Sam Stearman

Travel photography is my second career. My first was in business where I spent my time working in public accounting, for leading international companies and in my own boutique practice.

I moved to Hong Kong in 2003 from San Diego CA in 2003 to pursue things dreams are made of. Since relocating, I have been an active traveler and photographer, a member of PSA and a General Committee member of FAPA - Hong Kong & Macau Chapter. My work "Sam's Exotic Travels" can be found on the web at www.samsays.com

While I would like to think that I am a good photographer, honesty forces me to confess that I am a traveler who takes photos and not a photographer who travels. There are differences:

Many of the places and sites I visit, I only see one time. Good weather or bad, sun or no sun, shadows or no shadows, beautiful skies, gray overcast or even rain -- I have to take what there is and make the most of it. Photographers would find the perfect spot, make sure the light and shadows are just right for the mood they want to create and make sure they use the right lens and filters.

When shooting, I am normally traveling with my wife and often with a tour group, so I can't take the time to make sure I find the best angle, set up a tripod and choose the best aperture - I have to quickly choose what I want to take and take the picture -- otherwise the group will be far gone and/or my wife wouldn't be speaking to me anymore.

I use digital cameras for all my shots, not film for prints or slides, so I take a lot more photos than professional photographers would take -- After all, I don't have to pay for processing.

That said, I hope that my pictures are not what you normally see in snapshots or in most travel guides or articles. I try to avoid typical tourist shots - and concentrate on unusual angles of buildings and landscapes to make them special, to take pictures that capture everyday life of the places I visit and which showcase the wonderful beautiful people. A fellow traveler/photographer from Japan calls his site "Trot 'n Shoot", meaning he takes what he sees while he walks. My approach is pretty much the same. I do try to do what I call "extending the tour" by going out before breakfast, skipping lunches and going out after dinner, to visit the surrounding neighborhoods, meeting the people and capturing the energy and spirit of the places I go.

I hope you enjoy my vision of the world.