Weekly Poll: Do you prefer to photograph alone or in a group?

[mseigafuse]

I am pretty new to this and haven't had an opportunity with a group yet, but my wife and son just get annoyed with me when out walking. I want to stop and shoot and try various angels (better background, etc). I guess with other photogs that wouldn't be an issue

[shutternut]

Originally Posted by Nicole

I personally really enjoy going on photowalks with the Wellington Flickr group

This wouldn't be wellington, fl. would it? I live in that area - mind passing on info if it is? I've never photographed with a group - might be something else for me to try I'd love to check it out.

[Owin]

Personally, I prefer to shoot with a friend. We usually go out to a location to shoot, usually going with the flow, either shooting together or wandering off and seeing what we can get.

I am wary of shooting alone, for a personal safety reason, especially in the city. Walking around with a DSLR around your neck has an attractiveness for a certain type of person, who would like to use it for their own nefarious purposes and don't mind the use of violence to relieve you of it.

[Aperture Nine]

Alone, always alone. That is why I take pictures! It is soo relaxing, and when I am somewhere it takes some time before I see the motives. I have to sit or walk around calmly to find the interesting spots. If I have people with me they interrupt that process all the time and I come home with nothing.

In a forest there is tons of motives. Millions. Very well hidden sometimes, but you won't see them if people interrupt you, can't wait for you or have their opinions. I need to be me.

My pictures are highly personal. I like when people like them too, but I take them to have memories of fabulous spots and trips and moments. Being interrupted while enjoying these moments is like when someone talks during silent beautiful music.

Sometimes I have to bring my daughter with me and during sunset I got some fantastic portraits of her in the soft light.

[ding]

I've never done a walk with a group of photographers, but I've done it with geocachers, and it's wasn't that fun. We had about 20 caches setup along a trail, and rather than being a relaxing walk in the woods with a few new friends, it was chaos. We ended up skipping a few caches and taking a shortcut just to get away from the group.

[shootoften]

I have never done the group photo thing, just with another person or two. Sometimes (with someone along), it seems to make taking photos a lot harder. I feel kinda rushed, and obligated to sorta stay with them. This type of outing is not a bad thing, and I'm certain I will do it again, but for me photography is a release from the stress of everyday life. It's a time to get away from it all and collect my thoughts, (plus hopefully make some quality images). You just can't do that when you're with someone else, so I guess my preference would be to "shoot by myself."

[redthedunns]

Originally Posted by ditch_azeroth

i like being a lone wolf, but sometimes we do travel in packs. that said, having other photographers with you on the shoot can sometimes be an itch as they may get into your shot - but that wouldn't be a problem if everybody just not get in each other's way.

I agree about the high probability that other people getting in your way/in your shots. That would really annoy me. I definitely prefer to take pictures by myself.

Great poll!!!

[velvet4269]

I'm not saying I *won't* go in groups to take pictures, but photography is "me" time ... it's the time I get to spend hiking through the wilderness somewhere, getting everything out of my system. I don't have to work on someone elses time table, I can go at my own pace, and see the things I want to see.

I used to joke that my justification for spending money on my camera was that it's cheaper than therapy, and I get more out of it. After nearly a year into photography, I've found there's some truth to that statement.

[Nobie]

Alone. I couldn't do a group, it would annoy me to a great extent. However, sometimes when I am shooting at night in seedy areas, it would be nice to have somebody watching my back while I'm hunched over my camera staring into the viewfinder completely vulnerable to attack.

[windrider86]

Forgive me as this is about to sound so terribly wrong but i truly would rather go alone. My husband always likes to tag along and he always has to inform me of how, when and why and then when i take to long he will stand there and tap his feet and do the heavy sigh thing.