Blog

From cobblestoned Portuguese alleys navigated one-handed with a stroller to reef dives in Fiji, this is where the trips live. Told through words and whatever camera happened to be with me.

I shoot film and digital and travel with family in tow. These posts are part travel journal, part photography log, and part love letter to the places that made an impression. I hope they make you want to go see them for yourself.

Latest Articles

Featured
The Road to Hana — Beyond the Turn (Part II)
The Road to Hana — Beyond the Turn (Part II)

The Road to Hana and beyond — narrow roads, raw coastline, and the question every traveler faces: turn back, or keep going?

West Maui in Monochrome — Kaanapali, Napili & Kapalua (Part 1)
West Maui in Monochrome — Kaanapali, Napili & Kapalua (Part 1)

When I booked a week away to the Island of Maui, a project dawned on me to abandon the temptation to capture the vivid colours of the island and seek instead to document it as I first saw it through the monochrome images shared by explorers and tourists generations before me.

Portugal - Sintra
Portugal - Sintra

The last leg of our trip was here in Lisbon. We had several days to explore the city and the idea was to do so on foot, rambling the narrow and hilly cobbled streets with one hand on the stroller and the other with the camera. No plan of action here, so let’s see what the city decides to show us!

Portugal - Lisbon
Portugal - Lisbon

The last leg of our trip was here in Lisbon. We had several days to explore the city and the idea was to do so on foot, rambling the narrow and hilly cobbled streets with one hand on the stroller and the other with the camera. No plan of action here, so let’s see what the city decides to show us!

Portugal - Nazare
Portugal - Nazare

Nazare sits on a steeply sloping hillside terminating at a broad crescent beach adjacent the ocean. The beach you see in front of the bulk of the town is not in fact where the world-famous big-wave surfing takes place. That area rather, is on the opposite side of a steep rocky outcrop that extends 500m or so into the sea on the north end of town. But for starters we thought we’d tour the city and see what it has to offer.

Portugal - Comporta
Portugal - Comporta

It's a bit of a tricky beach. And what I mean by that is, on the first day one could wade out through the surf quite some distance before it got above thigh height. The waves were of a decent size and surf-board rentals and lessons are available here which certainly suits the character and conditions of the waters. On the second day, I tried the same wade into the ocean and got a bit of a surprise…

Portugal - Cabanas do Lago
Portugal - Cabanas do Lago

As we approach the area the dam becomes visible towering over a small valley. The road soon changes from paved to dirt, but nothing most cars can’t handle. We snake along it’s winding path and turn off onto a steep sided valley that surrounds one of the hundreds of coves around the perimeter of the lake. At the end of the road we see the large main house appear through the trees and are immediately greeted by one of the smiling hosts, Filipa, as we arrive.

Portugal - Lagos
Portugal - Lagos

The Algarve seemed the logical choice for starting our trip to Portugal. It was well recommended by friends, and since we were arriving in early September, the timing gave us the best chance of experiencing some beach-worthy weather to kick off the relaxation.

Mallorca - Palma
Mallorca - Palma

The sun came out for us in Palma and we got a taste of the heat that makes Mallorca such a popular destination for travellers. It’s here we’d get a bit of real beach-time, plenty of walking, cold drinks and al fresco dining.

Mallorca - Cala St. Vincenc
Mallorca - Cala St. Vincenc

It didn’t seem right to do a trip to Mallorca without staying at a beachside resort of some kind, so we decided to take advantage of shoulder-season rates to stay at the Grupotel Molins, located along one of the crystal blue bays of the resort town of Cala St. Vincenc.

Mallorca - Fornalutx
Mallorca - Fornalutx

The views from town are magnificent, especially looking back across the valley at the various and ancient terraced orchards and olive groves. There are a number of hikes up and down available to explore, but with the stroller in tow we decided to stick to the cobble stones streets which were a steep enough challenge on their own.

Mallorca - Soller
Mallorca - Soller

Soller was buzzing with activity when we were there. While there were plenty of tourists, it’s clear that there is a large local community here and the buzz of them going about their day creates a great vibe in the town center. While bigger than Deia, Soller is by no means large, and exploring it on foot is the best way to go for the most part, especially with the aforementioned narrow lanes.

Mallorca - First Taste of Spain
Mallorca - First Taste of Spain

It was a last minute idea. From intention, to booking, to flight in less than two weeks. It’s not often one makes a significant career change, and this one warranted a few weeks abroad to rest and reset. Mallorca was not an obvious destination for us, coming from Vancouver where Hawaii or Mexico might be the more frequented, and frankly closer, destinations.

Japan - Epilogue - Travelling with Film Photography
Japan - Epilogue - Travelling with Film Photography

One Camera, one lens, and one film stock. That’s where we started this first photographic sojourn to Japan. A fitting assignment, I think, considering the countries’ own reputation for blending the new with the old. What follows is a few of my learnings for would-be film photography travelers.

Hiroshima - Japan
Hiroshima - Japan

I was at times perhaps too stingy with my shooting, and other times I felt compelled to snap a photo of some okonomiyaki. In time I’d develop a rhythm (and tendency to overpack) to my shooting that freed me to shoot unencumbered by worry of running out out of film.

Koyasan - Japan
Koyasan - Japan

After a long day of travel getting here, we lay on our comfortable mattresses preparing to sleep when the deep hum of a gong reverberated from the forest and filled the room. It was a low tone that you feel more so than hear and one that had the hairs standing on the backs of our necks.

Kanazawa - Japan
Kanazawa - Japan

A guide to Kanazawa, Japan—Kenroku-en gardens, historic districts, incredible seafood, and a slower, more local side of Japan.

First Frames, Tokyo - Japan
First Frames, Tokyo - Japan

Admittedly the first few days of this trip were spent shooting sparingly, driven by the neophyte’s underlying fear of depleting a limited film stockpile.

Japan - Prologue
Japan - Prologue

“Does it work"?” I asked, pulling the metal brick out of a dusty cupboard. “Find a battery for it and find out!” My Dad replied. And like that, sometime in early 2017, my curiosity for film/photography was reborn.

Undersea Fiji - Viwa
Undersea Fiji - Viwa

The first adventure of every Viwa dive excursion is crossing its barrier reef. There’s a small gap forming a channel about a hundred meters off-shore that the boat has to blast through in order to get to the deeper waters beyond.

Little Viwa
Little Viwa

The sandy beach here is amazing and really the star of the show on Viwa. Soft-white and stretching the length of the resort, I could walk end to end all day long…

Undersea Fiji - Rainbow Reef
Undersea Fiji - Rainbow Reef

The first time I dive a new area I find my focus starts out on the big picture - landscapes, colours, and the contours of the seafloor/reef. At the Rainbow Reef, that big picture immediately sends you into sensory overload.

A Glimpse of Village Life
A Glimpse of Village Life

While the villages’ appearance was spartan by Western standards, it’s integration with its environment and the sheer abundance therein is nothing sort of astounding. Everything the Vunikurans need grows all over the village grounds, on the mountain slope behind, or in the sea.

Let's Get Remote
Let's Get Remote

They don’t call it remote for nothing. Located on the far Eastern shore of Vanua Levu, in a bay that was once home to a palm tree plantation, The Remote Resort forms a wonderfully secluded oasis.

Travel Yarko Petriw Travel Yarko Petriw

First Frames, Tokyo - Japan

Admittedly the first few days of this trip were spent shooting sparingly, driven by the neophyte’s underlying fear of depleting a limited film stockpile.

Streets of Shibuya, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400,

“I am in Japan”

Read Previous: Japan - Prologue →

I remember thinking this as we rode the train from Narita Airport towards Tokyo. I’ve been fortunate to visit many countries over the years, but with Japan I felt an immediate wonder and giddiness I hadn’t felt before. Would it live up to the expectations of my eager imagination? Would this old film camera do it justice?

Urban Shibuya, Praktica LTL, 50mm Neyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Shibuya Streets, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Live Small to Live Large

Our first stay in Japan was a tiny apartment in the quiet yet dense western part of Shibuya. There were seven of us friends travelling together and yet we fit quite cozily into the small but well laid-out space. We opted for apartments rather than hotels for the vast majority of our trip, in hopes of getting a more local feel and perspective for each destination. Mostly, our accommodations only acted as storage and a place to sleep. We’d set out on foot each day from dawn until well into the night to immerse ourselves in the city. Where to eat, drink and explore was decided largely on the fly, with some tips and recommendations safely archived in the backs of our minds, guiding the general flow of our wandering.

I clutched my camera eagerly as we stepped out of the door into the cool air of the morning. I hadn’t traveled with photography specifically in mind in quite some time, so I felt a mixture or trepidation and excitement about capturing what I saw, free from chimping, but fraught with other silly concerns instead. Should I shoot that? Did I remember to use the meter in that last shot? Wait, what aperture am I using? Focus!

Lovely place for a break; Little Nap Coffee Stand, Shibuya, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Texture & Color, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

What catches my eye?

I used to seek to capture the grandiose, the iconic and the archetypal sites of the places I visit. After-all, when you get back home from a trip, are you not asked; “did you see “X” and, what did you think of the “Y”!!?” by your family and friends? On this trip to Japan, I’d try to un-tether myself from that. Sure, I’d be hunting down sakura, castles, kei cars and all the rest, but could I open my mind to notice more and capture more of my experience?

Admittedly the first few days of this trip were spent shooting sparingly, driven by the neophyte’s underlying fear of depleting a limited film stockpile. I later discovered that Tokyo, and most of Japan in general, is stocked to the gills with film at camera stores, drug stores and corner shops. Running out wouldn’t be a problem and in fact, next time I go, I’ll load up with rolls on arrival as Japan’s readily available selection of film is remarkable. To this day, I always seem to bring more rolls than I need, but have also become comfortable experimenting and taking more chances with what I try to photograph. If I were sponsored to shoot my travels I’d no doubt shoot with a higher frequency, but “spot, stop, snap, move-on” suited the flow of this trip just fine.

Tofu Delivery, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Moment of Serenity in Yoyogi Park, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

““Should I shoot that? Did I remember to use the meter in that last shot? Wait, what aperture am I using? Focus! “”

On the hunt for Ramen, Vicky in foreground, pals in the back. Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

The ubiquitous masks, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

The Buns, choosing their ramen. Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

How’s “The Brick” Holding Up?

From a beginners perspective, the Practika LTL’s simplicity was a boon. Not too much to mess with; just line up the exposure needle using aperture/shutter speed (ensuring you’re holding down the metering lever), focus and click. Aside from forgetting one of the latter, the biggest challenge became apparent as night fell. There’s no illumination of the exposure needle, so if you’re shooting a dark scene it’s difficult to confirm your exposure. A trick I discovered was to quickly point the viewfinder towards the lightest point of the frame in hopes of seeing the needle contrast it for a moment. The needle moves reasonably slowly and that would give me a brief glimpse of how close I was within my composition. The rest is up to me to hold still, keeping in mind an ISO of 400 might necessitate using a lamppost or mailbox as an impromptu stabilizer. If I were flying back tomorrow, there’d definitely be some Cinestill 800T in my bag and perhaps my little Olympus XA loaded with Black & White to push.

Heading back to the apartment, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Tokyo Nights, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Look Up

So, what catches the eye in Tokyo? EVERYTHING. Especially if it’s your first visit. To me the architecture seems rooted in the 70’s and 80’s, with intense density, and I loved it. Buildings and people tightly packed without ever feeling cluttered. Trying to find a particular shop? Make sure you look up! In stark contrast to North American retail with its shops rooted to the ground level (malls aside), you might have different retailers on floors 1 through 10 of any building you walk past in the busier parts of town. In one case, I had to ride a nondescript elevator to the 8th floor of a church in Ginza, to get to one of Tokyo’s famous used camera stores, Lemonsha. I could have spent an entire day -and entire bank account- in that one shop easily.

Kappabashi, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Kappabashi Tourists, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Each sign on the stack may represent a different store, above and bellow street level. Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

So much to say

I didn’t originally photograph Tokyo with the intent to write about it. Heck, I wasn’t even sure if a single picture I took would turn out in my first film photography forray abroad. In retrospect, I could write essays about the place (many have), documenting the city neighborhood by neighborhood. I will return, shoot more, and tell more detailed stories one day. I spent most of this visit exploring and chatting with friends, delighting at new experiences, flavors and sights, and snapping the odd pic along the way. That approach, I think, made for the best “first date” with Tokyo of all. Not over analyzed, stylized nor dramatized. Just a few days to get to know each other. Besides, there was much more of Japan to see ahead. Follow me and I’ll show you!

Continue to: Kanazawa - Japan →

Feels like a dream, Praktica LTL, 50mm Meyer-Optik Domiplan Lens, Kodak Portra 400.

Read More