A Photographer's Holiday • Is it a Working Vacation?
- May 21, 2014
- 2 min read
Is going on holiday for a photographer just an extended shoot or is it a field of dreams? New exploration, colours, climate, architecture ... I could go on but won't - I think you get the picture. Ouch, no pun intended!
I suppose I'm asking a relatively difficult question to all photographers out there - are you able to sit back and get away without a camera, or is it constantly somewhere at hand?
I am certainly lucky in the fact that work and play is the same for me. I don't go anywhere without a camera of some sort and I'm pretty much renowned for it. I never need an excuse to take photos, but a new place, new architecture, different cultural cuisines .. so much more, fill me with such joy.
In 2008, whilst I was recovering from major surgery, I was persuaded by friends to take a holiday on a pretty much deserted island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Only then could I literally come to a stop. Within 20 minutes you could walk round the whole island and there are only so many shots you can take within that time. The only real joy shooting-wise, was the ever changing sun rises, sets and some underwater opportunities whilst snorkelling.
In todays world, we don't even need a camera to take holiday snaps. Some smart phones have pretty amazing cameras and I wonder how many holidaymakers actually take all their pics on them? I think we'd all be surprised with the answer to that question.
I was recently on holiday with some girlfriends in the US. Knowing I'm a photographer, most of them allowed me to shoot away with the knowledge that I would be sharing my pics with them - their 'official' holiday photographer so-to-speak! For me, this was no issue. I love taking photos and part of my holiday experience is not to go home with a souvenir, a t-shirt or things I can get at home - my aim is to capture some of those moments of laughter, smiles, surroundings, people, places and so much more in photos.
For me as a photographer, and even though it is my work, it's also my life. I wonder how many other photographers relish the thought of getting away on holiday ... or do they leave their work behind?
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