Becoming A Travel Photographer

I’m a Travel Photographer in the making.

The jury is still out on how accomplished I’ll be, but, I’m having a rather good time with this.

I’ll drop in a photograph here and there that I’ve snapped during my travels over the past almost 4 years.  The hard part is 2ndly distinguishing between a ‘good’ photo and a ‘tourist’ photo.  The 1st hard part is having that in mind when shooting the photo.  Making it even harder is planning the shot!

There’s more than meets the eye being a photographer.

Unlike doing photos in a studio, being a Travel Photographer I have to be aware of the spontenaity of the moment…..I don’t have the opportunity (or much of an opportunity) for staging the shot because it’s a live fluid (dynamic) environment.  For a really good shot, I can’t think as a tourist.  I have to think as a photographer that is intent on capturing an artistic moment, an artistic view.

So many times as I’m going about my day with camera at hand, I’m taken by surprise of an event that….well that I didn’t expect and didn’t look for. That changes the way I observe my environment….that’s part of the experience. And it’s not necessarily being quick enough to capture a moment but rather to recognize a developing moment to observe what’s happening, what elements are at play and which angle might provide the best point of capture.

I’m learning….as a photographer.

The above photo was an accident!!! I couldn’t repeat this if I tried….at least from my present base of knowledge as a rookie photographer. But, that’s what challenges are all about!

The Becoming of a Photographer….

I read with opportunities of the making of awesome photographs by prominent photographers. And I at first thought…’in the right place at the right time’. But that isn’t true or accurate. It’s the observance of the photographer. The eye for the emotion and the art… Sometimes that becomes a picture of history, a prize winning shot. Not by the intention of the photographer, but rather by the eye of the photographer.

I want to be that type of photographer…..and after my first 20,000 shots, I’m just starting and have many more to shoot.

Much like music for me, it’s work but it’s not like punching a clock and doing some mundane repetitive task. I’m trying to see and capture a moment that other’s may overlook…..or just never see otherwise. It’s a creative moment.

Perhaps it’s just a solo performance that the performer recognizes the imminent capture of….

The gentleman above recognize that I was taking a pic of him and delightfully participated as we exchanged waves afterwards. Sort of like me waving a ‘thank you’ and he waved a ‘you’re welcome’.

On becoming a photographer…..I’m in the early process of becoming. And it is full of ‘fun’ and my classroom is everywhere.

I’ve taken the past 2 weeks away from my camera (I bought an RV and I’m piddling with it) but, I’ll be getting back to some classroom time this week. Excited about that. AND…..I’ll have to be creative because, where I’m at avails very little spontaneity.

It’s just another challenge….

Okay, that’s my becoming a photographer update…..I’ve a website under construction just for my photography. That should be up and running soon….depending on how much time my RV takes.

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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