Comments on: Taking photographs? Leave more than footprints

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:27:40 +0000

Thank you Sarah, Nick and Johan for your comments. Great point Nick about showing the photos. It’s showing respect to the person who has been kind enough to pose for your picture.
I agree with you Johan that it can be harder in group travel to interact with local people, but it’s still possible, and a driver will often be very happy to chat with a tourist rather than act as the silent chauffeur he is expected to be.

By: Johan Knols

Johan Knols — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:39:25 +0000

Great article!

Unfortunately it is mainly group-travel that makes it difficult to ‘step-out’ of the group and interact with the locals. Sadly so the same goes for African safaris whereby people fly in and out of camps and hardly speak an African. It is indeed through interaction with locals that we enlarge our view on the world and become more tolerant of others.
There is another advantage about this. Have you ever noticed how people that have traveled and experienced other cultures are drawn towards each other? Someone who traveled must be interesting and have great stories. When you interact with locals you do!

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:30:59 +0000

Great post, and I fully agree with you.

On the subject of photographs, a really nice gesture is to show the people you’ve taken a photo of the picture that you took. I’m amazed when I see people ask someone to pose for them so they can take a photo, and then just wander off afterwards. We’re not talking changing the world here, but I feel that taking the 30 seconds to show someone that photo is important. Kids, in particular, love it! Obvious, but true.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:48:33 +0000

I agree so much with your article. Our encounters with people are what stay in our memories, long after the photos. I also completely agree with your comments on carbon footprints and climate change. Great post.