In late 2020, throughout the depths of the pandemic, I started engaged on an epic two-part documentary sequence in regards to the Historic Maya Civilisation.
I spent 4 months alone throughout the grim winter lockdown, planning a five-week shoot throughout Maya websites in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. It was my artistic child and a longed-for escape from the distress of lockdown, at a time when journey was banned and solely a privileged few might depart the UK.
Then, simply ten days earlier than departure, I went to my finest pal’s home to have a good time my birthday (I reside alone, and he or she was my ‘assist bubble’ individual). However together with a stunning reward, she unintentionally gave me COVID.
I used to be devastated. Months of onerous work, analysis and planning had gone into that journey, and now I could not go. I sobbed over Zoom to my bosses, however the shoot needed to go forward. So I stayed dwelling, briefed a alternative director from my sickbed, and watched as he jetted off to shoot my movie with out me.
However I couldn’t let it go. I wanted to see the folks and locations I’d spent so lengthy researching. So, as soon as the edit was completed, and decided to grab victory from the jaws of defeat, I booked a three-month journey to Guatemala and went on my own. That call turned out to be life-changing.
On the time, I used to be a contract documentary director with a small journey weblog on the aspect. However after getting back from Guatemala, I pitched my first tales and pictures to nationwide publications.
I landed bylines and photograph credit in Nationwide Geographic Traveller, BBC Journey, Wanderlust, JRNY, The Nice Open air, BBC Wildlife and extra. Only in the near past, Nationwide Geographic Traveller revealed a Guatemala complement that includes three of my articles and 6 of my photos – together with the duvet.
My weblog now will get over 100,000 web page views a month, many from vacationers searching for Guatemala ideas. I’ve received awards, been revealed in a lot of the main UK journey titles, and I get invited to talk and write about journey images.
In two months, I’ll be taking the stage on the Royal Geographical Society and am even in talks to steer my very own images excursions.
None of it will have occurred if I’d made that shoot. So I assume I’ve to thank my finest pal – and COVID!