Swimming in Flores, Guatamala on New Year’s Eve
2019 was an up and down year. I spent 121 days of the year travelling (33% of the year), and went to 11 new countries. But sometime in February, one of the worst things that could happen to a photographer happened to me.
I started 2019 in the most unlikely of places in the world - Flores, Guatemala, a small lake-side town of about 14,000 people. I had met a German traveller on the bus from Belize who was staying in Flores that night. With a group of others, we went into the old town of Flores City that consisted of bars and small restaurants and watched the fireworks and lit a few ourselves. It was wild. Merchants sold their own homemade firecrackers to anyone. In the square where we all settled in at the end of the night, many were lighting long epic chains of firecrackers and fireworks to the cheers of the watching crowd. The atmosphere was loud and exuberant. At one point, I thought I would go deaf. What a way to bring in the new year.
2019 was my first full year doing pure freelance and of course in a cruel twist of fate, in the second month of what was going to be my year of photography, my camera, laptop and lenses all were stolen out of my car. It’s just like life to do that. But it’s also just like life to give you some cool surprises too mid-year while you are licking your wounds - but more on that later.
After getting back to Toronto from Latin America, it was time to get to work. I photographed a few projects I really enjoyed and was fortunate enough to be able to develop my skills as a photographer through varied news assignments.
Shortly after the theft that nearly ruined me, I covered a rally against the cut of safe injection sites around Toronto. Some of the people I photographed were mothers who had lost their children to overdose. Their child had passed away two years ago and I understood their grief much more acutely than I might have before. I wondered how long I would grieve about my own loss.
A mother mourns her son at a Overdose Prevention Rally in Toronto, 2019. Shot for The Globe and Mail.
It was a cold winter for me grieving the loss of the gear I had saved up for and worked for since the beginning of this decade that was stolen in one night. My beliefs about humanity and my country were altered that night too. I realized Canada was not the safe haven I always thought it was. While I had known there was suffering here, I had not known it was so deep that it would compel some to take away from others and cause more suffering. It was a difficult time.
But with Spring came along photo projects I really enjoyed and assignments I loved doing and thrived at. I am grateful to have worked with new editors, new clients and also to have met new photographer friends.
I photographed the Canadian Barista Championships in Toronto for The Globe and Mail and it was one of my favourite projects this year. I go to so many coffee shops and love coffee but rarely talk to the baristas, though I should more often.
After a few photo projects under my belt earlier in the year, soon enough, it was time for me to chase after personal goals by going to India.
The Taj Mahal moments after sunrise is already crowded with tourists
I had placed India on my “To-Do” bucket list in 2012 after seeing a friend’s photo of their visit to the Taj Mahal. I also wanted to see this majestic building, one of the seven wonders of the world for myself. For years, I had waited for the perfect opportunity to go with friends or a partner, but every time I wanted to go, my travel companions who also wanted to go India would either have no money, not enough vacation time or our schedules wouldn’t agree.
Jaipur at sunset
I decided in the end to make the journey solo because I had waited long enough for everything to ‘fall into place’ and it did the opposite. Patience might be a virtue but so is taking action for what you want to do in your life.
I was rewarded with many beautiful scenes, delicious Indian food and a first-hand, unfiltered experience of India. I spent my days exploring many cities, lounging on Goan beaches and taking long, beautiful motorcycle trips alone. It also felt fantastic to finally check something off my bucket list. And in a surprise bonus, I had the fortune to meet a travel partner I would take many trips later in the year with. Thank you, India!
I capped off India by going to Sri Lanka, then Georgia and Ukraine on the way home. It was bliss after my harsh early start to the year.
Elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka
My road trip through Georgia was momentarily halted by sheep traffic, but who cares?
The top of Tbilisi, Georgia, one of my favourite destinations this year.
After a month of exploring India, Sri Lanka, Georgia and Ukraine, it was time to go back to Toronto. It was now summer which meant sailing season, barbecues and road trips. I started shooting film for fun.
Holga film photograph taken in Northern Ontario
Cabin days just outside of Ottawa. Some of my favourite days this year were spent on the road.
In the Fall, I applied and was accepted into the Missouri Photo Workshop - an absolute game changer in terms of improving my documentary photography. Through the process of getting there, I also got to see parts of America I had never seen before through a week-long road trip.
Farm life in Missouri
In Missouri, I documented a veterinarian/farmer and was lucky enough to meet/work with experienced editors and other photographers. As someone who never studied photography formally, this workshop taught me the basic process and also really helped ease my debilitating serious attitude I have for my work. I chose the most straight-forward story I possibly could (no drama) that I was unfamiliar with and aimed to get the visuals technically right. There’s always more time later on in a career to delve into hard-hitting topics or emotionally complicated narratives.
Rigi, Switzerland
Then it was time for a long-awaited trip to Switzerland, Italy, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and the Baltics. The Baltics had been on my list for the longest time and I had tried to go earlier in 2017, then in 2018 but conditions were never favourable enough (read: it was rain season). Highlights of my European trip included travelling by train through mountainous regions, tasting cheeses and chocolates; and a road trip through Italy and Slovenia. The last time I was in Switzerland, I only went for three days and slept on a couch because that was all I could afford as a new graduate. This time, I spent a full month and also travelled around to surrounding areas. I am grateful for the last decade which gave me opportunities that allowed for professional development, to pay off my student loans and also to see the world and capture it all.
Seeing the Gruyere region in Switzerland
Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux, Switzerland
San Marino, a country beside Italy
Having travelled the Baltics this year, I have now been lucky enough to see 80% of the countries of Europe. I have a better understanding of the continent and a greater appreciation of the varied history and cultures. I am hoping the experiences make me a more understanding and empathic photographer as well.
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
I capped off 2019 by artificially extending summer and going surfing in Costa Rica. Costa Rica gave me an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate for 2020 and the next decade. I plan to keep travelling to places I’ve always wanted to go to (this world is huge!) and hopefully work on more exciting photo projects. I am so grateful for everything I’ve learned this year, all the places I’ve travelled to and the people I’ve been fortunate to have met through photography. This journey has not been easy, especially this past year, but I’ve learned a lot and I’ve lived a lot. I am hoping the next decade will bring more exciting adventures, beautiful memories and kind-hearted souls into my life. Will you join me?
Lake Ontario earlier this summer