My perspective

In a nutshell, I feel that travel is not a discrete event but a continuous process and hence to successfully capture it is a tedious process. It requires not only the skills of a photographer but also that of a keen observer and a person with an angle towards life.

Over the centuries travel photography is no longer limited to only a bunch of handpicked photographers chosen by the likes of Albert Kahn among others. And this has been possible especially due to the digitization of the camera. Thus having said that, I am personally on the side of those in the favour of digital cameras in the debate about the loss of the art of photography by the photography purists.

In travel it is essential to capture the essence of the place and the culture of the subject involved and thus unlike in a pre setup photo session you do not have many chances to capture the shot. Thus in the case of film cameras until one reaches the process of development you do not have much idea about the quality and accuracy of the shots taken. Also digital cameras are a blessing as they reduced the need for the photographers to travel with highly fragile and reactive film developing chemicals and equipments and the same financial investment can now be put into acquiring better lenses.

The pleasure of capturing your own experience and bringing it out for the rest of the world to view and appreciate without having to actually visit those places is what makes it all worth it.

photo from Jonathan Mohabuth