Recently, friend Howard Grill posted in his ongoing YouTube series of “3-minute photo thoughts” a question about doing any “serious photography” while on family vacations. I thought I would launch a post about my own thoughts on this subject because it has a few different angles I have encountered on various trips I’ve taken. If you haven’t watched it, I recommend you take less than 3 minutes to do so here. Be sure to subscribe to his channel as he is posting some great stuff.
What the heck is a NPOP?
Obviously I owe an explanation of this acronym I just made up and used in the title of this post. It has ZERO relation to K-POP if that came to mind. And if K-POP did come to mind for you – I may just ban you from this blog, so keep quiet about it. 🙂 I use this term to expand a little on Howard’s family vacation and apply it to any trip with Non-Photography Oriented People – NPOPs. This is not meant as a derogatory term, perhaps quite the opposite. They are free of any burdensome camera, expectations, or self-imposed pressures from having it with you. Photographers can be quite the … let’s just say … peculiar, and sometimes obsessive, bunch. <raises hand – guilty!>
A Lesson from the Trip of a Lifetime
Back in 2001, my wife and I took a trip with some friends and one family member to the Galapagos Islands. It was to be a combined land expedition / diving expedition, staying aboard a live-aboard dive boat. The boat only holds 12-16 passengers plus crew. We were all divers, so there was that common activity. But as far as photography goes, my wife and I were probably the only two on the boat with any serious photography interest.
Finally, add on top a rather regimented schedule of time for land expeditions, visitation time restrictions on the islands (to lessen the impact of visitor load), multiple dives per day, and the need to make time for the long ocean crossings to the remote islands – and you have a rather packed schedule. Being in the right place, at the right time, with the right light … fuggedaboutit. Spending a little extra time with local wildlife to capture those extra-special moments …. fuggedaboutit. There simply wasn’t the freedom to do these things. Being on a boat, it isn’t like you can sneak off early in the morning before everyone gets up.
In hindsight, the disappointment in that freedom at the time was really minor in contrast to the overall trip. It just felt limiting in the moment and the photographs I brought home showed that. It was a lesson where if a trip isn’t designed around photography, it is somewhat unrealistic to expect as much from it.
Finding the balance
But most trips I have taken have had rather mixed intentions – diving, just relaxing, or a family getaway. Dive trips, in particular, have a particular pattern to them that makes it hard to squeeze in other things just because of the itinerary, which many follow this same type of pattern:
- 7-8 am – Breakfast
- 8:30-9:00 – Morning boat leaves for diving
- 10:30-11:00 – Boat returns / cleanup
- 12:00 – Lunch
- 2:00 – Afternoon boat leaves for diving
- 4:30-5:00 – Boat return / cleanup
- 5:30-6:00 – Dinner
- 8:00 + Relax, perhaps night dive, or sink into a coma until the next morning. Repeat.
Any land excursions usually involve skipping the morning or afternoon diving, and many just substitute a night dive instead if they don’t want to miss out on dives. But those times are usually in harsh, mid-day light. More importantly, I never feel comfortable subjecting NPOPs to the time I may spend in one spot exploring or getting in the right mindset for “serious photography.”
A compromise that works for me is that I get up before dawn and skip a large portion of the breakfast time, if not entirely. Others aren’t inconvenienced because, well, they are sleeping or eating. This generally works well at least for me and enabled me to come home with some nice land-based images on trips focused on being underwater.
Be Sure to Bring Your Camera
On more than one occasion, I have had NPOPs say to me “bring your camera, you can get some good shots.” There is nothing inherently wrong with that. It does though highlight how difficult it can be to get into the right frame of mind to make the photographs you really want to make. I have this problem many times even when there aren’t any people around and it is my own brain not cooperating.
Howard mentions in his video how it takes some time for him to get into the mindset of making photographs. It is very hard to do that when there are other pressures of trying to not inconvenience others, worrying about being in any particular spot at any particular time, or people innocently pointing at something – “hey look at that – did you get a picture?” Sometimes it can be the smallest thing that throws you off.
And I do find that I am either ON or OFF when it comes to creating any meaningful photographs. There isn’t much middle ground. Maybe that comes from years of just being on my own while in the field, being able to be in a near meditative state. Maybe I am particularly sensitive to distraction. Maybe I need to get better at shutting them out. Maybe it is just part of being an INTJ. Any disruption to that state I am after simply kills it and the photographs along with it. While this can and does happen without anyone around, it is guaranteed to happen with NPOPs. And for that reason, the camera usually stays at home.
The Enigma
One thing I should be clear on is that I never blame NPOPs. As I mentioned, photographers can be a strange bunch. Any artist has a particular mindset they need to be in before finding their muse. But it does help NPOPs to understand why we are this way or say “thanks, but no thanks” when it comes to some suggestions or want to tag along. It may be that some activities are as compatible as oil and water. I am glad Howard brought this interesting issue to think about. It provided me an opportunity to collect my own thoughts about it with this post. If you have particular strategies in working with NPOPs, feel free to share your thoughts on this topic. (Did I mention that you should also subscribe to Howard’s channel? 🙂 )
(Disclaimer: I am in no way a paid employee, affiliate, shill, or marketing agent of Howard Grill Photography, just a fan.)
Featured Image at top of post: Bartolome Island view from liveaboard dive vessel Reina Silvia, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Pacific Ocean
Yes,I’m peculiar and raised my hand!!!
I experienced this while visiting my sister in Seattle the first part of July. The four of us took a walk each day around Lake Washington. I let them know not to wait for me, set their own pace and leave me behind so I can take the images that are seen. Over the years they have adjusted to the extra appendage I carry. However, even letting them go on ahead on the first day I had some feeling of guilt because I was not with them or subconsciously wondered what they wre saying about me. I settled in on the second day as the solitudinal photographer I am.
I relate to the meditative state because I have come to see my photography as a spiritual experience. It’s not just about having a specific image but the experience that changes me.
Thank you for relating your own experiences with this Monte. I am seeing a lot of commonality in these stories. Splitting up the days or the time seems to achieve the best balance.
I used to see a clear distinction between “Travel for Photography” and “Photographing While I Travel.” These days I do far more of the latter because I’ve concluded that there is way more to travel, and to life in general, than photography. I’m fortunate that my travel partner enjoys seeing the things I see, and is very happy to sit on a park bench or wander a field while I hunt for photographs. I never had to balance kids in the mix! On occasion we do travel with others, but most of the time they are the type of people who don’t mind looking through a shop or walking ahead knowing I’ll eventually catch up! And Kathy keeps a good eye on me to make sure we don’t get lost!
On our trip to Italy two years ago, we spent the first week on a group tour with about 36 other people. It was a slower-paced tour with a lot of walking and time to enjoy the sights, but I was able to make a lot of “my” shots alongside the usual “touristy” photos. I also took advantage of jet lag by rising at 4:00am to photograph St. Mark’s Square in Venice with just me and the street sweepers! The second week was a photography tour with only 7 participants. But was designed to provide plenty of time for contemplative photography in beautiful locations. The photos I brought home from that trip were the best of both worlds.
Many of the thoughts echo the themes in posts I wrote way back in 2012 & 2013. Hopefully your anti-spam software will allow me to post links:
http://tomdills.com/blog/2012/03/03/a-sense-of-direction/
http://tomdills.com/blog/2013/07/27/a-matter-of-balance/
Sounds like you have found a good balancing strategy Tom.
Hey, I see I commented on my sunrise strategy on your post from 2013! Guess I was already formulating this post way back then! 🙂
It requires a totally different style and pace of photography when traveling with NPOP’s…at least it does for me. It’s often an orchestrated dance of trying to get a shot while not inconveniencing those I’m traveling with. It’s not as difficult if those you’re traveling with are of the leisurely-pace type, but if you travel with fast-walkers you’ve got to be on your toes. I’ve come back with more than one shot where a traveling companion walked totally unaware into my shot at the last second. It can be somewhat frustrating and certainly physically tiring.
Yea – I’ve never been a particular good dancer. Haha
I can just imagine those shots with a partial head or hand in them.
I suppose that for me, photography has always had to be a solo venture. If I am with others than it rarely occurs to me to make photos of the type that I would make if I was on my own. I will take snapshots because I know my wife will ask for them later though with the advent of phones she can now make her own which means I can leave my camera at home these days. This is equally true if I am with POPs as opposed to NPOPs (I really like that acronym BTW). I have tried in the past to go on “photo walks” with various photography groups and have mostly come back empty handed. Generally, the same goes for walking around art galleries, it has to be a solo outing for me as there have been times when I have spent up to an hour looking at just one artwork. I don’t know many people who would happily put up with spending an hour in an art exhibit let alone at one artwork. To be fair though, I am not a prolific photographer which might be why I have never really thought about this topic specifically before but it made for a good read, so thanks to you and Howard.
Anyway, I’m off to crank up the volume on my K-POP playlist now.
Nuh, I’m kidding Mark, please don’t block me 😉
I have done some photo walks – and find they can be productive – just different than when I’m alone.
BTW, I have been suspicious you may be a K-POPer – I’ll be keeping my eye on you 😉
I’ve been on some group hikes with “NPOPs” in the past (that abbreviation really made me curious) where I always found myself hauling ass to catch up after spending what felt like “just a few seconds” on a photo! One just has to clear the mind of any preconceptions and expectations, otherwise there can only be disappointment. I keep reminding myself that at the very least, the photos that I come home with will be of a documentary nature and quality.
I fully relate to the catching up. I’ve been there many times. I was always trailing behind on the Galapagos trip mentioned.
Perhaps you will get some use out of the acronym! 🙂
Hey Mark! Thanks so much for the shout out. I truly do appreciate it! And you expanded on the issue better than I could have hoped to. I think NPOP is destined for the photo version of the Urban Dictionary.
I think so much comes down to mindset and being in the photographic moment. It really came home when you mentioned being in an almost meditative state when you photograph because that is very much the way I am as well. In fact, I sometimes worry that someone could easily sneak up on me and bonk me on the head and I would never know about it (these are the things you worry about when you’ve been ‘bonked’ before). It’s hard to get into that mindset, as you point out, when you feel there are others you need to keep up with it that are dependent on your movements and readiness. I’m glad that I get to go on some purely photo trips as well as family vacations!
And thanks again.
It’s funny you mention someone sneaking up on you. I had that happen, only it wasn’t a person, it was a sandhill crane. I was actually trying to get some compositions of leaves. I went to move positions and this crane was 2 feet behind me. It freaked both of us out. Guess that is better than someone who might bonk me on the head, but startling nonetheless. 🙂
Better a crane than a ‘bonker’ but I can definitely see how it would be startling!!
Sometimes I hike with a friend who’s not a photography person, and just the act of saying, “Mind if I stop for a minute and take a photo?” is enough to kill the moment for me. I still bring the camera – that’s a habit I can’t break – but I know that any photos I make that day will be documentary, not artistic. As important as it is to me to make images, I realize it’s also important to spend time with other people and compromise is part of that. (Already a subscriber!).
You are so right Lynn. Often the photos just become documentary. That in itself is fine I guess, just for me they don’t hold as special a meaning as those where I felt “in the zone.”
Absolutely! I treasure those times when I really feel inspired, but all the rest has its place too. 🙂
agreed Lynn! Thank you for your comments.