Originally Posted by
DanK
Great shot of the bees.
As a general rule, I don't take a tripod with me if I am out and about with anyone but other photographers. I do sometimes carry a camera, often my little Lumix, limiting myself to shots I can do relatively quickly and handheld. It helps to be with a group of people; they can carry one while one tarries with the camera.
I go out from time to time with two different groups of photographers. No sitting around talking about equipment over beer. I find that sometimes, people trade interesting tips and suggestions, mostly helping relative novices but sometimes getting into more complex things. However, most often, we end up spreading out and largely ignoring each other much of the time. Still, it is an interesting way to find new places to photograph, as there are suggestions from numerous people in the group.