Part 1: Shoot More. Especially When You're Supposed to Be Relaxing.

Photography has an odd habit of making holidays feel shorter and memories last longer. (This made me lol at a time of writing.)

I recently came back from Brazil, and while most people were busy hunting down the next beach or cocktail, I found myself wandering side streets with a camera in my hand. No plan. No client. No pressure. Just curiosity.

I genuinely believe we should photograph as often as we possibly can. Not because every frame will be remarkable, but because every outing teaches you something. You notice light you would have otherwise ignored. You start anticipating moments before they happen. You begin seeing photographs instead of simply seeing places.

That's why holidays are such a gift. You're removed from routine. Everything feels unfamiliar, and your brain naturally becomes more observant. The colours are different. The architecture has a different rhythm. Even ordinary streets suddenly become fascinating because they're no longer your ordinary streets.

Like half the internet, I gave in to the recent obsession with making everything look impossibly cinematic. You know the look: orange highlights, teal shadows, heavy contrast, endless glow. It was fun. Really fun, in fact. Experimenting with colour grading reminded me that photography should never become too serious. Playing is part of learning.

But after spending time with those images, I realised something.

As enjoyable as the cinematic trend is, I'll happily return to what has always felt like home: film photography.

The important thing isn't chasing masterpieces every day. It's continuing to photograph, because every time you do, your visual vocabulary quietly expands. One day you'll realise you've become a better photographer without ever noticing it happening.