10 Lessons I’ve Learned from Photography by Traveling

In the past few years, I’ve grown to do some of my best interest when I’m traveling. Encountering obstacles to rushing back to life back home, between replying to pending messages and a vision for “succeeding”, it is relaxing and fun. Traveling can be difficult, from taking long train rides to plane journeys or even bus commutes which leaves you just enough time for you to sit, look out the window and enjoy the view of the beautiful destinations. Traveling around to beautiful places and experiencing something charming and lovely also keeps an impression in your mind about a wonderful place.

I started playing around with photography when I came as an international student from India to United States in Spring 2016. I explored street photography of my neighborhood, which familiarized me to the environment which was so mysterious and pleasant. Through photography, I was able to explore the incredible city of San Diego where I was able to experience something new.

I remember walking along the beach (because San Diego) after my work at school and telling myself: “I love this place.” Playing around with photography took over my weekends and, also gave me glow in my life. The California sunlight was not just light. The walkways and the palm trees acts as a frame for a picture. Water Waves and Gulls at the beach have moods and untold stories. Soon after, I got into portraiture, which got me obsessed and a sense of cultivating a connection with unique subjects. Portrait photography told me the insight on how a portraits of a person can be told in 50 different stories and that's ravishing to me.

Now, I will dive into ten lessons learned so far in playing around with photography. I hope to achieve and inspire everyone to embrace a new hobby or play around with new gadgets which might find out what’s within you and light out the better side of you.

1. Comparing and Contrasting with Color

Living around the Greater San Diego region with diverse groups of people surrounded me with people from different backgrounds and foreground colors. This allowed me to explore and wander around the town to contrasts background and practice. Studying each of my images clicked, unfolded my vision to more thoughts to what color compliments, contrast and flow well with each other. Sunset Orange was a recurring color in my photo album because of the rich sunsets in San Diego, California. Encountering/Using different colors helped me understand my work and many other aspects of the surrounding around me culturally, artistically, and environment. 

2. Willingness to learn

Initially, when I started realizing about my photography skills I was passionate to devote time and money on it. For the first 2-3 month, I made space in my room and let myself learn key techniques on YouTube which guided me to the right path on how to use a DSLR camera. In the beginning, I could tell no difference between shutter speed and aperture. Over time, I was acquire the skill to pay more attention to details and sought to capture better pictures because of the exposure I got by traveling often to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Publishing my pictures on social media like Instagram, and Snapchat allowed me to share my story and receive feedback from my peers, colleagues, and family. Communicating with others around me engaged me to quickly make friends and connect with people who were willing to share their thoughts about my work. I sometimes wonder if I had surrounded myself with photographers who had the same interest and passion for photography.

3. Change your vision

I think I knew my skills as soon as I was traveling to Europe, Canada, India and the United States that I have always learned how to shoot at my best standards. Waiting for the perfect moment and capturing the right details had become a habit I kept on every situation. I always knew sharp eyes could capture a moment that would change the world. Remembering colors and compositions were important because it delivered image complexity and would reflect my personality. 

4. Be prepared for uncertainty

Uncertainty can be described in terms of a perfect flash to take a photograph. I found myself in moments with people who were performing arts, dances, and actions on the famous street of Los Angeles (Walk of Fame). Such moments are some of the best photographs work done by you which are remembered for a long time. Over time, I’ve also learned that the best way to learn and capture such moments in life is to wander and go out into the real world with different views and allowing the place to unfold its story to you.

5. Equipments are not necessary

It might sound like a bad advice at first but I have realized it myself. Although, I use my Canon T6i DSLR as my guide for most of my travel, my iPhone Xs Max works perfect when I need it. Many photographers including me have learned that using basic cameras in their early stages of career have discovered great photos. Gadgets and equipments don't really matter in today’s fast moving technology, what matters is the ability to tell a story and getting the point across. It matters is being at the right time, right moment and the only device which can stop the time for you.

6. Cultivating a new language

Every image has its own mode which defines its languages and the more attention you give you will become familiarized to the culture. Whichever mode you play with, you’ll cultivate and develop the language over time and will help you differentiate between languages. For decades, photography has been taught to students as a visual language and this language contains a structure and a structure which can be learned over time. Depth of field, aspect ratios are some of the common photography terms which I learned over time and began getting better when I was on the road traveling. Feedbacks and advice from my friends and family help me identify key factors which helps me communicate from a different perspective. 

7. Observe and be patient

In order to acquire the skill of photography you should first learn to be patient. For the first couple of months I didn't see the results I wanted. Your likes/dislikes, the thing that got you into photography , is still left to be discovered. And that’s when by keeping patience you will taste your work which will improve over time. Many people lack the understanding of understanding their own style and technique, as well as build a brand. Don't limit yourself to time, instead take small steps to improve your work. I remember myself, figuring many terms at a time, which totally got me confused. I realized over time that taking one mode at a time and practicing it over and over again kept my game strong.

8. Pay attention to great photography

One can create hundreds of stories with just one picture in which every person would have their opinions and perspective. I remember words from an article I read which said “Photography lies heavily on personal preference and the more people that unanimously love your work, the more popular you become and if you show your true grit and have a little bit of luck on your side you may just become a master”. I believe this quote to be perfectly describing me of how I grew up to be a photographer and how I received love for my work from others which helped me raise my bar. Looking at a shot with two dimensions helps you broader your photographic horizons.

9. Balance your ego

From being fast-paced mindset, photography taught me to be more focused on external subjects out there in the world. Likes on social media turned out to be a scorecard of my work, which disengaged me to exploring more. I caught myself and made the efforts to gear up my camera bag and step out of the door. Many times small appraisal at the right moment can alleviate insecurities, but I always remember that your hard work must always come from within, not from outside.

10. Inspires me to do more

For me, the thing that inspires me is traveling, observing and discovering things this planet has to offer. It is also unique that we all start from a point and end up with different dots meaning choosing different interest paths, careers and ways. My inspiration from an early age was to explore, stepping out of my comfort zone and always being positive of what I want to do in life. This lead me to choose photography as my hobby, career and goal.

Photography as a term allows me to travel the world, observe the world, roll into an adventure which examines nature, people, and culture. A learning from an article which said “Now the road of photography is not an easy one by any means, but if you’re willing to give your all and take the hits, then the ways in which photography can give back are life changing”. Every time, I step outside my house I know I will always come back with 4-5 photographs which will boost my confidence to take more the next time I step out. I learned so much and grew as a photographer and a person while traveling through Germany, France, Italy, Austria, India, Canada, Southeast Asia and United States and I owe it all to photography. At the age of 20, I know I am still flexible on choosing my career and it could not turn out to be photography but even if I don’t make it I’ll always be a photographer.

Reference

Jun. 7 Lessons Learned from My Journey into Photography. (2017, September 18). Retrieved from https://motivatedmastery.com/7-lessons-learned-journey-photography/

Massey-Steel. 10 Lessons I’ve Learned from Steve McCurry about Photography. (2016, November 18). Retrieved from https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/10-lessons-ive-learned-from-steve-mccurry-photography-massey-steel