THE TALE OF A TRAVELOGRAPHER

Although, photography and travel are two interests that can bring out the best in each other, there are people who may just prefer travelling and living in the moment. In contrast, a second category of people yearn for reminders of these experiences, which they believe, are too precious to be forgotten. So they take in every moment with not just two eyes, but three. And their life is just incomplete without their third eye, the Lens.

Well, obviously it is quite hard for them to fit into a world that can do quite well without a camera. Being a shutterbug affected by wanderlust, I can totally relate to the following things that this class of travellers feel.

i.It is in the best interest of others and yourself, if you choose to travel solo.

When on an outing with a group, you get too caught up in every little thing you notice about your surroundings and get left behind. CHAOS. Neither can you find your people, nor can they.

I would certainly not blame the others for getting annoyed when you constantly slack, or rather, are too busy getting your shot right. This happened to me in Prague while I was travelling with a few friends. I still thank my stars, because my friends cared to wait on me. But when in Amsterdam, off they went on bikes to tour the city, while I explored it on foot. My Nikon d3200 was my sole companion. I was happy in my own space. It wasn’t the first time I was alone in a new city. Also, travelling is all about stepping out of one's comfort zone and every travelographer embraces this fact quite willingly.

Here are some pictures of Amsterdam from my solo walking tour :)

Dam Square

ii. Learning to get creative with portraits can come to your rescue.

Well, if you are still an amateur traveller or prefer being in the company of others while still being able to visit the choicest of places to shoot, then promise yourself to click good pictures of people you are travelling with. Seeing themselves in a different light will probably make your fellow travellers agree with your suggestions to stop at the right places. And trust me, most people crave for good travel pictures, even if they don’t want to stop and capture everything they see. Of course, you too will develop as a photographer.

Some of my Chinese friends at University love posing until we click the right portraits when we travel together.

Mayfield Lavender

Tower Bridge

iii. You just can’t get enough of a place.

For you, every aspect of a new city matters. You like to soak in it's culture and love people watching, until you are content. While travelling, you keep wondering why there cannot be more than 24 hours in a day. Whether you should just leave a place and move on to the next on your list or just continue to discover new things about the place you are in, is a question that you can never find an answer to. You just don’t want to miss out on ANYTHING.

Dam Square

Vajdahunyad Castle

iv. You are not a tourist. You are a victim of wanderlust.

To get the best out of my visit, I have even spent a night on the deck of a ship-house in Amsterdam. People may not be too pleased with accommodations that aren’t comfortable. But I thanked the Almighty that day. Had it not been for the tiny damp rooms of MS Vertigo (an accommodation on a ship) , I wouldn’t have watched Amsterdam change its colours from dusk till dawn.

The saying No pain, no gain makes perfect sense to us!

Oosterdok

v. Finally, you are not just a travelographer. You are even a tell-tale at times :P

Of course, a far-away, new city is beautiful. But you only show it in its best light. This is because you wait for the right times to get your shots. You long for interesting clouds to blow in or even wait upon nightfall and let these natural phenomena redefine the city. It’s not your fault. To see it from your perspective, it is for others to learn to wait. :P

Here are a few of my own shots from cities I have been to. I hope you like them! 