攝影・旅行故事 part. I

這是我人生中的第一篇攝影部落格，從沒想過不善於用文字表達的我會開始寫文章。雜亂的心思與手上的紙筆僵持了許久，不知道你們會想看什麼，也不知該從何說起。最後，我決定先撇除技術性的長篇大論，改而向你們分享我的真實故事：關於我四處旅行的經驗、收穫，和當中的一些攝影技巧，希望能夠給你們最深摯的啟發。

Hello! This is my first blog entry ever. In my life, I never imagined that I would write an article as I am not a good talker. I have been holding my pen for several hours, not knowing how to start. Finally, I give up on writing a professional-looking article – I no longer want to care what it looks like. Instead, I will tell you my true story. I want to share with you my travel experiences and photography tips, and I hope it will inspire someone out there.

展開攝影之旅的第一件事情：保持裝備簡便

儘管是一趟橫越四海的旅行，相機包仍是我身上的唯一配件。裡面裝什麼呢？一台相機、幾卷底片、一支手機和備用電池。僅此而已，沒有多餘的T恤和盥洗用具。平常對服裝細節都很在意的我，在旅程中，我可以接受自己蓬頭垢面、輕鬆自在的樣子。可能會有人說：「你何不把其他行李放在飯店就好了？以備不時之需啊！」。而我在我心底的顧慮是：永遠別指望在旅行的途中，你能夠回到原來的住所。

Pack light, stay simple! On my photography travels overseas, I always take only one camera bag along. What’s inside? One camera (of course!), rolls of film, a cell phone and battery pack. Nothing more. No extra t-shirt, no grooming tools. I accept my disheveled and dirty appearance throughout my trip. Some may say, “You can leave your baggage in the hotel, what’s your concern?” What I bear in mind is: do not expect to always be able to return to your hotel.

在我去過的許多未開發國家中，即使有了飯店地址，也總是讓我陷入迷路的窘境，例如：印度。其實這些未開發國家中的大多數居民都是文盲，即便你給了明確的指引方向、正確的地址，甚至詳細描述目的地的周遭環境，你仍可能到達一個南轅北轍的地方。這並不是誰的錯，事情就是如此。

In the undeveloped countries that I travel to, knowing a hotel address may not be as useful as you expect. In some countries, such as India, most people are illiterate. Even if you give clear directions with an extra description of the location and its surroundings, you can still arrive at the wrong place. There is no one to blame; it is just the way things are.

撇除這些外在因素，更重要的是我不想被飯店的里程和距離束縛。少了這些顧慮，夜幕低垂時便不再使人恐慌，夕陽落下的時刻就成了浪漫的前奏，自我放逐的夜才正要開始。就這樣漫步在眼前的美景下，不需要擔心回去的路，恣意沈浸在令人著迷的夜晚，是旅行中最幸福的事情。

This practical reason aside, I also do not want to have the overbearing worry of where and how far away from the hotel I am .when the skies are darkening. Free of these constraints, I roam freely. When I reach a beautiful location and the sun is getting ready to set, there is no need to rush for fear of being caught in the dark and having no transportation back. I spare no thought for such needless burdens.

旅行之時，當你到了一個「對的地方」，應該多花點時間觀察周圍、感受當地的人文氣息。如果你只是全神貫注地想要把照片拍好，或因為時間上的顧慮，而錯失了與當地人文、建築、商業、藝術共處的機會，那是很可惜的一件事。飯店只是一個提供你歇息的地方，並不是一個你一定要返回的家。（其實大部分時候我都選擇住在便宜旅社，只是通常稱它為飯店）

When you reach that place – the right place – take time and absorb your surroundings. It is such a pity to be so focused on taking photographs that you let the fleeting moments pass by. A hotel is just where you sleep, not a habitat that you must return to. ( Mostly, I stay at hostels, but we will say hotel )

另外需要注意的一點是：如果你帶太多行李在身上，反而會成為當地扒手或搶匪的下手目標，讓自己暴露在危險之中!

有次我在摩洛哥旅行時，一名男子在昏暗狹小的地下道跟我要錢，儘管我一直反覆地告訴他我身無分文，他仍亮出一把銳利刺眼的小刀，對我大聲咆哮著：「要錢還是要命！」。我整個人不知所措，因為現在要逃跑已經太遲了。幸好，不知道從哪裡忽然冒出來一位老人，大聲指責那位威脅我的歹徒。我便趁著這個機會死命的逃跑，才好不容易脫離了這突如其來的險境。

Another extra note on this, if you take too much baggage with you, you expose yourself as a target for local muggers and place yourself in danger!  During my travels in Morocco, a man approached me in a small underpass, asking for money. When I repeatedly told him that I had none, he flashed a glinting razor blade at me and growled, “Your money or your life”. At that moment, I was so nervous. I knew it was far too late to run. Fortunately, an old man showed up out of nowhere and yelled at the guys who were threatening me. Taking the opportunity, I ran as fast as I could, escaping the men and the threatening situation.

當下我只擔心我的人生安全，也好險我沒有攜帶多餘的行囊，才能夠快速地脫身。我跑得筋疲力盡，但至少我和我的「家當」都成功脫離了險境。這就是為什麼我會特別強調這件事情，如果你將要展開一趟攝影之旅，請確保你的裝備簡便，並且能夠隨身攜帶最好！

I had no worries, but my own personal safety. I had few belongings and this allowed me to escape quickly. I was exhausted, but I didn’t leave my carrier behind. I fled with my person and my possessions intact.

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