Photo via here.
“But as to the spirit of the place, I have several rules: One is to grin like a dog and run
about the city. Another thing is from E.M. Forster, who wrote an alleged guidebook
to Alexandria. … wander aimlessly around and … have all your antennae out in all
directions so that nothing, absolutely nothing, is uninteresting.”
- from an interview with Jan Morris, in A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk About
Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration, 2004
Today is the final installment of the March {Travel Series}. This Thursday, we teamed up with seven local photographers and asked them to share a personal vacation photo, the story behind the shot, and a bit of advice for how best to document YOUR travels. I had so much fun checking my email as the submissions came in…
Sarah Cramer Shields, Cramer Photo
Maui, Hawaii. Click here to see more!
The Story:
“We were in Maui last August photographing a wedding. We turned the work weekend into a week long vacation. It was AWESOME!”
Hot Tip:
“I try to document everything that is important to me when I’m traveling. The light, the meal, the texture of a walkway or building, the weather and the expressions of different people I encounter. These memories immediately take me back to that special trip when I look at my images.”
Anne & Bill Holland, Holland Photo Arts
New Orleans, French Quarter neighborhood.
The Story:
“Moments before, these two young men surreptitiously jumped on the back of a delivery trunk rumbling down Bourbon Street. One of them was unceremoniously dumped on his bum when the trunk hit a bump. At this particular moment they were laughing about it as they returned to their friends. We love this photo because it captures the light-hearted spirit of New Orleans by showing some of its occupants in context with a long-standing business, a cult-favorite French Quarter diner.”
Hot Tip:
“Pay attention to what’s in your background. Keeping it simple, and free from excessive content helps the viewer engage with your subject that much more clearly. And above all, have fun!”
Lucy Taylor, Lucy O Photo
Cape Charles, VA on the Chesapeake Bay.
The Story:
“When [my husband and I] travel, we prefer to explore a town that is rich in history and culture which also has amazing food. Cape Charles is pretty quiet and some may say run down but we loved its cute quirks. This is the only gas pump in town and I think it has a lot of old school charm.”
Hot Tip:
“I actually have a love/hate relationship with taking photos on vacation. That is, until I started shooting film again. My travel tip is to pick up an old film camera at your local thrift store and pop in a roll of Fuji 400. Film slows you down and makes you more intentional when you photograph. It’s also really fun and rewarding. I also find that I am much more likely to print my photos when I shoot film. And let’s be honest, what’s the point of having our photos on a computer if we never look at them?”
Meredith Montague, Meredith Montague Photography
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in northern California.
The story:
“This is a photograph of my husband, Todd Barnett. We drove up the coast from San Francisco to within miles of the Oregon border in August of 2010. It’s challenging– almost impossible, really– to accurately capture the magnificence of these enormous trees in the Redwood forests. But somehow this image works for me. The angle of the tree trunks and the strong shadows feel almost architectural to me. And I love that Todd happened to be wearing a red fleece, so that he really pops as the sole figure in the frame and adds the crucial element of perspective to convey just how massive the trees are. Those elements make the image work visually.
Mostly, though, I loved that adventure. We had no real agenda. We flew west, bought a map after we got beyond San Francisco, and drove north to see what we could find. We love to travel with loosely defined plans and few expectations beyond some good meals, some good rest, and a bit of exercise every day. Also, I was 3 months pregnant with our daughter when I made this picture, so the image reminds me of an excellent road trip and a really special time in our lives.”
Hot tip:
“Be sure to pack a camera that you are comfortable using and carrying. The pictures definitely won’t make themselves, and you won’t be inclined to pull your camera out of your bag if you aren’t at ease with it technically. And you certainly won’t be inclined to carry it with you all day if it’s too heavy and awkward. So pack something that you’ve used well at home and know you will use on the road. Invest in a good, supportive backpack or shoulder bag.
DSLRs (with or without extra lenses) can be cumbersome and heavy. Film cameras require that you bring a lot of extra film. Point-and-shoot models are small and lightweight but maybe don’t offer the versatility and quality of a more professional body. You might actually think your iPhone takes the best pictures you’ve ever seen. These are all worthy considerations when planning a trip and packing your bags. Sometimes I pack my big DSLR, sometimes I just take my phone. There’s no right answer; the point is simply to think ahead about the kinds of images you want to make and then to commit to carrying the appropriate gear. I once traveled in Europe for 8 weeks with a small digital point-and-shoot and a Holga with a dozen rolls of B&W film. Since I was backpacking I didn’t want to carry too much weight and that combination of small, lightweight gear worked perfectly for that trip.”
John Robinson, Robinson Imagery
Paris, 5th Arrondissement.
The Story:
“I think this photo illustrates how shooting the people of a place adds interest to a photo and can really illuminate the soul of that place. I wanted to take a photo of this beautiful curved street with Le Pantheon in the background. It’s a gorgeous street, but it would be a boring shot with nothing going on, so I waited. When I saw this very chic, very Parisian man come riding along, I knew it would make my photo!”
Hot Tip:
“Shoot the people! The people of a place really tell its story.”
Sera Petras, Sera Petras Photography
Paris, view of the Eiffel Tower from the Arc de Triomphe.
The Story:
“I went to Paris the first time for my 30th birthday. I decided when I was 29 that I had to make turning 30 special, so I saved up all year long and took the trip right after my birthday in January. The image was taken from the top of the Arc de Triomphe and yes, you have to walk up a long, narrow, winding spiral staircase. It was a wonderful view once you got to the top and I knew that if I just waited till the sun went down that the Eiffel Tower would be sparkling in the distance– every hour on the hour the tower sparkles. It was so fun watching as the crowd realized that the Eiffel Tower was lighting up! They rushed over to where I had set up and ooh’ed and ahh’ed over the sight.”
Hot Tip:
“Don’t be afraid of the dark. This image of the Eiffel Tower was taken with very low light, but the color that comes out is just wonderful. I specifically submitted a photo I had taken with my little point and shoot camera– the Panasonic Lumix– which allowed me to control the camera with manual settings so I could create the scene that I wanted vs working with the program mode.”
Tom Daly, Tom Daly Photography
Ojo Caliente, NM. Click here to see more!
The Story:
“I traveled to Northern New Mexico in August 2011, looking to hit ground I never had in the stunning Southwestern United States. This particular photo was taken in a hot sulfur mineral spring around 10pm. I’d been in New Mexico for a few days at this point, but at this moment I felt like I was just starting to get my feet wet with the vibe of the area. I thought the abstract subject matter (a couple people’s feet) really worked well with the surrounding simple color scheme and mellow light.”
Hot tip:
“Bring your camera wherever you go. What’s the sense in buying that fancy SLR if you’re going to be overprotective of it and not want to bring it places? You need to get yourself in the mindset that the photo is more important than the camera, and that it’s always OK to risk damaging the goods (in a hot sulfur mineral spring) for a memorable photograph.”
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To wrap things up, I decided to share one of my favorites from my personal collection of travel photos…
Sofia, Bulgaria.
The Story:
“This is a photo of my significant other and his mom. We were in Bulgaria on a cold damp day in late November. We’d been looking for a restaurant named “Halbite” and didn’t realize the sign would only be displayed using the Cyrillic alphabet (you can see it on the placemat). I’d studied the alphabet a bit on the plane and there was a thrilling bit of satisfaction– like solving a puzzle– when I de-coded the letters and realized we’d finally arrived at the right place. The restaurant was tucked away at the end of a narrow alley. The sun filtered through the window beautifully. The place was warm and cozy with an extensive beer list and fantastic comfort food. I stood up to take a few shots of the red ceiling, the slew of beer taps, the just right row of bar stools and upon returning to the table was inspired to quickly snap this one. I was fully sated– the food, the scene, the companionship– and, for me, this photo captured the quiet, relaxed post-meal feeling perfectly.”
Hot Tip:
“I use a digital camera so I take a lot of photos, often multiple of the same subject with just a small change in composition or angle or other element. Then when I get home, I set aside a good chunk of time one evening (and a big glass of wine) and I edit and crop and delete down to an album of the best photos that capture the spirit of the trip. I’m a bit obsessive about it to be honest. I’m anti-clutter in general (winces at the irony as I look around my office) and this applies to my pictures too. I still have pretty large albums of each trip, but I like to clean it up so that every photo has an aesthetic or emotional meaning to me.”
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And with that travelistas, we bid you bon voyage and adieu. This is the last of our five-part March {Travel Series}– and the last chance for you to enter our GIVEAWAY. With the late posting– hey, we’ve been traveling and this is posted via Delta Airlines wifi en route to Palm Beach!– we’re extending the giveaway deadline to Saturday, 5pm. Winner will be announced Monday, April 2.
Tell us what you do with your vacation photos. Store them on your computer? Show them off on Facebook? Frame them? Use a program like Shutterfly to make an album?
SM
