The role of solitude

[John Kasaian]

I have no problem visualizing strong compositions on crowded streets etc - I just don't want my view camera gear damaged or being constantly hassled. Even out hiking with another photo bug or two, I'll get the shots, but I won't be relaxed afterwards. I need solitude for a variety of reasons, and it certainly makes shooting itself much more enjoyable. I once encountered a rather famous photographer (for that era) with his workshop at a well-known scenic location - some hiking required, so not crowded overall -
but then he sees me with a view camera, walks up, and asks if he can dump his class on
me to get his sanity back - couldn't understand why they'd pay all that money for his
particular skills, when most of what he did was teach them how to set up and focus some
obscenely expensive view camera they had just purchased and had never touched before.
For me the hunt is just as important as the kill, and a fine print means a whole lot more if
there is some special moment or strong personal emotion behind it - even if nobody else knows what that really is. I try to impart it in the print, but you really can't include certain
kinds of intangibles.

This reminds me of my experience as a ski instructor. There is a difference between teaching and doing and I had to go out with my brain fully committed to either instruct, or ski. I couldn't enjoy doing both at the same time.

When out with the big camera in a crowded location, invariably someone with good intentions points out a shot they think is better than the one I'm working on (after asking if it's a Hasselblad,) or they'll whip out a phone, make a snap shot and show it to me. Its as distracting as all get-out. I need solitude, Dude.

[Drew Wiley]

One of the worst things about being with other photographers is the endless gear chatter.
The only thing worse than that is the inevitable and inteminable films vs digital diatribe.
But as I get older I do appreciate someone else along when I'm getting way off trail days at a time in potenially serious country. In earlier days I liked to have my nephew along -
he was a helluva skilled hiker and climber, and fortunately, knew nothing about photography! He was exceptionally tech-saavy for that era at even worked at LBL at nite
to earn his way thru school, but was not a geek whatsoever and never did techie talk
conversation. Might have my wife along for tomorrow's walk, which will be nice, but she's
pretty much anti-camera in general, so it's the Nikon or nothing.

[sepstein17]

serenety now! Hate crowds -- love aloneness -- best stuff shot w/o anyone invading my space -- too much talking about nothing in today's society7 -- To me - creativity is not collective...

[Vaughn]

Combining this thread with the one on photographing in high heat -- I would say that the role of solitude, with some heat applied, is to help isolate and fry the brain worms.

[Darin Boville]

It's yes and no for me. For much of my work I need to be alone in order to concentrate. I need vast periods of time alone (not all at once) to even get to the point where I make an image. On the other hand, my family is great in terms of leaving me alone when I suddenly and unexpectedly find myself "working" when we are traveling. That helps. Other people would be impossible to shoot with--I can't use a conversation just then. And I can't even imagine shooting with other photographers. I don't think I ever have. I've been with other photographers while they were working but it just is sort of unthinkable to me for some reason to try and make an image in those circumstances.

--Darin

[Kuzano]

When on vacation with my significant other, for example, I often have to make a point of going out alone to make photographs because when I'm out with her, I don't really have the freedom to go at the pace I need, to hang out in those boring places where I like to find subtle things, etc. Of course, I could insist on it, but I'd rather not be a dick about it and would rather enjoy our time together (a happy life with the woman I love still taking precedence over artistic accomplishment). Still, the work must be made one way or another, so I go out and wander on my own when I can.

I think mine has the genes of a dog or a cat. I generally have the same problem with her. Won't shut up!!! I drove off one time and left her in the crowded parking lot at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

She found her way home........and BTW, she got everything in the settlement, even my cameras.

No problems with solitude now.... as she also took all the friends.

[ROL]

When on vacation with my significant other, for example, I often have to make a point of going out alone to make photographs because when I'm out with her, I don't really have the freedom to go at the pace I need, to hang out in those boring places where I like to find subtle things, etc. Of course, I could insist on it, but I'd rather not be a dick about it and would rather enjoy our time together (a happy life with the woman I love still taking precedence over artistic accomplishment). Still, the work must be made one way or another, so I go out and wander on my own when I can.

I think mine has the genes of a dog or a cat. I generally have the same problem with her. Won't shut up!!! I drove off one time and left her in the crowded parking lot at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

She found her way home........and BTW, she got everything in the settlement, even my cameras.

No problems with solitude now.... as she also took all the friends.

Gosh, I feel lucky to have the wife I do ...Shhhhh!

[JLS]

In this respect, I always remember a phrase I heard from an excellent (Brazilian) photographer, now retired, called Reis:

"Photography is like onanism: something one does alone and with lots of imagination."

[Bruce Watson]

I am curious about the role that solitude plays for other forum members, in terms of being a requirement (or not) of the successfully creative process.

Not specifically about photography, Susan Cain wrote a book about it. It's called... Quiet. Read the book and your curiosity about the role that solitude plays will most likely be satisfied. She certainly nailed me, that's for damn sure.

[David R Munson]

I'm about halfway through that book right now, actually! I'm really enjoying it.

Also, I want to thank everyone for all the great responses in this thread. I do intend to go back through and respond to some specific posts, just haven't really had a good opportunity to sit down and give it another good read just yet.