Getting ready to hike the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago. A bucket list for many, this hike in Northern Spain captivates people for many reasons. Some go for religious purpose, some for self improvement, many for an opportunity to gain some self introspection or even change their perception of life.  For me, it was an accident, maybe.

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A happy accident really. My good friend Matt Shoup contacted me to tell me about his Hike of a Lifetime and to ask if I wanted to photograph this journey. He is taking a group of entrepreneurs and professionals to learn about leadership, offering challenges to unplug and disconnect to re-connect. So it would seem like an easy answer right? Get paid to hike across northern Spain? But I had to pause before I answered. I'm not young, physically, anymore. I know my body's limitations and I know my strengths and weaknesses. So it was a decision that took some consideration and thoughtfulness. I think this was the first part of my introspective journey. Knowing I had some work to do, I answered yes. Then came the hard part. I had to prioritize my decisions. Changing the way you view yourself in the mirror is just part of it, but for me was the hardest. When I looked in the mirror I saw an old, fat, bald guy who once hiked mountains and rivers for big fish and cool rocks. Now I spend most of my time at a desk so I had to start seeing myself as something different. I had to see myself hiking the trail and enjoying every minute. Then came the visit to my family doctor, Doctor O. Time for some real talk. Just thinking about a goal gets you no where. It takes decisions, sometimes hard ones, and it takes real talk. Constantly the supporter, Dr. O identified my strengths, and my weaknesses, and ALWAYS supported my goal and championed my successes. It is not a shock that he is one of my favorite people, always honest and always on your side. Watch my video below about looking forward and not back.

Next was trying to figure out what I needed to do this trip. I have to carry not only my supplies for the day (food, water, clothing options) but also my camera gear. I have a habit of over packing. This is not an option. What will be my go to lens? Do I bring one, two, all??? What else do I need? I know I will be posting pictures, downloading from CF express cards, uploading to the web, this all requires a lot of electronic stuff. Laptops, chargers, batteries - all take space and weight. And, I can't forget, I want to take some shots for me. Landscapes at night, portraits with lighting, now we are adding tripods, lights, modifiers - omg this is getting complex, and heavy. Follow along as I plan a future post titled "What I packed and why".

So, follow along as I hike the Camino, I will try to add value to your day through inspiration and first hand experiences from a photogs first trip to Europe!

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