Last updated March 23rd 2026: Note on Compact Cameras:If you’re looking for genuinely pocketable cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI or Ricoh GR IV, I’ve covered those separately in my dedicated Best Compact Cameras for Travel Photography 2026 guide. This article is different — it’s for people who want a more capable travel camera system with … Read more
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard it: “Why would I carry a camera when my phone takes such great pictures?” And I get it — your phone’s already in your pocket, it’s small, it’s quick, and it’s probably the best it’s ever been. But here’s the thing no one tells you: … Read more
Since leaving the UK in 2014, I always thought it was temporary. A few years abroad. Some travel. A bit of life experience before I did the “normal” things people like me are meant to do — get a job, buy a house, settle down somewhere predictable. That was the plan. Until my first daughter … Read more
As you read this, I’m making the 26-hour journey back to the UK. I’m not going for a holiday. I’m going to bring my mum to live with us here in the Philippines. ⸻ My Nan got Alzheimer’s. At first, it was just little things. Misplacing objects. Forgetting names. But we all knew where it … Read more
Last Updated March 25th 2026: Over the past 6 months, I’ve continued to shoot with both the Ricoh GRIV and Fuji X100VI both in the Philippines and now that I’ve moved, in the Scottish Highlands. Most “best compact cameras” lists get rewritten every January with the same cameras shuffled around. This one doesn’t. Every camera … Read more
I’ve been using the Fuji X100VI for documentary photography and during my travels. Documentary photography often calls for a tool that’s as straightforward as it is capable, freeing the photographer from the complexities of gear decisions and allowing them to focus fully on the story they’re capturing. The Fuji X100VI meets these needs exceptionally well. … Read more
As many of you will know I have spent the last decade travelling the World and in that time I have fluctuated between carrying a full sized Manfrotto 055 XProB tripod to not using one at all. However when I don’t have a tripod with me I always notice that I miss shots and that … Read more
Is it safe to travel in the Philippines? As many of you will know I have been living in the Philippines for about 3 years now. I first visited these beautiful islands in 2006, attracted by the natural beauty and friendly reputation of the people here. With the fairly recent election of President Duterte … Read more