I started this blog post back in January, but never really finished it due to lack of chances to take photos of “offending” friends. Now I am posting it because, well, the final comment I wrote makes even more sense now and I am glad I saw that at the time.
This is what I composed before the lockdown…
I love going for walks by myself. I especially love going to photo walks by myself. Not that I don’t have friends, I do. Most of them are spread all over the world so that makes actually being with them tricky at times. When I am with them I would rather BE with them. I can go on photo walks with other photographers if I really want to, but most of the time I am happy to wander by myself.
There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly non-photographers can sometime, inadvertently do a few things that lead to a less enjoyable day out for me. I am not saying they make things unenjoyable, just less so.
For instance….
- They sometimes walk in front of me when I am composing a shot, completely unaware of my stance. When I stop and lift my camera, it is not a chance for you to scurry ahead…especially if you are wearing a brightly coloured coat or jumper that will dominate the shot.
- They sometimes get impatient and wonder what the hell I am looking at and why would I want to take yet another photo of some random object.
- They sometimes pretend to be models, make pretend camera noises, make comments like, “oh here we go again”
- They sometimes walk ahead so quickly that I lose sight of them completely then we spend the next 15 minutes sending messages to locate each other.
To be fair these are the worst instances from my closest friends. The closer you are the ruder you are safer to be?? We love each other anyway.
But then amazingly, these very same people might begin to look at what you are looking doing and start to see things differently. They will start to ask you how to improve the images they are capturing and you become even closer.
Some even start bringing a “proper” camera along on the days out and try to improve even further. Some even infuriate you and become quite skilled in a short space of time.
What I do suggest though, is setting boundaries, letting your friends know what are your goals for the day out. If it is a “proper” photo walk for you and you want to capture certain things, tell them. If it is a day out purely to be with your friend and you might happen to take one or two shots, tell them that too. Communication is the key to a good relationship, so sayeth a million help sites. Best of all, leave the camera at home sometimes..shock, horror…yeap…spend time with your friends and family, really BE with them.
Once all this is over I hope lots of my friends walk in front of my camera and ruin my shot.
I have trouble getting in a photo zone when I’m out with my camera and anyone but my wife. I still really enjoy photo outings with others and join in on photo walks but I never expect to come home with portfolio grade work on such outings. When I’m working alone (or with my wife who understands how I work) I tend to take a lot of time to work a scene. It’s something that get self conscious about, even with other photographers. So I think I just tend to go into a casual photographic mode on such outings. Maybe I need to ponder better communication as you said. Thanks for posting this!
I tend to rush when I am with someone, thinking, that will do. I get annoyed with myself rather than the other person. I am glad your wife understands, you married a “gud un”.
Yep I tend to rush too when out with others, even photography friends.
I’m best off alone on photowalks too. My wife is the only companion I like to have along because she also likes to make photographs and so we both are aware of each other and don’t step into the way.
I love how you wrote “make” instead of take. That really shows your point of view.