EuroTrip
“Quick! Have you booked your Europe Wedding!? Only a few spots available.” …said nobody. Seriously hit me up for your Paris wedding!
In December 2018 we traveled around Europe for 3 weeks. We explored the city of Paris, and Austria, Italy and England during the quiet season. We played in the snow, dodged the yellow vest riots in Paris and got fat eating all the food! It was a trip with many firsts. It was my first time seeing snow at the age of 27 and visiting my partner’s English family. I got the tick of approval from Grandma. We good.
What would bring me back to each of these countries? As cliché as it sounds… I would go back to Paris for the Eiffel Tower. It’s such a beautiful piece of architecture to look at, especially during dusk and dawn. The big hearty meals in Austria. The countryside of Italy… so much to explore! And I wouldn’t mind doing a road trip North of England and beyond.
All these photos were taken with my Fuji X-T20 and a 23mm lens (35mm equivalent). It’s the size of my palm, weighs 713 g (2 potatoes) and doesn’t look valuable for a nearby thief. I purchased this camera because it costs around $800 compared to my work camera at $4,000. Imagine the level of stress that comes with a $4000 camera when constantly travelling and walking down dark alleyways in Venice at night.
Can we talk about why travel photography is so rewarding?
1) It’s an escape.
As a wedding photographer you may take 100,000 photos per year. On the wedding day you’re working off a tight run-sheet, carrying two heavy cameras and framing every single image. Doing this for 10 hours can be tiring physically and mentally. Travel photography gives me the opportunity to slow down. I’m under no pressure to perform and the Fuji X-T20 is super-lightweight. No stress and no strain. With each new country I visit, I’m introduced to a different culture and environment that allowed me to experiment and develop new skills. Never have I ever photographed in such a snowy white landscape like the Alps in Austria.
2) It makes you more aware of your surroundings.
Let’s say I’m walking down the canals of Venice. If I have my camera in hand I’m always on the lookout for my next photo. I’m searching for light, looking down side streets and stopping to admire all the small details. Once you begin looking for photos, you see much more of the world than if you are just walking through it. It’s also a great way to get lost, discover things off the tourist track and heighten your senses.
3) Develop a style + It’s personal
How I shoot and edit my travel photography is totally different to my weddings. Why? Because I’m having fun, not taking it seriously and experimenting in the hope of discovering something new. I want to capture the emotion and feeling that we had that moment in front of the Eiffel Tower or when I first touched snow. I’m creating these images just for us. I’m not following a set of rules that will make a client happy.
We visited these countries in December, the low season. The great thing about this was crowds are thin, we could book AirBnB’s the day before and flight’s were usually cheaper. It was pleasant not to have hordes of Chinese tourists waving their selfie stick at the Cinque Terre, Italy. However the smaller country villages around the Italian Riviera can feel like ghost towns. The downside, days were shorter and colder. Make sure to wake up early and bring layers of clothing. Before heading off to a tourist spot, call ahead or check the website to confirm the attraction is open.
