I started this post at the end of May at home in Nova Scotia, but I’m posting this from Spain, a few days into my stay in Seville. The weather has been awful in Nova Scotia. It’s been a mix of wet, gloomy, grey days, rarely reaching over 10 degrees Celsius. I used to say we have three or maybe four good months of weather here in Nova Scotia; I’m starting to think that may be the case.

“You must be excited about your trip; it’s coming soon!” Next week, I’ll be on my way to Spain! And yes, I’m excited! I didn’t think that hit me until this past weekend. I partially believe this has crept up quietly because the weather has been unpleasant here. I thought it would be beautiful, sunny in June, and…well, summer. It isn’t. It isn’t at all! When I booked this trip in January, I felt it was so far away, and really, it was.

I’m a massive advocate for printing our photography. It is the final step in realizing my vision and one of the best ways to enjoy what I have produced. If you do not already, I highly recommend periodically printing your work, framing your results, and displaying or gifting them to others. It’s an excellent way to enjoy your work further and share it. Selecting the best photos for prints can be a process; some photographs look good as prints, others do not.

As a photographer, it’s easy to be motivated and focused one day, completely burnt out, and lacking motivation the next. Photography is a lot of work, both physically and mentally. Although it’s not the most physically demanding thing you can do, you still need to be motivated to plan it and do it.

I’m not a travel expert, but my passion is evident. Based on the places I have visited and from my experience, I think I know how to travel wisely and affordably. I often discuss travel with friends and family. I am at a point now where frequent in-person conversations include, “So, where is your next trip?” or some variation of a travel-related question.

I don’t take many photos for someone highly interested and passionate about photography. At least compared to others. There are months through the winter when I don’t even touch my camera. The winter months, cold weather, and limited light demotivate me. When spring comes, I start to get associated with my gear again and make sure I remember what and how I used to do things.

The saying “once in a lifetime” is heard often. A phrase that signifies an excellent opportunity that one cannot pass up. It is a ubiquitous saying, and we may miss its literal meaning. The truth is, our travel destination could be the only time we experience it in our lives. It’s easy to convince ourselves that if we enjoyed it immensely, then this is only the first of potentially numerous times that we will be back.

We have all been there: the desire to make photographs, but our attempts to create come up flat; our inspiration continues to decrease. This can happen anywhere and anytime, but it is increasingly frustrating when our inspiration is lacking while travelling. When we travel, everything in front of us is new and fresh, but every scenic view seems uninspired; every landmark captured a thousand times before seems like another generic take.

Since I started exploring photography and learning about the science and technique, there have been some rules that I was initially led to understand as non-negotiable. But today, I know that is untrue, mainly because of my experience and technological improvements that have allowed us to move away from some of them.

If you have followed my photography for some time or recently looked at some of my work included here on this site or Instagram, you may have noticed that I am primarily a photographer who prefers colour in my photographs. I think colour is one of the most significant characteristics of my images. Some photographers choose to present only in black-and-white, and the representation of black-and-white is varied.

Fujifilm recipes have substantially changed the way I shoot. I have been using variations of recipes for the past few years, starting primarily on the Fujifilm X-E4 and then moving over to the current X-H2. These recipes have allowed me to experiment more in ways I would have never thought possible; I’ve created many images that I am very proud of after experimenting and using recipes for some time now.

If you are considering a new camera or maybe even a brand switch, you are probably immersed in online content: YouTube videos, articles, blogs, TikToks, and Instagram reels. I know it’s easy to get caught up in this information, as I am also interested in new cameras, specs, and what’s on the horizon for camera technology.

In January, I discussed inspiring photography books. That post highlighted three books that focus on street photography. In addition, those three books are widely available and are easily sourced online if you cannot find them in local bookstores. I highly recommend that you check out those three books and consider adding them to your bookshelf, especially if you are interested in street photography.

I discuss travel and travel photography quite a bit on this blog. I’m thinking about where to travel next, discussing details around what I already have booked, or discussing travel I recently returned from. Travel has become a big part of my life, and my satisfaction from doing so is unmatched. When I combine that with my love and passion for photography, they are incredibly fulfilling.

I’ve travelled a fair amount and have had the opportunity to photograph many beautiful locations. Reflecting on my travels, I am reminded of the countless stunning cities and landscapes I’ve been fortunate to be in front of. Some have been bucket list places for years; others were spectacular surprises. There will always be more places I want to experience.