Why I Enjoy Photography and Traveling

You know that feeling when you’re stuck in the same routine, the same path, everything is the same, everything feels predictable, BORED! Yeah, I used to be like that too. Then, two things met, collaborated and changed everything: photography and traveling. Both were not just hobbies; they were like two missing pieces of a puzzle that finally came together.

It all started with my father’s manual camera. However, the meeting and collaboration of photography and traveling, since I got a digital camera. I tried and learned how to use it and learned and tried the features it had, tried to take some photos of the surroundings like sunsets, still subjects around like chairs in the garden, flowers and pets or wild animals even tried human interest. But then, something interesting happened. I started to see the world differently – the way light forms rays on leaves, the small details in my parents’ souvenirs, the architecture of buildings, the natural scenery, the expressions of people waiting for public transportation, the smiles of children when greeted and photographed. The world is no longer just a backdrop; it is a symphony of light, texture, and stories waiting to be told. Photography is not just about capturing moments, but about finding hidden stories everywhere.

Around the same time, the urge to wander struck. I craved something new, a break from the daily grind. Scrolling through travel blogs and documentaries sparked a desire to explore. Forcing myself to make time, set aside funds, make plans, I joined city walking tours, went with landscape photography communities, invited friends to hunt for photo locations. Armed with a camera and a little photography knowledge, I immediately jumped in to explore.

That's when the magic happened. Every corner became a new frame waiting to be captured. The bustling market in Jakarta’s Glodok Chinatown, the historic buildings in Jakarta’s old town, public parks that provide a variety of subjects, walking along paths to capture hidden waterfalls, even occasionally going out of town to find challenging photo subjects in West Sumatra, Lampung, Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, West Kalimantan – wherever I go, my camera becomes my passport to a deeper experience. It’s not just about collecting souvenirs, it’s about collecting memories, emotions, and stories through the lens.

Traveling and photography become an amazing feedback loop. The more I explore, the more I see, and the more I see, the more I want to capture it all. Photos become my way of sharing the beauty and energy of these new places, a way to bring a piece of the world back home to become a tangible memory, a portal back to a specific moment in time. But it’s not just about showing off; Sharing photos online has become a way to connect with others who share my wanderlust, a way to spark a sense of adventure in others.

Of course, it’s not always sunshine and roses. There are days when carrying a camera feels like a burden, especially in the sweltering heat, cloudy or rainy days that affect the light that illuminates your subject, crowds that interfere with getting a good composition. Even language barriers sometimes make it difficult to communicate your desire to get permission to take a photo.

But these are all minor inconveniences in the bigger picture. Each challenge makes the victory that much sweeter – the perfect sunrise shot after hours of waiting in the weather, the communication formed with a local who agreed to be captured through my lens, the sheer joy of capturing a moment that perfectly encapsulates the essence of a place.

Now, I can’t imagine life without either of them. They support each other, pushing me out of my comfort zone, challenging me to see the world in new ways, and allowing me to share a little of that beauty with others. The world is no longer a blur of grey; it’s a vibrant tapestry of cultures, landscapes, and stories waiting to be explored and documented. And with each new journey, with each click of the shutter, I feel a little more alive, a little more connected to the world around me. Who knows where my next journey will take me, but one thing is for sure – I will be there, camera in hand, ready to capture the magic. The world is my canvas, and I just started painting it.