How Travel Photographers Are Coping in the New World

Asking a photographer why they take photos is akin to asking the sun why it shines. It's true when they say the world is a book and those who do not travel, read only a page. And it’s also no secret that travelling rejuvenates the mind and fuels the soul. The COVID-19 lockdown has brought the world to its knees, with everyone barricading themselves inside their homes, and stepping out only for essentials, all the while donning masks. Needless to say, wanderlust is now an alien concept. So, what does one turn to when they can’t go out and capture the world with their lenses? 

For LA-based nature photographer Erin Sullivan, being stuck indoors wasn’t that big of a deal. She has been making waves on Instagram with her miniature photography where she uses household objects to mimic natural landscapes. The textures, colours and shadows work in her favour, lending her work an ethereal feel that will have you taken aback at first glance.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Erin Sullivan (@erinoutdoors) on Apr 6, 2020 at 2:35pm PDT

For many, the pandemic is a true test of their creativity. Drone photography, for instance is something straight out of a dystopian novel, and the perfect way to capture large swathes of landscapes without stepping out of your house. Street photographers have turned to their homes for inspiration and found solace by turning the lens on their family—or the more gutsy—on themselves. Kopal Goel, a travel photographer based in Ghaziabad reveals that she has been dipping her toes into shooting self portraits and exploring other artistic avenues like experimenting with her old point-and-shoot camera and making aesthetic spreads on her bullet journal. “I even painted my cupboard black and then stopped halfway because I ran out of paint!” laughs Goel. 

 

 

 

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A post shared by KOPAL | Travel Photographer (@travellurking) on May 7, 2020 at 9:24am PDT

Meanwhile, some photographers have other things on their mind. As the lockdown has forced us to confront ourselves with our cooking skills and a never-ending pile of chores, some photographers are taking some well-deserved time off to relax and reconnect with family and friends. Instead of chasing new projects, Archana Singh, a travel journalist and photographer has been revisiting old projects and has started working on her weekly show ‘Untold Stories by Travel See Write’ on YouTube. 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Archana Singh (@travelseewrite) on Jun 4, 2020 at 11:23pm PDT

Finding a refuge from the worries of sickness and the events of a world is important, but so is bettering yourself and the impact you have on the world. “I’m trying to be better at zero waste lifestyle. Also, since we can’t hold protests, I’ve been using my social media as an activist to spread information regarding climate and social issues,” says Goel. 

Travel photography is a way of life and one of the few professions where one can help open doors to others where they can understand and discover different experiences and cultures. Right now it all seems to be in vain, but it is now more than ever that our past memories, trips and the people that we’ve met, help us look into a mirror and see the cracks in the glass that we call reality. Every moment is because you make it so. It’s okay to take a break and dream again.