How I ended up travelling to the other side of the world, alone. With only my cameras on my back.

Woman saddling her horse in peru — Qiwllaqucha, Peru. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

people gazing up at Lagoona Chirup, Huaraz, Peru. Fuji X-Pro 2 — Lagoona Chirup, Huaraz, Peru. Fuji X-Pro 2

Picture this:

It's the 15th of October 2023, I’ve just turned 24 and suddenly the last 5 years have gone by in a blink of an eye. I’m overwhelmed with dread that the next 20 years will be similar and blah blah blah - the same thing many of us experience when we feel time slipping between our fingers.

6 months later with no plan, I packed my cameras, sold near everything I owned and jetted off to the Americas.

Normal reaction right, right?

Truth is, I watched the secret life of walter mitty and had a quarter life crisis. (If you can call it that at least)

Starting In Los Angeles with a few dear friends, we delved into this nostalgic adrenaline fueled city of lunacy. A bel-air mansion party here, a psilocybin fueled network event there & nearly getting lost in death valley.

The days became a blur of sightseeing, networking and creating whilst meeting some of my idols in the process. Weird.

Ford f150 riding 29 Palms Highway, Joshua Tree — 29 Palms Highway, Joshua Tree, USA. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

portrait of nandi at venice beach — Nandi Summers, Venice Beach, USA. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

portrait of sam dameshek, los angeles — Sam Dameshek, Silicon Valley, USA. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

Hannah infront of an old dodge — Elysee, Central Los Angeles. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

portrait of mishka silva, los angeles — Mishka Silva, Los Angeles, USA. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

NYC was a different beast, a fury of beautiful chaos where every possible thing was happening at the same time, especially as it was both art and fashion week. (Shooting an editorial for Vanguard Magazine was a happy accident too) Without planning it, 3 weeks in the US was the inspiration fuel I needed for the journey ahead.

photo of tillary street new york city — Tillary Street, NYC. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

photo of yankee cap on a hydrant nyc — Yankee cap, NYC. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

frankie cavalcanti for vanguard magazine in new york — Frankie Cavalcanti, Vanguard Magazine, NYC. Fuji X-Pro 2

new york subway car — Subway, NYC. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

portrait of maya in linen curtains — Maya Marguerite, NYC. Fuji X-Pro 2

Now all alone, with my life on my back, I adventured through Latin America.

Was I nervous? Yeah. Was I excited? Hell yeah!

Paired with a couple cameras, a Fuji xpro-2 & my trusty Minolta Hi-Matic, I set off on adventure after adventure. Surfing in Montanita, hiking glaciers in Huaraz & mountain biking through the Cocora Valley (crashing twice), to name a few.

Each country had its individuality and each day consisted of a new adventure, some more exciting and perilous than others. Peru thrice over!

That country felt like a humble old soul with a serious roundhouse for good measure. From being invited to dine in a local family's home to being nearly robbed of all my possessions by the police was surely an eye opener.

portrait of peruvian cusco woman sinforosa — Portrait of Sinforosa, Cusco, Peru. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

sinset over chinchero and the mountain — Sunset over Chinchero, Peru. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

alpaca grazing in peru mountainside — Alpaca, Cusco. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

pony in salento town — Salento, Colombia. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

The food was no exception, my friends say I eat my way through a trip and here, trying new dishes in each country was a treat. Some top meals were: Arepa’s in Salento, Encebollados in Montanita, $2 Ceviche in Lima & Pisco Sours in Cusco!

The 3 months went by faster than I had saved up for it & ran out of money way sooner than I had hoped - more likely due to LA / NYC if I’m being completely honest. But every moment was priceless - even when the cross country buses stopped for 3 hours… man that was a drag.

It was less about photo making like my other adventures and more about being present in it. Previously I had been more of a bystander, this time around I engaged more in the moment - chatting to locals, making a connection and sometimes, if I’m lucky, capture their portrait.

portrait of man in lima peru — Gentleman, Lima Central, Peru. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

photo of Peruvian woman leaving he bus — Quick stop, Ollantaytambo, Peru. Fuji X-pro 2

maras salt mines peru — Maras Salt Mines, Peru. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

It felt real, albeit humiliating, to converse with locals in their language, doing anything to crack a smile - and not being THAT traveller that says “Speak English?”

This journey was the start of a new kind of travel itch, not the one that has pretty view you’ve seen on instagram, or that cool cafe doing the rounds on tik tok. But the travel itch where you really live for the spontaneity of each day, throwing yourself out there and surrender to the plethora of rhythms in the world, and digesting every second of it.

I was nowhere, now I’m here.

horses in peruvian mountainside — Qiwllaqucha, Peru. Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

journey to lagoona 69 — Journey to Lagoona 69, Peru

So what if I didn't jump out of a helicopter into shark infested waters? or ride a bi-plane, escaping an active volcano? I had a hell of a time and would recommend an open ended experience like this to anyone out there who’s considering it. Best believe I’ll be back to see the rest, with plenty more to come - Colombia, Ecuador, Bali & Sumba to name a few.

But for the moment I should chill out on the beer and start pilates or something.

Prints available on my store

Gear list:

Fuji X-Pro 2 + 23mm

Minolta Hi-Matic AF2 - Kodak Gold 200, Portra 160, Portra 400

'Destination X: A Photography Journey Through the Americas'