Perception: Why I began The Journey Images Membership – Picture Ideas, Inventive Images + Journey Guides

A World Inventive Neighborhood of Journey Photographers (novices + professionals)

Images is a rewarding, enriching, and adventure-filled interest, 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 could possibly, nonetheless, even be somewhat lonely. Numerous the photographers I do know {photograph} solo, whether or not travelling, or photographing near residence, all of us are likely to enterprise out with only a digicam as our companion. Typically, I desire it this manner, 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 folks, 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 get overwhelming, the comparability entice 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 effectively to work and really feel artistic, as a rule I have to separate from it. That’s to not say I’m not a late-night scroller of cute canine movies…this totally occurs.

The concept of a journey images membership although, happened in just a few methods, with one huge 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, photograph excursions, electronic mail lists after which in 2020 when the net programs have been launched, the group began forming as a result of folks have been connecting over the shared expertise of studying and bettering their images.

I needed to create a group that did the next:

• Supported fellow photographers on their images journey
• Offered schooling + inspiration for photographers at any stage
• That allowed folks to attach over a shared love of taking pictures – 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 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 may nearly hang around and chat about all issues journey and images. Nonetheless, it by no means felt proper or prefer it was flowing. I hit some technical roadblocks establishing chat rooms and located it tough to realize momentum by solely specializing in a group from an academic standpoint. There’s extra to images than simply specializing in bettering 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 images.

Then, final 12 months my lovely Nan Patricia handed away. She was a artistic powerhouse, Instagram savvy even at 93 (she adopted quite a lot of the course group + my images 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 together with her pals. She was additionally a member of the native images membership, and it wasn’t till we wanted 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 images membership.

A membership for folks eager on seeing the world and capturing it creatively to attach, it was like all of the roadblocks disappeared. If you happen to’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. Throughout 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 suggestions, challenges and data for these eager to study images. 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 find it irresistible to change into a big hub for folks planning their images adventures, maybe additionally creating photograph walks and meet-ups with members, after which additionally revealing extra assets targeted on boosting creativity and images abilities.

From what I’ve seen, there’s nothing else like this accessible. There are images golf equipment and areas to share work on-line, however I’ve constructed this area for folks to attach over two shared passions, journey and images, with loads of inspiration, schooling, and fascinating challenges for all features of each.

If you happen to’re not but a member, membership is on the market on an annual foundation by way of this web page with further info on the membership and member advantages. Upon becoming a member of, you’ll have three hundred and sixty five days of entry to the whole lot inside, plus extra assets which might be launched on the primary day of every new month.

All assets are downloadable, so you may take them with you in your adventures or images missions, plus you may join with like-minded creatives in your space, and in over 18 nations (and rising) all over the world.

I by no means anticipated such an incredible response inside simply three months since launch, and it’s already a worldwide artistic group and I’m so, so happy with what it’s change into in such a short while! I sit up for seeing your work and connecting when you resolve to hitch as a member 🙂

If you happen to do have any questions in any respect concerning the membership or the net programs, I’m simply an electronic mail away and also you’re welcome to get in contact immediately by way of hey@thewanderinglens.com

Hey! 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 street. I hope it’s helpful to your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences all over the world.

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