My work has not always been focused in Africa.
This journey started, a decade earlier, by simply booking a trip to Africa with the Sierra Club. A place I had longed to go since I was a child. One of the items on the list of what to bring was a 300mm lens. I had no idea what that was or what camera I would need, as I had never even held a real camera before, other than a cheap point and shoot; does that even count? My local camera store got me sorted and I flew off with my first professional SLR camera, a 75-300 image stabilized lens, and CD burner…. remember how we first downloaded files from our CF cards…LOL.
Arriving in Africa was magic! I feel in love with everything about it, from the minute my feet touched its rich red soil. I discovered a passion for photography that was stronger than any I had know previously. Although I returned to Africa twice more in the 6 months that followed that first trip, and every year since, I decided I should explore this passion in more areas than just wildlife and Africa. I decided to go to India with a very successful travel photographer. The itinerary included a few days in Ranthambore to photograph the tigers so this seemed perfect for me. India was a 24/7 party of color, music, entertainment, and eye candy. The people were warm, friendly and fun to photograph. I had a blast and have long to return.
It has been on the list for years, but things just did not line up quite right until this past year. I am very excited to be teaming up with Deborah Sandidge for the Colors of India Tour in January/Febuary of 2015. Deborah brings many different talents and skills in travel photography, such as her long exposers, cityscapes at twilight, and infrared knowledge that will compliment my travel and cultural photography skills. She shoots with Nikon and most of you know I am still shooting with Canon. We are excited to be so versatile in our skills to be able to help everyone create stunning imagery. I have wanted to team up with another photographer for several years, but it takes time for it all to come together. We passionately worked hard to create an itinerary that includes two festivals and added a one night camel safari in the Thar desert.
Deborah Sandige Cityscapes at twilight
Learn more about Deborah and view her images here
Rajasthan, India is a place of energy, color, music, celebrations and surprises around every corner. Tractors come down the street decorated like they were going to be a float in a parade with music blaring from a boom box. Women are wondering the streets in bright saris and in the desert region the men are wearing bright multi-color turbans. You could be out photographing the town and a wedding party suddenly starts marching down the street; men holding chandeliers, a stereo blasting music, the groom siting on top of a vibrantly decorated horse and a sea of women all dressed in their most beautiful traditional clothing. India is also a country that has extreme poverty, but is part of their society mixed in with all the beauty, unlike the way we try to tuck it away from the main stream. It would be extremely difficult to experience the Rajasthan area, without also experiencing it’s poverty. As a photographer, I want to experience a country and culture raw and as it is, even thought it can pull at my heart.
My work will continue to be focused on the African continent, but it is important to mix it up and keep the creative juices flowing by stepping out of your norm, seeing differently, and increasing your skills to capture compelling images. I was only into my first few years of photography when I visited India. It will be interesting to see how I view it through the lens seven years later. It also signifies coming full circle as I will now be leading a trip that I loved as a participant. On a side note, I want to share that a few of the participants from the India trip have now been with me to Africa. I have made wonderful and long friendship with many of the people I have traveled with over the past decade. Just another wonderful way that photography has enriched my life.
We have a great group of people already signed up, but there are still a few spaces open if you would like to join us.
More than a photograph; an Experience.
