Obviously this is aimed at at amateur and enthusiast, as opposed to the professional.

Do you prefer to go out taking shots on your own, or with likeminded people?
I, personally, prefer the social aspect of myself and a mate or two going out on a shoot, all likeminded.
It's more sets of eyes for a start, and most of the time the chap I go out with (Steve) sees shots that I just stumble on past and miss
I have been out a few times on my own, but I don't enjoy it as much, feel quite uninspired and non-motivated and just end up going home.

So, loner or social?

[IanC_UK]

Social, I usually go with my brother.

Plus it helps if with other people, like my trip with Steve and Matt to the F1 testing, you learn so much with other people, even if its a simple option on the camera that like the custom functions etc ! and i need major help with landscapes etc, as i find idont have the eye for them !

[Steve]

Landscapes are my favourite Ian so when you are up here soon we can see if we cant fit a few in.

Loner or social I really don't mind. I have off days at both..I am happiest when the photography works.

[CT]

Loner by inclination when it comes to photography I suppose, although I tend to be the life and soul of any party (but find out next day) I certainly don't shun the company of others when snapping, but happiness is a rich environment and no distractions mostly.

Good post.

[Bachs]

Loner, but thats not my preference.

I just don't know anyone locally to hook up with.

[fingerz]

What Bachs said ^^

Although I suspect that doing candid/street stuff is likely to be easier and more productive if you go out on your own, and that's what I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to do more of.

[stepheno]

Both - but the loner by choice and socially when I have to. I'm still on the learning curve and particularly with a 20D so I need and prefer time to think about settings, composition etc, etc, etc. The social part is when my wife is with me - holidays, weekends away and then I probably use priority and shoot away for the memento shots she likes to look at. Plus, if I spend time shooting manual, she's always looking back and saying "come on".

Sometimes I would like to shoot with another photographer so as to be able to bounce ideas and ask advice.

regards

[Steve]

Originally Posted by stepheno

Sometimes I would like to shoot with another photographer so as to be able to bounce ideas and ask advice.

regards

If you are going to shoot socially it has to be with another photographer so that you are allowed as much time as you would like and can think, compose and plan your shots at your own pace. Shooting with someone that has no interest in the hobby will not help your photography at all.

Taking the camera with you on a family outing is altogether a different thing, you do it to record the special moments and memories of that time and if the shots come out to be something special its not through your social company on the day

Are you joining us on the Chester Zoo trip, it will give you a chance to meet, share ideas and do photography with other like minded people?

[KenCo1964]

Originally Posted by Bachs

Loner, but thats not my preference.

I just don't know anyone locally to hook up with.

Same here, although I don't mind my own company....we have a lot to talk about . I like the idea of watching how someone else would go about taking there shot, what they are seeing and the steps they take to achieve there final image on camera. I have read countless number of books on photography but feel I could retain more information whilst actually watching someone in action. I always take my camera when out on day trips, picnics etc. And occassionally take my daughter with her camera on walks, but the majority of the time I go alone and tend to stick to quieter places. I would really like to do some city stuff but don't want the agro like some have recieved on here from the rsoles on the street. Night photography also appeals to me but once again I think safety in numbers would be the order of the day or night as in this case. Also sometimes I miss out because I just can't think of where i'd like to go and gets a little tiring shooting the same things over and over.
Good post Marcel.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by fingerz

What Bachs said ^^

Although I suspect that doing candid/street stuff is likely to be easier and more productive if you go out on your own, and that's what I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to do more of.

Sometimes having a friend with you can be quite handy, they can act as a decoy and be positioned so that to the casual viewer it appears as though you are photographing your friend when really you are getting a candid shot of someone else

[fingerz]

Originally Posted by Steve

...they can act as a decoy and be positioned so that to the casual viewer it appears as though you are photographing your friend when really you are getting a candid shot of someone else

A technique employed to good effect on a recent holiday with some mates.

Incidentally, girls in Hungary and the Czech Republic are pretty hot.

[dod]

Definitely a loner. I spend most of my day speaking to people and to get away from all of that is for me one of the best things about photography.

[Matty]

loner, got no mates

[wez130]

loner but not by choice, don't know anyone close by to go shooting with
up in middlesbrough if anyones interested

[daveyuk]

As with a few who have said loner on the grounds that I don't know anyone to tag along with. Think I need someone with me to point out what and where I'm going wrong and how to put it right.

I'm going to look for a local camera club and see if I can tag along with them, unless there are any members here who live in the Berkshire area that wouldn't mind me tagging along with them?????

Like I said, I too am a loner sometimes, but would prefer social, so therefore it's not through choice. It's just that I don't know many others who I can ring up and say "Fancy doing some