Car Photography | Travel | Street Photography | Gear | Editing | General
Finding Freedom and Discovery in Solo Travel
It is a 20-minute drive from where I live to the airport. I’ve done that drive often, to and from, dropping off and picking up. The route there isn’t exclusive to the airport, as it’s the main route from Nova Scotia to the neighbouring provinces. But those first 20 minutes always remind me of travelling. Passing the airport, the cargo planes are visible from the road, and if I’m lucky, some arriving or departing flights.
Fujifilm X-H2 Setup: Travel and Street Photography in Barcelona
Travelling to Barcelona, I wondered what and how I wanted to capture. First, I wanted to be able to capture everything as sharply as possible, and that meant I had to sacrifice something. As I wanted a minimum shutter speed in all conditions, the ISO would inevitably need to increase based on the lighting conditions. Second, I wanted to shoot “blind.” The X-H2 has an articulating screen that makes it easy to shoot without looking at your subject.
Chasing the Light in Barcelona
While exploring Barcelona last month, we experienced a variation of weather. Initially, I was worried. Would I not experience Barcelona in what I imagined—beautiful weather and a favourable climate I love? After capturing only around 100 photos from the first 24 hours, I remember thinking, “I’m not going to get anything from this trip.” I was patient. I pushed that frustration aside and enjoyed what was before us regardless of what was to come.
Photographs from Barcelona
As you probably guessed from the title, Barcelona was our destination for an impromptu trip. We had some fun choosing where to go. I listed each option on small pieces of paper, and we each chose our top three. If one location matched, that was our choice. Only after that would we look at accommodations, flights, and the weather. Travelling at the last minute is exciting, but something so close to embarkation time can get expensive.
Travel Light: My Perfect Gear
My travel season is heating up, and I will be in Barcelona until early next week. I did have plans in January to escape the cold weather of Atlantic Canada, but unfortunately, things were not meant to be, and that trip never happened. I like to travel light, as minimizing what’s available benefits my photography. The restrictions allow me to concentrate on getting the photo instead of considering what camera or lens to use.
Embracing Spontaneity: The Joy of Last-Minute Travel
Planning travel is essential to enjoying our limited time in our destination of choice, but minimizing those plans can have benefits and make the entire event surrounding our trip more enjoyable. It has been said that the planning portion of a trip is a significant part of the enjoyment of the event. Before the trip, we have the advantage of discussing it with others: those coming with you, friends, family, and co-workers, for example.
Minimalism in Travel Photography
I’ve always been fascinated with minimalism in photography, especially since I started travelling more regularly. Minimalism can transform a scene perceived as busy or chaotic into something focused. With a compositional change, the entire mood and impact of a photo are altered. Minimalism in photography is a style focused on simplicity and essential elements.
How to Safely Travel with Your Camera Gear
When travelling in different, unfamiliar locations, taking the necessary steps to be as safe as possible for yourself and your camera gear is essential. Travelling can be tiring and stressful, and when travelling with camera gear, it can be worrisome that your camera gear will be protected for the duration of your travels, both from damage and theft. Based on my experience, here are five tips to help you travel safely with your camera gear.
How I Choose Where to Travel Next
I was looking through my photo archives from 2023 and realized I had a great travel year. London, New York, Mexico, Chicago, and South Africa. I’m more than happy with the opportunities I had last year and the content I produced from those destinations. London was an entire week, New York was three days, and Chicago was only one day to shoot.
Focus on the Now
As photographers, we can focus on the result more than the experience. We can research our destinations, looking for the “best” place to get the “best” photographs. Learning more about our destination is a logical and appropriate step to learn more about what to expect and what to hope to experience when we arrive, but focusing on the experience should be the point.