If you’re going on a photo walk, then there is a strong chance you’re doing it for fun or trying to clear your mind.
Sometimes I think photographers (especially professionals) do too much to harm one another in fears of competition instead of working to boost one another. But after years of photo walking, I can’t begin to tell you how much enlightenment I’ve gained from talking to others and spread in kind. Of course, it requires breaks and some time to pass between walks, or at least a variety of people to walk with, but we can truly help one another. With all of this should be candidness and transparency with one another. Above all, I think what is required is good intentions with one another.
So, what am I talking about here? A part of it is discussing with other photographers (ideally friends) what you’re going through in life. Sometimes, just talking about that with someone else is therapeutic and they are more than happy to help you. But it’s also good to ask bigger questions than just small talk. Small talk is nice, but something larger questions like, “What’s something you learned yesterday?” nets a more fruitful conversation.
What I’m alluding to is that photographers can bring each other up via photo walks in a number of ways:
- Creatively: experimenting and discussing new techniques
- Emotionally: helping one photographer get out of a dark place or vice versa
- Professionally: giving photographers advice on where we can be while discussing business with each other in a way that doesn’t flaunt
What’s nice about photowalks is that we get to exercise our creative brain while also processing emotions and professional issues. Many of us tend to work alone and don’t have coworkers with whom to express hardships. But we can do this with our colleagues. In this case, I’m specifically talking about a group of photographers we confide in.