A Day in the Life (continued) |
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are often surprisingly affordable, and enable you to concentrate on your next photograph while the driver negotiates the often rough and dangerous roads.
When shooting landscapes, it's particularly important to travel slowly and concentrate on the more subtle elements in each image. First, attempt to determine your reason for taking the photograph, then figure out the best way to approach it. Typically, I scrutinize the surroundings very carefully, and then use my camera's viewfinder to explore the elements which attract me the most. |
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On to Machu Picchu  After a week-long photo adventure in towns like Ollayantambo, Chinchero, Pocatambo and Moras, I was
ready for the final leg of my journey. Hair-raising drives on high mountain roads, mystical shaman rituals, and frenzied election rallies kept my adrenaline flowing like the Rio Urubamba after the rainy season. A three-hour train ride took me to the lively and colorful town of Aguas Calientes, situated only 20 minutes from Machu Picchu.
For four days, Aguas Calientes provided the perfect home base for photographing this area. Endless subject matter makes the shooting come easy. Every morning before sunrise I took the first bus up to Machu Picchu, which I usually had to myself for the first couple of hours. Then I'd hike the Inca Trail for most of the day, returning to Machu Picchu late in the day to shoot under different lighting conditions. A flexible itinerary is beneficial for trips like these, and provides the freedom to remain at a location as long as necessary to get the photographs you desire. Needless to say, I never had hotel reservations; when I arrived in a town I consulted my Lonely Planet Travel Guide and chose a hotel that seemed interesting. Gear Tips I typically shoot about 100 rolls of slide film on a two-to three-week trip, keeping all my equipment and film clean and dry inside Ziplock bags. I always travel with three camera bodies, so I have backups in case I experience any problems with my primary camera. Since I like to travel light, most of my shooting is done with a versatile, multi-purpose 28-200mm zoom lens. |
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