Shooting with others, or Not

[NY_Dan]

Alone, because when shooting with others it changes the dynamic and the interaction with subjects. When I'm with others, I change my expectations.

 

[Darthfeeble]

i do almost everything alone...

Not with a twenty foot pole......

 

[Darthfeeble]

My wife is always with me, so that means I enjoy having company but I'm picky. I've done a couple club shoots and usually wind up off by myself.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

For me, photography and motorcycling puts me in a zone is contraindicated to social interaction. I withdraw into myself.

Same for me with photography and hiking. I become quite introverted and self-focussed - not a great way to make or keep friends or loved ones so I keep it to myself 🙂

 

[lukitas]

Alone, walking, camera in hand, strap wound around my wrist.
I practise the slowish, steady and relentless pace Terry Pratchett described so well in his men of the Watch.
I have a small thinking frame : I cannot look and talk at the same time. And I have a hard time shooting somebody who is talking to me; I can only respond with friendly grunts.

cheers

 

[Rayt]

Seems if I am with other people they will inevitably get into or block my shots. Worse if they are not photographers then I need to deal with the whining.

 

[nikon_sam]

Prefer to be alone while shooting...

 

[benmacphoto]

I usually go out and shoot alone.
But enjoy shooting with others.
Depends on the situation I guess.

 

[Monochrom]

I´d rather shoot alone, but i do shoot in one specific group where the organizers find interesting spots in my home town.

 

[michaelwj]

Both alone and with friends (which aren't mutually exclusive to other photo nerds I meet at clubs and the like - they inevitably are friends or I wouldn't shoot with them).
When I shoot with friends it is with a select few who I get along with photographically, as in share a similar way of working, and we generally shoot parallel to each other - not unlike toddlers playing independently next to each other.
Sometime I feel more confident when shooting with someone else, especially interacting with strangers - I love to do it but am not confident, so a "wingman" helps.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Alone, because when shooting with others it changes the dynamic and the interaction with subjects. .....

Well summarized! On those rare instances when I do go out with someone who is also a photographer, it is always "you go left, I'll go right, and we'll meet a few blocks away." When I am with someone socially, they must be able to read when I start to "get into the zone" and fade into the background until I am finished.

 

[kuuan]

Shooting alone is the norm and my preference.
Shooting out with a group of photographers I hardly get results, I am more concentrated in social interaction.

Taking photos while walking with somebody who is not a photographer I find almost impossible to do. Me taking photos interrupts the rhythm of the other, they disrupt the rhythm I need to take photos, the experience is unpleasant and the photos suck

but: doing street photography somewhere foreign like e.g. here in Saigon together with a second photographer we both can take photos of pretty much anyone and anything without them minding, often somebody even will start interacting with us in a pleasant and funny way. When I am out alone my stance is much weaker. My friends with whom I have met to go shooting feel and have experienced exactly the same.

 

[jsrockit]

I do both and enjoy both... I can still see while talking and both offer opportunities the other doesn't.

 

[sinisaostojic]

In my case two senses, seeing and listening, do not cooperate - particularly if each sense focuses on different thing. Therefore, I shoot alone and with friends, however if I want to focus, I prefer to be out alone...

 

[grouchos_tash]

I have never gone somewhere with the sole intention to take photos (outside of shooting weddings etc). Me and the wife are always together. I think I would feel awkward shooting alone; I would feel too conspicuous.

 

[pvdhaar]

I enjoy walks with my wife and kids, and although photography is never the main focus, I still shoot a lot. Being in their company hasn't hindered me in taking the occasional good image, because what you do learn from all this, is to see and work fast..

 

[giganova]

Except when I'm on vacation with my wife, I'd rather shoot alone. My behavior is too erratic for others to accompany me anyway (going left/right, walking back & forth if I see something interesting, waiting for the light to change …)

 

[farlymac]

I have shot with friends, and I have shot with folks that I was giving photo tips to, but most times I shoot alone. Just my nature, really, being a bit of a loner. I have the kind of life where I can jump at the opportunity to go shooting, so that precludes anyone tagging along. And our local club that I have just joined doesn't do group outings. Fine with me.

PF

 

[skopar steve]

Another one in the always alone camp. When my wife and I travel together she quickly becomes bored with my chasing images.

 

[DominikDUK]

I loved to go out shooting with my ex-girlfriend who also liked photography. We were never in each others way and we would talk about why we choose a certain angle or subject. The dialogue helped me make better pictures because I had to think about why I did certain things.
Since I am currently single 🙁 I have no choice but to photograph alone or with the dog but he doesn't talk much and has limited interest in photography.

I don't like to photograph in larger groups though, they are usually in the way of making good photographs either standing in the way or trying to copy the picture I've just made.