How My Camera Became My Travel Companion
When I first started traveling, I thought photos were just about collecting proof. You know, the typical shot in front of a famous landmark, maybe a few skyline views, and of course, something for Instagram. But over time, my relationship with photography completely changed. It stopped being about souvenirs and started becoming a way to see the world more clearly. My camera isn’t just a tool—it’s become a kind of companion, one that pushes me to notice the details I would’ve walked right past.
Being based in Brooklyn, I’ve always had my eye on the city’s endless energy. But it wasn’t until I started traveling with my camera that I realized how photography could help me understand places—and people—in a deeper way.
Beyond the Postcard Shot
One thing I learned quickly is that landscapes, while beautiful, don’t always tell the full story of a place. You can take a photo of the Eiffel Tower or the cliffs in Santorini, and it’s gorgeous, but it doesn’t say much about life there. What excites me more now is capturing the little in-between moments: the woman sweeping the steps of her café in the early morning, kids playing soccer in a dusty alley, or a street vendor’s hands arranging fresh fruit.
These are the kinds of photos that remind me of what it felt like to actually be there. They carry the sounds, the smells, and the pace of life in a way a wide shot of a monument just can’t. Landscapes are stunning, but it’s the small human details that really make a place unforgettable.
Learning to Slow Down
Photography has taught me patience. I used to rush through cities, trying to see as much as possible in a short window of time. Now, I slow down. I might spend an hour on a single street corner, waiting for the right moment when the light hits a building or when someone with a bright umbrella walks past.
This slower pace has shifted how I travel. It’s not just about checking destinations off a list anymore. It’s about immersing myself, noticing how shadows change as the day moves, or how the same market feels different at sunrise compared to the late afternoon. My camera forces me to linger, and in lingering, I see more.
Faces Tell the Story
Some of my favorite photos aren’t of places at all, but of people. I remember being in Hanoi and asking a man if I could take his photo as he prepared steaming bowls of pho at his street stall. His smile was shy, but he agreed, and the picture captured not just his face but his pride in his craft. In Morocco, I photographed a group of kids who insisted on posing with goofy expressions, and that one frame tells me more about Marrakech than any shot of the medina ever could.
Of course, I’ve had to learn to be respectful, to ask permission, and to accept no as an answer. Photography on the road isn’t about intrusion—it’s about connection. It’s about celebrating people, not just observing them.
Brooklyn Through a New Lens
What’s funny is that traveling with my camera has also changed how I see my home in Brooklyn. When I return, I find myself walking my own streets like a visitor, noticing the graffiti I used to ignore, the way light bounces off brownstone windows, or the vendors at the farmers market arranging produce in ways that echo markets I’ve seen abroad.
Photography has given me new eyes, and those eyes don’t switch off when I come home. Brooklyn becomes a destination in itself, not just a place I leave from and return to. That perspective has been one of the biggest gifts of carrying a camera.
More Than a Hobby
For me, photography is more than just a hobby. It’s a practice in paying attention. It’s a way of training myself to be present, to stay curious, and to honor the places and people I encounter. I don’t need the fanciest gear—most of the time, it’s just me and my camera, trying to tell a story through a single frame.
When I look back at my photos, I’m not just remembering the sights. I’m remembering conversations, moods, even the weather on a given day. Each picture is like a breadcrumb leading me back to a fuller memory of the moment.
Travel has given me so many lessons, but photography has been one of the most powerful teachers along the way. It has pushed me to slow down, to notice details, and to value human stories as much as natural beauty. Landscapes are wonderful, but they’re only part of the journey.
Whether I’m wandering a quiet street in Lisbon, watching fishermen at work in Istanbul, or just exploring my own Brooklyn neighborhood, photography helps me hold on to those fleeting moments that make travel meaningful. At the end of the day, it’s not just about capturing where I’ve been—it’s about remembering how it felt to truly be there.