6 Reasons to Wear their Shoes

by Mario Mattei on October 01, 2010

"To travel the world as a photographer is a privilege that brings with it certain responsibilities. The photographer who aims to simply capture images of a location without first experiencing it as fully as possible is, in my opinion, missing the point." --Gavin Gough, Guild member, independent photographer www.gavingough.com

I cherish these words from Gavin and want to put them in front of us all. Part of being a visual peacemaker involves truly experiencing the place and the people. Your vision will always be somewhat subjective. And your vision will represent the place and people to the world. There truly is a responsibility here. It is also in your own best interest, because by experiencing the location more fully, your creative work will speak with more depth and perspective.

photo: Mario Mattei, Şanlı Urfa, Turkey

The question then arises. How can I experience the place and people as fully as possible? I will list a few ideas, but I think we've got a fun opportunity to hear from YOU in the comments. We could even make a top twenty list for this.

EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE MORE FULLY, AND MAKE BETTER IMAGES IN THE PROCESS:

1. Leave some comforts at home: eat local, use local soap products, maybe wear some local garb.

2. Adhere to their customs and lifestyle: this could possibly mean taking your shoes off, waving at people a certain way, covering your head in a mosque, or opening a door for a stranger. Take local transport, or visit non-touristy markets and neigborhoods.

3. Don't stay in the most touristy area: there is a tourist box waiting for you to fit into, counteract this by getting off the beaten path.

4. Use their language: get a phrase book and practice with cab drivers, waiters, hotel lobbyists, and others you encounter. It will communicate that you value them and can result in invites to experience the culture backstage, beyond the tourist routes.

5. Sit and observe local life: there is huge value in just pausing to people-watch for a while, feel the rhythm and join in. Is it sit-on-your-porch-slow, or NewYorker-style speed-walking?

6. Withhold judgement: in other cultures we all find some things to be a bit peculiar... trust me, they do it "that way" for a reason. They're intelligent and have histories that have shaped the present. It doesn't mean a little change wouldn't be good. Change in the world is often good. But withhold your judgement for awhile, and don't come to conclusions until you talk with several locals and experience multiple portals of information. You just might learn something, too.

Your turn... comment more ideas, please. And ReTweet this! How do you pro-actively experience other cultures?