Should I Take My Camera on Vacation?

Many people tell you that if you’re behind the camera, you’re not in the moment. To an extent, I agree. I’ve watched many selfie-stick wielding tourists be so absorbed in taking the perfect photo that they miss out on everything going on around them. Some photographers (especially those aforementioned ones with selfie-sticks) become so engrossed in what they are doing that they pay no attention to their surroundings. There are reports of tourists damaging art and architecture with selfie-sticks, as well as plunging to their deaths trying to capture their image. Scarily, I was almost pushed to my death over the (rather short) railing of the Duomo in Florence. The viewing platform extends around the cupola almost 400 feet in the air. There I was standing looking out over the city when a tourist backed into me while trying to use their selfie-stick. It was almost the death of me!  

Even though some people don’t behave, many do. And I think there are some benefits to having a camera with you: 

• You can zoom in on the details of your subject. 
• Framing the photograph causes you to take your time and focus on the moment. 
• A picture is worth a thousand words because we see so much in them. Often, I look back on a photograph and notice things I didn’t when I was there. They give me a different perspective of the subject because I was concentrating on a specific part of the scene when I took the picture and not everything my eye could see. 
• You can take pictures of the identification cards at museums so that later you can find really good pictures of art you found interesting, or research them more. 
• And most importantly, in my opinion, you can have physical evidence of the memories you made.  

Years ago, Roaming Historian started selling our photographic prints on Etsy so that travelers could just take silly photos with their camera and leave the scenic photos of art, scenery, and architecture to us.  

One of the burdens of taking good travel photographs is the amount of equipment needed. Between lenses, cameras, chargers, filters, and the like, I end up feeling like a pack mule. That isn’t conducive to a good time, so I suggest bringing your phone (if it has a good camera) or a pocket-sized “point and shoot” and buy professional prints online when you get home. 

Having prints of photos allows your vacation to last, so it’s worth taking the time to develop (or buy) a few. I have photos of our travels all around my office and home, which means I’m constantly surrounded by images that bring me joy.  

Never did I think a pandemic would cripple travel and stop us from roaming, but I’ve been constantly thankful to have visuals to jog my memories and help me travel virtually to the places I love best. Our Etsy shop, Roaming Historian, offers great pictures to transport people around the world or photographic reminders of the places they have visited. Our photographs feature historical and cultural sites from Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean. We have many other photos that we don’t have listed, so if you want a scene (especially from Italy) just email us and we’ll see if we have it. We have pictures from all the places listed on our blog. But there are many other talented photographers on Etsy who are selling their prints from other areas, so definitely look around.  

And remember the rule of travel: Take only photographs, leave only footprints.  I hope your travel memories bring a smile to your face and a feeling of joy! Amy

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For an affordable price anyone can hang a piece of our photographic art and enjoy some of the globe’s most scenic vistas and amazing historical sites. Our customers never have to endure a long flight in a cramped seat to have a quality print on sturdy, archival-grade photographic paper. Our Etsy shop link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RoamingHistorian

Warning: our photos may inspire wanderlust!