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Travelling the World Through (Incredible) Instagram!

Canadian Living
Culture & Entertainment

Travelling the World Through (Incredible) Instagram!

Her name is Seattle. She lives in Toronto. She travels the world. Two people can travel to the very same destination, follow in one another's footsteps for days at a time, view the same subjects through the lens of their cameras yet capture images that are decidedly worlds apart. That was my experience when I had the great fortune to meet and travel with talented photographer and travel blogger Seattle Dredge in Israel last October. When I viewed her photos from the same trip through Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Sea of Galilee, I was alternately impressed, moved and entertained. I know you will be, too. Seattle Dredge is a 26 year old travel blogger based in Toronto. For much of the time, Seattle travels the world solo, in her words, "in search of adventure and the perfect photo opportunity." Her blog, Seattle's Travels, is where she shares those adventures and inspires others to do the same. Yup, her real name is Seattle.

Seattle Dredge Photographer

Q&A with Seattle Dredge 1) Canadian Living: What drives you to travel and see the world ­through your camera lens? Seattle Dredge: "To explain why I travel would take an awfully long time, so I will focus on why I look at the world through my camera lens. I document my travels in photographs, not as reminders for me, but as inspiration to others. I share my photos online so that other people can view them and hopefully make the decision to not only visit that location in particular, but to start travelling in general. I don¹t believe in living vicariously, but I don't mind if the viewer looks at the world through my images until they can go see the destination for themselves."   2) Canadian Living: Is there ever a moment when you raise your camera to your eye and then stop and decide not to take a shot. Why? SD: "This happens fairly often, for many different reasons. Sometimes, the moment has passed and the shot I hoped for is no longer happening, or in the right placement. Sometimes, something else catches my eye and I shoot that instead. And, sometimes, I just decide that it wouldn't make a good photo."   3) Canadian Living: What's the most memorable photo you've ever taken of a person? SD: "The image that immediately comes to mind is a black-and-white photograph of a Maasai woman in Amboseli National Park in Kenya. The tribe was performing a traditional Maasai welcoming dance, and this woman was standing off to the side and watching. She had such a hard look on her face until she stepped into the crowd and began to sing, her features transforming completely. The photos after that were beautiful, but I couldn't help but favour the original sombre image." Seattle Dredge Photograph 4) Canadian Living: "And the quirkiest photo you've ever taken?" SD: "I had just returned from a two-hour reindeer safari through a snowy forest in Finnish Lapland with a Sami man who spoke no English. We managed to communicate through hand motions, and he told me to wait with one reindeer while he returned the other to its home. I reached my camera beneath his nose, as I gave him a scratch, and snapped a humorous photo looking right up his nostrils."

Seattle Dredge Photographer(Photos courtesy of Seattle Dredge)

5) Canadian Living: Have you ever reviewed your photos upon returning home and said to yourself, "Huh? I took that shot? What head space was I in?" SD: "I don't think I've ever taken a photo that I couldn't remember, even five years down the road. But, I've definitely been happily surprised with the way a few images have turned out. Sometimes the 'defining moment' is a complete accident." 6) Canadian Living: What's the one elusive shot you've yet to capture? SD: "I'm still working on shooting stars and I would love to shoot the Northern Lights, but I've never even seen them."   7) Canadian Living:  Do you have one piece of advice to beginner photographers? SD: "Always shoot in manual; it's the only way you'll learn. And, always try to find a different angle." To enjoy more of Seattle's amazing images, check out the photography section of her blog.  

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Travelling the World Through (Incredible) Instagram!

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