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

FrankS

FrankS

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An interesting thread that got deleted during the restore procedure was one asking the question, Do photographers have more "loner" tendencies than the general population?

Several people posted, generally saying yes, and giving examples from their lives.

Gabriel suggested that this was not a tendency among photographers, who in his experience are quite social, but rather is among camera collectors.

If you want, we can start this again, as Randy inquired about it.

I indicated that I am quite happy when I'm on my own and don't require being around others all the time. I also noted that I enjoy motorcycle riding which is a solitary experience (with social opportunities while stopped of course.) I am also a natural observer, quite enjoying my job during university days as a doorman/bouncer, night after night watching the patrons become inebriated while I stayed sober and watchful.
 
I think that photographers are basically doing a "personal" activity, and that many of the things we do fall into that category. I'm a fly fisherman, which, while not necessarily done along, requires some space. I practice and teach T'ai Chi Ch'uan, and while it's certainly done in groups, requires one to be HIGHLY self-focused while performing the forms.

There's a natural protagonist/antagonist situation when photography happens, as the photographer is looking for a particular image, and is physically and mentally separated from the subject, whether it's formal portraiture, landscape, candids, or any other manifestation of what photographers do.

Also, some folks are naturally less social than others, and it seems to me (I'm not a psychologist, nor do I play one on TV) THAT would lend itself to the "Observer" role that a photographer assumes.

Enough!

Regards!
Don
 
Perhaps they do. I do my best shooting when I'm alone. I often go on shoots with other photographers in the area because we enjoy the social aspect of chatting in the local Starbucks then shooting for awhile. But I enjoy the 'photography' aspect of it more when I get up early, take a camera or two, perhaps a tripod if it's pre-dawn, and just stroll and think about what I'm shooting.

Gene
 
It may be also that lonely people who happen to be photography hobbyist find an alternative outlet to "meet" friends. It does not necessarily imply that every photographer is a loner.

Quite often, friends die or move away, and also relatives get busy with their own lives, and then having a friendly website such as RFF is a way to reach out to others who give back.

The hobby/love of photography and related activities (including the accumulation of lenses and cameras) is a way to enjoy life. Can you equate it to excessive chocolate eating [supposedly due to loneliness]? I am not a psychologist to decide.
 
FrankS said:
Those who control history control the future: Big Brother.
Click to expand...

How profoundly true.

I lost a few posts on that lost thread too. To make a long post short, I consider myself a loner. I yearn for alone time and sometimes dream of a contemplative life. While it is just who I am (I too enjoy flyfishing, no longer have a motorcycle but did for many years, practiced Tai Chi and meditation) it is also something I don't have much of right now and so crave it all the more. My life is full between my three teenaged children, wife of 20 years, and full-time job that includes weekends, holidays and on-call time.

I am less cranky, to use Gabriel's word, when I am able to find a little quiet time to just "be" or to pursue a hobby, say like photography.
 
Interesting question. I never really made such a connection. I enjoy going out with other people to shoot photos. I also enjoy it by myself sometimes. I don't mind being alone, but don't crave it. I'll have to watch myself I guess. Interesting that I once rode dirt bikes and have studied martial arts as some others mentioned. But I can't say I think that to be the norm. Maybe it is just those of us who go on forums? :D
 
doorman, motorcycle, martial arts, meditation, photographer, camera collector, hmmm....
 
Motorcycling as a group activity never appealed to me, as one part of the enjoyment was making impulse decisions on route changes. Nor is photography a good group activity I think, for some of the same individualistic reasons that would tend to break up the group.

One occasion in Yosemite Park I stopped when I saw 4 or 5 guys up the hill with tripods, so had to go up to see what interested them. We were all very polite and respectful in staying out of each other's way as we each tried to capture the landscape. One of them was lagging about a half mile behind his photo seminar field group and hurried off to catch them up.

Individual pursuits, maybe, but fun to share the results, whether a good ride story or some nice pics.
 
I think that '' lonely story'' is in strong connection with photography ...
Results are very good - Kudelka was lonely photographer, - that way of living
can learn a man how to watch and how to write the story with light and camera.
 
I'd re-arrange the wording of the question to ask whether loners have photography tendencies. Like artists and writers, photography is usually a solo practice. Musicians and actors tend to work in groups, and being a loner would make this difficult.

Maybe we could look at sports and ask whether tennis players and boxers are loners, while football (american or otherwise) players and baseball players aren't. (basketball is tougher. You can play it yourself, but then how good will you be playing for a team?)
 
FrankS said:
Gabriel suggested that this was not a tendency among photographers, who in his experience are quite social, but rather is among camera collectors.
Click to expand...
Actually, what I said was that there are photographers that are quite social (therefore "being a loner" is not an inherent tendency in general), not that photographers are social. I did suggest that the "tendency" should be more inherent in a camera collector. Collectors (of anything) tend to have certain social detachments.

In my experience, of course, which may be very well far removed from the truth in somebody else's dimension.

Besides, I like to poke fun at those that drive up the prices of the things I like. :angel: (and they at me)
 
Al Patterson said:
I'd re-arrange the wording of the question to ask whether loners have photography tendencies.
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It's not the same "she has a mountain-hiking ass" than "she has an ass that hikes mountains". We really don't want to go down that proofreading path.
 
By the very nature of the decision making required in photogaphy, observing composing etc, in a way you are always alone when photographing. So perhaps this imposed solitude has reinforcing effects on people predisposed to being loners. It may also help certain people handle being alone, given that photography can be an all consuming thing that can open many other doors.

By the way I have really enjoyed this place since joining recently, and look forward to more when I return from a trip to Samoa I'm off on tomorrow. With for those interested, a Rollieflex and old canonet, bagload of film, and a polaroid camera to offer locals a picture in exchange for photographing their lives.
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
It's not the same "she has a mountain-hiking ass" than "she has an ass that hikes mountains". We really don't want to go down that proofreading path.
Click to expand...

You missed the point. Proofreading has nothing to do with it. I'm just suggesting that the order of the question is wrong, IMHO. No more, no less. Open your mind grasshopper....
 
as I sit here smoking a cigar, BBQing some chicken...alone, I agree that photography is a loner experience by nature. I mean how often can you go un-noticed shooting street photography within a group of photogs? Kinda screws up the stealthy nature. I don't think it's a psyco thing, it's just something better done alone...know what I mean?

Todd
 
Todd.Hanz said:
...alone, I agree that photography is a loner experience by nature. I mean how often can you go un-noticed shooting street photography within a group of photogs? Kinda screws up the stealthy nature. I don't think it's a psyco thing, it's just something better done alone...know what I mean?

Todd
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I love solitude -I get all the non-solitude I ever need at work and at malls etc.

I learnt early on that hunting in a group was not effective. Analogies to fishing and hunting fit well here, as do crafts (eg oil painting and sculpture). Music is somewhat different...

And what about the "Loner" time in the darkroom or doing photoshop?
 
Interesting thread, I am usually a social animal with a wide varied group of friends. I like skiing and hiking in groups as well as meeting up with other camera nuts to talk about photography but when it comes to the actual mechanics of me going out and making photographic art, I do my best work alone.
 
FrankS said:
doorman, motorcycle, martial arts, meditation, photographer, camera collector, hmmm....
Click to expand...
Okay Frank, I was probably one of the schmucks you were watching from the door and the only martial art I was ever any good at was SPRINTING!! [whilst screaming like my sister] :eek: But I do still have a BSA Rocket 3 and a Norton Commando stashed in a barn in Oklahoma. I'd prefer to be knee-deep in Flint Creek with a flyrod in my hand as opposed to milling around in crowds. Yet, you don't get many people.shots standing in Flint Creek. Even if I go with friends to some event with the intent of us photoging together, within 15 minutes I will have ditched them and charted my own course - "...catch ya at the coffee shop!"

In my occupation, I get to spend lots and lots of time with a thousand different personality types. I can have slow periods of 3 or 4 days followed by dawn-to-midnight craziness for two weeks. No matter how crazy, I force myself to get away, get alone for a few hours here and there. It's a must and not negotiable.

There are lots of creative people out there. They're the types I prefer to hang with, run with, shoot with, coffee with. They're the types that "get it" when I ditch 'em to go shoot solo. No problem.

Me? A Loner? ... even in a crowd. But alone? Rarely ...just enough to stay sane.
 
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