It is good to do photography with another photographer.            

 

I have written about this in the past, but I want to revisit that topic after my friend and photo-pal Jo McAvany, and I made a quick trip to a local waterfall.

As with most waterfalls in British Columbia this time of year Chase Falls is a muddy, raging, roaring torrent. My goal was make a photograph that showed that raging torrent. I wanted to capture the mood and show the great force and intensity of the spring water coming over the falls.

Jo and I were to meet at the falls. I was a bit late and she had walked down to a location where the path to Chase Falls went under the highway and was just setting her tripod up.

I stopped and we talked then I wandered on to the falls. It was as I expected and I was glad I wore a hat and had brought a small towel to wipe the spray off my camera and lens.

I set up as close as I could safely get at a couple different locations and used different shutter/aperture combinations as I worked to photograph the feeling I wanted from the waterfall.

I was there for some time before Jo finally showed up. I was just collapsing my tripod and preparing to go. She said she was finding some great photos along the fast moving creek. I think she only took one photo of the waterfall before complaining about the cold wind and very wet spray.

We walked back to our cars talking about the photograph and were deciding what time we should leave on Monday morning for a short trip to pick up some film I wanted to stock in my shop when this pandemic finally lets us get back to some kind of (new) normal.

What made me think about how I enjoy doing photography with my friend wasn’t the short trip to the falls and much as it was seeing the photographs she had made.

Jo worked that location so very different than I. Her photos of the fast moving stream reminded me how each photographer sees and visually interprets the world.

Of course I am familiar with being with another photographer at the same location where each of us produces very different images. That was the usual for the 40+ years I spent with my wife Linda. Now it’s my friend Jo that is demonstrating how creatively different two photographers can be, so I am posting two of her images.

I titled this article “It is good to do photography another photographer.” I think that is not only an enjoyable way t enjoy this exciting medium, but also great way to keep oneself fresh and creative.

I’ll end this with a quote by American photographer Jay Maisel, “If you are out there shooting, things will happen for you. If you’re not out there, you’ll only hear about it.”

12 responses to “It is good to do photography with another photographer.            

  1. I must agree with you oaths subject, but for the most part I go out bye myself 99% ..Seems now I’m sort of stuck in this limbo ..Tho I seem to compete against myself ..Thanks for your write-up John very good subject

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    • Hi Duncan, I am fortunate to have a dedicated photo pal that puts up with me.
      One of these days – when this virus is contained a bit – I intend to make a trip to your island and interrupt that 99% for a couple days.

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  2. I agree, you are lucky to still be able to meet up with Jo. I haven’t been able to meet up with Sophie since lockdown here as we are only allowed out to excercise within 2km of where we live and can’t drive to anywhere. I really miss our outings.

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    • I was thinking of you and Sophie when I wrote this fragg… I am fortunate that I live rurally and can wander the back roads.
      They are going to ease the restrictions a bit here, but I will still need to be careful.
      I hope this virus can be contained and you can resume you wanderings. Stay safe my distant friend.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Very true especially when going places for photography – it s so much more enjoyable with a friend!! But interesting what you said about the different styles – that s a good point!! Venturing out with somebody together means as well that we can learn from each other 🙂

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