger for "effect". Most people are not weapons range masters, and therefore dont know the "rules" of gun safety.

The machine pistols in picture of Miranda with two Mac 10 in the Nude section are FAKES. They are plastic. I own many firearms and ccw(s) holder and thus can carry my concealed pistols incluning open bolt machine pistols in 31 states and I agree with the concern raised. They are very valid safety issues. Fake guns are cool so next time you see some goo replicas or toy guns buy them for props.

When I handle my fireamrs outside the range I always make sure the ammos and magazines are not in the same room as the firearm, so in this pix all the magaiznes are empty: Th rifles are all real-

[WooD]

Originally Posted by ressalg

You had a Thompson and you traded it off?!? 'Scuse me while I go figure out how to send you a slap in the face through the mail.

I traded it for something I thought was a lot cooler at the time.

Since my above post I did a shoot with a girl, and gun. She forgot to bring her 9mm, so I handed her my 45 for the shots.

http://digital-photography-school.co...irls-guns.html

She has great multitudes of experience with weapons. Spent 4 years in the Air Force, and is now on a tour in Iraq with the AF reserve.

[IAMAMRA]

probably wont like this one then eh?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g?t=1268060775

Shot this one last weekend. Slight tweaking in Lightroom, but otherwise straight from the camera: