Spirit of Place

Wonder is the beginning of wisdom - Greek Proverb

For an artist, the world is his palette, and adventure his brush. We all yearn for a little adventure in our lives, the sense of something new excites us. We are all born to a life of adventure. The moment we got out of our mothers womb, we are introduced to the sights, sounds, smells and touch of the world. Everything is new, everything is exciting.

But when we grow older this excitement takes a backseat, we engulf ourselves in the monotonous currents of our lives and the simple joys become mundane. We want something bigger, we strive for something better and we work very hard for it, then we get tired of working, then it is back to square one. Our sense of wonder does not go away, it is just under there somewhere tucked under the covers.

Let's get away, pick a favorite place you have always dreamed of going, take your camera and capture life.

How do we capture the Spirit of a Place? By taking a pause, breathe and Feel the gentle breeze of the ocean. Listen to the music played on the street, Smell the wonderful aroma from that little french kitchen, Gaze upon the giant monoliths of the Swiss alps and Laugh with the people who live in there. This is the spirit of the place, by being one with your environment. After you absorb all that, then and only then can you take the picture.

With all your senses heightened and your sense of wonder back in you, you will unleash your creative self and with the camera stop time and capture life's essence. It is with deep passion can our photographs be alive. Like our mothers cooking made with patient preparation, the right ingredients and gentle care can the food be so memorable.

Try taking a picture of a mountain at sunrise, wake up early, prepare your gear, visualize your shot and find your spot. Once there listen to sounds of the birds and the smell of the morning dew and once the sun finally kiss those peaks you will feel a joy so profound it is beyond words and then breathe, compose and press the shutter.

The rich and varied journey of life, encompassing all opposites, connecting all things.
The Great Journey is full of blessings for the person who has eyes to see. Tao - The Great Way.

Tip: When taking pictures of your travels, tell a story. Think of how the story begins and how it will end. You can start with photos of you at the airport and end it walking away from the camera at a beach at sunset.

A good story needs a good backdrop to work with, grab your tripod and wide angle lens and take pictures of the place, the mountains, the monuments. Zoom in and grab the details that make the place unique. Vary your angles, shoot at different times of the day. Night shots of city lights, sunsets at the beach or the drama of the rainy day. A good rule of thumb when shooting landscapes is to be mindful of the horizon and that it is horizontally straight and shoot with a smaller aperture.

A good story will need actors, so take photos of the people in that area, learn their customs so you could shoot them in their environment. Use a long lens and be invisible, in that way they can act naturally. Once you get a good rapport with them, take a closer more intimate portrait to emphasize their eyes and face, which in themselves tell their own story.


And lastly don't forget to enjoy the moment.