Keeping secrets: Settings, locations and equipment

#photographyhobbyist  #photographybestoftheday #photographyforever

So, you‘ve done your research: you’ve used Google street view to scope out locations, found out what the best black spots are, the perfect spot where the evening sun comes through the trees. You’ve turned up at the crack of dawn or in the bitter cold of a winter’s night and painstakingly set your camera, using your years of knowledge and expertise to compose and expose your shot.

You decide to share your images on one of the online platforms, but are taken aback when someone, in one fell swoop, asks, “Where was this shot?” You freeze for a split second: what do you do? Do you ignore their request or do you let this stranger poach your research?

Should you try to protect this information? You might think that locations are there regardless and anything is open to be photographed - why the secrecy?

Selfishness

For:

Probably the key topic in the argument and easy to see why. One argument is that as the photographic community is bound by a shared interest, we should all support each other and share information. Whilst technically we aren’t doing anything wrong by not sharing, willfully withholding knowledge just isn’t a nice thing to do.

Against:

Finding a location might have required a monumental effort on the photographer’s part: a long trek, an arduous drive, failed attempts - you get the idea. If they went through all of that, then isn’t it fair to say that all photographers should go through the same if they want to stand out from the crowd? If one has done the research and spent the time looking for the perfect spot, why just hand all that over for simply a ‘thank you’? Not everyone desires to be an educator: for many the end result is what matters and it’s there as a photograph - to be enjoyed, studied and reflected over, that is all. And what’s more, the world’s greatest photographers didn’t get to where they are by sharing information freely and giving up all their secrets. In an age where everything is so easily shared and thus copied, isn’t it worth keeping certain things back?

Unoriginality prevails

For:

With the advent of the online sharing community and social media, it’s getting harder and harder to remain original. Social media in many ways dictates our presence online, the key player here being Instagram. For the work to be seen, it has to be shared. Established photographers are generally less reliant on such platforms, but many up-and-coming photographers need the exposure. To get noticed, you have to share. However, the potential repercussion is that the work is there to be copied, mimicked or replicated by anyone with the inclination to do so. Whilst copying is something that most photographers at the beginning of their journey do, it can be harmful if more skillful and more established photographers copy. It’s rare, but it happens.

Against:

Unoriginality is subjective: a different take, a different vibe, a different time of day or even something as subtle as a different angle can change a photograph. So the idea that someone will simply sweep in on your shot should be taken lightly. Again, it depends on your photographic style: are you shooting landscapes with a very specific/iconic subject, or is the location simply a backdrop for a model or for something you have brought?

A risk to your success

For:

Not everyone has aspirations to make it as a paid-up photographer, for many it’s just a hobby, but truth is, when you start out, you don’t necessarily know what might happen. The photography world can be fickle: take a turn at the right time and you’ll find success - other times you won’t. Equally, some photographers’ work isn’t revolutionary - it might be great technically, but otherwise just a beautiful rendering of a pedestrian scene.

Against:

Ultimately I think it depends on the individual and the type of photography you do! So if you’re a street photographer documenting your city, catching a bit of serendipity and color play, then location matters less - your work is many components rolled into one. However, if your vibe is scaling peaks, visiting remote locations, urban exploration or unusual places, you might guard your locations much more closely.
We’re keen to hear what you have to say on the matter. Let us know if we’ve missed anything!

BY mpb.com