DEPARTURE LOUNGE // SPRING 2018
(continued from page 12) To capture
these vibrant scenes, photographers
used the long-exposure technology of
“autochromes” – a screen plate technology
developed by the filmmaker-brother duo
Auguste and Louis Lumière.
In the case of the box and autochrome
cameras, a travel photographer might only
know what they’d captured when they
arrived home and could develop their
film – a world apart from the instant photo
technology we have today.
“
Equipment
was extremely bulky
and a photographer
would typically have
to arrange the trip
around the logistics
of getting equipment
to their destination
“
Behind
The Cover
With photojournalist Sam Reinders
This issue’s incredible cover image was
taken by Samantha Reinders in the Omo
Valley of Ethiopia.
An inveterate traveller, Sam has built a
career around her unique way of looking
at the world through her viewfinder. A
trademark of her work is the relationships
she forms with her subjects – a bond
that is often evident in the intimacy of
her photographs. (See more of Sam’s
portfolio starting on page 26.)
“A few times a year I lead a
photographic tour with Oryx Photographic
Tours to the Omo Valley in southern
Ethiopia. It’s a bespoke tour, with less than
a handful of clients and, ultimately, what
you’re paying for is access. It isn’t easy
to reach the Omo, and once there it isn’t
easy to photograph in the area without the
right permissions and relationships, which
we’ve built over time with the leaders of
14 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE
NOW (2018)
the tribes in the area.
There are more than 80 tribes in
Ethiopia and pictured here is Barlusha,
from the 30 000-strong Suri tribe. He’s
decked in a ceremonial headdress, which
is customary for the Suri whenever there
is a ceremony. Ceremonies are held for
anything from someone’s birth or death,
to the beginning of harvest season,
people’s coming of age ritual, to the
arrival in the village of anyone special – in
this case, us!
Along with many other tribes in
Ethiopia’s Omo region, the Suri’s way of
life is fast disappearing. With each visit the
pace of that change floors me. Traditional
ways of life are vanishing as big industry
edges nearer, climate change wreaks
havoc with food security and modern
influences (both Eastern and Western)
slowly peel away at centuries-old African
culture and tradition.
A generation from now, this area will
probably look very different to what it
does today. I feel privileged to be able to
meet some of these people while I can.”
(follow Sam on @samreinders)
Thanks to modern technology, travel
photographers nowadays can pack their
own studio-to-go. Digital nomads also have
the blessing of instant results: they can edit,
print or share photographs and video in
minutes, if not seconds.
On top of a DSLR camera and variety
of lenses, today’s travel photographer
likely has a multitude of extra gadgets: a
laptop or tablet, tripod, smart phone, extra
batteries, SD cards, portable hard drives
and a GoPro, for instance. Other essentials
include rain gear, sun protection and
sunglasses (they’re neutral density filters for
your eyes), and a solar-powered, portable
battery charger.
It all adds up in the end and gear producers
have put a premium on making each
piece of equipment as light and powerful
as possible. Most professional travel
photographers try to keep their packs lighter
than 12kg, since they’re likely to encounter
plenty of hiking, walking and climbing as
they venture to some of the most stunning
locations in the world. But if you think 12kg
sounds like a lot of gear to lug around, bear
in mind that this is probably lighter than a
single tripod back in the good ol’ days.