Do you buddy up?

Recently a photographer lost his life in this part of the world. He was alone walking across some ice. His camera was found beside a hole in the ice. Even up here, where the ice can be several feet thick at this time of year, you can hit a bad spot.

In the south, I thought nothing of going into some of the remote parts of Ontario by myself. With the climate and the wildlife here, I'm reluctant to go too far off the beaten track as it may be some time before someone passes by.

While I have suggested buddying up with some of the people I know here, there seems to be the dilemma of being safe and the photographers habit of not wanting anybody to know where you shoot.

Curious as to how many here go out with others when shooting, and if it works, or not!

I go out alone quite a bit in the Colorado mountains and in the deserts of southern Utah. I try to be prepared and carry what I need for a worst-case scenario. I also purchased a Spot Messenger. It is a GPS device that has 3 buttons, one is an "Okay" button that will send an email or text message to people on your list and let them know you are okay and give them coordinates. There is a "Help" button that will notify people on your list you need help but it is not life-threatening. And then there is the 911 button that goes directly to a dispatch center that will notify the local authorities there is an emergency and you need assistance. it also has a feature that will track your location every 10 minutes and let others follow your progress online. It works with Google Earth. While I would always try to make it out on my own and not have to count on outside help, it is a good backup if you get into a life-threatening situation. Here is the website address:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

I go out alone quite a bit, but I think it is more fun with company. My brother also does photography so we tend to go places together. We both enjoy looking at each others work because we are in the same areas, often the same spot, looking in the same direction, and what we produce is always totally different. It is a good learning experience in that aspect.

I'm infinitely more productive when I'm by myself. For example, last May I was in Mexico one week with relatives, and the next week solo. I took about 5 photos that first week, and around 100 the second week. Not exactly the same situation as being with another photographer, but for whatever reason, I just don't take photos when I'm around people.

Therefore, if I want to go somewhere for photographing purposes, I tend to go solo. I do what I can to mitigate the risks, such as letting people know my general plans, not venturing far off trails, and so forth. In the off chance that something were to go wrong, I'm willing to accept the consequences.

Thanks for the info scott.

I'm almost always alone, and find myself in some pretty tricky areas throughout the Colorado Plateau, so that SPOT device that Scott mentioned looks very interesting!
Still, it wouldn't help in a scenario like Dave mentioned.
I would like to have more company if for no other reason than safety, but I just don't know anyone else that would enjoy the same endeavors who would join me.

It's hard to find a photographic companion who suits one's personality, is good company and who shoots in the same or in a complementary style. I've got a good friend who lives nearby, who is also a photographer, and we go out and do some things together and have a great time. But most of the work I find most rewarding, that which I think may be termed "art" is done by myself. It's just too hard for me to open up all my portals and let nature in when there are other people around.

I habitually go out alone into the BWCAW with no more directional aid than a compass/map and GPS. That's why I moved here, to venture out on my own into the woods where there are few people. It's tragic when someone who doesn't understand the risks of the region they are in has an accident and dies. When someone who does understand goes out on their own and dies, that death is the result of an informed decision by someone who has accepted the risks inherent in the activity, and that's just the way it goes sometimes. Tomorrow, it could be me.

I mostly travel alone, even though the places I frequent are considered among the most dangerous in terms of natural disasters (according to this map). I have thought hard about the possibilities and I'm comfortable saying there are much worse ways and places to die. If my life comes to an end while I'm out in my favorite places doing my favorite things, it wouldn't be too tragic.

Guy

I am basically a loner and prefer to be alone when I'm out taking photos, but if someone wants to go with me I never turn them down. Virtually no one does though. For the past two years the main thrust of my photography has been at night. Very, very few people seem to feel comfortable in desolate areas after dark. I also greatly prefer winter, the colder the better. No one I know has the kind of expensive hardcore polar clothing I do, so when it starts hitting 20 below I have no volunteers to join me, LOL!

I do take precautions, such as letting my wife know where I am and when I expect to return. If I'm out on the ice at night, or on a river in my kayak, or duck hunting in truly horrid conditions I call and let her know when I'm off the water. I carry two sharpened screwdrivers in an outer pocket so if I do break through, I will likely be able to pull myself out. About half of places I like to photo at night are in mountain lion country, so I either carry a small pistol or a big knife on my belt. I'm pretty much of the Western mindset that I can take care of myself, but I do think things over carefully in risky situations. I will not go out on the ice on the Missouri River for instance, no matter how cold its been. If I were going by myself into the more remote wilderness areas such as Guy, I would have one of those Spot Messenger things like Scott was talking about, plus a decent survival kit.

The way I look at it, everything in life is a risk. The drive on the highway to the location is probably the most dangerous part. Since I have a wife & kids at home I do try to avoid the biggest of the uneccessary risks. It's my hope that preparedness and luck will take care of the rest.


Kent in SD

As with many others, I rarely shoot with other photogs. It's not really a matter of wanting to keep my places hidden or secret; I don't think I'm a good enough photographer to have to worry about that. It's more a case that I'm an anti-social, misanthropic SOB and have a generally nasty disposition.

I always go out alone, and tbh i would rather die doing what i like in a remote place.
than dieing from a car accident or something.

but thats just me.


Wim.

So, are nature photographers anti-social in general???
Do we communicate better on computers than in person and is that why NPN works so well? Interesting thought....
Like others, I generally do better photography when I am by myself. It lets me take time to really work with a particular shot or area. If I am with someone else, I am invariably distracted. I'm worried that they want to move on to another place, or that I'm not being social enough, or something. Even with my husband, and especially with my husband, I guess, I'm concerned that I'm keeping him from doing something else.
For safety sake, I would much prefer to have someone along, preferably my husband, since we're right smack in the middle of bear country, and I trust him with my life when it comes to handling guns and being out in the boonies.
I think the best thing is to do a little of both: sometimes go by yourself and sometimes go with a photo friend. It's FUN to shoot with another photographer, and enlightening, too. Everyone has a slightly different approach, and exchanging tips and experiences is great, even if you refrain from telling your secret locations.

I'm usually alone as well, but I don't think it has anything to do with being anti-social. It's more that when I may want to spend a half-hour standing in one spot - adjusting exposures, comps, waiting for light to change, or an animal to move to the right spot - anyone I would have with me would likely be frustrated. I have been out with friends shooting before, but then someone (them or me) doesn't really get to do what they want. It's more fun in that case usually to take occasional pictures and just enjoy the hike/walk. I don't typically go into particularly dangerous places, or places not frequented by others.

I'm almost always alone as well. I feel much more comfortable and free when by myself. It has nothing to do with not wanting others to know where I go. I find the older I get (48 at present) the more cautious I become. I think being alone is fine as long as one uses "common sense" and always errors on the cautious side. I will take a few minor chances, but I would rather miss the shot for that day and look forward to many more years of photography than take a silly chance just to get the "one" shot.
I truly believe nature is a very personal experience one can only truly feel when alone within it. Which is critical to being able to capture the beauty it offers.

It's strange, but the few photographer friends I have are other members of the press,(I freelance, 95% sports),and they don't have an interest in nature photography. My other friends would rather look at my images, than accompany me into the woods. I can count on one hand the number of excursions, where someone has gone with me, and every time out has yielded no images, due to impatience, noise, or the "need" to socialize.
Therefore, I find myself going out solo nearly 100% of the time. I take whatever precautions I can, including leaving messages about where I'll be, but as was mentioned above, if I die doing what I enjoy, that can't be a bad way to go.
Also, when solo, I believe my senses are more attuned to what's around me, and I'm more aware of my insignificance in the grand scheme of things. It heightens my enjoyment of being and of being outside. I hope that wasn't too deep.

No, I generally prefer to do photography alone for the most part. I usually give my wife my "rough" plans of where I'm headed and when I should be back by. the hardpart is sticking to that plan! If I'm going off trail or on hikes I generally stick to the plan. I'm glad Scott posted the link to the Spot Messanger. I've had it suggested that I use something like that by family. While we might be okay w/ the idea of expiring doing what we love, it's the ones we leave behind who have to deal with the consequences of our decisions, or lack there of....

I am another introverted nature photographer who loves to be alone in the mountains. I purchased a Spot Messenger that Scott mentioned after two incidents last year. (One time I badly sprained my ankle on top of a mountain and another time I was stuck on a cliff edge for quite a while until I eventually found a safe way down.) I paid a little extra to have it automatically send out a message every 10 minutes which it plots on a Google map. My wife can now follow me and if I go missing she knows where to send people. It also has the help and 911 buttons, but they won't do a lot of good if you slip through the ice. Anyway, it is one way to improve the safety of us loners. I've also moved to being extra cautious when I'm far from home and by myself. I figure that even though I enjoy a good adrenalin rush and like to live on the edge, these aren't probably the best times to indulge myself.

I go shooting with other photographers when time permits. It's a blast! I've never had a bad experience w/ the ones I've gone with because I am picky about who I shoot with.

Another vote for going it alone. My late wife went with me a few times, but she knew I got more accomplished when I went alone. That being said, I wish now she had gone with me more often.

I do both.

I have hiked 14'ers by myself, letting people know when I expect to return and the trail I plan to take. Listening to the fears of my mother I was supposed to be eaten by a mountain lion, mauled by a bear or a "mountain man" was going to keep me hostage. I just told her if that were to happen for her to know I died happy with the paths I had chosen.

I am cautious when I am alone, I keep an eye on the sky and listen to the sounds around me. My primary concern when I am out alone isn't about the animals, weather or trail conditions, it is because a woman alone is thought to be an easy target. I'm not, but they don't know that and might try some thing stupid.

I take the same quality images whether I am alone or not.

I enjoy the company of other photographers, especially if they have the same basic principles about nature photography that I do. I've found that with some photographers the chatter between shots can become a highly charged learning experience that I find invigorating.

On occasion I have had the misfortune of photographing with some one who doesn't care about nature or about carrying out their trash. Needless to say, I don't go back out with them.

All of that said though, I will think about getting a Spot Messenger or some thing like that if I decide to take a couple day hike in the wilderness alone. My cell phone doesn't always get a signal in remote locations and calling for help would be impossible.

Jay and I generally travel together - but I usually go off by myself once we reach our location because I don't want the same composition. I am usually just over the hill or around the bend... and within hollering distance. :) Wild animals are less of a concern to me than human animals... since I'm not very big. I don't feel that it's very responsible for me to travel to remote wilderness locations alone - I have kids at home, and I need to come home to them. I don't have a problem with traveling alone in smaller parks or along well-traveled trails, though.

I'm pretty lucky to have someone to shoot with who is as passionate about photography as I am. I am jealous when he gets to shoot without me - and he's jealous when I'm shooting without him... so we mostly shoot together. And when we can't, it's not nearly as much fun. :)

I've been rambling about alone in remote often dangerous places, particularly in mountains for over three decades and am of course writing this response. And the same can be said about many of our nomadic ancestors. In backpacking communities one will find a significant percentage of hard core enthusiasts that more often than not go solo. I've been fortunate that over the last two decades maybe a third of my photography trips have been with one or three others. I and one other particularly intelligent LF photographer work well together. And as a team we are arguably stronger than alone and certainly enjoy the experience and adventure more. For instance in the superb spring of May 2005 we did a three week road tour in remote areas of Utah lugging our big gear about that included negotiating difficult terrain. And that took a considerable amount of planning and logistics to be successful that we as a team were better able to handle and safer in case something went wrong.

David

I spend a lot of time traveling, hiking and photographing alone. I wouldn't have it any other way. No schedule, no one to please and I can explore to my heart's content without wondering if I'm boring someone.

" I and one other particularly intelligent LF photographer work well together."

Ok David, so the other one provides the intelligence... and what's your contribution to the buddy-team?

I am an introvert and photograph alone. On long trips, my wife travels with me and she is generally not far away reachable by cell phone. For me, I don't mind sharing my spots so much as I am not able to be as creative when someone is with me. When I am alone, I don't have to worry about someone else's schedule. Much easier.

I'm a social creature. However, I generally photograph alone. Why? Primarily because I can't find others that are willing or able to join me. Most people that I know have regular jobs and photography is their hobby. And since I usually shoot during the week, these people can't just get up and go on a phone call. The other issue is that my photography takes me to remote (or uncomfortable) places which require a bit of physical effort. So, for the most part, when I tell a friend I'm going to be camping out for several days in the Adirondacks in the middle of winter, I get a lot of wows but no volunteers. That being said, if anyone is facing a similar dilemma, shoot me an email. I'm always up for company.

I photograph solo or with my boyfriend, also a nature photographer. Because we have compatible shooting styles and similar ethics it works out very well. When selecting a companion for trips, its important to evaluate your style of working and find someone who compliments that nicely. You'll probably need to find someone very patient and ready to "go with the flow" of what you are doing. Finding someone willing to put in hard work traveling or hiking, and then sit for 3 hours while you photograph a subject isn't easy.