Club Meeting, 'Travel Photography' - Tuesday 29th October 2024.
On Tuesday 29th October Morpeth Camera Club welcomed Jason Row with his presentation on travel photography.
Jason is a travel, landscape and video creator with over 35 years experience as a professional photographer, now
based in the North East. Having been a photographer from the age of 16 and working for an enlarger manufacturer,
he had learned about colour and printing over time.
He commenced the evening by reflecting on his experiences as a photographer aboard cruise ships, emphasizing
that, contrary to popular belief, it is not a glamorous profession. The routine of mass-producing photographs of
guests, day in and day out, presents its own set of challenges. However, he turned this demanding role into a
unique opportunity, meticulously curating a personal portfolio of stunning stock travel images.
We enjoyed viewing vibrant images of icebergs in Antarctica, Buddha statues in Sri Lanka, fishermen in the Suez
Canal, Machu Picchu, and stunning Vietnamese landscapes. He also shared anecdotes about long travel times and
the early mornings required to capture the best images for use on the internet.
After ten years of living on board ship and having little experience of life on land, Jason decided to settle down
in his wife’s home town of Odessa in Ukraine. He made a living out of writing for a photography and blog forum.
He began to travel, now at his own expense, to major European cities to photograph famous landmarks but
eventually found that video stock was becoming more lucrative. This was a completely different discipline with
a different mindset so he decided to focus on mid sized cities which had had less exposure in the travel sector
than the clichéd shots which had been seen before.
When Covid struck Jason had to adapt and began photographing his home town of Odessa. Describing himself as
‘a tourist in his own town,’ he added that photographing what is around you was the only option and this was what
Covid had taught us. Being a port city, Odessa provided him with images of river scenes, beaches, iconic statuary,
floral gardens and the Opera House which added to his portfolio to be used in the tourism sector.
After fleeing Ukraine due to the war in 2022, Jason and his wife lived in London for six months, where he shared
unique perspectives of iconic landmarks and personal anecdotes. They then moved to the North East, capturing
atmospheric images of Durham Cathedral and stunning sunrises along the coast. He shifted his focus to local
landscapes and used video and drone work to create blogs and YouTube content.
After recovering from Covid and the war in Ukraine, he finally had the time and energy to travel to Asia, where he
captured the vibrant essence of Bangkok, Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City. We were shown one of his YouTube
Shorts, which featured stunning time-lapse footage primarily filmed with his iPhone. He emphasized that it's not
always about having the best camera; rather, it's about making the most of the equipment you have at the time.
Jason ended the evening with a video entitled ‘A Love Letter to the North East’, where he captured local landmarks
with his drone throughout the seasons. Soaring over St Mary’s Lighthouse, Marsden Rocks, the Angel of the North,
the Tyne Bridges and quayside, he showcased the North East perfectly. Jason concluded by saying that he is not
only impressed by the lovely landscape but the warm welcome they have received from the people of the North
East. Club Chairman Peter Downs thanked Jason for a fascinating evening after which refreshments were served.
Steph.
Jason is a travel, landscape and video creator with over 35 years experience as a professional photographer, now
based in the North East. Having been a photographer from the age of 16 and working for an enlarger manufacturer,
he had learned about colour and printing over time.
He commenced the evening by reflecting on his experiences as a photographer aboard cruise ships, emphasizing
that, contrary to popular belief, it is not a glamorous profession. The routine of mass-producing photographs of
guests, day in and day out, presents its own set of challenges. However, he turned this demanding role into a
unique opportunity, meticulously curating a personal portfolio of stunning stock travel images.
We enjoyed viewing vibrant images of icebergs in Antarctica, Buddha statues in Sri Lanka, fishermen in the Suez
Canal, Machu Picchu, and stunning Vietnamese landscapes. He also shared anecdotes about long travel times and
the early mornings required to capture the best images for use on the internet.
After ten years of living on board ship and having little experience of life on land, Jason decided to settle down
in his wife’s home town of Odessa in Ukraine. He made a living out of writing for a photography and blog forum.
He began to travel, now at his own expense, to major European cities to photograph famous landmarks but
eventually found that video stock was becoming more lucrative. This was a completely different discipline with
a different mindset so he decided to focus on mid sized cities which had had less exposure in the travel sector
than the clichéd shots which had been seen before.
When Covid struck Jason had to adapt and began photographing his home town of Odessa. Describing himself as
‘a tourist in his own town,’ he added that photographing what is around you was the only option and this was what
Covid had taught us. Being a port city, Odessa provided him with images of river scenes, beaches, iconic statuary,
floral gardens and the Opera House which added to his portfolio to be used in the tourism sector.
After fleeing Ukraine due to the war in 2022, Jason and his wife lived in London for six months, where he shared
unique perspectives of iconic landmarks and personal anecdotes. They then moved to the North East, capturing
atmospheric images of Durham Cathedral and stunning sunrises along the coast. He shifted his focus to local
landscapes and used video and drone work to create blogs and YouTube content.
After recovering from Covid and the war in Ukraine, he finally had the time and energy to travel to Asia, where he
captured the vibrant essence of Bangkok, Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City. We were shown one of his YouTube
Shorts, which featured stunning time-lapse footage primarily filmed with his iPhone. He emphasized that it's not
always about having the best camera; rather, it's about making the most of the equipment you have at the time.
Jason ended the evening with a video entitled ‘A Love Letter to the North East’, where he captured local landmarks
with his drone throughout the seasons. Soaring over St Mary’s Lighthouse, Marsden Rocks, the Angel of the North,
the Tyne Bridges and quayside, he showcased the North East perfectly. Jason concluded by saying that he is not
only impressed by the lovely landscape but the warm welcome they have received from the people of the North
East. Club Chairman Peter Downs thanked Jason for a fascinating evening after which refreshments were served.
Steph.