Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
Hi! I should say that I cannot answer this question ... I never actually shot in a company. Once or twice I've been invited to the studio where I shot with another guy. Once or twice I went for a walk with the friend and he or she had a camera. But this does not count, as it was more or less random. So my answer is - I've been shooting alone until now, not by choice though. Boris
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
In a message dated 5/16/2004 5:27:04 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 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 -- Alone. I enjoyed the one PDML meet I have been on so far, but I find it distracting to shoot in a group. I also enjoyed the studio portrait lighting class I took, but I had to wait my turn to take photos. Maybe I am just a retarded photographer or super slow, but I can't always decide what I want in the frame in a few seconds. Sometimes I need to take longer to frame than others seem to. And/or I want to commune with nature or the scene or something before I start taking photos, and I really find that impossible to do in a group. But a group is fun for other things -- camaraderie, shared experiences, learning. So I don't expect to get any really good photos at GFM, but I do plan to enjoy the people. Or maybe I just don't get that many decent photos anyway, but I seem to get slightly more when alone. Marnie aka Doe ;-) In other words, I find other people fun, but artistically distracting.
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
> 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 Hi Frank. As you mentioned in the opening paragrah,other than when the TOPDML gets together,i usually shot my my self. If for only one reason,no one in my household has any interest in this hobby at all.Other than looking at the pictures when i'm done,thats it. To do my non horse work,is best done by vehicle,as you have seen on your Stouffville trip,its a long way between things.LOL I have the front seat full of bodies lenses and stuff,so a passenger would have to sit very gingerly. I noticed on a few of our downtown walks,we get some pretty wierd looks and comments,however if i walk alone,now with the 6x7,i seem to blend in.Only when that mirror flaps.lolBut then i could take out the yashica-mat,but i would make a poor weapon if accosted Dave
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
I like to shoot alone. It gives me more time to concentrate on getting the results I want and not worry about keeping up or getting too far ahead. Noise is for me less the issue than time and schedules. The expectation of how much should be covered in one day varies greatly in any group. I find it distracting. Collin --- 'The duck with 3 wings and a loaf of bread is brother to the turkey.' -- a Polish proverb from Banacek Sent via the WebMail system at mail.safe-t.net
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
Hello Frank, Well, I'm just a lone wolf, I always shoot alone. I like to take my time, but I would feel uncomfortable seeing all the others waiting for me to fire that damned shutter at once. In those moments I'm very concentrated, you may shoot a cannon behind me, and I likely wouldn't notice... Some people may interpret this wrongly as not paying attention to their presence, which is the last thing I want. There is not a single shop in the whole town where you can buy a new SLR. Only two shops which occasionally have used ones brought in by customers (half the cameras needs repairing). So going out with a camera bag and a SLR around my neck makes me look definitely like a geek. Not to mention the cases when I take my tripod. Even if it is a lightweight Velbon CX-300, definitely amateurish, I get many people staring at me. Just my cents. Attila
RE: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
> 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? I get a rush whether I'm alone or with a group. Other cameras don't distract me, and I like seeing other people's gear - sometimes I'll see a piece of gear that would really suit me, and that's always helpful. I don't worry about looking like a geek - I look like a geek whether alone or in a group. It's interesting that you mentioned seeing groups of people shooting the same thing, because quite often when I'm shooting with my husband, we'll be shooting the same thing but in a slightly different way. It's neat afterwards to see the different ways we saw the same thing. It's a bit competitive and stimulating (not in that way - ). Anyway, photography is a very solitary endeavor, but I'm a pretty sociable person so I'm always looking for people to shoot with. :) Amita
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
g> At first I started to agree with you, but upon further reflection I realized g> that my most enjoyable outings were with one or two other fellows. But we never g> actually shoot to gether, rather we go to the same area together then kind of g> split up and shoot, meeting up agin for lunch, or to go to the next location, or g> the return trip, or whatever. Well I agree. Just as long as I don't find myself shooting the same style as the other. Sharing the events is half the fun again, and photographers are sometimes worse than fishermen with regard to talking about their photographs ;) Actually, I did enjoy such events time to time, we photographing in our own style, than reliving it over a beer afterwards. Best regards, Frantisek Vlcek
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
Darn, you are making me think again, Frank. At first I started to agree with you, but upon further reflection I realized that my most enjoyable outings were with one or two other fellows. But we never actually shoot to gether, rather we go to the same area together then kind of split up and shoot, meeting up agin for lunch, or to go to the next location, or the return trip, or whatever. There is a mild challenge involved, "They are going to get some great shots so I will have to work harder or I will look bad in comparison". There is comradery, but we don't get in each others way or intimimdate our subjects. So, I guess what I am talking about here is a "middle way" between the ones you mentioned. -- frank theriault wrote: 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 ) 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 ) 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 "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines -- graywolf http://graywolfphoto.com/graywolf.html
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
Frank Theriault thought about the phenomenon of a phalanx of photogs photographing at the same time and asked: "Shoot alone or with groups? What's your preference, if you have one?" I like to shoot alone. I can concentrate on my subject without distractions. I do occasionally take field trips with camera clubs and it's annoying. I spend too much time trying to keep the other photographers out of my backgrounds, watching the legs on my tripod etc. I don't get as many good pictures when I'm with a group. I enjoy the social aspect of it but the photography isn't as good. Tom Reese
Re: Survey: Shoot Alone or in Groups?
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 ) 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 ) > > 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
