"The Pack Of Wolves" Method

[Leica All Day]

Hey Dave.....if I am going out somewhere to photograph something specific, or if I am going on a trip....then I have to be alone........that said, I am always down to hang out with fellow rff members and have a couple of drinks and chat about photo stuff......

2 days ago, I met up with a fellow member who is passing through Bangkok....good times, good times...

cheers, michael

 

[ebino]

I have the sense that ebino in #13 meant territorial posturing, but I really like what happened: "territorial pasturing". What a wonderful phrase-concrete! Not to mention its validity as a metaphor.

sorry English is my third language and i try hard but i make mistakes. however, now that you jumped on my mistake in a classic territorial posturing gesture, i have taken notice of your challenge and i will look at you from now on as a rival and hence wait for you to make a mistake so that i could embarrass you and score points with the group moving higher in the hierarchy.

anyway, jokes aside i think i proved the premise of my initial post correct. 🙂

 

[kxl]

As a social event....

Yes I like hanging out at a restaurant or bar with like-minded individuals, discussing anything related to photography.... But I also like like hanging out with like-minded individuals discussing anything related to non-photography interests.

When out shooting...

I do NOT consider this a social event. The last time I shot with a group (a couple of months ago) was at the worldwide Photowalk (I went to the one in Pasadena), and it was more of a social event that a "serious" photographic endeavor (at least to me)... I prefer to blend into a scene that I am shooting. When yoiu are out on the street with a group of shooters (some with DSLR's and tele-zooms), you become an object of curiosity to the same subjects you are trying to shoot.

 

[robert blu]

@ Nikkor AIS: nice pictures, I like specially N° 10 and you are correct, sometimes it is refreshing to shoot with friends...
robert

 

[Ducky]

Absolutely beautiful, what a nice feeling it must have been.

 

[dfoo]

hell is other people. Sartre famously said and I agree. every time you in get into a group situation, human drama follows and soon there is negativity, rivalry, and downright hostility. and even if its polite on the surface, rivalries and other negative emotions run deep. in case of guys especially if some attractive female is part of the group then the territorial pasturing starts and gear is used as lure. so, next thing you know, its no longer about photography but more about beating the other guy or trying to buy gear to impress group members and gain dominance. I have been guilty and once i almost got into a fight because i told another amateur that his domke f2 bag looked so pristine as if it had never been outside. he got really pissed and wanted to fight with me. go figure. 🙂

Not knowing you but it sounds to me you are a bit anti-social... Does not play well with others... you know that type of thing.

 

[ebino]

Not knowing you but it sounds to me you are a bit anti-social... Does not play well with others... you know that type of thing.

Photographers are sensitive people. Also one has to be anti-social to some degree to take up photography. There has to be some neurosis to drive creativity. This neurotic and sensitive nature of photographers make them a dangerous group to hang around with, especially when you have your own issues... 🙂

 

[ampguy]

I've bought and sold several pieces of leica and m-mount gear from bay area folks who lurk here, but don't go to the b&g things. They're gearheads, but the bay area group is sort of edgy, and there are a lot of just normal family type hobbyists out there.

That said, back in the day, it was interesting going shooting with Ray, we'd go to San Mateo, and would shoot on different blocks, then call and meet up at a coffee shop between where we both ended up. That worked well, I never saw anything really interesting he was shooting at, and I'm sure he was embarrased to be seen with me trying to do "stealth shooting" from the hip!

Anyways, you never know what kind of group you're going to run into until you go meet them up once. The fact that they still get together regularly is a great testament that have a lot in common. They're all pervy stealthy leather wearing hipster scooter riding types for the most part now, having their subjects calling the cops on them and all, stuff I am basically too old for, but if I were younger, I'd probably enjoy hanging with those kids.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I wish I lived in Toronto, I am 130km away..I like shooting together, it triggers me to shoot more and I concentrate more. Otherwise when I am out with my wife I usually rush not to make her bored 🙂

 

[Warren T.]

For me, photography is a solo activity. I find that whether I'm shooting with one other person, or a pack of photographers, I find myself detaching from the other people and going into my own zone anyway. Because of this, I usually avoid going to group photography activities. B&G or exhibit/museum visits are different though, and I don't mind going to those.

--Warren

 

[kdemas]

I generally like to shoot alone if I'm really trying to accomplish something but I really enjoy meeting up with fellow RFFers and others. Here in the Bay (Amp, we need to get you to come along sometime!) we often meet up, agree on a time and place to meet up again after shooting, and set out on our way. This works well as you have some "alone time" to really shoot if you'd like.

I especially enjoy going to exhibits and events as a group, always fun to get differing opinions and thoughts.

 

[Gumby]

Absolutely beautiful, what a nice feeling it must have been.

As an image I would agree. As a parent, however, it makes me cringe. The seatbelt is not being worn correctly. A friend of mine wore his seatbelt like that, but the brakes had to be applied quickly (his wife was driving while he was sleeping) and he is now a quadrapaligic.

Other than that odd reaction of mine, it is a beautiful image of a cute boy who has the good sense and common decency to use a Nikon!

p.s. When my son was about that age he was the only "shooting buddy" I really felt joy in having with me.

 

[jesse1dog]

There is some sort of security in a male /female pairing of photographers shooting together. There is someone to watch my back and I can watch hers. Somehow the pairing works well as being non-confrontational as far as the general public seems to be concerned - they must be OK people if they are 'working' together, but two guys together : or a posse of guys?
But generally I take photos alone, although I feel 'safer' with a female companion.

jesse

 

[dcsang]

Hi folks.. thanks for the input - I know I can "deal" with the group thing but, I guess, I prefer being on my own as I tend to be able to take my time - I always think that if I'm with a group, even if I'm with one other person, if I'm slow with taking my photo(s) that I am holding them back.

I have shot with individuals - just going out shutterbugging - I wait for them, they wait for me, and it usually works pretty well - but group wise.. well.. I guess I sort of feel guilty if I'm not "keeping up" with the pack 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Ezzie]

I prefer to go solo. I don´t know why, its just how I do it. Not that there are many RFF'ers near me, a few APUG'ers maybe.

 

[jsrockit]

I usually go out with only one other person at a time... or two. That works well and everyone goes their seperate way when they see something and then meet up with people when they are done. In between, it is cool to have someone to talk to...

I've been with groups as large as 5 people. Nobody bothered us and it worked out ok. I think the point is that when you go out with a group, you don;t have to act like jackasses and you also don't have to be in a tight group... you can span out over several blocks and still catch up with the group later.

 

[M4cr0s]

Went out walking with the local photo club one time. Never again! I know what I'm doing and what I'm working at, it might suck, but it's my "thing". Half-arsed "oh, nice" comments from 50 people to the images of the same 50 people won't help anyone evolve in the craft.

At most I'll walk with a buddy, but I might find even that counter productive in terms of photographic results. Nice to have someone to talk to though. I guess you could say I'm a bit anti-social, but sometimes making an image feels kind of like going to the bathroom, it's a private, personal process and I don't like to be disturbed, even if just by a very slight need to keep up with whomever I'm with. It's not a problem having people hanging over my shoulder on a job/shoot though, be it a uncontrollable event such as concert or a very much planned set. I'm probably just freaked out by other photographers ;-)


Mac

 

[emraphoto]

hell is other people. Sartre famously said and I agree. every time you in get into a group situation, human drama follows and soon there is negativity, rivalry, and downright hostility. and even if its polite on the surface, rivalries and other negative emotions run deep. in case of guys especially if some attractive female is part of the group then the territorial pasturing starts and gear is used as lure. so, next thing you know, its no longer about photography but more about beating the other guy or trying to buy gear to impress group members and gain dominance. I have been guilty and once i almost got into a fight because i told another amateur that his domke f2 bag looked so pristine as if it had never been outside. he got really pissed and wanted to fight with me. go figure. 🙂

That's awesome... I might use that one day.

"your bag looks so nice"

 

[leguaan]

I can imagine doing landscapes in a group, having a chat while setting up the camera, and generally enjoying the atmosphere with nowhere to rush (only limitation being the movement of the nature).
Otherwise, when I want to shoot street / reportage / travel photo, I just need to be alone. Walking quickly, absorbing everything happening around me, all the tiny events in quick succession, my brain somehow mapping the patterns and bringing me into a kind of trance. For me, the pictures aren't as important as the picture-taking experience. And the real kick comes when being alone, and concentrating on the countless events happening around.
Much like Amelie from Montmartre watching over the roofs of Paris...

 

[VictorM.]

I'm definitely a loner.

After the Rivoli get together Saturday, I went over to Yonge/Dundas and used up a roll of Tri-X on some young guys arguing about the differences between the Bible and the Koran.