#TravelTuesday certainly does come around quick, even when there’s not so much travel involved! I’m Dave Williams, here today and every Tuesday on ScottKelby.com
Today, I’m sad. I’m sad because the world is a very uncertain place right now and we don’t know what’s coming next. As a travel photographer, it makes life hard, as it does for everyone in their own respects. Since last week, I’ve cancelled Greece (last week), Hungary (this week), Iceland (in two weeks), and Canada (October) because of transmission rates, as well as the previous cancellations I’ve had to make since March. I have a trip to Norway coming shortly, which hopefully, I’ll be able to make – keep an eye on my Instagram story to see whether I do!
The point, I guess, is this: travel photography isn’t necessarily about travel. We don’t have to travel to shoot travel photography. It’s more about the result. In our travel photography, we aren’t just showing where we are, but we’re inviting people to want to be there, too. It isn’t so much a genre as it is a result. Travel photography is the art and skill of giving somebody the feeling that they want to be there in your image, through your image, and at this time when travel isn’t an option for so many of us, it’s the ability to have people feel they’re living vicariously through our imagery – through our experiences.
We can all still do this right now – we can “do” travel photography without travelling. Take a look through old photos from trips away, or go somewhere locally and take some new photos, and get to work however you want on making someone want to be there in that photo, at that place, and live vicariously through it. It could be basic adjustments or full-on composite work, but whatever it is, it’s practice. It’s important that we all keep on top of our skills and our sanity right now and do things like this, which will maintain and develop our skill set, as well as provide focus and accomplishment. I went not too far away to get this shot on the south coast of the UK last week, just to stay “in the game.”
If you’re up for a bit of this, try finding places to shoot near you by searching your location on Instagram, Flickr, 500PX, or LocationScout to see what other people are shooting near you as a little source of inspiration. You really don’t have to travel to shoot travel photography.
Much love
Dave
