“The world is a book and those that do not travel read only the first page.” St. Augustine
Why do we travel? Someone recently made a comment on my facebook page about ‘the good ole USA’ and that got me thinking about why I want to leave the USA to see places. Our country is amazing, there’s no doubt, but you can’t really experience sleeping in a nomadic tent in the dunes with camels snorting outside your blanket walls, anywhere in the USA, or marvel at the intricate architecture of a Bhutanese temple anywhere else but Bhutan. You can’t walk amongst penguins, or photograph wild lions, and you can’t play drums amidst desert nomads if you’re not in the Sahara with them. But if you’re not really into all that sort of stuff, then staying in your home country, wherever that is, is a fine choice. But for me, traveling is a way of expanding my life experiences, of getting a fresh perspective on my own country and of making people to people connections across the globe.
I remember lying on the living room floor as a kid, looking at Life and National Geographic magazines, and I can remember wanting to go to the places on those pages, places that were brought to life by the pictures. I don’t remember the specific places, anymore, but the feeling to explore, and experience far away places was strong.
I’m drawn to the scurry of a woman in dark robes through a colorful alley; I’m delighted by the light that spills down the steps that an old man climbs; I’m fascinated by the colors and patterns of everything from produce to shoes, as well as how things are done in other places. And I’m in amazement at the people – the friendliness, the pride, and dignity of people I meet. In the end, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Morocco, or Indianapolis. I just like exploring new and different places, seeing new things, and meeting new people.
So that’s why I travel, and as a tour leader, that’s why I love to bring groups with me to share in the experiences of places I’m drawn to time and again.
Why do you travel??? Share some of your thoughts here – and remembering, traveling close to home is valid, too!
Oh, and P.S.
Regarding my tours for the next few months, there is still space on the Glacier Bay photography tour, co-led with Jed Manwaring, and the Tuscany tour, although that’s just 24 days away – heh, there’s still time to join us!! And I still have room on the Iceland workshop. Iceland is an unusual and stunning landscape of a scale that is guaranteed to blow your mind and your memory cards by the images you’ll capture while there. While the volcano may be winding down, the island is a magical place for landscape no matter what!
I’d be lying if I said that the actual act of traveling is a piece of cake – but I would also be truthful when I say that I have been very very lucky and not had more than 3 major delays or problems in all the years of traveling I’ve done so far. But I got a late start – I didn’t do all that traveling in my 20’s, I started in my early 30’s and then I started my freelance business and that set me back on the travel budget for about 8-9 years, except for any travel assignments I rec’d. So I guess I’m just making up for lost experiences of my youth! lol.
I too though want to delve deeply into my ‘backyard’ of the Western US and even other parts. We have an incredible country here with such diversity of landscape and people. To that end, I will also be offering more regional workshops in 2011 and 2012 to encourage others to delve more deeply into our collective backyard. After seeing Jerry’s pics of Death Valley, I HAVE to get back there next year!
As an aside, it’s ironic that we don’t think to go to Chinatown or Little Italy here to photograph people like we would over in the real Italy. The cultures have been homogenized and we just don’t see donkeys pulling coca cola loaded carts through the streets of downtown San Francisco!
In my late teens and twenties I traveled a great deal. I have been to 44 states, and I dunno, maybe 25 countries. Sleeping in hostels, airports, train stations, I did it all.
I just don’t know if I have it in my anymore. On my last cross country flight, just trying to go to FL, the airline couldn’t get me there and I had to overnight in PHX and I had no clothes, no nothing except my camera gear. I used miles to fly first class so I could try to enjoy it a bit, and I couldn’t even do that because they were just able to get me on a full flight the next day.
One of my friends was living over in the Med and he said he just got tired of the rudeness, the smoking, the incredible expense of living there.
For myself, living in California, I want to delve deeper into the western US and Canada.
I feel like a wuss for these feelings! One of my friends just did an 8 day trip to Paris and it was glorious. One of these days I’m going to try something like that and see if I can get over the actual travel part that seems like such a nightmare.
I suppose I need to work toward dealing with the travel part, so I can experience all the wonderful parts that you and the commenters are describing.
Where is Suspended Animation when I need it?
Good point, Jeff. It’s not always about the photo, it’s also about the experience of being someplace new and exciting. The pictures, even if not the greatest, are the catalyst to helping us remember the experience. Of course, if we’re really lucky, we get to make a great picture at the same time – icing on the cake! Thanks for sharing. And my wallet doesn’t allow me to go all the places I want to go either. Being a tour leader does help me get out there more, and go back to favorite places, but the wish list far outweighs the time or money I have on my own!
Like you, I read National Geo, Life, Sat. Evening Post and a bunch of outdoor mags as a kid. My grandparents often took me to New England on their travels. All of these things plus a serious case of ADD added up to create a natural curiosity about the world that my wallet doesn’t allow me to satisfy. I go when I can and where I can, though it’s never long enough or far enough to satisfy me. What it boils down to is that I just have to see what is out there and of course capture what I see to the best of my ability, even the “bad” images can hold a memory.
Heh, Kalani, great story. Yes, often we get used to traveling because our parents did for their jobs, etc. Several people I know had the same experience. I’m delighted that you have fallen in love with photography and travelling anywhere is great. I LOVE Shenandoah NP – I used to hike the AT when I was a kid with my Dad and family members, and we’d often do sections in VA in the spring – loved the fresh green of the leaves and the warm sun while we hiked. It should be beautiful right now. I don’t think I ever saw Great Falls, though we travelled through that area a lot. Perhaps I just don’t remember it.
You know you can create large prints if you create multiple row panoramas, too. It’s not that hard to do – you don’t really need any special equipment, you just need to level the tripod and camera and shoot wide enough that after Photoshop stitches them all you can crop out the rough edges. The files are huge and you can print big. Just a thought – since you’ll have to invest in film, camera, lenses, etc. and then there’s the learning curve…but it’s not a bad way to go, if you love 4×5 and lugging it all around. 🙂
I read in OP Jack Dykinga does the multiple stitch method to print large. I still don’t completely understand it. Do you move the camera up and down and do three across and three up? I’d still need a full frame camera right? I haven’t invested in anything but a canon eos 1n for spot metering so if there’s an easier way to do it I’m all about it! Thanks 🙂
My parents were in the foreign service so I grew up bouncing around the world every 2 or 3 years. I still get an itch to pack up my things and move to a new place every couple years. I’m programmed to move around so I guess that’s why I travel. I’ve always envied people that lived in one town their whole lives and grew up with the same friends, teachers, house, etc. However, whenever I talk to people that didn’t get the chance to travel a lot they always envy my story. I don’t regret anything it’s just a ‘grass is greener on the other side’ sort of thing. I do wish I would’ve taken more pictures. I had a zenit camera I bought in Russia my junior year of high-school with which I took a few black and white pictures. I also signed up for photography my last year of high school in Mexico but never really understood it or went out shooting until I got my D40 a few months ago and searched the internet on how to use it to take good photos.
Now since I can’t travel internationally as much as I did growing up I love travelling to local parks like Shenandoah and Great Falls to satisfy my photography and travelling itch. I love the hiking and scenic views, I’m getting a 4×5 to capture it all so I can make super large prints to hang on my wall. I have a trip planned to Black Water Falls once I get some camping gear and hopefully I can get out to Ocean City a lot. Looks like I’m falling into the landscape category hah.
Thank you for sharing, John – I couldn’t agree more – It really gives you a perspective on your own life – and often makes us realize how fortunate we are. And I laughed, but had to agree about the ‘envy’ part, too; I want to own a house in Mexico, Tuscany, Provence, after being in some incredible homes there! But what I do instead is bring pieces of that ‘home’ back with me, and my home in the USA is an eclectic reminder of all the places I’ve been and loved.
Hi Brenda–great question. I read a book once by Karen Connelly entitled “The Lizard Cage” which tells of her extended stay in Thailand getting to understand the country and the people/customs/etc. In the book Karen makes a statement that best explains why I travel. She said “If we are not born at home, we must travel to find it.” I travel because to stay at home would deny me the pleasure and the challenge of understanding the home of others. In some cases the home fills me with envy. In other cases the home gives me a greater appreciation for what I call home. But in all cases travel broadens me as a person.