Blog #130 Black + White = Travel
Who doesn’t love to travel? The sites! The food! The culture and people! Indeed, travelling is the cure for racism.
Travelling, for the photographer, presents special challenges. While we all need to plan for the days away, occasions, and weather, the photographer must go one big step further.
From family vacations to professional shoots, there are many choices that one faces regarding their choice of gear, lenses, accessories, film, and more. Analysis paralysis is real and can interfere with the right choices for the right occasions and hinder the creative process. Which film? What lens? Do I bring this body and that lens or that lens and this lens? Oy!
Of course bring a backup in case of the total failure of your gear (rare but it happens). Travelling with 20+ year old film cameras [especially those containing electronics] is not without risk after all.
So I went on a recent family holiday in October to Guangzhou, China. I shot a few rolls of color film [Ektachrome!] but played a game with myself by shooting only digital images in black and white most of the time. It’s along the lines of putting restrictions on yourself. The result is forced creativity. Try this next time you’re away. Shoot only colour film, or black and white digital, or with your iPhone, or square format, or with only one focal length. It’s a neat little exercise that results in some pretty cool images.
Bon Voyage!
The light is always right.
jhg
*Images: © Jeremy H. Greenberg
Where: Guangzhou, China
Subject: Animals and street photography
Gear: Fujfilm X-T3 + 18-55mm f/2.8-4 XF R zoom lens XF R + a touch of Lightroom
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