Wandering Thoughts #2: How Do You Record Your Adventures?
on preserving the moment vs. staying in it
When you go ashore in that town
take neither a camera nor a notebook.
However many photographs you upload
of that street, the smell of almond paste
will be missing; the harbour will not sound
of wind slapping on chains.
—from “The Opportune Moment” by Sheenagh Pugh
Hi friends, and welcome back to Wandering Thoughts, a monthly series for paid subscribers with inspiration for living an adventurous, net-positive life. These are mini-guides and musings for all you fellow seekers, wanderlust junkies, and soulful explorers who want to leave this world a little better—a place where we can discuss the ways our journeys help us grow.
Last month, we talked about traveling without an itinerary. Today, I’d love to hear your thoughts on preserving moments versus staying fully present in them.
When I was prepping to leave for the Balkans, I got the notion to dust off and bring my DSLR—the kind of camera you use not just for snapping quick photos, but for serious photography. It had sat in a drawer, neglected under a mountain of faded receipts and takeout menus, for I don’t even know how long.
While I’ve always loved the idea of photography, I’ve never practiced it outside of a single college class (which is the reason I own the DSLR). I tend to take a million photos on trips, keeping my eyes peeled for things I think are beautiful and then taking similar shots over and over until I get the perfect one. I thought this road trip, where I’d be meandering through several countries I’d never seen before, would be the perfect time to try and up my photography game—to capture something truly interesting, and dare I say artsy, on film.