dmeyer wrote:
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.
br br 1. How many folks in the photo community ... (
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Thanks so much for sharing your story, KT. Although we have chatted before, it is fun to learn the backstory to your passion for photography. The more responses I read, the more I realize what a newbie I am to photography--having only gotten hooked when I was in my 50's. While your photography has gone through many phases, I jumped in and went full bore. And, as each year passes, I feel the urgency to get out as much as I can before I can't. To some degree, with or without my spouse, the scenery has always been the big draw and I choose my destinations primarily for the photographic opportunities, rather than recreational. Makes me a poor spouse to travel with, but a pretty good travel planner for photo ops, lol. But, either way--whether with my spouse or a photo buddy--I really have been blessed to have made all the trips that I have. And I'm grateful when other folks take away some spark of interest or inspiration for travel planning from my shares.