I’ve read a lot of books on photography. Memoirs, theory, technical guides: there’s a lot of good stuff out there. But just occasionally a book speaks to you. The Travelling Photographer’s Manifesto, by David Hobby, is one such book.
So you’re taking your camera to a new country and you want to get some decent photos. Maybe you don’t speak the language. Maybe you don’t know your way around. Maybe you’re secretly nervous you can’t do the place justice. Maybe you’d love to get to know the locals and take some portraits, but let’s be honest: that kind of charm is a superpower and you don’t have it. But whatever you’re doing, you’re going to need a lot of kit – best to pack it all just in case, right…?
This book tells you how to do these things. Like literally, how can you introduce yourself to a complete stranger and – respectfully, in a way that isn’t exploiting them and that works for you both – end up with a nice portrait that makes both your lives a little better? What literal words can you use to achieve this?
David Hobby has spent years taking willing students to Hanoi and teaching them how to navigate such new territory. What kit should you carry? What can you prep in advance? How do you get the lay of the land into your head quickly enough? How do you push through the nerves of talking to people? All this is explained in specific detail.
You learn the beauty of the early morning, and the benefit of naps. You learn the value of tiny bulldog clips, and that you can bond over Google Maps. You learn about shooting how it looks vs how it feels, and how to decide which you want. You learn tried-and-tested approaches to finding your shots, and planning your day.
And you learn the social side that nobody actively teaches because it’s usually secondary to the technical side (but also maybe because nobody’s actually sure they’re doing it right). It’s the kind of solid advice that feels like common sense once you hear it, but you wouldn’t discover it by yourself for years.
Then there’s the technical side: tips and tricks on composition, lighting, timing, rhythm – the accumulated wisdom from decades of photojournalism. I’ve read enough photography manuals to recognise gold dust when I see it.
And above it all: what is it you’re trying to do? How can you come up with your raison d’etre for being in this place with a camera? How do you work backwards from that?
I am pretty timid when alone in new places, and in all honesty my travel photography hasn’t been up to much of late. I may come back with some decent compositions, but I’m never far from the beaten track. I have found some ways around this1, but I’m certainly way too awkward to befriend any locals. That’s just alien. Yet…reading this book I could see a pathway. In my dreams I’m signing up for his 2025 Hanoi trip.
About 2/3 through this book inspired me to buy myself a Fuji X100V. It’s always in my pocket now. It’s brilliant too. I’m hopeful.
- I recommend carrying a large toy dinosaur to kick you out of your comfort zone and stop you worrying what other people think. Bear in mind his reputation may rapidly outgrow yours. ↩︎