My Favourite Photos Were Never Planned
Photo by Author
Sometimes, I bring my camera out on adventures, hoping to capture something that will give me a story to tell or simply leave me feeling satisfied.
But in most cases, it almost never works out the way I planned.
Because today, looking back, most of my favourite photos—the ones that really resonated with me—were never planned.
1 — Double Trouble
OH NO!!! - Photo by Author
I exited the underground train station and got onto a bus almost immediately. Since I was shooting in manual mode and had just come from a dark, underground environment, my settings weren't quite right for where I was now.
I sat at the back of the bus and took a test shot.
“Oh snap! It's dark. Let me adjust my settings.”
Later that day, when I was back in my room, I browsed through my photos and noticed one that was heavily underexposed. I almost deleted it, but decided to bring up the exposure instead.
And there it was.
A photo of a cyclist giving me a certain look, right beside a poster of a lady who was also giving me that exact same look.
It almost looked like they both knew I'd taken the photo with the wrong settings.
Haha.
I titled it Double Trouble.
2 — Baby Driver
DESTINATION, DISNEY LAND!! - Photo by Author
I was with my cousin and his family in Santorini, sailing along, enjoying the silence, the wind, the scenery—absolute beauty.
Since I was running around taking photos of his family in action, I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was gobble up a huge plate of pasta.
My camera was tucked away in my bag and, eventually, my eyes closed.
Suddenly, I felt a nudge.
My cousin said, “Look! A baby is steering the boat.”
I immediately took out my camera and snapped a photo. I had no idea how it would turn out. I was using a Nikon D750 back then.
I took the shot and went straight back to my nap.
Again, when I got back to the hotel, I went through my photos.
And there it was.
Baby Driver!
3 — Transatlanticism
"I need you so much closer” - Photo by Author
We were having lunch in Santorini at a restaurant overlooking the ocean.
My camera was sitting on the table, switched off, while I impatiently waited for my pasta.
Again.
As I looked out from the restaurant, soaking in the beautiful view, I noticed a lady walking around somewhere below us.
Eventually, she sat down.
In slow motion, and without really knowing what I was going to capture, I switched on my camera and took a photo of her.
Why?
Because the food was taking forever and I was bored.
Again, when I got back to the hotel, I went through my photos and saw this beauty.
For some reason, it reminded me of the song “Transatlanticism” by Death Cab for Cutie.
I don't know why, but back then, this photo really hit me in the feels.
Maybe it was the feeling of being far away from home. Maybe it reminded me of a long-distance relationship. Maybe it was simply the mood of the photo.
Whatever it was, it connected with me.
It still resonates with me today, almost 10 years later.
4 — TechNOlogy
I MISS MY NOKIA 3310 - Photo by Author
A friend told me about a bridge in London that we apparently needed to visit.
I had no idea why.
Knowing it would most likely be landscape photography, I put on a wide-angle lens and headed out.
There we were, surrounded by tourists and other photographers.
“Man, this is boring. It's just a bridge.”
So, as usual, I put my camera on the ledge and started playing with my phone.
Then, from the corner of my eye, something striking caught my attention.
Something red.
I looked up and, to my surprise, there was a mother and daughter standing in front of me.
Somehow, everyone else seemed to have disappeared.
It felt like a movie scene.
Just me, my friend somewhere behind me, and this mother-and-daughter duo.
I quickly turned on my camera and took the shot.
And there it was.
The little girl was sitting on the ledge, looking at her mum, while her mum was looking down at her phone.
It was a beautiful scene, but at the same time, there was something a little sad about it.
It felt like technology was slowly taking over all the little things around us.
How we're constantly glued to our phones, not even lifting our heads every once in a while to enjoy what's happening around us.
Tech-NO-logy!
5 — Present
WARNING: BRICK WALL AHEAD!!! - Photo by Author
I was waiting for my turn to board the train from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Our luggage was packed, my camera was in my sling bag, and we were ready to head off to our next adventure.
As I approached the train door, I noticed the shadow-like silhouettes of people looking down at their phones.
Almost identical.
Almost everyone was in sync.
I whipped out my camera and took the shot.
As we sat down on the train, I looked at the photo.
It made me think about how our lives are today.
Everyone looking down at their phones.
How technology has evolved and become such a huge part of our lives.
Can we even live without it?
Maybe just for a few hours?
I don't think so...
These few incidents taught me a valuable lesson about photography.
At every corner, everywhere, there is a story waiting to unfold.
You just have to be ready.
Open.
Observant.
Attentive.
Because when it happens, it happens. Sometimes, you don't even get time to react.
But why do unplanned shots seem to resonate so much more with me?
I think I've figured it out.
Every time I'm out with a plan, a shot list, or a mental checklist of what I need to capture—say, you're going to a night market and you've decided you need five photos of smiling passers-by or laughing vendors—I tend to focus like a hunter on the prowl.
I'm looking for the shot.
And in doing so, I sometimes neglect everything else that's happening around me.
I'm so focused on accomplishing the mission that I forget to actually experience the moment.
But the truth is, there will always be something worth waiting for or capturing around every corner.
So these days, I tend to keep my camera within reach, tucked in my bag and ready to come out at any moment.
I'll enjoy the moment.
I'll enjoy where I am.
I'll enjoy what's happening right now.
And every now and then, I'll do a little peekaboo.
Snap.
Done.
Back to my moment.
It's so much better with this practice.
So much more...
Carefree.
Open.
Peaceful?
Haha.
To each his own, I guess.
Thanks for reading!