THE WANDERING LENS: AN INTRODUCTION
How travel and photography taught me to slow down and take notice.
There’s something thrilling about arriving somewhere unfamiliar – stepping into a place for the first time, not knowing what’s around the corner or who you might meet.
This space is my way of holding onto those moments. A journal of my travels, photographs, and observations from the road. A place to reflect, share, and slow down.
My journey into photography began during a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia and Australia. I’d picked up my first second-hand camera before I left – hoping to capture the new and unfamiliar. I’d never travelled like that before: completely out of my comfort zone, camera in hand, trying to bottle up the moments that were at once fleeting and vivid.
At first, I was simply trying to document what was in front of me – but over time, I found myself looking more closely.
Coober Pedy, Australia
In the years since, I’ve been lucky to travel through many different places and spend time living in several countries. Over time, I’ve come to know how I like to shoot, how I understand a place, and how to move through the world with a little more intention.
Photography, for me, is a way of pausing. Paying attention. Feeling a place more deeply.
That way of seeing – of paying attention to what might otherwise be missed – is what I hope to continue here.
What to Expect
PEOPL, PLACES & PHOTOGRAPHS
Reflections on how people shape places – and how places shape people. From villages waking at dawn to cities shifting at rush hour, I’m drawn to the quiet interactions that often go unnoticed, and the way stories and landscapes overlap.
Photography, for me, is a way of slowing down. It helps me stay present, observe more closely, and find rhythm in unfamiliar places. These are the stories behind the images.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto, Japan
THING’S I’M MAKING
Behind the scenes on projects I’m working on – photography, short films, and other creative work. Expect process notes, finished pieces, and things in progress.
Lake Kawaguchiko, Japan
Lake Kawaguchiko, Japan
THINGS I’M NOTICING
Ideas, articles, books, films, and music that catch my attention. I’ll occasionally share what’s been inspiring me lately – and why.
I’m writing for anyone curious about the world – fellow travellers, photographers, and those who want to see beneath the surface of a place.
If that sounds like you, I’d love to have you along.
I’ll be posting once or twice a month – travel stories, photo essays, and reflections from wherever I am.
Thanks for reading,
Joshua Thomas