This essay reflects on travel photography, creative fire, and the slow cost of postponing creativity. Through personal experience, it explores how photography can be more than a hobby, becoming a way to stay curious, inspired, and connected to purpose at any stage of life. It speaks to photographers and creatives who feel stuck, overwhelmed by routine, or unsure how to balance family, work, and creative ambition, and offers a reminder that feeding creativity, even in small, intentional ways, keeps inspiration alive before it quietly fades.
While I enjoy photography and belong to a camera club, I feel that I need that nudge to keep going and develop my work even further. I am interested in knowing what you have in mind for the Skool project.
I have always loved your photographs and reading the stories of your life - it's been very inspiring to me. I love the atmosphere you capture in your shots. Your "Skool" project sounds interesting! Keep us posted.
I so relate to the feeling of "aliveness" that comes when creating - and the feeling of frustration and restlessness when I don't pay attention to that fire. I am interested in the Skool idea.
Being that you are in Brazil, your sentiments remind me of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist—specifically when Melchizedek speaks of the baker who prioritized social status and security over his Personal Legend. There is often a silent struggle between those who are constantly searching and those who seek the safety of the shore.
My wife and I spent years wandering, living in places that called to us, but eventually, we chose to settle so our son could have a foundation, deep friendships, and a routine to lean on. Now that he is in his final years of high school, those "itchy feet" have returned—though, in truth, I don't think they ever really left.
In the interim, I’ve realized that the creative fire doesn't have to go out; it simply lives in different guises and forms. For me, it has been about finding happiness in the present and never regretting a decision, whether it felt "good" or "bad" at the time. I am grateful for the foundation I gave my son, and I know our time for exploring is "soon come."
Here’s to your short trips; may they provide that necessary breathing space between worlds until the fire can roam free again.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. The fire still gonna roam, hehe. But yeh, exactly the same reason why I want to have the base place. Foundation and deeper friendships. Like you say, the fire can live in different forms, but it needs to be fed at least somehow, I think.
absolutely, otherwise you will go quite mad. Finding the balance is the tricky part. My son was distraught when we sold our VW westfalia which we travelled in exstensively. Grateful he has a touch of the wunderlust too.
Mitchell, your work has always inspired me. I would be interested to learn more about what you have in mind for your “Skool” project.
Will definitely keep you updated.
Thanks.
While I enjoy photography and belong to a camera club, I feel that I need that nudge to keep going and develop my work even further. I am interested in knowing what you have in mind for the Skool project.
I'll keep you posted. :)
I have always loved your photographs and reading the stories of your life - it's been very inspiring to me. I love the atmosphere you capture in your shots. Your "Skool" project sounds interesting! Keep us posted.
I so relate to the feeling of "aliveness" that comes when creating - and the feeling of frustration and restlessness when I don't pay attention to that fire. I am interested in the Skool idea.
Being that you are in Brazil, your sentiments remind me of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist—specifically when Melchizedek speaks of the baker who prioritized social status and security over his Personal Legend. There is often a silent struggle between those who are constantly searching and those who seek the safety of the shore.
My wife and I spent years wandering, living in places that called to us, but eventually, we chose to settle so our son could have a foundation, deep friendships, and a routine to lean on. Now that he is in his final years of high school, those "itchy feet" have returned—though, in truth, I don't think they ever really left.
In the interim, I’ve realized that the creative fire doesn't have to go out; it simply lives in different guises and forms. For me, it has been about finding happiness in the present and never regretting a decision, whether it felt "good" or "bad" at the time. I am grateful for the foundation I gave my son, and I know our time for exploring is "soon come."
Here’s to your short trips; may they provide that necessary breathing space between worlds until the fire can roam free again.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. The fire still gonna roam, hehe. But yeh, exactly the same reason why I want to have the base place. Foundation and deeper friendships. Like you say, the fire can live in different forms, but it needs to be fed at least somehow, I think.
absolutely, otherwise you will go quite mad. Finding the balance is the tricky part. My son was distraught when we sold our VW westfalia which we travelled in exstensively. Grateful he has a touch of the wunderlust too.
Balance is beyond tricky for me, haha. But, I'm ready to give it my all, haha. I value both, my family and my adventures and photography too much.