A World Artistic Neighborhood of Journey Photographers (novices + professionals)
Pictures is a rewarding, enriching, and adventure-filled pastime, or in my case, a career. One that may take you to all corners of the world for experiences with different cultures, vibrant cities, pure wonders, and wildlife encounters.
It will probably, nonetheless, even be a little bit lonely. Loads of the photographers I do know {photograph} solo, whether or not travelling, or photographing near house, all of us are likely to enterprise out with only a digital camera as our companion. Typically, I favor it this fashion, it helps me focus, be inventive and never have distractions, I can merely wander, discover and experiment. It’s good although to attach with like-minded individuals, and I’ve discovered social media has been nice for supporting fellow photographers, chatting, and generally even assembly up for an journey.
However then social media may also get overwhelming, the comparability lure is actual, the infinite quantity of content material feels such as you’re by no means doing sufficient or sharing sufficient, and to make sure my thoughts capabilities nicely to work and really feel inventive, most of the time I have to separate from it. That’s to not say I’m not a late-night scroller of cute canine movies…this positively occurs.
The thought of a journey pictures membership although, took place in a couple of methods, with one large ah-ha second final 12 months. Since I’ve been publishing vacation spot guides right here on The Wandering Lens for over 10 years, forming a inventive group has at all times been at the back of my thoughts, it was at all times only a matter of how. There have been Fb Teams, photograph excursions, electronic mail lists after which in 2020 when the web programs had been launched, the group began forming as a result of individuals had been connecting over the shared expertise of studying and enhancing their pictures.
I wished to create a group that did the next:
- Supported fellow photographers on their pictures journey
- Supplied schooling + inspiration for photographers at any stage
- That allowed individuals to attach over a shared love of taking images – I really feel like we’re a particular bunch that may at all times choose to eat a museli bar for dinner if it meant capturing a shocking sundown…proper?
For over a 12 months I’d been slowly engaged on a brand new web site to host the group, to get away from Fb teams, and to create someplace we may nearly hang around and chat about all issues journey and pictures. Nonetheless, it by no means felt proper or prefer it was flowing. I hit some technical roadblocks organising chat rooms and located it difficult to realize momentum by solely specializing in a group from an academic standpoint. There’s extra to pictures than simply specializing in enhancing or beginning a profession, there’s the experiences, the planning, the vacation spot inspiration, the enjoyable experiments and errors, I wished to attempt to embody all of it as a result of all of these features play an element within the inventive journey, particularly with journey pictures.
Then, final 12 months my stunning Nan Patricia handed away. She was a inventive powerhouse, Instagram savvy even at 93 (she adopted plenty of the course group + my pictures associates and left supportive feedback with an array of emojis), an actress, jewelry maker and fairly the character, at all times concerned in native adventures and outings along with her associates. She was additionally a member of the native pictures membership, and it wasn’t till we would have liked to contact them to share the information of her passing and invite them to her memorial, that it clicked.
From that second I realised it ought to be a journey pictures membership.
A membership for individuals eager on seeing the world and capturing it creatively to attach, it was like all of the roadblocks disappeared. In case you’re within the membership, you’ll discover she’s an Honorary Member as a result of I do know she’d be very excited to be a part of it and would little question be a really chatty contributor to the discussions!
Forming the membership and designing the web area flowed so simply as soon as I had the idea in thoughts. Throughout the membership there’s the group discussion board for discussions and a gallery to share work and obtain suggestions, plus a library of sources to supply suggestions, challenges and knowledge for these eager to study pictures. One half I’ve actually loved placing collectively are the journey itineraries and site lists, they provide recommendation on the place to journey, what to {photograph} and varied routes to observe from a photographer’s perspective.
In 2025 I’ll be rising this part of the membership, I’d like it to turn out to be a big hub for individuals planning their pictures adventures, maybe additionally creating photograph walks and meet-ups with members, after which additionally revealing extra sources targeted on boosting creativity and pictures expertise.
From what I’ve seen, there’s nothing else like this accessible. There are pictures golf equipment and areas to share work on-line, however I’ve constructed this area for individuals to attach over two shared passions, journey and pictures, with loads of inspiration, schooling, and interesting challenges for all features of each.
In case you’re not but a member, membership is accessible on an annual foundation through this web page with extra info on the membership and member advantages. Upon becoming a member of, you’ll have one year of entry to all the things inside, plus extra sources which can be launched on the primary day of every new month.
All sources are downloadable, so you’ll be able to take them with you in your adventures or pictures missions, plus you’ll be able to join with like-minded creatives in your space, and in over 18 international locations (and rising) all over the world.
✓ Month-to-month Pictures Challenges + Subjects
✓ Entry to The Gallery + Suggestions
✓ Neighborhood Discussions
✓ Members-only unique content material + downloadables
✓ Reductions on all programs + sources by The Wandering Lens (plus VIP entry to imminent excursions, photograph walks + occasions)
I by no means anticipated such a tremendous response inside simply three months since launch, and it’s already a worldwide inventive group and I’m so, so happy with what it’s turn out to be in such a short while! I stay up for seeing your work and connecting when you resolve to hitch as a member 🙂
In case you do have any questions in any respect concerning the membership or the web programs, I’m simply an electronic mail away and also you’re welcome to get in contact instantly through whats up@thewanderinglens.com
Hey! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 19+yrs expertise as knowledgeable journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this website is from my private expertise, or that of contributors, on the street. I hope it’s helpful on your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences all over the world.
