Shoot alone or with friend(s)?

[vrgard]

<recently frustrated mood and wanting to say it>

I am beginning to wonder why we even have regional forums on here. Sure, I shoot alone a lot, but shooting with others _can_ be valuable. Photography is not _nec_ a solitary pursuit. Yet I keep getting the impression that people feel it is or should be.

It's not like my friends and I point our cameras at the same things. There were seven of us up in the hospital at Alcatraz last time I was there. We were all shooting the same small area. I am the only one that took this particular shot of the hostpital sink, and it is the shot of which I am the most proud I have ver taken. Sad, dark, desolate. Exactly what I felt when I looked at it.

I would've gotten up there without my friends being present, and I wouldn't have taken that shot without having seen what others were doing, as stimulation for my mind.

</recently frustrated and feeling like saying it>

allan

Just to second Allan's comments here, I had the same experience when we did the SF Muni Railyard shoot. Got some of my "inspiration" from noticing what others were shooting. Didn't mean I copied their shots as the angles, framing, lens size, DOF, etc., etc., were different. But it was great to see opportunities that would've been missed had I been shooting alone.

-Randy

 

[FrankS]

Everyone is different, thank God.

 

[vrgard]

Yep, FrankS, I agree. And just to be sure my communication is clear, I agree with you that there is real pleasure is shooting alone, particularly when in that zone of photo consciousness. In addition to that, I also find shooting with others enjoyable, as my previous post expressed. Yet, as you point out, there is something about being focused on what you are doing without the distractions of others. For example, I recently went to one of those art and wine fairs with a friend fully expecting to give my new 28mm lens a workout. Didn't happen. Why? Not sure but I think part of it is that I was too distracted talking to my friend, comparing our thoughts about different artwork, etc. So, sometimes alone is good, sometimes group is good, sometimes it's just time to put the camera away and have a glass of wine (smile).

-Randy

 

[Kin Lau]

I go shooting most frequently with my wife, everything from urban stuff with RF's & SLR's, to scenics, to birds with dslr's + 500mm lenses.

Some times we go off in different directions, but most of the time we're shooting together. We frequently look at a particular scene/angle and discuss how to shoot it.

 

[jan normandale]

Whenever I shoot alone, I prefer to be by myself ... 🙂

huh I didn't know you went out photograping with George!

 

[RayPA]

<recently frustrated mood and wanting to say it>

I am beginning to wonder why we even have regional forums on here. Sure, I shoot alone a lot, but shooting with others _can_ be valuable. Photography is not _nec_ a solitary pursuit. Yet I keep getting the impression that people feel it is or should be.

It's not like my friends and I point our cameras at the same things. There were seven of us up in the hospital at Alcatraz last time I was there. We were all shooting the same small area. I am the only one that took this particular shot of the hostpital sink, and it is the shot of which I am the most proud I have ver taken. Sad, dark, desolate. Exactly what I felt when I looked at it.

I would've gotten up there without my friends being present, and I wouldn't have taken that shot without having seen what others were doing, as stimulation for my mind.

</recently frustrated and feeling like saying it>

allan

I thought we did quite a successful group shoot at the railyard. 🙁 That was a blast and some good stuff came from that. Alcatraz sounded great too, but it seemed the idea was wrested away from Lenny. You shouldn't be so down on the local efforts. Let's look at doing something smaller. The get-togehter kind of fell apart, but I think that we were looking at a bit too much in one day. Anyway, we're OT in this thread...so:

Shoot alone or with friend(s)?

I sometimes think I would ask a fellow photographer/friend if they would like to join me on one of my day-long treks around the city or elsewhere. But, then I think about my style of shooting, my mentality, and it occurs to me that I am a more solitary person than I think, perhaps.

How do you prefer to do things? Alone or with another?

I shoot alone mostly—by necesscity really. Planned shooting time is precious and rare for me. That's a lifestyle/personal commitment issue. It's also one of the reasons I carry a camera with me 99% of the time. When I do get some extended time it is unplanned, and I grab gear and go. I like to shoot in "odd" locations too (e.g., parking garage, bus/train station, alley, a particular street corner). I'm not sure of the appeal that has for others. My favorite shooting partner was a girlfriend I had many, many years ago. We'd go just about anywhere to shoot at the drop of a hat. Aaah, the good OLD days. 🙂



.

 

[DougK]

I shoot alone almost all the time. That said, my girlfriend (still don't know how this happened, turned around and poof, there she was...but I'm liking the whole thing 😀) is interested in learning about photography and is also quite willing to be photographed so I may be sharing more of my photo time.

 

[Phoenix Phil]

I do both but mainly alone especially with non-photographers. If shooting landscapes then I can shoot with a good friend that is also a photographer. However, if I am with family and friends exploring the outdoors, then I revert to being a snapshooter. I find that non-photography friends will wait until I am done but I feel pressure not to keep them waiting. Shooting in urban areas with a documentary style is definitely a solitary pursuit.

 

[Ducky]

I shoot alone even when I'm with others. It annoys them so I prefer alone. I did go with a photo group on a walking tour organized by a local park. I met some nice people and enjoyed sharing thoughts about what to shoot. There was very little agreement.

 

[raid]

I teamed up with a friend in several shoots. I was then using MF and 35mm equipment while he was using LF equipment. We had an unagreed on, agreed upon pace, you could call it. Nobody would dominate the pace at which we would hike and take photos. I came back with some of my best photos. I also did similar trips alone; I also got back with excellent results, but it was more fun being in company.

Raid

 

[sf]

I found that my cousin has a great eye, and I actually would watch him for ideas when things were running dry for me. And then it became very mutual as I saw things he didn't.

This was on my Euro-trip to Paris and Britain.

He is a very creative person and has an eye for subtle things that I generally overlook.

So, sometimes, if you have a small enough ego, shooting with someone else gives you a chance to see more.

 

[dmr]

Whenever I shoot alone, I prefer to be by myself ...

huh I didn't know you went out photograping with George!

Actually, if I woulda been in town this week, I could have seen George T and the D's as they were performing locally last Saturday. 🙁

 

[rpsawin]

Usually I shoot alone. I found out quickly that taking a non-photog on a shoot is extremely boring for them and frustrating for me. So, I usually go alone.

I have some friends who accompany me on certain trips. Even then I match up styles. Don't take a street shooter on a landscape shoot. RF shooters don't mix well with mf or lf partners.

I do alot of 2-4 day road trips and almost always go alone. I find that I do better work when I just need to take care of myself and don't have to waste energy debating where to eat and where to stay.

Bob