Travel and me go hand in hand. I’ll go anywhere my camera takes me. Inspired by the maps {and photos} from National Geographic, I savor genuine interactions with locals and foreigners alike, be it coffee shop, a disco, or hot tub. In love with my Krista, and when she’s with me, everything tastes better, smells better, and even feels like a lifetime experience.

I don’t need much to make this happen. Just a good pair of walking shoes, my Nikon D700 with my 24mm f/1.4, Patagonia shorts, a few snacks and a water bottle. I usually leave my map at home/car/hotel to REALLY explore a place. And about those shorts: I prefer the ones with the underwear inside it so I can hit up a museum, go for a run, swim, grab a glass of wine and watch sunset… enjoying finer things in the life. After all, life passes quicker than we think.

Why travel photos? For one, it sloooows us down. Or at least it should. Taking time to compose, watch light, and breath… that experience is the true gift from the experience, not the actual image. If the image is found, knowing I can bring that same feeling back home and hang it on my wall, that’s what I dream. I know that dream will help when when things aren’t so rosy back in the home of reality we call the {real world}.

Sure there are rules. Travel postcards showcase more cliches than friendly dogs & cats in Santorini. It’s good to enjoy them, but spend more time in the place than just a quick glance in the airport kiosk.

I spoke with many wedding guests during a {Photo Safari} mini-lecture on this topic. Yes, it was academic. But there were no exams, had a few hungover students, several showed up in bathing suits… all acceptable given we were at a glorious grand suite at Astra Suites, the best hotel in Santorini, one of the best places in Greece, the day after an epic wedding. I emphasized to not let the {little buttons} on our camera distract us, but use the big button, {our brain}.

Among the items we discussed regarded concepts of basic posing, backlighting, shooting in the shade, and depth of field. More than that, however, there were much great philosophical lessons to share. Slow down. Take your time. Enjoy the moment. Focus.

And then {de}focus.

There’s nothing worse of a sharp photo of a fuzzy idea. I like fuzzy photos of sharp ideas. I learned this while studying {finger}painting as an Art & Art History at Colgate University as an undergrad. Way to go liberal arts education!

This little personal group of work is apart of a series started a few years ago with my portraits of snowflakes in Winter Park, CO. I am happy to continue it here:

Class, dismissed.
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One limited edition, signed metallic prints sized 40 x 60 will be made available for each of the images displayed above. Contact me for further details.