Last month I traveled halfway around the world to shoot a wedding in India. This was an amazing opportunity for me and I made sure my schedule included a few weeks of travel just for myself. Exploring new cities with my camera in hand is one of my favorite things to do, as I often discover things that I might otherwise overlook. Although I brought several different lenses on this trip, I found that time and again my go-to lens was usually my 24mm f/1.4. In order to get the shots I really wanted, I forced myself to get up close to my subjects. No matter what culture, my tendency has always been to gravitate towards people and I find the language barrier to be both fun & challenging at times. The photos above were taken in various cities over a three week period in the following Indian states: Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh. I am currently processing thousands of images from the five-day Indian wedding I shot in Andhra Pradesh and can’t wait to share these with the world next week. To view wedding photos, click this link: Indian Wedding Photography.
Every time I travel overseas, I come back with a ton of stories. Thankfully, I have made it a habit to carry a journal and recap each day. I have found that when people ask how my trip was they usually expect to hear an over-glammorized rendition of what I actually experienced. Of course the good times far outweigh the bad, but cheap massages and excellent food aren’t what I love most about traveling. Instead, I recall walking home late one night when a local offered to give me a lift on the back of his moped. After weaving in and out of traffic (and livestock) he dropped me off a few blocks away from my hostel to walk the rest of the way. All of the sudden a pack of wild dogs & monkeys started chasing me down a dark alley all the way to my front door. It was a pretty wild experience.
I also met a group of friends from England who invited me to join their tour of Jaipur. At the end of the day we all loaded up in the car when it began to downpour. The rain was so intense that within the hour the streets had flooded and the people in the city didn’t miss a beat. I quickly grabbed my camera and an umbrella and began to wade the knee high waters looking for a photo. It’s these sorts of experiences that I remember most when I make it home after a long trip. The unpredictable situations that force me to step out of my comfort zone and focus on the present moment. That’s why I choose to travel.
Prints available here