In November and early December, I guided a photo workshop to Botswana. One evening, three or four days into the trip, we were having dinner under the awning of the big kitchen tent. It was dark out, and the sounds of the African bush could be heard in the moments between dinner time chatter: cicadas, crickets, and the occasional distant whoop of a prowling hyena. For some reason or another, I stepped away from the table and outside the tent. I turned and looked back at my crew of photographers and travelers sitting around the table. The two local safari guides, Sam and Paul, were sitting on opposite ends, with all of us in between. Kerosene lanterns illuminated the table in warm yellow light, and off to the side, the campfire crackled. Laughter rolled out from under the canvas and into the surrounding wilds. There were stories of the day being shared, Paul and Sam told hilarious anecdotes of previous adventures, and I realized that without exception, everyone was having the time of their lives.
For a moment I was overcome with a rare, immense sense of pride. I’d created this moment. My work, organization, research, planning, and running over hurdles for the past years had resulted in this very special moment for my clients. I can say this with true honesty: no image I can create could equal the pleasure I experienced at that moment.
But it didn’t end there. Our trip, during a short lull in the Covid-19 pandemic, did more than provide my clients with a unique experience. The local guides across Botswana (and the rest of the world) had been hit hard by the collapse in tourism. This trip, with a large group of clients, meant a welcome influx of cash. Including the other photo guide and me, there were 10 of us in our group. And our presence meant income for nine camp staff and guides, and two people working behind the scenes in the office. We were having an enormous positive impact on these people’s lives.
While that was a recent and memorable moment, each trip I lead has a similar experience. Sometimes it’s when we are sitting around the dinner table reminiscing over the day’s adventures, or it may be when a client points me to the back of her camera, where a truly remarkable photograph is glowing. Those times are my favorite of any trip.
Sure, I love making images. I love clicking my shutter at the extraordinary things I’m fortunate to experience, but I take even more joy in sharing it with my clients. And I’ll work my ass off to make sure the things we see and do on my trips, result not just in great photographs, but also great memories. There is more to the world than what we see through our viewfinders, and my goal is to make those out-of-viewfinder moments as memorable as the ones captured in pixels or on film.
