When one strikes up a conversation with an photographer–amateurs like myself particularly–they’ll typically ask one of two questions:

What do you shoot with?

These folks will talk to you about photography. And talk and talk. About why you should shoot Canon instead of Nikon, about why their $300 Sigma lens is actually better than the $2500 L-series lens, about how they read on Strobist about Vivitar Flashes, but they don’t actually have any, but they heard they’re really good. Gear heads. They exist in every field. Talking gear isn’t bad, but if you’re obsessing about gear, you’re not obsessing about taking photographs.

I don’t shun Gear Heads, but I’m just not interested in talking about the new Mark III Xvi 12 with hypersync and HD auto-trim. Everyone has Their Thing. That’s why Gear Heads won’t find me too interesting, and why they need each other.

What do you shoot?

This is the photographer that I want to talk with. They’re willing to talk about their choice of subject, about why photography is exciting, about their motivation, about passion. We’ll talk technique, about learning something new. We’ll talk a little business and ways we’re both hoping to turn our passion into a little cash.

But mostly, we’ll talk about making photographs. We encourage each other, challenge each other and inspire each other. That is the difference of With.

clicker = bigger

Taken in Morro Bay, Ca. This photo is so good that it has already lost me a photo contest. But I like it. Click for a little better view.