trying to restore: do photographers have more "loner" tendencies

To reprise my restoration-deleted post (wow, how Kafkaesque is that?): I'm very much a loner when it comes to my photoraphy (and cycling, too: once an off-road motorcyclist, I've long since abandoned engines for road bicycles, on two-lanes with wide shoulders, like Route 9W), but am emphatically not lonely.

Galfriend and me went out to Governor's Island today. Somewhat reluctantly, I agreed to take the guided tour, led by a guy named Mike Shraver, an Arkansas native with a deep sense of history – military and otherwise – laced with just enough laconic wit, which made the tour as enjoyable as it was eye-opening in terms of stuff I didn't know (and my knowledge of American history, while far from scholarly, is reasonably deep). But, from time to time, I'd go wandering about on my own, finding all sorts of things that interested no one but me, clicking frame after frame, then jogging to catch up with the rest of the group.

This is the "loner" strain kicking in hard, but striving not to be too anti-social in a given setting. Galfriend knows and understands this. She'd have dumped my butt long ago otherwise.

As for hanging with other photographers: other than one-on-one, it doesn't happen much, and rarely when out shooting. We know each other too well to even suggest a group-shoot (even the sound of that seems a tad illicit, doesn't it?). I know their work, and like it a lot, and I also know what level of concentration goes into it. A get-together over dinner or drinks or the like? Sure, maybe even bring over some recent prints to pass around and discuss, I love that. But when I take camera in-hand, it's Hi-yo, Silver, and off down the trail by myself. It's nothing personal. 🙂


- Barrett
 
yes photographers are loners—at least during the act of photographing. i shot with another rff'er today in fact. we didn't last two minutes before we were each going our own way.

🙂
 
solitude is necessary for me to do the thinking for composing in photography. same as in fly fishing my other big time hobby, albeit they involve different types of problem solving.
 
It seems that many artists, craftsman and photographers are "natural loners." I know that I tend to be that way. My other "career" was that of social worker, which provided a sense of balance.

For the past 12 years, I've worked part-time, and as a volunteer at an agency that supports Holocaust survivors and their families. Thus, I have a strong need to "get away from it all," and lose myself in image making, editing and just a bit of GAS.

And finally, I have very little patience for hours of so-called "small talk" at social gatherings.

Cheers, mike
 
What a pity the other postings have been deleted!

Perhaps i did not phrase the original question as clearly and accurately as i could have. Photography in its nature (similar to painting, writing, meditation, composing music, etc) is a solitary activity. One must feel comfortable being alone for extended periods of time. I think we all agree that being alone does not necessarily mean feeling lonely. For some of us, there is a time for connecting with people, and there is a time where we need solitude as much as we need oxygen. I know i am as much drawn to photography as i am to writing, painting and taking a leisurely stroll.

Sometimes, i feel that photography is almost a meditative experience on its own.

Of late, my favourite mantra is: When all is whirling around you, there is one that stands unmoved.
 
I don't agree that photography as a whole is solitary by nature. Whilst this is true of classic street photography, the portraits of someone like Avedon or Liebowitz require a whole army of people and are based on collaboration and interaction, with not only the subject but assistants, art directors etc. etc.
 
It's not a social hobby in the way team sports or drinking down at your local pub are. It works best when you are alone with your camera and have no other distractions.

I think its perfectly natural then that people who take their photography seriously tend to be comfortable keeping themselves company, particularly if they are into darkroom stuff which necessitates lots of time alone.

Still there are exceptions like fashion/wedding photographers I guess. My perception is that anyone in that line of work has a greater need for 'people skills' than someone heavily into landscapes for instance.
 
why is this so important? so important that it has to be addressed twice? virtually all artists work in isolation when they are creating and when they are thinking it is an equally contemplative, introspective and pensive time. but this is not necessarily a definition of a personality type, just a method of working through the creative process. at an exhibition, including on-line, we all stand back and wait or observe the reaction to a body of work, but if this question were an exogesis for a doctoral thesis some overzealous socio-psychology student would see it as an opportunity to draw a line of definition of a particular (photographic) somatotype.

thinkers are thinkers, we tune out and act, perform and create. but we drink wine and have discussions in like-minded groups and disassociate ourselves from those who might vehemently disagree. so do accountants. and some like the challenge of being questioned which manifests possibly and likely different personality traits. passive aggressors? agro-recedents?

photographers aren't necessarily to be defined as loners but individuals who are loners might decide to be photographers. many psychotypes are loners but that does not make loners a particular psychotype. if a serial killer is a loner and a photographer is a loner is a photographer a serial killer?

i am a loner when i work and i discuss my work and reasons for working with groups whom i respect and seek out for dynamic and critical debate. i stand my ground for what i feel is my way of working within a certain time or space where what i am doing requires undistracted attention. and i listen to criticism and apply it to the art. this is called learning. but people are important in the debate as much as the process, very much as is this forum, however anonymous.

i work alone, very much a loner when i am working. when i am not being a photographer i am who i am with my friends, i discuss ideas and i cook sausages over the barbeque. when i am a photographer with my clients or friends i am a professional or, in some eyes, a wanker. but i always go back to the camera for satisfaction, not solace.

dj
 
Michael I. said:
Street photography is best done alone or with another person tops.
Portraiture, on the other hand,is very much about social skills.
Click to expand...

I guess that's why I don't do portraiture.

Very great "loner tendencies" here. I love peace and quiet.

Ed
 
If I wanted to perpetuate the crude Aussie humor stereotype I'd probably say something like the following:

Photography is a lot like masturbation, you can do it with your friends but its a hobby best practised alone!


Not that I would ever sink that low, no way! 😀
 
I work alone because that is the way I take pictures, not from any need for solitude. Pros often have to work with a crowd of people, assistants, stylists, editors, art directors, clients, models, etc. So photography is not necessarily a solitary calling.
 
Last edited:
shutterflower said:
At least that is how it is for me in reality. In Paris, I had my iPod in, and I just walked around for 11 days with my camera. Covered alot of ground.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a hell of way to spend a holiday if you ask me. I bet you walked away with a much better understanding of the city than any tour guide could give you, too.
 
I feel about being a photographer as I do about being a writer. I sure as hell don't want anyone coming into my study for a chat when I'm writing, nor do I want someone following me around and talking when I'm photographing.

When it's all done with, I do enjoy talking about both with fellow writers and photographers.
 
Even very social photography like weddings events etc. has it's very loney moments: When you are taking pics you are not taking part but are observing.
On the other hand even street photography has it's social moments as you are not sniping down everybody but ask people from time to time - and poeple ask you.
But there are loner tendencies on the collectors side...getting stroinger as soon as the collector drives away his last remaining friend when he starts talking for hours about his precioussss.
But portariture be it clothed be it nude a photgrapher does need the skills of a seducer...also many photoreporters need that talent

But I have noticed that taking pics on a stroll (that easily can become an expedition) is something when I forget that I am alone
 
Last edited:
In photography I'd like to be "the fly on the wall." Completely un-noticed. Of course that not always possble.
 
Just got a Minolta AL RF camera. Its shutter release sound is as quiet as my friend's M6. And for about ten bucks, yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom