By the fourth morning of my photography expedition through Svalbad in northern Norway, I began reaching for the camera as soon as I woke up. Helped by the cappuccino machines on my ship and the merciless midnight sun, I Solved I hold my binoculars in my hands and scan the horizon for movement on the ice.
When the voice of our expedition’s guide rang through the ship’s intercom, “Women and Gentlemen, we have a polar bear from Portside” – I already zoomed in and messed around with the camera’s exposure settings to compensate for the sun’s glare against the ice. I noticed details that I might have overlooked without a camera, such as the changes in the blue-green and blue tints of the iceberg and the far tracks from the polar bears that passed like this a few hours ago.
Travel, which began simply as a way to improve my wildlife photography over the past few days, has become an opportunity to be completely immersed in the environment rather than just passing by.
Researchers say there are the right and wrong ways to travel slowly with cameras
“Photos mean less time and freezing,” says Jeff Litton, a professional wildlife photographer and photography guide for the Lindblad expedition. “You capture life in one second.” Its accuracy requires attention not only to the subject, but also to the light, colour, composition and elements that unfold around the frame.
Litton agrees that there are an increasing number of researchers who argue that actively compose shots, framing and light thinking, and taking photos with other intentions will lead to greater enjoyment, more vivid memories, and an increase in visual focus. These peer-reviewed studies suggest that photography deepens engagement by keeping people immersed in the moment rather than thinking about the next step.
catch? That immersion doesn’t happen in passive photography, such as leaving a GOPRO run or stacking photos to post online. In fact, if you are interrupting the experience without paying attention to detail, it may be better to place your camera completely to evaluate the moment.
“Wait for a good photo. Let nature wake up,” says Martin Gregos, a national geographic photographer who earned international acclaim for his polar bear photography in Churchill, Canada. “Let it unfold in front of you. Sit and wait, nature begins to ignore you. Suddenly, you are not an outsider. You are a part of it.”
Photo tours can teach patience and how to avoid overtourism
Photography tours also offer ways to travel while avoiding overdog and overcrowding. These guided tours tend to be in small groups (Grogs will be less than 12 tours in northern Canada), and generally favor more remote areas. Also, unlike typical group trips where stopping to adjust camera settings can feel like a delay, photo tours consist of slow travel and spending long hours at each location. “That’s what it was that day,” Gregs says. “So (participants) will learn to be patient.”
Photographers learn to see details that others have missed, sometimes asking themselves whether the light will improve in 30 minutes or if they are waiting for the right move in the shot.
Lytton likes meditation with intentional photography. “It can bring all the talent and gear, but when nature works, you need to be ready,” he says. This motivation to get the perfect shot helps travelers stay focused for a long time. He says on his last two trips he will be behind on expeditions with a handful of photographers and will wait longer. In both cases, photo opportunities that others missed, such as shots of explicit kitten wings that reflected the sky and surrounding canyons, were rewarded.
Whether you’re a photographer or want to make it easier for your brain to slow down while traveling, a photo tour is the answer. Those who sit and wait will be rewarded with excellent photos, better memories of their destinations, and new ways to concentrate during their careful, slow trips.
Where to take a photo tour
You don’t need to be an expert to benefit from intentional photography. You don’t even have to own camera gear, as rentals are available from online resources and shops around the world. Fortunately, countless opportunities await you for those who want to build their photography skills in a guided outdoor environment.
- Heading to the pole: Lindblad Expeditions’ Arctic and Antarctic photography departures pair small boat voyages with guidance from professional national geographic photographers. The ship also has an onboard camera library, allowing passengers to test their lenses, bodies and photo accessories for free.
- Planning a Kenya safari: Two high-end Soloi Safari Lodges – Lion Braf Lodge at Lumo Conservancy and Larsens Camp at Samburu National Reservation hide underground photos.
- See North American apex predators: Canada’s Tweedsmuir Park Lodge Heli Ski Resort will transform into a Grizzly Bear Viewing Lodge from May to October, featuring a viewing deck and photo float tours via a slow moving river raft.
- Photographed in “American Serengeti”: To practice patience and focus without bringing your passport, arrange a custom photo tour at Yellowstone National Park. The winter trip focuses on grey wolves and spends dawn and dusk in Lamar Valley. This is zero due to the country’s wolf reintroduction efforts.
