Travel Photography

From a shy photographer

I don’t like pointing a camera at people I don’t know, especially without their permission. I’m even more reluctant when I travel. I’m a 5'10" female and I’m very blond (well, gray but I used to be blond.) The point is, that I don’t blend in and it is hard to hide in a crowd anywhere, especially when I’m traveling in Asia. So, getting memorable travel photos is a challenge.

It helps that I only carry an iPhone. iPhones are a little easier to use for travel photography because they are smaller and less conspicuous than a “regular” camera.

Below are photos I took in Singapore and Malaysia. It was easy to get photos on subways and buses in Singapore because no one is paying attention to anything other than their phone. There are signs posted saying “Don’t Talk” because talking might disturb someone else, so no one talks. Instead, they all sit with their mouths closed and their eyes glued to their phones. It makes it pretty easy to take a photo or two while getting onto or sitting on a bus or subway without disturbing anyone because no one is looking at anyone else.

Why take this photo? I can’t imagine a subway full of people in the States wearing masks and not talking just because they were told to wear masks and not talk. Can you imagine the arguments that would occur? By the way, the bottom right photo below is from an earlier pre-Covid trip, so they aren’t wearing masks, but they are being quiet as is expected.

It is usually more fun and rewarding to get pictures of people doing something they love to do and are good at. They are often delighted to have you take their photos. The beautiful smiling photos below were taken at the Mari Mari Cultural Villa in Sabah, Malaysia. It was a wonderful visit where they demonstrated their traditional cultural arts and crafts. Yum, the food was delicious there too.

The men in the photos below were happy that I was aiming my iPhone camera in their direction. The man in the top left photo was making roti, a light bread with a pancake-like consistency. The man on the right was showing us how to open the difficult-to-open durian. It is very smelly, but some say the most awesomely delicious fruit grown in Malaysia. The man on the bottom left was creating a drink at a rooftop bar in Georgetown, Malaysia.

Musicians are usually happy to have their photos taken. The trio in the photo below sang at a neighborhood party in Singapore. The neighbors had gathered together to talk, listen to music and share their best homemade food while the children played games together outside for hours. It was fun to have been invited to participate in this neighborhood gathering.

The photo of the flute player touched my heart. I played the flute in the elementary and high school band, so I was delighted to hear him playing on the beach in Sabah, Malaysia. We sat and listened for a long time just so I could enjoy his music.

Travel photos capture memories. Memories to look back on, smile, and share.