Photographing Alone? Photographing With Others?

Cypress trees.  This is not how the image looked in daylight but this is how I envisioned it when making it. (click to enlarge)
Fujifilm X-T2, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 19mm; 10 sec. @ f/11; ISO 200; 10X ND filter + Polarizer

Most of my practice of photography over the past many years happens as a solo endeavor.  Generally, I find photographing with others to be a distraction to my concentration on "seeing" and being creative.  This was especially important in the old days when I was professionally tasked with photographing events.  I know I had to totally concentrate on my surroundings to capture the essence of the event.  Distractions by others only served to help me miss critical moments.  I worked hard to keep to myself back then.

As I photograph, I try to get into sort of a "zone," as would a runner, to give my full attention to visually editing the world around me, narrowing down "everything" to a small, select interesting subject, then subsequently creating images.  With others being around, I find myself mostly distracted and my concentration often broken.  It wasn't unusual for someone else to speak to me right when I was concentrating.  I would then have to struggle to get back into the zone.  However...

The other day a good friend from out of state was in town.  We arranged to meet and get together to go out, wander, explore the rural areas of southeastern Virginia and photograph. Contrary to what I just wrote above, it was a wonderful experience.  I realized I now find even more value in photographing with others, especially friends, who are like-minded in interests, values and photographic subjects.  There is something to be said about sharing the day with a friend who has common interests, a shared vision and of great talent.  I'll call it serendipitous.

Instead of being a distraction, I found the wide-ranging conversation stimulating which actually helped me create images.  Sometimes, as we moved through the countryside, I would see things to stop and photograph that he wouldn't.  Sometimes the opposite was true.  Collaboration, cooperation (and not competition) as well as helpfulness toward each other prevailed so both of us had a successful day quickly became the unspoken attitude.  As a bonus, he and I both use Fujifilm X-T2s and our gear was another subject of which we shared conversation.

Sunken Meadow Lake (click to enlarge)
X-T2, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 16mm; 1/180th sec. @ f/16; ISO 200

When we did see something of potential interest, we would stop the car at the interesting location and initially go separate ways.  We each explored the scene, made a few images from an initial vantage point, then shared what we had seen so the other would derive benefit from each others' vision.  Often times, I found what he initially saw more interesting than what I initially saw and vice versa.  Sharing vision.  Sharing the experience.  Helping each other be successful.  There is a lot to be said about that.

If you are a solo photographer and haven't gone out in a long time with a like-minded photographic friend, I recommend you do so.  I would be interested in your experiences in doing so to find out what you see as the positives and negatives of "group" photography.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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