DHenard Loc: Northeast Tennessee

When I travel, I have to consider my wife and my 2 boys. There has been trips that was more about what I wanted to do or go. It usually doesn't go well. I try find a place that all of us will enjoy. I have to mix it up a little.
It doesn't always happen, but do try.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

So what tour/guide was the 'good' one?!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

[quote=hrblaine]

👍 You shoot moving target, then! Challenging from a photography perspective. Guess that's why I love landscapes--they don't move, lol.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Those were the things I loved about travelling with my husband. Once he couldn't travel, my focus changed. Now it is hard to find those photog's happy to explore nature and concentrate on the craft.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I avoid Interstates like the plague! One of the reasons I love travelling West is the easier pace and open spaces and the ability to pull over anywhere along the way (excepting the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado, lol). Would love to be able to hit the road for a month or more, as you did.
No question that travel and photography go hand in hand. However, when you travel with a spouse, the journey, the sights, the dining, the lodging--all those experiences are part of the package. So, it is easier to imagine doing the trip without a camera. But once your spouse no longer travels, you've removed a large part of the equation. Then, photography becomes the motivation. Which kind of gets back to my original question..."Can we only justify travel solely for photography if we are ‘professionals’ making a living at it?" Who loves to set out for the sake of photography?

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

The common thread to a majority of the responses to my post is that most Hoggers have spouses who still travel. Which makes it all the more apparent why the responders place photography behind experience on the priority list. Guess I really am an anomaly.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Now I see someone I can relate to, lol! Curious, could you travel without the camera...and does the potential for beautiful photographs determine where you travel to?

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

You have a wonderful partnership going on! And I have been blessed, indeed, on two levels: memories of shared experiences from travel with my spouse, and memories built on outstanding scenery captured through photography adventures with a friend. Doors number one and two are closed...I wait with anticipation to see what is behind door number three.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I never got to travel while a working parent. I can imagine how challenging the planning would be, though. Photography and travel didn't begin for me until I was almost to retirement and beyond, so, it has been much easier choosing destinations and making up itineraries. Your day will come! Then you will two sets of memories--shared family time and photographic adventures.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I decided to answer your question by pm to avoid the appearance of hijacking down a "this instructor is better than that one" road!

The workshop I went on was hosted by Jack Graham, who is a great guide, very laid back. The guest instructor for that particular workshop was Guy Tal, who is a remarkable photographer as well as a perfect instructor for someone like me who resists being herded. I don't think they do the Eastern Sierras workshop I went on any more, Guy just does a Death Valley workshop. Jack still does a variety of workshops. My only female photography friend goes regularly to workshops by Colleen Miniuk, and loves them, but I've never been to one and can't vouch for her style. My own preference is to hear what a workshop leader has to say, but then find my own way. I have also noticed that many workshop leaders have not yet resumed work post-pandemic. I would have no misgivings about participating in workshops by Michael Frye or William Neill since I have spent enough time with them to know they are not overbearing or pushy, but I don't think either of them has started back up yet.

I don't know if my group will resume this year or not, we are still finding our way through the resolution of the pandemic. But if you want, I'll let you know and you'd be welcome to join us. Some are UHH members, and others are from my other forum. Our last meetup was fall 2019 right before the world stopped. We spent a week on a beautiful island off the coast of Maine, rented a cottage, shared expenses and taught each other in planned nightly sessions. Singles or couples are welcome. It was a very inexpensive adventure.

I'm sure you will find a suitable avenue. Giving up is not an option! Feel free to pm me if there's anything you think I can help with!

Paula

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

You struck a chord with me when you mentioned Michael Frye--I have been a fan of his for some 12 years, ever since I got his photography guide book to Yosemite. I get his weekly blogs now.
I think you and I are on similar ground when it comes to needing to find our own perspectives and not being told to stand at point A and shoot at B. I tried cruising many years ago but found that on the excursions I felt very much like herded cattle and the photo ops were very limited in a crowd. Guess that's how I envisioned photography workshops to be.
Having a group to rent a cottage in a picturesque location and share expenses is a great concept. It never occurred to me before because Sam and I move from place to place and have too much luggage and equipment in the car to have any room for passengers. But I can see having a central place to stow belongings and move about with only camera essentials. I really would be grateful if your group would consider letting me join in some time!

DHenard Loc: Northeast Tennessee

It can be tuff but also rewarding. My boys ages 10 and 12 have been to places most kids their age have not. I hope when they are older with families of their own, they will go back to these places and make new memories with their kids while remembering their old ones.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

No doubt your boys will not only remember, but be shaped by the experiences of travel! And that will make the 'tuff' part all worthwhile.

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

[quote=dmeyer]

1. How many folks in the photo community would stretch their skills if they had more opportunity to do photography-specific trips as opposed to recreational travel?

2. Am I an anomaly for sometimes wanting to create a portfolio of beautiful imagery over always sharing experiences with my spouse?

3. How many would choose to partner up for travel dedicated to capturing the scenery over recreational travel with a spouse where photography is merely an adjunct?

4. Can we only justify travel solely for photography if we are ‘professionals’ making a living at it?





Your topic is very thought-provoking. I love photography and I love to travel to see new places and experience new and different cultures. As a kid, I was interested in photography, however, tools and travel were both very limited.

That all changed when I joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Europe. I saved some $ and got a good 35mm camera (a Minolta SRT-101). When stationed in Germany, our schedule was 2,2,2 & 80 (2 day shifts, 2 evenings, 2 mids and then 80 hours off). In Germany, you can go a lot of places in 80 hours and many of us took great advantage of that.

Most of us that traveled instead of just staying on base had cameras with us to record the places we visited. Most of my friends had cameras ... but I soon learned they were mostly "snapshot" takers, not photographers, even the ones that had really good cameras. This was in the early 70s, so the results of an outing were usually two weeks to a month after the event. I'm not sure why, but I almost never shot color film, I mostly shot slide film.

It's really hard to say if photography or travel was the purpose, I loved both. I really loved seeing new places and experiencing the different cultures, but I also loved to document those travels photographically. I was often taking photos of things my friends had no interest in and often found myself saying to them, "Don't worry, I'll catch up with you later." I have to say, 50 years on that most of my photos have held up pretty well.

A few years later, I got married and we took our Honeymoon in Europe with a Eur-rail Pass combined with a cruise to the Greek Islands. Of course, I took my camera. Unfortunately I spent a lot of time taking pictures and not enough time paying attention to my new bride. I brought home a lot of great photos, but at one point, after some words, I almost threw my camera into the Mediterranean Sea. Luckily I came to my senses, kept the camera but didn't take as many photos from that point on. Then, we had and raised, and home-schooled seven kids from K through high school. Didn't use my camera a whole lot during those years.

Now, when we travel, we plan on seeing lighthouses, old mills and other sights. My wife enjoys seeing those things, but she takes a book & her iPad along because she knows I'll be taking pictures long after she's seen what she wants to see. We also look up and plan to stop at quilt shops all along the way for her interest in that.

Diane, I don't know if you'll ever find another travel buddy in the future, but you sure have been blessed to have taken those nine trips out West. And I thank you for sharing the results with us here on the Hog.

DHenard Loc: Northeast Tennessee

When I travel, I love taking pictures to show to family and friends especially my parents who in their late 70's and early 80's and can't hike anymore. I enjoy showing them to my friends that travel who want to get away for a good time. I am not a great photographer but hopefully see the beauty of the places and will want to go there to. People have a tendency not to care about what they have not seen. So hopefully, my pictures will be good enough to portray the beauty of all the places I've been to other people.