I'm with you Frank. I don't feel so much comfortable shooting in groups. Too distracted, and with few exceptions my pictures turn out just acceptable to ugly.
Dario ----- Original Message ----- From: "frank theriault" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004 2:25 PM Subject: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups? > I was just reading the thread started by Vic, about bird shooting at Point > Pelee, Ontario, Canada. He mentioned 3 or 4 guys with big white lenses > coming along, scaring the birds, then going on their way, leaving Vic to his > solitary waiting game. > > It got me to thinking (I'm in an introspective mood today): I really don't > like shooting in groups. I mean, when we have a TOPDML meeting, inevitably > we get out the hardware and fire a few off, and that's fun. But, on one > occasion, we walked down the main street of Toronto, snapping as we went. I > didn't enjoy it. > > On another occasion, we were at a Jazz Festival. Several of us were near > the stage, snapping away. Again, I felt uncomfortable. > > Last time we went off to the country, and snapped some swans and geese and > horses. No fun for me. Well, maybe "no fun" is a bit strong. I didn't > mind it, but I didn't get that "rush" when I'm alone, taking photos. > > I mean, the socializing and camaraderie were great. But actually taking > photos when everyone else is doing so just doesn't feel "right" to me. > > Yesterday, I was walking the streets with a camera (naturally), and came > across a street performer, and among the several dozen spectators, at least > 6 or 8 of them had old SLR's (must have been photography class field trip or > something - even saw a couple of Spotties!). Three of them were standing > right next to each other, pointing their cameras the same way, snapping > away. They were all, essentially, taking the same photo. I took photos of > them taking photos. Oh well. > > I go to sports events, or see them on TV, and there are dozens of photogs > standing in the same place pointing their big white lenses <g>) at the same > play. I know, they may be snapping at different times, and those different > moments can mean hugely different photos, but essentially, what they're > doing is looking for the same shot, no? I know, they're pros, and that's a > whole different ball of wax, but still... > > I really prefer being alone when I work. Other cameras (at least when I'm > part of that "group") are a real distraction to me. When someone snaps, I > think, "am I missing something?". If we're all looking at the same thing, I > think, "they're all going to look the same". I also feel that a group of > photographers sticks out like a sore thumb, and that it's hard to be > inconspicuous (which is a big part of what I do - even if I'm interacting > with a subject, I don't want a bunch of other cameras around to distract > them from paying attention to me, if you know what I mean). > > Plus, a bunch of photographers can't help looking like geeks, while one, > well, one's just a guy with a camera (but in my case, likely looks like a > geek, but one geek's easier to handle than 5 <g>) > > I've really never seen this discussed around here before. So, what do you > think or prefer? Shoot alone or with groups? What's your preference, if > you have one? > > thanks, > frank
