The Ocean Song

The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects all shackles. No matter what you say about it, there is always that which you can’t.”
― Christopher Paolini

Ellen is an ocean girl. And clearly I’m a mountain guy.

So I planned a trip recently that I hoped would offer the best of both worlds… the Pacific Northwest Coast.

It really didn’t disappoint.

But I was surprised at how deeply I too fell for the ocean song.

There’s more to the music of the sea than just the crash of the waves.

Or the melodic ebb and flow of the tide.

There’s the distant surf rolling and rumbling faintly. Steadily.

The chatter of the seabirds.

The gentle sway of the tiny creatures.

There is a sound to the light. It carries all of these other notes of the sea to create one grand song.

And when the sun drops beyond the horizon, out of view, the symphony doesn’t end.

In fact, the orchestral crescendo begins to take shape with soft colors and the gentleness of the breeze.

This is where the song takes shape. This is where the minor key takes hold.

It is primal song. And it is one that I will forever try to capture, impossible as it is… it hangs just out of reach in the air around us and passes through us tenderly. It tells us that we are not alone. That this is not all by chance.

It reminds us that every song has a composer.

— andrew

Join me on an amazing adventure… check out my exciting, NEW workshop dates:

Big Bend NP // Night/ Landscape // 2016

Isle of Skye // S C O T L A N D // 2016

Highlands // S C O T L A N D // 2016

If you are interested in licensing any of the images/ video from this post, please visit my stock agency:

Tandem Stills + Motion // Andrew R. Slaton

Image Brief // Andrew R. Slaton

If you are interested in purchasing prints from this post, please check my prints for sale, or email me directly for a custom request:

Andrew R. Slaton | photographer // prints

For assignment work requests, please email me: andrew@andrewslatonphoto.com

Thanks for visiting AndrewSlatonBlog.com!

all images and content © ARS Media, LLC 2015

random thought, travel

How To Travel All The Time… Forever

Ellen and I get asked all the time, “How do you do it?!?” With baffled looks, most people begin to wonder whether we are trust fund babies or maybe secret oil barons.

Well the truth is, neither of us come from any money at all, and contrary to popular belief, photographers and yogis really don’t necessarily make a ton of cash. So we’ve learned to be… well… resourceful.

Don’t get me wrong, we do just fine and feel so blessed to be able to do what we do and not worry about paying our bills or having enough food for our bellies… most months :) “So what’s the secret?” you may ask.

We don’t have children, spend much money on clothes, or even own a home. We have chosen to “invest” our money in experiences. True, they are fleeting, and probably we won’t be able to retire until… well… ever. But when I think about it, we would both do what we’re doing if no one was paying us, so why would we ever make a goal to retire from our passions??

Here’s the deal; we have very different priorities from most folks our age. And that’s okay. Our way is not better than the folks that prefer the security of a steady job, and making sound financial investments, and sacrificing their lives to raise children. In fact, those are all wonderful and even very noble things. But they aren’t what God has called us to in our lives. At least not yet.

So for now, we travel. And I might even venture to say we’ve gotten pretty good at it. So I’d like to share a few things that we’ve learned over the years to cut costs and keep the dream alive.

First thing’s first… once you’ve determined the where, you have to be able to calculate whether it will be cheaper to drive there, or fly and rent a car, or take public transport. It’s not as hard as it may seem. Figure out your gas mileage and divide that by your calculated total driving distance (I recommend very liberal estimates… better to over-prepare and stay under budget than the reverse), then multiply that number by the average price per gallon of gas. There’s your travel cost for driving. Sometimes even though driving may be cheaper, the amount of time (including food + lodging) ends up making it a better deal to fly. Know when to say when is too far a distance to drive. For me, there is no such thing. Except for ocean crossings! But a deal is a deal, and if I can fly for cheaper, then that’s what I’ll do.

Travel is your first major cost that you can’t really get around. It’s essentially fixed. The next few elements are more variable, depending upon your resourcefulness and desired comfort level.

Lodging is something that Ellen and I have down to a fine art. Most locations we visit we camp 6 out of 7 nights. So for our three week Pacific Northwest trip, I only budgeted for three nights in a hotel. This saves you… big time. You can expect to camp for an average of $0-35 per night, depending upon the state/ country you’re in, and what regulations they have. This info is super easy to find nowadays online. I recommend camping in undeveloped National Forest campsites as much as possible. They are free and usually the most beautiful and quiet. Developed sites usually cost between $5-20.

Camping is hands down, the best way to save money, making it possible for you to travel all the time.

Food is the next (somewhat) variable expense. We try not to eat out much on the road, as it is typically unhealthy and expensive. But it’s not always easy to travel with groceries. Especially if you elect to fly, coolers can be a hassle. But you can always pick up a $2 styrofoam cooler at Walmart, and that will give you a huge advantage when on the road.

If we’re driving, we bring a regular sized cooler, and keep just the essentials in our car at all times: breakfast (coffee, eggs, butter, yogurt, granola), lunch (peanut butter & honey, tortillas, chips, fruit), dinner (veggies, meat), and snacks (nuts, crackers, snack bars, water, etc.). Clearly, this kind of living is not everyone’s cup of tea. Especially in the U.S. But the fact is, many of the people of the world live this way because they have to. Sometimes I think of that fact when I’m growing weary of living out of my car, eating peanut butter and honey.

Cooking over an open fire really can be such a simple way to “spice up” your meals. Just some fresh veggies and meat (or eggs even!) will break the monotony (and unhealthy nature) of eating on the road.

And chopping wood is might fine workout, and often free fuel.

The truth about travel is that it can be really expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. You just have to have a realistic budget, a good dose of planning, and expectations to match the budget. If you desire to travel, but don’t have cash to throw around, just be truthful with yourself and manage your expectations.

Oh yeah… one more thing that’s really important… work. Most folks with steady jobs can’t just pick up and travel all the time, forever. Well, if travel is your thing, I would sincerely consider a career change. But really, nowadays, a lot of jobs can be done remotely. There’s nothing wrong with working while you travel. That’s what we do. It’s rare that we take an actual “vacation”.

So it may be worth having a sit down with the boss to see if you have the option of working remotely. Because if not, it may be back to square one. But there are a lot of ways to make a living from the road.

Travel writers, food bloggers, consultants, photographers… people are even making money from their Instagram following. If you have something to say, there are advertisers that will gladly partner with and enable you to make a decent living from the road.

All of the images in this post are from a Wyoming/ Montana/ Colorado road trip we did this summer. We partnered with Ambler, a fantastic hat company out of Canada to make it happen, and it opened my eyes to the possibilities. They’re out there.

When wanderlust takes hold, it can be insatiable. And those of us who aren’t independently wealthy need to get creative to carry out our dreams.

Don’t let life on the road intimidate you… you might find it as exciting and fulfilling as we do…

— andrew

Join me on an amazing adventure… check out my exciting, NEW workshop dates:

Big Bend NP // Night/ Landscape // 2016

Isle of Skye // S C O T L A N D // 2016

Highlands // S C O T L A N D // 2016

If you are interested in licensing any of the images/ video from this post, please visit my stock agency:

Tandem Stills + Motion // Andrew R. Slaton

Image Brief // Andrew R. Slaton

If you are interested in purchasing prints from this post, please check my prints for sale, or email me directly for a custom request:

Andrew R. Slaton | photographer // prints

For assignment work requests, please email me: andrew@andrewslatonphoto.com

Thanks for visiting AndrewSlatonBlog.com!

all images and content © ARS Media, LLC 2015

random thought, travel

Planning An Epic (International) Road Trip // SCOTLAND

Trying to plan road trip can be intimidating for the uninitiated. But planning an international road trip can be downright terrifying.

There are so many unknowns when hitting the open road in a foreign country that it can paralyze even the most seasoned traveler.

So I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned over the years about road trips, and more specifically now, road trips on foreign soil.

If you haven’t read them yet, I have created a lot of content on planning epic road trips, so if you’re new to the subject, I would recommend checking out these posts:

Planning an Epic Road Trip // Intro

Planning an Epic Road Trip // The Destination

Planning an Epic Road Trip // The Plan

Planning an Epic Road Trip // Equipped

The road to Glencoe and surrounding mountains

1. Know Your Destination

First thing’s first. Research the heck out of the country to which you’re traveling. Whether your final destination is South Sudan or Norway, put in the time and effort researching the country’s customs, laws, and even safety for drivers. If it’s a conflict zone, I would recommend having a guide/ driver, getting the max amount of insurance, or not going all together!

For up to date travel safety info, check out The U.S. State Dept. Website. Also, your local AAA office has a massive wealth of resources when entering into the initial planning phase. You can also obtain your international driver’s license from AAA for $15. It’s generally not necessary, but could definitely come in handy in certain places, so why not.

the road to Glen Afric, Scotland

2. Know Thyself :)

Be honest with yourself. Set yourself up for success and a good time. If you’re the type of person that get’s stressed and loses it when road tripping in the States, your style may not be to hit the open road in a foreign land. And that’s okay! There are plenty of fantastic options for travel that don’t include the adventure (or headache, depending on how you look at it) of renting a vehicle, driving on the other side of the road, navigating round abouts and/or one lane, windy paths, and mapping routes in a different language.

Wildflowers in spring bloom along the east coast of Scotland

3. Prep, prep, prep

There is so much prep work that goes into any road trip, much less a trip to a different country… much less a road trip in a different country! Here are a few things I know will help.

Call your car insurance company to see if you are covered in foreign countries… typically you are not, so I would go ahead and get secondary insurance either through the car rental agency or through a trusted international travel insurer. There is nothing worse than having an accident. Oh wait, yes there is! Having an accident while on vacation. Trust me, it’s worth the extra cash!

Get all the necessary maps, and actually look at them before you’re in the driver’s seat! Make sure you can adequately read the maps. They may be in a foreign language. But don’t just look for the English maps, because it may confuse you even further when you’re on the ground… The local signage will often not include the English :)

Learn a few key phrases of the local language. You’re definitely going to have to stop for directions at some point (just get over it). And I cannot tell you how much of an icebreaker it is to at least try to speak to folks in their native language. They always appreciate it, and often, people speak enough English that you can communicate with one another, albeit primitively.

Leave your itinerary open for minor changes. Definitely have a master route planned. And book a few hotels ahead of time in key spots you know you’ll visit. But don’t create such a rigid itinerary that you’ll annoy any travel buddies to death or even miss out on unexpected opportunities or adventures! That’s what travel is all about, after all.

the cliffs near dunnet head

the main road through Dunnet

The River Abhainn An Lethuillt with wildflowers and dramatic morning light and clouds

The Northern edge of the Totternish Range on skye

A dramatic sunset over he Isle of Harris from Rubha Hunish

*Other Highly Recommended Preps:

Call your cell phone provider and consider a temporary international plan ahead of time. If for nothing other than texts and data, this might be the way you want to go. You can communicate with family and friends cheaply and easily via text, and use your data to navigate and locate yourself or hard to find destinations.

Know what size car you need! You may not have as much gear as me, and I would always recommend getting the smallest, most fuel efficient vehicle possible… just make sure you have enough room! Most other countries do not have the huge cars and roads we have in the U.S., and gas prices can be way more expensive. The smaller the car, the better. I find there are many more “tight squeezes” while driving over seas. It’s also common to have to pay a lot more for automatic transmissions. If you’re comfy with manual, save the money and go manual. However, be aware that the stick shift may be on the left side instead of what we’re used to on the right. Be a smart, savvy traveler!

A Renault Captur hatchnack navigating the dirt trails of Dunnet Head

Along with currency, be prepared to convert gallons to liters. If you’re like me, you’re thrifty, and you track every dollar when you’re traveling. Well, in case you were unaware like I was the first time, the rest of the world works on the metric system, so it can be a bit confusing when you’re trying to figure out how much gas mileage you’re getting, when everything is in liters per kilometer. There’s an app for that! Actually several. Find the one that works for you.

Don’t forget your chargers and cords. Nearly all cars you’d drive will have the traditional “cigarette lighter” outlets you’re used to. This could be your best (or only) way to charge your devices!

Use google maps, or other software like it, to plan your route ahead of time. And now with smart phones, you can take it with you to help along the way. This was our route in Scotland…

The Quiraing

A855 leading up to Storr and the dramatic Totternish Range on the Isle of Skye

Moon and stars as cars passing on A82 near the River Etive

There is so much beauty out there to see, and often times, the only way to see it is behind the wheel. So don’t be afraid, just educate yourself, use every resource possible before and during, and get out there to find your adventure!

All in all, try to have that good blend of laid back/ adventurous mixed with some detail oriented/ planner, and your trip will be glorious. Oh yeah, and be a courteous driver… it goes a long way… just about everywhere. **Just don’t ask my wife if I am one… she’ll probably lie and say I am, fingers crossed behind her back. :)

— andrew

P.S. If you’ve learned anything during your travels that you think might be helpful to others that I’ve left out, please let us know in the comments!

Take your photography to the next level… check out my exciting, NEW workshop dates:

Isle of Skye // S C O T L A N D // 2016

Highlands // S C O T L A N D // 2016

Big Bend NP // Night/ Landscape // 2016

If you are interested in licensing any of the images/ video from this post, please visit my stock agency:

Tandem Stills + Motion // andrew r. slaton

If you are interested in purchasing prints from this post, please check my prints for sale, or email me directly for a custom request:

andrew r. slaton // photographer // prints

For assignment work requests, please email me: andrew@andrewslatonphoto.com

Thanks for visiting AndrewSlatonBlog.com!

all images and content © ARS Media, LLC 2015

photography, random thought, travel

Telluride // What I learned…

The biggest take-away for me from this year’s Telluride Photo Festival was… drumroll please….

….Shoot for yourself. Not what you think editors/ agencies/ clients want… just keep shooting the way you see the world.

Sounds pretty basic, right? Well if you’re a full time professional photographer, trying to support your family, this basic concept can get lost. Super lost.

It’s easy to go out and copy the style of the day… what’s running in the magazines and advertisements. That takes technical expertise, but not talent or creativity. And we as artists can get lost in the game of chasing trends and dollars.

That’s not to say that you aren’t going to need to adjust and grow and learn. Don’t get me wrong. And it also doesn’t mean that aren’t going to be assignments that require us to set aside our agendas and opinions to get the job done the way the client needs it.

I think the point here is that we as artists are unique. In fact, often the only thing that sets us apart from the bajilliun other “photographers” out there is our eye’s particular way of seeing and interpreting our world. So what I’m saying is, don’t lose that.

It’s not a narcissistic rejection of everyone/ everything else. Selfish pursuit of personal fulfillment. No, quite the contrary.

You get hired for your distinct and unique perspective. What really becomes difficult now is incorporating your style, your eye into what your client/ editor needs.

And this is what I tried to shift my focus to over the last five weeks on the road.

As I mentioned in The Active Landscape post, it’s good for us to push ourselves, grow, and even adapt to the market. But what good does it do if we lose our personal vision and style in the process. Spoiler alert… it doesn’t.

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. ~ Jonathan Swift

So keep growing, learning, and challenging the way you see, but don’t lose that which makes you unique! No one else sees the world the way you do.

~ andrew

Take your photography to the next level… check out my new workshop dates:

Grand Teton Photographic Tour/ Workshops 2014

More Destination Photo Tours/ Workshops 2014

If you are interested in licensing any of the images/ video from this post, please visit my stock agency:

Tandem Stills + Motion // andrew r. slaton

If you are interested in purchasing prints from this post, please check my prints for sale, or email me directly for a custom request:

andrew r. slaton // photographer // prints

For assignment work requests, please email me: andrew@andrewslatonphoto.com

Thanks for visiting AndrewSlatonBlog.com!

photography, random thought

Top 10 Photography Gadgets

Your camera and lenses are the most important tools in your bag. Hands down. But there are so many more helpful instruments out there, that sometimes choosing what to pack and what to leave behind is overwhelming. Here are my top ten, don’t leave home without them!

10. Filter Holder

Filters help us achieve the look and feel we want in camera. I hear the excuse all the time, “Why use that when you have photoshop?” But to put it bluntly, getting it right in camera the first time is where we get the latitude and quality that makes professionals stand out from the amateurs. Though I often handhold my 4×6″ ND filters, my Cokin Z Pro Series Filter Holder allows me to hold my filters (up to 3 at a time) in one consistent place, making it easier and more accurate to shoot long exposures and time lapses. The downside though, is at super wide focal lengths, the edges of the holder are visible in the frame.

9. Velcro… Yeah, You Heard Me… Velcro.

How did people live without velco?? On most trips I carry a 15ft roll of the stuff. “Why?”, you may ask. Well, I can tell you many uses, but I seem to find more on nearly every trip! Right now I use Scotch Self-Stick Reclosable Fasteners on my tripod legs to fasten my intervalometer and cable releases. When shooting long exposures and time lapses, you don’t want them flapping around in the wind messing up your shot. I also use it on my pocket wizards to fix them to whatever I need; the power packs, stands, flashes, etc. There are so many uses, I could hardly name them all…

8. Filter Pouch

My Lowepro S&F Filter Pouch 100 allows me to keep all of my filters in one place, where I can access them conveniently. It clips around the neck of a tripod, and can hold several circulars, 150mm x 100mm NDs, and even a filter holder.

7. Multi-tool

It’s hard to argue this one. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had emergencies where I’ve had to tighten crews on my lens in the field, or cut something, use my players to fix a wayward piece of metal, etc. No matter where you are or what you’re shooting, you’ll thank me if you take your multitool, I promise. And I recommend the Leatherman Wave. It has just about any and every tool you would ever need in the field to fix any problem… you could even field dress a deer with it.

6. Small Stand

The Manfrotto 5001B 74-Inch Nano Stand fits in a standard size suitcase. When space and weight are a premium and I’m traveling around the world, this little bad boy gets packed first. It folds down to less than 20 in, and can easily support speedlights and boom mics. When full size stands won’t do, this compact solution will save the day for you.

5. Geared Tripod Head

It’s an obvious and necessary accessory… a good tripod head. But recently I’ve been introduced to the Manfrotto 410 Geared Head. It was love at first use for me. It’s heavy and meaty, which I love for it’s stability when shooting long exposures. Now I’ll admit, it’s not the best for mobility with video, but I rarely shoot anything but handheld or static shots anyway in video. Its precise controls, and super fast yet secure quick-release plate keep me loyal. It’s perfect for landscape, long exposures, and architecture… the majority of my work.

4. 2X Tele

A good 2X teleconverter is a must for nature shooters. It’s all fine and good to have your 500 or 600 f/4, but let’s face it, they are beasts. And sometimes a 5 or 600 isn’t even enough. A good 2X like the Canon EF 2X III Extender will give you what you need with minimal image degradation. I often use it just in conjunction with my 70-200/2.8 so I can have a 400mm reach without the bulk of a prime, when hiking or backpacking. It’s not better than good prime glass, but it’s a supremely valuable tool when space and weight are a premium.

3. PocketWizards

If you shoot portraits, these are a must. Whether you’re using strobes or speedlights, PocketWizard Plus III Transceivers are the best solution to consistency and stability in communication between your camera and lights. But something that most folks don’t know about these little magic machines… you can also remotely trigger your camera. It comes in really handy for wildlife and sports photography. They run on two AA batteries, and they’re quite small, so you don’t have to worry about them taking up valuable space in your bag.

2. Intervalometer

I really don’t know how I lived without this for so long. Seriously. My work was so much more difficult and time-consuming without the Canon TC-80N3. It will control long exposures and time-lapses like a boss. You can tell it exactly how many frames at what intervals… I mean. Remember the days of the cable release with your 35, medium, or large format camera? Yeah, this totally kicks their butts. And what it does most valuably for me, is that it allows me to get a little shuteye when I’m shooting star pictures and night time-lapses. I really cannot say enough about this genius, little gadget.

1. Graduated ND Filters

Again, it’s only been the last few years since I’ve really seen the necessity of my Singh Ray Graduated Neutral Density filters. I’ve already talked about “getting it right in camera”…. well, this is how you achieve that. Have you ever been shooting a scene and not been able to balance the amazing sky with your perfectly composed landscape? Well sometimes these shots would be impossible without grad and reverse grad nds. There is no Lightroom or Photoshop equivalent, though one can achieve decent results in post. You really can’t argue the difference in quality once you start using the appropriate filters. And it opens your ability to convey the emotion and drama you envisioned for your image without it looking too “photoshopped”. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with Lightroom and Photoshop, I use both everyday for very single image I shoot. What I want to do though as I grow as an imaging professional, is to minimize the distraction to my viewers. I want them to get lost in the fantastic beauty of my image… and I don’t want them seeing the tell-tale signs of having to use Photoshop salvage an image.

The fact is… there are so many wonderful little gadgets that help us take our images to new heights of creativity. I would love to hear which I’ve left off the list that are true must haves. I know there are plenty out there with which I am not yet familiar. Thanks in advance!

— andrew

Take your photography to a new level… check out my new workshop dates:

Grand Teton Photographic Tour/ Workshops 2014

More Destination Photo Tours/ Workshops 2014

If you are interested in licensing any of the images/ video from this post, please visit my stock agency:

Tandem Stills + Motion // andrew r. slaton

If you are interested in purchasing prints from this post, please check my prints for sale, or email me directly for a custom request:

andrew r. slaton // photographer // prints

For assignment work requests, please email me: andrew@andrewslatonphoto.com

Thanks for visiting AndrewSlatonBlog.com!

andrew slaton | blog

travelogue and visual catharsis of a nomadic photographer

Category Archives: random thought

The Ocean Song

How To Travel All The Time… Forever

Planning An Epic (International) Road Trip // SCOTLAND

Telluride // What I learned…

Rate this:

Share this:

Rate this:

Share this:

Rate this:

Share this:

Rate this:

Share this:

Rate this:

Share this: