What is a travel photo? It’s an image that expresses the feeling of a time and place, portrays a land, its people, or a culture in its natural state, and has no geographical limitations, according to the Photographic Society of America. I like this definition because it focuses on feeling and story telling.

I frequently encourage people during our travel photography workshops to think about what’s attracted them to photograph something. Why are they pointing their camera at a particular subject? Being aware of what draws you to photograph something will help you capture it with more of your feeling expressed in the photo.

Do you want to know how to be a National Geographic photographer? I can’t answer from specific personal experience, because I have never been one. But what draws me to admire their most brilliant photographers is the feeling the infuse their travel photos with. Photography is so much more than learning camera settings. Connecting with your subject and being aware of your own feelings is just as vital.

When I travel I am paying attention to how I am feeling, particularly when I have my camera in hand, (I’m usually feeling pretty good 🙂 .) I want to convey the sensations I experience in my photos. I’m not so interested in merely making a record of what I see. I certainly won’t follow the top locations as direct by what’s hot on Instagram or anywhere else. I want to connect with my surroundings and portray at least some part of my experience every time I take a travel photograph.

Photos I’ve included here are taken away from where I have been living since 2002, northern Thailand. Some are from my home country of New Zealand, so may technically not be considered travel photos. I’d love to include more and certainly intend to over time as I continue you to explore this planet with my camera any time I can.