The Travel Photographer in Me

Last year I submitted this article to a local photo magazine, but it was not accepted.  I am somewhat proud of my photography and thought I would still share the article with whoever would like to read it.  I hope you enjoy. 

The Travel Photographer in Me

I don't travel to photograph the world, but where ever I go the world seems to be there.... so I always have a camera ready.  Whether traveling solo, with friends and family, or for work, I have become somewhat of a "travel" photographer.  But then again, haven't we all? I don't think anyone goes anywhere without a minimum of a camera on their phone.  Most of us will never make a living out of our photographs, so ask yourself what is the point of travel photography to you? What do you want out of your pictures?

For me, the point of travel photography is to capture memories and entertain.  Some pictures will be just for me, while others will be to intrigue my guests to ask questions and inquire about stories. Any one can take that "post card" picture, so challenge yourself to do it differently. This is what will keep your friends interested in flipping through your albums.  I like to take pictures that keep my guest amazed and wanting more.

When I was traveling through Europe I got what backpackers refer to as "museum feet". Every city has a museum and after seeing a few they all look the same. But you still end up walking through them because you feel obligated to do so.  With my photos I try to prevent people from getting "album fingers".

When I show pictures to guests I want them to ooo and aah and ask questions to segue into stories.   Which in turn helps me remember a lot more of the little things.  I encourage my guests to look at the world from a different perspective.  A general rule of thumb for my travel photos is "if you can see it on a post card then don't shoot it unless you can do better".

For example, in 2003 I went backpacking through Europe. To start my journey I lived and worked at the Crown Inn, Playhatch (between Reading and Henley), about an hour from London. This is when I just started learning how to use an SLR (35mm).  I tried to take a roll of film a week, mostly on my days off, and came up with some really great shots.

Big Ben is perhaps the most photographed attraction in London.  If you just got back from a trip to London family and friends will probably want to see pictures, and they will probably be expecting to see Big Ben, but they won't stop and gaze at the site of it because they've all seen it.  So, sticking to my post card challenge, I took a better picture that everyone I show is amazed.

To get this shot it took about a roll and a half. Plus I didn't know what I was getting until development.  It was like that with most of my early photography.  Confidence in my ability to get great shots was slow as I would pick a subject, shoot it, then wait for the prints to see what I did right or wrong.

However, that was ten years ago and digital cameras have come a long way. Now I can get the shot I want a lot quicker and the learning curve is much steeper.  Switching to digital allowed me to take great pictures while keeping up with a tour, without slowing down my family, and without delaying my job.

 



Digital also allowed me to be more daring with my photos.  This shot of a yellow taxi in NYC took many attempts, but without having to worry about the cost of developing I was able to play.  As well with the instant photo preview I could see how exciting the results were.

 



When I travel by myself or with others, I try to look past the tourist trap to see the life of the people living there.  I try to get a sense of what life is like when the tour stops.  I find photographing people a little voyeuristic and I'm not so comfortable doing it.  So I challenge myself to capture a way of life while keeping the privacy of the subject. Take for example this shot of a young girl in an ally in Peru. This was taken in a small town in the mountains. This is a "real" town that is not on most maps, the people still dress as they have for centuries and I wanted to capture it. I don't know who this girl is, but to me is every woman in the village.

 
 



Another way I try to capture culture is photographing buskers.  I have a collection of performers from all over the world.  Most of these people aren't performing on the streets because they need to, but rather because the love it. They are not playing for you, they are playing for themselves. And if you get the timing right,  you catch a glimmer of their bliss, like this wonderful violinist from Hungary.

I was able to take this picture while on a walking tour of Budapest.  Just remember to tip them generously, not only were they your subject, but you hopefully enjoyed their performance as well.

If you are like me and don't like taking pictures of people, then challenge yourself to look for other signs of life.   On my honeymoon, my wife thought I was crazy for taking so many pictures of people's laundry hanging outside windows, but this picture now hangs in our kitchen.

It was taken in a very touristy part of Italy, Cinque Terra.  Getting pictures with few people it in touristy places is difficult, I suggest getting up early.  The air is typically calm and the streets quiet. If a city has a heart beat it is reborn every morning.  Truly a magnificent time to photograph

Another great way to amaze friends and family is to take pictures of the road less traveled.  If you decide to venture off the beaten path remember to keep safe. Fortunately for me, my occupation has taken me to some exciting and remote places.  If you find yourself in a place where post cards aren't sold, then the post card rule does not apply.  In this situation go wild.  Chances are everyone will be glued to your pictures and your stories.  Here is my favorite sunset taken in Churchill Manitoba using a point and shoot APS camera.   I was there working on my honors thesis and one evening the sky turned this beautiful gold.

Another great shot I took was on a job in Arctic Bay, Nunavut.  I had some time to kill, so a colleague and I stated to wonder off.  Found ourselves hiking up the hills that surround the inlet.  From the images of cliffs I took, it is needless to say it was breathtaking.

In closing I think the reader should know I am not a professional photographer and my equipment has never been more than what can be bought at a local electronic store.  I am self taught from trial and error after reading one or two basic photography books.  I now flip through coffee table books to get ideas for themes and interesting perspectives.  I say this because I believe anyone can be great photographer, all you need is a passion.  Happy travels!!