July 09, 2023: Is photography an antisocial pastime? There’s certainly plenty of reasons to think it is. Almost every photographer who drags themselves from under the covers at 4.00am to be somewhere spectacular for a sunrise, hopes they will be the only one to capture it. Anyone that has climbed to the top of a mountain in cold and darkness knows the small deflation when, on arrival, they are met by 21 other tripod legs already hugging the best spots. Equally, I’m sure that bird photographers, crouched uncomfortably in a hide waiting for the single annual appearance of the Ring Necked Spotted One Leg Crane, are less than thrilled to hear the crunch and clicking of some newby twitcher setting up nearby and then slurping on their hot soup or rattling cooking packets.

Is all of the above antisocial or just a desire to think you are the only one brave (stupid, enthusiastic) or keen enough to make the effort to get to your chosen vantage point at some ridiculously early hour? 

I’m in favour of the brave (stupid, enthusiastic) or keen argument, I can’t count the number of times I have headed out in pre-dawn light to get to a location. When you are there and waiting for that big orange globe to appear over the horizon or wandering empty streets in a little country town, it’s a very peaceful time. It’s a time of quiet concentration on your craft, of making sure your settings are right and your tripod is stable. Its also a time when you can enjoy relative peace and quiet but that’s not antisocial behavior. There may be other photographers on the hill with you but they are probably doing the same as you and will generally respect your space. That respect, that conscious effort to leave you space on the hillside and not crowd you out is actually quite social.

I recently visited Central Australia and, like everyone else, captured the ridiculously breathtaking sunsets and sunrises that are daily served up. At Uluru there is limited space for the sunrise viewing and there were a lot of people with cameras and phones but everyone was respectful and quiet throughout the event. 

Is photography an antisocial pastime? I believe it isn’t. There’s always going to be the photographer that behaves in an antisocial manner, perceived or otherwise, and there are plenty of examples of paparazzi photographers behaving appallingly but they are a very small percentage of a very large community. Going out early or late to capture images is a great experience and doing it with a friend can make it even better.

Images from Central Australia: morning mist and the Western Macdonnell Range, Alice Springs Railway Station, and Uluru sunrise