The Places You Go

There are only three things that enhance your life:

The people you meet
The places you go
The books you read

I love traveling with my camera and discovering new places.  There is something so incredibly special about seeing a place for the first time and really being opening to what you're experiencing.  The places you go enhance your life because you really get to understand the culture, the people and so much more.  A politician once mentioned she's read about places and didn't really need to go there to know the place, but I disagree totally.  You can't know a place or the people until you're been there.  You can read Eat, Pray, Love all you want but until you go to India and experience the sights, tastes and smells of India you'll never really appreciate all she has to offer.  Hearing about a family of five riding on a motorcycle is one thing but a totally different thing to see it all around you.  As photographers we are really fortunate to have our eye to capture all we see and feel.  The places we go have a lasting effect on not only us but all the people we share our images with.

Five years ago I was in India when the tsunami hit but I was blessed to be out of harms way.  I left India days later and headed to Katmandu, Nepal.  When I arrived there were having a candle light vigil and I met some of the kindest people in the world.  In honoring those who passed away during the tsunami there was a candle light vigil and the entire town came out.  It was one of my favorite nights of my month long trip.  We are now in a similar situation with Japan and if you have the opportunity to capture a similar event you should make every effort to do so.  I can almost guarantee you will be affected in ways you can't imagine and the images you will get with stay with you forever.