[lolyton]

I have just seen a post about Sri Lanka, and thought there must be quite a lot of people that will be going away to places (particularly in the Summer months) where they haven't been to before. Wouldn't it be an idea to have a specific category based entirely on new destinations people would like info on from other like minded and trusted members. Advice could be given as to the best areas to photograph, what times of day to visit, maybe where to stay, camera security needed and what kit to take (basically the kind of stuff Jason was asking about in the other thread). Just yesterday i went to the Alhambra in Granada, somewhere that is only around the corner from where i live, but i hadn't a clue as to the light levels inside or whether i could shoot with flash or not....fortunately i took everything including an essential polarizer (i should have done more research). If i had thought to have posted somebody on the forums would have been i have no doubt and they could have informed me as to the likely conditions i would have faced.

Anyway, just an idea!

[Foxesbrew]

Originally Posted by lolyton

I have just seen a post about Sri Lanka, and thought there must be quite a lot of people that will be going away to places (particularly in the Summer months) where they haven't been to before. Wouldn't it be an idea to have a specific category based entirely on new destinations people would like info on from other like minded and trusted members. Advice could be given as to the best areas to photograph, what times of day to visit, maybe where to stay, camera security needed and what kit to take (basically the kind of stuff Jason was asking about in the other thread). Just yesterday i went to the Alhambra in Granada, somewhere that is only around the corner from where i live, but i hadn't a clue as to the light levels inside or whether i could shoot with flash or not....fortunately i took everything including an essential polarizer (i should have done more research). If i had thought to have posted somebody on the forums would have been i have no doubt and they could have informed me as to the likely conditions i would have faced.

Anyway, just an idea!

I take your point. but if you go too far along those lines you are in danger of following in others foot steps it seems to me better to take a fresh approach.I suppose its the difference between a package tour and the adventure of doing your own thing without too much preconception.There is excitement in encountering the unknown.our lives are coming to be too controlled lets break out a bit.

[lolyton]

There is always room in life to learn from others mistakes or experience.....this forum is very much proof of that. But i do get your point, however one or two tips never hurt anyone!

[Foxesbrew]

I am am very concious of the need to interact with others and hopefully learn from them.But then after due consideration we need to exercise our individual traits not blindly follow the herd. Our present way of life Seems to me to be pushing us all towards a norm, which can only end in mediocrity.

[lolyton]

If we begin to credit the average Pixalo forum member with slightly more intelligence than your average 4 legged occupant from a livestock farmyard, then we may assume that they wouldn't blindly follow another person without any thought or ambition of their own (which i personally believe only a fool would). If it were not for the influences i have had in my life i doubt i would be as happy and content with my life as i am today, and i am thankful i have had these people guiding me and helping me out through my younger years. I duly listened to everything they all had to say and then went off and it it all my way. Sometimes taking heed and sometimes choosing to ignore, though normally i would be doing it all wrong. However when i travel and i have traveled reasonably extensively i am always willing to listen to the advice people have to give, because life is short (so people will keep telling me) and too much time can pass away trying to work out how to get somewhere or do something. I can be stubborn (one of my better traits), but i can also be lazy and if someone is willing to help me save a little time and frustration when i first arrive somewhere then i would be willing to listen. The last thing you want to be doing is climbing straight off a flight into Rio de Janeiro with no language skills and a big shiny camera trying to work out where to go in the mass of people that greet you. I would think the fact that you can buy a 'safe' taxi ticket to a pre-chosen destination before you leave passport control is nice knowledge to have. I know it was for me.

Having said this, the last thing i would want to happen is that people miss out on the experience of travel, the ups and the downs of which there are many. Which i believe is your concern, and it is a very valid one!

[fionaB]

well you could be like me and just dont travel! lolol

Fi

[Steve]

I take both points on board but do believe that the availability of information is one of Pixalo's underlying principals and strengths. No one tells you what to do here, they just offer the benefit of their personal experiences and let you decide what to do with that information.

Travelling is all about excitement and new things, being informed about the places/events/situations prior to getting there doesn't automatically diminish that and in many cases can actually increase your sense of excitement as you discover new things to look forward to. Every one is different though so thats where your common sense and personal wants (for each trip/destination) should take precedence over Pixalo supplied information.

In that sense what lolyton is suggesting is totally in line with our site aims and in theory is a good proposal. I personally am not to sure that the amount of information we would get back would be enough to give the topic its own section within the site though.

[jason]

Bang on Steve, that is exactly why i posted the question on travelling to Sri Lanka. Being new to this site and forums in general, i couldn't believe the amount of information people share so freely. Wasn't it Sir Francis Bacon that said: "knowledge is power"?. Of course there is always going to be people of differing opinions, but isn't that what makes life so interesting ? The response was awesome and now we will go and put our own spin on it. Stand-by for hopefully some good photos.

Jason

[Rob Barron]

I am with Jason on this one. What does it matter if I go to the same place as someone else? That isn't following the herd that is having an experience for myself rather than simply hearing about it from someone else. I doubt I have yet been anywhere where nobody else had ever set foot but I have been to plenty of places where a bit of advanced advice about where to go for good shots is always valuable.

You don't have to then blindly follow their advice, you just use it as a starting point.

After all, try this one:

I went to Malta and went with my wife in the car to follow some roads that looked little used. I wanted to find somewhere off the tourist track. The road got narrower and narrower until I had to go slowly to avoid scraping the wing mirrors on my hire care. Suddenly the road opened out on this bit of land so I decided to get out ahd have a quick look around to get my bearings before driving on.

That saved my life! HadI driven on 50 metres further, I would not be writing this now. There were absolutely no signs or warnings anywhere but the road abruptly ended and there was a sheer drop off a cliff to the rocks below.... about 100m down!

I think that is worth knowing about for anyone who goes driving around Malta!

After all, if we are all just lemmings by following the advice of others, what are we doing on here? We each tell others about what shutter speed and aperture we took, where we went, what sort of shot we were trying to get, when we used a polariser and so forth. If I then find a similar situation and use my polariser, am i following the herd or am i doing what is right to get a good picture?

Can there be anything more frustrating than going on a once in a lifetime holiday somewhere, coming back with mediocre pictures and then someone says 'Hey, you should have gone to the other side of that island, it was stunning!' I don't often go back to the same places as I love to see different things so I might never get back to that place again. Knowing in advance would make all the difference. After all, I have been to plenty of places exactly the same as a million others but I still have photos that are different.

So, yes please, I would love to see a few reviews written by people who have been to places. Maybe a special Thread could be added for this if enough people find it worthwhile. I know I would :o)

And to get you started: if you're going to central Florida for landscapes, forget it! the place is as flat as a pancake and apart from the everglade areas, there are not that many photogenic places. Lots of other types of photography there of course. I am still chuffed with my picture of a Florida Grey Heron which I'd never have got anywhere else :o)

Cheers for the idea Jason. Sounds good.

Rob

[jason]

I believe that the credit for the idea of writtng reviews on places that people have been to so others may gain an insight to them should go to lolyton, sorry Rob, but cheers anyway

Jason

[Rob Barron]

It was you who asked for location reports on Sri Lanka, Jason, hence my comment. But yes, I entirely support Loly's ongoing idea.

Anyone want a report on Poole? Great place I promise :o)

Cheers,
Rob

[skipper954]

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

What does it matter if I go to the same place as someone else? That isn't following the herd that is having an experience for myself rather than simply hearing about it from someone else.

Right. I went to Machu Picchu (same trip as the Galapagos) and took this picture at sunrise. Now everyone who ever goes there takes this picture, and this is the view that everyone sees published in books and magazines.

But I took it! And the experience of being there and then treasuring the picture is priceless.

[Rob Barron]

Spot on Skip. It isn't the fact the picture is the same, it's the fact you were the one who got to press the shutter release and preserve a precious memory.... and I am jealous as anything! :o)

If I went to Machu Picchu, I would definitely take this same picture. Of course, like Skip I would also wonder around and look for diffeent shots, different angles, all sorts of things.

After all, think about this to its illogical conclusion, if we didn't share the things we know about places, we'd all just land in Peru knowing that somewhere in the country is this fascinating place.... but you just have to go and find it for yourself! No thanks, I'll let people help me get there and then look to express my own individuality :o)

I took my students on a photo walk around Christchurch a few weeks ago. I helped them with ideas about 'How to see a photo' and they all wondered around getting different shots in the locations we went to. And guess what, even though we were all in the same places taking the same subjects, we all came back with different photos! That's the beauty of the creative art we love so much.

Cheers,
Rob

[jason]

Great shot Skip. I am heading there myself next year and can't wait to get behind the lense in such an awe insipring place.

Cheers,
Jase