A World Inventive Neighborhood of Journey Photographers (freshmen + professionals)
Images is a rewarding, enriching, and adventure-filled passion, or in my case, a occupation. 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 possibly, nonetheless, even be a little bit lonely. A whole lot of the photographers I do know {photograph} solo, whether or not travelling, or photographing near dwelling, all of us are likely to enterprise out with only a digital camera as our companion. Generally, I desire it this fashion, it helps me focus, be artistic 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 typically even assembly up for an journey.
However then social media may get overwhelming, the comparability lure is actual, the countless quantity of content material feels such as you’re by no means doing sufficient or sharing sufficient, and to make sure my thoughts features nicely to work and really feel artistic, most of the time I must 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, happened in a number 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 artistic 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, picture excursions, e mail lists after which in 2020 when the net programs have been launched, the group began forming as a result of individuals have been connecting over the shared expertise of studying and enhancing their pictures.
I needed 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 might at all times decide to eat a museli bar for dinner if it meant capturing a surprising 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 might just about 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 tough to achieve 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 needed to try to embrace all of it as a result of all of these features play an element within the artistic journey, particularly with journey pictures.
Then, final 12 months my stunning Nan Patricia handed away. She was a artistic powerhouse, Instagram savvy even at 93 (she adopted loads of the course group + my pictures pals 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 pals. 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 needs 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. When 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 doubt be a really chatty contributor to the discussions!
Forming the membership and designing the net area flowed so simply as soon as I had the idea in thoughts. Inside the membership there’s the group discussion board for discussions and a gallery to share work and obtain suggestions, plus a library of assets to supply ideas, 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 numerous routes to observe from a photographer’s perspective.
In 2025 I’ll be rising this part of the membership, I’d adore it to change into a big hub for individuals planning their pictures adventures, maybe additionally creating picture walks and meet-ups with members, after which additionally revealing extra assets targeted on boosting creativity and pictures expertise.
From what I’ve seen, there’s nothing else like this out there. 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 fascinating challenges for all features of each.
When you’re not but a member, membership is accessible on an annual foundation by way of this web page with extra data on the membership and member advantages. Upon becoming a member of, you’ll have 12 months of entry to every part inside, plus extra assets which are launched on the primary day of every new month.
All assets are downloadable, so you possibly can take them with you in your adventures or pictures missions, plus you possibly can join with like-minded creatives in your space, and in over 18 nations (and rising) all over the world.
✓ Month-to-month Images Challenges + Subjects
✓ Entry to The Gallery + Suggestions
✓ Neighborhood Discussions
✓ Members-only unique content material + downloadables
✓ Reductions on all programs + assets by The Wandering Lens (plus VIP entry to approaching excursions, picture walks + occasions)
I by no means anticipated such a tremendous response inside simply three months since launch, and it’s already a worldwide artistic group and I’m so, so pleased with what it’s change into in such a short while! I sit up for seeing your work and connecting if you happen to determine to affix as a member 🙂
When you do have any questions in any respect concerning the membership or the net programs, I’m simply an e mail away and also you’re welcome to get in contact straight by way of hiya@thewanderinglens.com
Hiya! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 19+yrs expertise as an expert journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this website is from my private expertise, or that of contributors, on the highway. 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.