Togging : Solitary or Social ?

Togging : Solitary or Social?

  • The more the merrier - it's a great social hobby

    Votes: 25 19.8%

  • Peace & quiet - just me & the camera

    Votes: 67 53.2%

  • I'm never alone - the voices in my head keep me company

    Votes: 34 27.0%
  • Total voters
    126
SarahLee

SarahLee

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I've seen a few threads about TP meets in South Wales - and if one ever falls at a convenient time I might actually get round to joining one.
I also know that a lot of people on here have "tog buddies".

However, although I'd like to give one of the meets a try, for me my photography is very much a solitary thing.

I spend all day at work managing people. I do voluntary work for a charity a couple of evenings a month. When I'm at home, I'm always the one that ends up sorting family problems out.

Camera time is "me-time" and alone time.
Even if it's just an hour a week, that's an hour when I can indulge in something I want to do, with no other people around.
Whether I'm shut away in the spare bedroom or outdoors, it's lovely just to have that bit of time with no noise, no distractions and nobody else to think about.
In fact, that's probably why shooting people / portraits really doesn't appeal to me.

So I'm curious :shrug:
Am I the only anti-social one here?

How many people use photography as another way to socialise and meet up with friends and how many people enjoy it as alone time?
 
SarahLee said:
I've seen a few threads about TP meets in South Wales - and if one ever falls at a convenient time I might actually get round to joining one.
I also know that a lot of people on here have "tog buddies".

However, although I'd like to give one of the meets a try, for me my photography is very much a solitary thing.

I spend all day at work managing people. I do voluntary work for a charity a couple of evenings a month. When I'm at home, I'm always the one that ends up sorting family problems out.

Camera time is "me-time" and alone time.
Even if it's just an hour a week, that's an hour when I can indulge in something I want to do, with no other people around.
Whether I'm shut away in the spare bedroom or outdoors, it's lovely just to have that bit of time with no noise, no distractions and nobody else to think about.

So I'm curious :shrug:
Am I the only anti-social one here?

How many people use photography as another way to socialise and meet up with friends and how many people enjoy it as alone time?
Click to expand...


You're not alone, I'll admit to being a social animal and enjoy being the company of people with or without my camera BUT there's nothing to beat an hour or 4 wandering aimlessly with my camera all on my own.
 
I prefer being on my own most of the time,pretty antisocial I suppose..........:shrug:
 
I really like going out togging with just one or two other people, there's someone to bounce ideas off and you look less of a tool when you try different things like lying on the pavement to get a shot. I find the big groups are a bit cumbersome at times and the going can be slow. Alone I tend to not linger long enough to get the shot I want. I'm talking about shooting in cities mind - it's different in deserted countryside.
 
solitary for me, but i wouldnt object to going out with someone if they wanted to come along. although not many people want to be out and about between the hours of 5 and 7am!
 
I ALWAYS go it alone, every time. No distractions, no fuss and I can go where I please.

Not that I'm a miserable old sod or anything, even though I am single. :D


(PS, that's actually a very good question, as a facebook friend asked me the same thing earlier on today).
 
I like both really. I'm happy to go off on my own all day then I can take my time and think about the shots but I also like the meets. I enjoy swapping ideas and stories, trying equipment and having a good old chat.

Andy
 
Alone, always alone. It may sound like a good idea to go with friends... But they just **** you off and you cant go at your own pace. I am the kind of person who will take one photo on P mode then see what i need to do to make it work, do all the adjustments, then re take the photo. No photoshop **** for me! But that takes about 10 mins if it needs a lot of changes and people cant wait for me!

Daniel
 
I love nothing better then to go off somewhere on my own or with just the dog, although he can be a pain at times :cuckoo:
Its great to be able to do things in your own time, I love nothing better then to sit some and just wait for nature to come to me.
 
On my lonesome suits me.

I have real issues committing myself to times / places and like nothing better than to just head off with no pressure and go wherever the wind blows me.
 
Mixture. On the one hand, you just can't beat the feeling of peace you get standing alone on a beach an hour before sun up, feeling like you're the only person for miles. On the other, I have a couple of photographer friends I quite enjoy wandering around with, having a good natter and an explore, occasionally taking the odd photo too :)
 
I like a bit of both :naughty:

I'm quite happy to shoot alone but enjoy the meets I've been on and always keep an eye out in the meeting section just in case DD needs a lift :D

The social side and the chance to learn are equally important.
 
both,

I go out on my own for a chillout and some landscapes

I love shooting people which you just can't do on your own :p and meets are great to learn
 
i'd love it to be more sociable however i have only 1 friend who likes photography :)
 
It really depends on what I'm shooting.
 
I'm never on my own as the OH always comes with me - we like it that way!

We don't often do meets, but having been on 2 or 3 Flickr ones, we've both had an enjoyable time. Always been relatively small groups and we (well, he does - I'm still a 'point & shoot with a DSLR to an extent) both know that those won't be the time to take time over a shot or get the tripod out on the particular type of meet we've been on.

It's not something we do often, but it's been OK so far! Met some really nice people and had a good chat along the way!

I don't totally fit any of the options!
 
On my own, however I do think it would be quite nice occasionally when in the wilds somewhere to have someone else to talk to, especially in the evening.
 
it depends on the situation,

if i'm out clubbing with my mates and using the point and shoot, then more the merrier

if however i'm out using the SLR kit then i prefer to be on my own so i can go at my own pace, the only exception is urbexing in which i would definitely go with a friend, if a problem arises
:)

other than that i'm never alone the voices keep me company :D
 
fracster said:
I prefer being on my own most of the time,pretty antisocial I suppose..........:shrug:
Click to expand...

Me too, we'd get on just fine, you being nowhere near me and me being nowhere near you, its the only way to conduct a proper social shooting session..
If you are actually shooting with someone, there is no way on Earth they won't be in frame all the time and getting right on your tits.

anti-social = win..
 
I do like to spend time on my own messing with the camera and ted to gt better pictures that way, but i also very much enjoy the meets and going out with friends or my OH :)
 
If I go out on my own I take photos, if I go out with others I rarely do, mainly because I feel rushed and don't like to keep people hanging around.
 
SarahLee said:
How many people use photography as another way to socialise and meet up with friends and how many people enjoy it as alone time?
Click to expand...

Mostly alone time for me, although I've been to a couple of meets arranged here and might go to the Swansea one coming up, if things fall right.
 
dinners said:
On my lonesome suits me.

I have real issues committing myself to times / places and like nothing better than to just head off with no pressure and go wherever the wind blows me.
Click to expand...

:agree:
 
I swing both ways.

Solitary togging means I have the time to be selfish and do exactly what I want to do, and spend as long as I like doing it. e.g. if stalking wildlife I don't necessarily want a noisy throng whooping and hollering, or having mobile phones going off every two minutes. I must admit there are times when I am more than happy to take a walk in a country park, enjoying the sounds and sights of nature, and then perhaps to take a seat besided a lake and just see what turns up. I don't think the experience or results would be the same with a large group.

Social togging is exactly that. It's a bit of fun. Maybe your results will be a little compromised, or maybe you will be encouraged to try new things, safe in the company of like minded fellows. e.g. I have no real interest in doing "street" photography, not least because on my own I would feel insecure about photographing complete strangers, but tagging along on a London meet, for example, means I can stick a cautious toe in the water and see how I get on. I'd say that such gatherings are at least as much about making new friends as about the togging itself. For those who want to learn, such gatherings can be very useful. For those who are willing to pass on their knowledge, it is a great opportunity to help others. There are plenty of winners all round.

Of course, the middle ground has its place too. I see nothing wrong with a couple of togs roaming around and exploring things together. It can be useful to bounce ideas, or maybe just have someone to temporarily hold an off camera flash or reflector.

I suppose at the end of the day I just like togging. I'm happy to do it with or without other people around.
 
its very interesting reading peoples views on this one.
i'm completely split being honest. 75% of the time i'm now shooting in a group, leeds has a very active bunch and there are in the region of 3-5 events every month. these meet ups range from 'exposure leeds' which is an organised session of talks each month, to the leeds strobist events where 15 of us descend on a venue with flashes and get some cool outcomes. as there is a load of togs i know i tend to shoot with others.
But i do have to say i do enjoy getting out on my own and getting my head more i to my shots rather than learning/teaching and chatting.
 
A good question, Sarah. :) Both - with reservations in each camp!!

On my own I tend to wander for miles, totally lost in what I'm trying to achieve, and I've been known to get lost because I've got no sense of direction and don't even think about where I'm going because I'm immersed in looking for the next shot. :bonk:

I also often take the dogs because they're quite happy to hang around and go at my pace, and even if I forget about them they always remind me they're there. :) Has anybody got a good way of wiping a lick-smear off a lens? :lol:

Going out with one or two other toggers is brilliant - you bounce ideas off each other, get different results from the same shot, etc etc. Going out with a big group of toggers is also great, and I don't get to do that often enough.

What doesn't work is taking the camera when I'm with a group of people who just want a quick snap with their p&s (and I'm not criticising that), but it's sooo frustrating, and I find myself getting left behind - and lost - mmmm ... that sounds familiar! :lol:

Jean
 
I've really enjoyed reading the responses to this and I'm glad I'm not alone in wanting to be alone . . . if you see what I mean :lol:

The consensus seems to be alone might be best if you really want to concentrate on your photography, but it can be fun in a group and useful to bounce ideas off somebody else.

So, who are the 18 people who picked option 3?
 
You need an option 4 - all of the above.

I'll regularly go out on my own with the dogs or just 2 of us. With insect photography it's handy having someone else spotting for you.

I also enjoy going out with a smallish group because it's nice to get other peoples perspective on areas that you know well.
 
There was no option for all three so I have not voted.

I find if I am after wildlife I prefer to be on my own as I can just sit and wait as long as it takes without the risk of anyone talking keeping them away. On the otherhand as I spend most of my time alone it is nice to meet up with others occasionally.
 
I don't mind going out on my own, but very rarely do it. When I do though, I do come back with some good pics...

However, I much prefer the social aspect of it. I prefer meeting up with other photographers and just enjoying the banter of the day, taking pics along the way.
 
Marcel said:
I don't mind going out on my own, but very rarely do it. When I do though, I do come back with some good pics...

However, I much prefer the social aspect of it. I prefer meeting up with other photographers and just enjoying the banter of the day, taking pics along the way.
Click to expand...

Pretty much this.

You can't beat a TP meet. :D
 
Hi Sarah, I actually prefer to be on my own. However, on a couple of occasions I have gone out with others and really enjoyed it.

You can also learn a lot from others but I feel a bit embarrassed at my lack of technical skills with the camera. I have learned to use just a few features of the camera and tend to stick to those. I feel completely overwhelmed with the knowledge that some people have on this forum and would feel rather stupid going out on a big meet with them.

Jenny
 
Great idea for a thread Sarah. :)

I'm definitely a 'social photographer' for the most part but I'm also quite happy to wander off on my own. Down here in Aberystwyth, I tend to give Steff (Bendihossan) a shout and if we're both free, we'll get out as much for the exercise as the photography. It also gives us the opportunity to talk photography without boring the pants off of our respective partners. :D

I've noticed that generally speaking, photographers aren't particularly sociable if they see another one and rarely even acknowledge the others' presence.

Si
 
Have voted for the voices :) but it depends on what im shooting. If its motorsport, i nearly always go with my good friend. Both work for same company and its a common hobby we have, so naturally trips out progressed. If its anything else I like to be alone, take my time, phone turned off and enjoy what im trying to do :thumbs: taking the missus is a strict no-no - god no!!

but above all, the voices rule in my head, I cant escape them and they do control me! :cuckoo:
 
Used to be a solitary thing for me, just something to get me out of the house. But since I joined a camera club, flickr and this place it's become much more of a community thing even if it's just meeting up with a mate from down the road :)
 
Completely agree with Sarah. I have always photographed alone since whenever I have gone out with someone, as I tried on a couple of occasions, they kept waiting around while I was doing my thing and they got bored. Granted, it was a friend and not another photographer, but it remains an issue.

I went with the family to Sutton Coldfield park which is only a few miles from where I live and I simply walked off by myself as soon as we got there. I walked for something like 15 miles and got completely lost and it took me an hour to find them while they were in the car and I was directing on my phone. Most of the directions were: "Dunno where I am... lots of trees... no people..." :D

When I go out to shoot I generally end up exploring. I like landscapes so it requires walking a lot to find a good shot and something with some decent subject matter - it's also waiting to find the right sky and light. Now and then when I go to shoot an abandoned place (though I usually stumble on to it unintentionally) it can be quite a harsh environment and since it's a lot harder to work like that I don't think it would be a good idea with someone else. For all it may be a comfort to have someone else there instead of being scared out of my wits, that's half the fun.

I never really had any interest of portraits or modeling so that's why I have never done it, but I understand that's a huge niche in the market so if I ever wanted to get serious about it then I'd have to get a lot of practice in.

Until then I'll probably carry on as I am, enjoying my hobby. I have had contact from a couple of people on TP if I wanted to go out for a togging day, and since I've never tried it, I'd love to give it a go. :thumbs:
 
I have never really tried going out with a group of photographers. I think though I am more a solitary beast. Worked in a wood for three days this week & only had the deer for company. Bliss.
 
SarahLee said:
I've seen a few threads about TP meets in South Wales - and if one ever falls at a convenient time I might actually get round to joining one.
I also know that a lot of people on here have "tog buddies".

However, although I'd like to give one of the meets a try, for me my photography is very much a solitary thing.

I spend all day at work managing people. I do voluntary work for a charity a couple of evenings a month. When I'm at home, I'm always the one that ends up sorting family problems out.

Camera time is "me-time" and alone time.
Even if it's just an hour a week, that's an hour when I can indulge in something I want to do, with no other people around.
Whether I'm shut away in the spare bedroom or outdoors, it's lovely just to have that bit of time with no noise, no distractions and nobody else to think about.
In fact, that's probably why shooting people / portraits really doesn't appeal to me.

So I'm curious :shrug:
Am I the only anti-social one here?

How many people use photography as another way to socialise and meet up with friends and how many people enjoy it as alone time?
Click to expand...

I tend to go alone most of the time except when it is unsafe and not advised to do so. Much as I'd love to spend a night in an abandoned power station myself, I'm a) a complete pussy who is scared of the dark and b) not stupid enough to do it.

Other than that I generally go it alone. The best part is there is no one getting in the way of your shot.
 
Alone or with 1 or 2 friends is my preference :)

More than that and there are too many pulls in different directions for me :)
 
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