"The Pack Of Wolves" Method

dcsang

dcsang

Canadian & Not A Dentist
Local time
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Joined
Jun 16, 2005
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I was wandering one of the local neighbourhoods with my girlfriend yesterday when I bumped into a local RFF member.

He stopped me and we chatted briefly.
I asked why didn't he come to the meet up we had on Saturday - it was a small gathering - mostly talking, having a drink/something to eat and catching up with people to find out how they are. We also talked a bit about art, photography, and, of course cameras.

The local RFF member then said that he wasn't into sitting down and having a drink or fondling gear - which, I would say, the folks there were all slightly guilty as charged - however, if the group of us were going out to shoot, then he'd be happy to come along.

This got me to thinking about how I like to perform this "art" (or my attempt at art) - I'm pretty much a solo type of guy. I don't get the "group shoot" sort of thing. While I like the group of people, as a whole and individually, I can't seem to wrap my head around a pack of folks heading out and shooting together.

Some folks, obviously, can do this but I look at photography as a solitary art more than as a group exercise.

Maybe I'm just not "getting it" - and maybe some of you can explain this to me..

Cheers,
Dave
 
I have not experienced the whole group thing (which seems to me like riding a motorcycle in a big group). But I did meet up with an RFF member weekdn before last, and we did a little exploring together. It was eerie how we chose completely different angles and approaches to anything we shot. I think this proved valuable. Perhaps this dynamic would apply to a group ...
 
It works suprisingly well as a group thing, I would be very much a solo shooter too, I ditch my fixer whenever possible, but I've been out in Paris and places with a few friends and as long as its free and loose its fun to compare peoples views of the same places and how visions can be so different.
 
I feel there is room for both. I go out alone most of the time, but always enjoy going with someone too... just because you can see how others work and what they choose to photograph in the same setting as you.
 
Another lonesome wolf here. My preference is to be in a mountain or in a big city shooting alone.

Except for two exceptions:
1. My family. It becomes a family event.

2. Group meets (once or twice a year). I have zero expectation to get anything photographically satisfying when I went for one of these. Instead it is a time to share tips and tricks, talk gear, hang out (I don't drink beer, but coffee and tea are cool), and take group pictures. For an a-social guy like me, it's refreshing to have a picture of me with other people from time to time. :)
 
I'm not really a fan of going out in a group. However, I do think it is a good way to get over any self conciseness that one might have about shooting in public. Personally I like to pair up with just one person. It is easier to get around, you still get the boost in confidence knowing that you have someone else with you and best of all you don't draw as much attention. I think a cool idea for a group meet up would be to get together with some roles of c-41 (your choice), pair up and head out in different directions to go shoot a role or two. Then meet up a couple of hours later, leave our roles of film at a 1 hour photo lab, THEN go for a beer while we wait to see our photos.
 
Photography is a solitary pursuit for me, and always has been.

I once witnessed a group 'glamour' shoot at the studio I was working at and found it pretty repellent. I've also seen group shoots when I've been out on the streets, and the sight of 15+ guys with big DSLRs and zoom lenses chasing a vagrant down a side street whilst the 'instructor' shouts details on the best shutter / aperture combo to use just annoys me.

I'm sure that there are people out there who gain a great deal of pleasure from shooting in groups, and not all are like the ones I've had the misfortune to witness, but I'd rather plough my own furrow.

John
 
Its fun sometimes to go out with another shooter. You can see the world with another set of eyes, watch their technique and what-not. I think both approaches are valuable, if you do the same thing all the time it gets stale.
 
dfoo said:
Its fun sometimes to go out with another shooter. You can see the world with another set of eyes, watch their technique and what-not. I think both approaches are valuable, if you do the same thing all the time it gets stale.
Click to expand...

Much depends on the individual concerned.

John
 
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. :)
 
I like working with one other person I know and trust near me - my girlfriend or a good friend or my brother, but otherwise I definitely like being alone with my camera.

I'd hang out with some photographers but I don't think it'd be productive for me to go shooting with them.. at all... It really takes a lot of concentration and physical exploration/meandering for me to get into the right mind for good shots.
 
I think it depends on the subject matter and on the group.

I go out with a local flickr group once every month or two on a shoot. Sometimes it is just wandering around a park or neighborhood, sometimes more focused.

I generally get my best shots out on my own. Shooting with others does a few things for me:

- Gets me to locations I might not know about or explore normally.
- Gives me views on how others shoot a particular scene.
- A chance to learn about others processes, what people are shooting (and a chance to handle gear I'm thinking about purchasing)
- Introduces me to a wide range of people, a few of which have become good friends.


It definitely isn't for everyone. I go through periods where I don't feel like I get anything decent on these shoots and question why I spend time on them. Over all though, it has been worth it for me.
 
I don't do it often but I don't mind getting together with other photogs to chat, but I shoot alone... always. Well, almost always.
 
"Shooting together" makes me remember phrase "Let's play, Kino" :) Something like that. Taking pictures in groups is for nude photogs on budget, it's cheaper to hire model for a group asessment.
 
last summer I was in France for a few days with my wife, later a group of friends, very nice people, joined us for other few days visiting the area in a (very well) guided tour. As results I got some interesting pictures from the first days but my pictures from the group tour are mainly banal and superficial. I'm not able to concentrate on my pictures if I have to be carefull about what other people are doing, are they already leaving? where are they? Moreover if there is an interesting subject and I see already 4 or 5 people jumping on it and maybe entering in my frame (I like wideangles) I feel in trouble. I think it is very personal, some people from the group made a good stuff.

robert, almost lonely photographer...
PS: my wife and me were the only ones shooting film...
 
From time to time, I go out shooting with some other photo pals. Like others have said, it's a refreshing and creative boost to see what others find interesting. When we go out, we have a deal that if one person finds an interesting subject, they always point it out to the other person. Even if you have been shooting a long time, there is always something to learn, especially in the art of pre-visualization.











































When I go out with my pals, I like to take shots of them and I'm always appreciative when they do the same. For decades, I barely had any picture of me working. There is also the safety aspect of working in pairs/threes when out on the street. Or working in alleys in the big city or even in remote locations of the urban environment.

I subscribe to the lone wolf school as well but it's nice to have company every once in a while, especially when it's one of my cubs.

All photos of me taken by Kat.
 
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dcsang said:
I was wandering one of the local neighbourhoods with my girlfriend yesterday when I bumped into a local RFF member.

He stopped me and we chatted briefly.
I asked why didn't he come to the meet up we had on Saturday - it was a small gathering - mostly talking, having a drink/something to eat and catching up with people to find out how they are. We also talked a bit about art, photography, and, of course cameras.

The local RFF member then said that he wasn't into sitting down and having a drink or fondling gear - which, I would say, the folks there were all slightly guilty as charged - however, if the group of us were going out to shoot, then he'd be happy to come along.

This got me to thinking about how I like to perform this "art" (or my attempt at art) - I'm pretty much a solo type of guy. I don't get the "group shoot" sort of thing. While I like the group of people, as a whole and individually, I can't seem to wrap my head around a pack of folks heading out and shooting together.

Some folks, obviously, can do this but I look at photography as a solitary art more than as a group exercise.

Maybe I'm just not "getting it" - and maybe some of you can explain this to me..

Cheers,
Dave
Click to expand...

Yup, I work much better on my own. Some of my best work came from just being by myself. It's hard to come by these days. I am usually with my wife and/or dogs when we go places I like to take my camera. I can imagine if I had kids it would be even more difficult.
 
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