I’ve been fortunate enough to travel extensively in my adult life, and each journey has left an indelible mark on my life. It’s not just about ticking off destinations on a map; it’s about becoming worldly in the best sense. When you broaden your horizons beyond your own biases and experiences, you begin to see the world differently. And as a photographer, this shift in perspective is even more profound. Looking at the world through a lens transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, making even the most familiar scenes—those of your backyard or hometown—feel distant and small.
Travel changes you from the inside. The sights, sounds, and scents of far-off lands seep into your very being, reshaping how you perceive and interact with the world. But when you add a camera to the mix, the transformation goes a step further. World photography doesn’t just change you; it changes how you see. It opens your eyes to the subtle nuances of light, color, and form that you might have missed otherwise. The world becomes your canvas, and each click of the shutter is a brushstroke in the masterpiece of your experiences.
This past summer, I spent a significant amount of time cruising through Europe, Norway, and Iceland aboard the Windstar Yachts—Legend and Pride. These voyages were more than just vacations; they were opportunities for deep, worldly conversations and introspection. When you travel, especially by sea, you’re not just moving from one place to another; you’re immersing yourself in different cultures, perspectives, and ways of life. And as you do, you begin to shed the myopic slant and angle of your own upbringing, taking on a new flair and flavor that’s as diverse as the places you visit.
You become worldly. And so does your photography.
This isn’t to say that I don’t cherish the comforts of home—my food, my family, my friends, and my furniture. There’s a warmth and familiarity in these things that can’t be replicated. But the core of my being is driven by a need to experience the world in all its vastness and variety. This need, this insatiable curiosity, trumps my natural tendency to stay within the confines of what’s known and safe. The world is a big and brave place, and it’s waiting for you to explore it.
As photographers, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind, capturing the same scenes, the same faces, the same moments. But there’s a whole world out there—full of stories waiting to be told through our lenses. The more we expose ourselves to different environments, cultures, and people, the more we grow not just as photographers but as individuals.
So, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. Pack your bags, grab your camera, and go. Travel to places that challenge your perceptions, that force you to see the world through new eyes. Because when you do, you’ll find that both you and your photography will become richer, more nuanced, and infinitely more worldly.
Becoming worldly is not just about where you go; it’s about how you let those places change you. It’s about embracing the world in all its diversity and complexity and letting that influence how you see and capture it. So, get out there, experience the world, and let it change you—from the inside out.
Click.
Jack.
