Checking in at YYC
On February 1, 2022, we - our family of four - departed on a months long, Latin American adventure that we dubbed: Gran Gira Española de Maloney… GGEM (pronounced JEM). We decided that we would each be ‘allowed’ one backpack and one carry on… needless to say (even though I was a driving force behind the decision) this limitation proved challenging!
‘The White Album’
Joan Didion, 1979
In the lead up to our trip I came across the packing list that Joan Didion had taped to her closet door. Her list wasn’t long - she was travelling often on assignment and so it was meant to be quick + efficient; yet, in only 15 lines, her list spanned the spectrum from requisite items (her typewriter + tampons) to a few creature comforts (a throw + bourbon).
Didion’s list was one more touch-point of awareness for me of how we each have our own needs and wants, and how they change based on circumstance or season of life. What she actually packed for assignments is moot, it’s the reality mixed with intention + hope in a list that’s interesting, right?
Truthfully, even if it was uncomfortable… actually, ESPECIALLY because it was, in this life of ease + comfort to which we are so accustomed… I thought it was the perfect opportunity for us to lean into a simpler existence.
“Anyone with any degree of mental toughness ought to be able to exist without the things they like most for a few months at least.”
Day 2 of GGEM…en route to our new CR homebase and already wondering why I packed so much. 😬
(photo: FM ❤️)
When contemplating what would win coveted space in my bag, I tried to balance: preparation (antibiotic cream + portable safe) WITH desire (learning to paint, finally reading Walden, being able to photograph what I was seeing). Our known destinations included jungle, desert, and mountain tops… and my romantic visions of a bohemian life on the beach (flowy dresses + oversized straw hat) was in stark contrast to my increasing anxiety about our family on a five day, 40km hiking/camping trip through the Andes (thermal underwear + wool socks). This wasn’t going to be an easy trip to pack for even if we’d planned on taking multiple bags… alas: One. Backpack. Each.
So, there I was pondering… what would we need, what would we want, what would fit? 😬
One of my biggest conundrums was with regard to photography… we would be in beautiful places (not only beautiful but bucket list destinations!); we’d be surrounded by flora and fauna, some of which is ONLY found in these places; and we would (I imagined + hoped), meet amazing people.
How do you visit the jungles of Costa Rica without a proper long lens for birds or macro for insects + frogs? How do you go to the Galapagos without a high end underwater housing to capture the penguins + sharks? How do you hike to Machu Picchu without a wide angle?
How do you ensure your camera is on standby when you might not have access to power for long periods of time? ……..
As you have likely already inferred: I was a tad overwhelmed by the myriad scenarios and how I might be able to meet them with the right gear at the ready?
Eventually I accepted the reality I’d known all along: that A) it was a family trip, first and foremost (NOT a NatGeo expedition 😂) and B) I was simply not going to have the space/weight allowance to pack every lens or light that might be handy/helpful (also worth noting that I don’t even own some of the gear I wrote of above and so they were highly unlikely additions to my bag anyway 🤑 lol).
Once I’d gotten past the overwhelm, I turned inward and asked myself:
what photography is most meaningful to me?
and, in order to pursue that, what gear will I most need?
While this didn’t address all my uncertainty it sure as hell helped me get clear:
I wanted photos of my people traveling the world
AND
I wanted to be able to create meaningful portraiture if/when opportunity allowed, using minimal gear.
So, what would ‘meaningful portraiture’ mean, for me and on this trip? I decided that I would ask to photograph the women we encountered, the women who made a difference to us in our travels. This would be a chance to work + play in my chosen realm, while honouring the women who brightened our experiences.
If you’ve made it this far….
drumroll…….
I had the immense privilege of capturing images of seven different + phenomenal women. Some we knew pretty well, others we knew fleetingly (actually, one I birthed, but the other six we met on the road 😉). Some I had an hour+ with to photograph and others only a few minutes. Each of them impacted us through their generosity, kindness, spirit, and authenticity and I will forever be grateful that each woman I approached said, ‘yes’. 🙏🏼
It is with profound appreciation that - in the coming weeks - I’ll share a blog post for each of these phenomenal women.
A teaser of the WOMEN OF GGEM 🦋 * Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico *
There were a lot of takeaways from GGEM, not least of which is just how incredible the women of our world are!
With gratitude,
Lori
PS the studio will be partially open this Fall… more to come on that soon.
PPS I wholly agree with Georgia O’Keefe (even if it isn’t my first choice 😉); I did paint while gone but would never EVER say I ‘learned to paint’ 🙄; and - while I did try - ‘Walden’ remains unread 😬.