If you found a secret place...

..that noone knew about, would you tell your fellow photographers, tell them half truths or keep it secret where the location was.

I am talking about specifically a wild life locations that maybe hardly anyone knew about. Tbh, I would tell them half truths about my secret location(s)

I would tell only a couple who I trust to keep it to themselves.

I would be purposely vague in locations or you might find a crowd there the next time you go to get some shots. The same way one is vague about fishing honey holes.

a couple of days ago ...though it wasnt a secret place...a photographer took my blind that i had built.

he was shooting away from me and i had moved to go get something, came back and was shooting from it like he owned it. told him to move, he said no, i forfeited the spot when i left ("...yeah but i built that thing and im going to take my stuff down now so...move").., i was kind of dumbstruck but i was just leaving anyway so i left it at that...took my stuff down and left, but what nerve eh? some people are really rude.

I'd tell people I knew were okay, but part of the fun is doing all that scouting yourself.

No such thing as keeping a secret.
If you tell anyone they will also have friends who can keep a secret and on and on and on.
Next thing you will look up and the only wildlife you will see is other photographers who will be wondering how YOU found out about their secret place hahahahaha.

I've never revealed my secret fishing place

My only concern would be the amount of people that found out about it, and no doubt ruin the surrounding area if hundreds if not thousands turned up

Certainly I think many of us would indeed become worried about the subject(s) at the site we were shooting and any adverse effect that attracting others would lead to. We also have to consider other people as well though, especailly with the net - if we ever found a white hart for example chances are you would never want to reveal where you found it for concern that next time you head it you are joined not just by photographers but trophy hunters.

Overread wrote in post #10304851
Certainly I think many of us would indeed become worried about the subject(s) at the site we were shooting and any adverse effect that attracting others would lead to. We also have to consider other people as well though, especailly with the net - if we ever found a white hart for example chances are you would never want to reveal where you found it for concern that next time you head it you are joined not just by photographers but trophy hunters.

I would be worried about them, especially where eggs are concerned

heres a potn member whos ALL about sharing locations

for the flipside of things
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=883560

I'm all for sharing (esp as I know no true places myself) but I think the greater thing we can share is not perhapse the exact whereabouts of animals, but the base skill of finding those places. Rather than concentrate people around select "easy spots" educate them on how they can find their own.

The advantage to this approach is the fact that it allows one to impart more concern and care aspects for the subjects. If you simply tell someone where a nesting bird is and a good angle to shoot from they will trust you and often think no further; but if you teach them how to find birds and nests you can impart on them all the cautions and risks they are taking and they are far more likley to take them on board.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #10306156
heres a potn member whos ALL about sharing locations

for the flipside of things
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=883560

To be honest, I would have to agree with the pov shared by overread, some people don't know how they are impacting on animal's natural environment, most people would something, even if it killed the animal to 'get that killer' shot, if you excuse the pun, this is why certain parts of the world, you are only allowed in places with a permit. How you go about getting a permit, is anyone's guess

Overread wrote in post #10306510
I'm all for sharing (esp as I know no true places myself) but I think the greater thing we can share is not perhapse the exact whereabouts of animals, but the base skill of finding those places. Rather than concentrate people around select "easy spots" educate them on how they can find their own.

The advantage to this approach is the fact that it allows one to impart more concern and care aspects for the subjects. If you simply tell someone where a nesting bird is and a good angle to shoot from they will trust you and often think no further; but if you teach them how to find birds and nests you can impart on them all the cautions and risks they are taking and they are far more likley to take them on board.

The OP is specifically targeted solely to wildlife shooters, but if it's ok for a landscaper to comment, I would like to do so.

I shot a landscape situation (well off the normal beaten track) that had special circumstances about it.

I shot it on many different occasions, in different seasons for about 18-20 months while the opportunity existed. It's gone now.

The shots were great and are hanging in many different locations. I have yet to see a single other picture posted anywhere of the opportunity.

Did I tell anybody while available? Does a prize-winning cook give away secret recipes? Do magicians reveal their methods? Does Dave Hill give a detailed, step-by-step layout of the full flow of his methods from lighting thru post processing?

Photographers are no different and may choose to or not to keep their cards close to their chest just like anybody else.

If I had found that ultimate spot I wouldn't go on a forum and post it for no good reason. However, if someone was asking for a good spot I would have no qualms about sharing the spot. I have had other photographers share with me and I will always return the favor.

There used to an overwhelming amount of good will between photographers but I can see from the posts in this thread that this is quickly dieing off. Would you not want someone to share the same kind of information with you. I have been privy to some great wildlife shooting opportunities because of other wildlife photographers.

ssim I'd love it if people shared their secret spots I really would - however I do also respect the fact that if one were to tell the whole world about a single really good spot the next thing that happens is the whole world visits. For me its not about preserving that "uniquness" of the place but more so preserving it for the animal that lives there.

I think sharing and the good will aspect is still very much a part of the photographic population as a whole (ignoring the few badapples) but that its probably hidden (partly) away in private chats such as in person or through pm systems between interested parties rather than happening on the public side of the forum = at least as far as good spots are concerned (ask about any bit of gear and the thread can quickly get to several pages of helpfull advice)