The Journal Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

The Journal, Kekaha Kai State Park, The Big Island, Hawai'i

A good traveler should always keep a journal of his or her travels so he/she can document the places visited, the people met, and record impressions. A knowledgeable traveler always has a map handy, keeps notes, and has a reference for understanding the culture, the people, the place, and the climate. There are many ways to keep a journal - a notebook is the most common, others have used postcards, and some just notes on a piece of paper. A journal is almost a necessary accessory for a photographer to record is images and shooting information. With todays metadata shooting information is not so important but date, location, files numbers, filters, etc. are all important when returning home and you need to jog your memory to catalog and organize the images from the trip.

In this image we see a traveler transcribing and expanding on the notes made on the back of an itinerary. As a good traveler there is always an accompanying map to help decipher the days travels. Some objects found while roaming on the beach to keep things in place while writing.

When the winter snows fly the journal is a way to relive those memorable days traveling in the islands, snorkeling in the warm clear waters, and just roaming the sands in search of oceanside treasure. Also, the journal is an invaluable tool in planning the next adventure. Usually you do not want to cover the same ground again, and certainly not make the same mistakes.

sam224, ribeiroantonio, stego, Flavia, bracasha75, feather, leo61, pboehringer, scobert has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

stego (22336) 2007-03-07 22:47

Hi John,
A beautiful (not so) abstract compo that, along with your inspired note, is very dear to any (slow :-) traveler.
Really beautiful in its simplicity.
Regards, José.

Flavia (10202) 2007-03-08 0:02

Hi John,

I cannot say that this is my kind of photography and I'm not a well organized traveler as well, but the picture was well managed and it's interesting enough in it's simplicity.

Best Regards,

Flavia

bracasha75 (21701) 2007-03-08 0:25

Helo John
Exploring is very intresting and match beter when there give some treasure.
Well done
cheers,braca

ribeiroantonio (21749) 2007-03-08 2:42

The photo is very good but what impressed me more was the excellent advice about a journal. It is something that I have learned and practice since my geological field trips as a student. I always have a little note book with me. Thanks for sharing good ideas and pictures.
Antonio

christian_v (801) 2007-03-08 3:01

Bonjour John

Nice image and nice advice..
This remind me the explorer of the past century, when they travel slowly,
making notes, abserve the nature, the plants and animals...finding their way with a compass...
Old good days are gone...Too many computers and digitals information...

Thank you.
christian

sam224 (5851) 2007-03-08 3:23

A good realized composition which let us think about the sea and the warm days we are going to spend in the future. Good focusing on the hands writing.
Well done. Thansk for sharing

feather (49848) 2007-03-08 4:52

What was that you said about trying different things? :)
Excellent almost still life image and very good tips for the traveller.
Kath

leo61 (42886) 2007-03-08 15:50

Hi John!
I recognize me in this image,because I do so when I`m travelling.I allways have a little notebook with me and in the evenings durings my travels I write down what happened the day.And every winter I read some of my notes and view some photos of my previous travels.
A good image in the sense of TE.
Regards,Leo

cdmonson (2751) 2007-03-08 16:30

Great shot John. I like good closeups like this, and I think you've done a nice job in the arrangement of the journal pages, the placement of the hands, and the angle that you shot it at. Great job all around.

Clark

batalay (20704) 2007-03-09 12:53

Hello John,

Nice bit of photojournalism. Ths is an imaginative shot, and one that we can all take as a lesson. Warm regards,

Bulent

pboehringer (770) 2007-03-11 10:18

Hi John, a poetic moment in your photography. But, you're so right. Beeing at the places I get so enthusiastic that I forget completely about keeping records and than when I'm back to "boring" live I wonder the name of that particular place, etc. At least I have the shots.
Very good shot, very sharp with good colors. Great idea and eye for the detail. Well executed!
TFS, Peter

scobert (5333) 2008-02-19 20:09

Hello John,
Excellent, excellent idea! I have always had a farily good memory, but the daily details of traveling can quickly disappear even with the best of memories. Christine takes excellent and very detailed notes and do these ever come in handy. I am not much of a stickler for recording photographic info (I can usually take a good educated guess by looking at the photograph) but the location, cultural and historical details are absolutely essential. I try to remind myself to photgraph signs, etc. to reference an image. Excellent shot and notes!
Stan