What is the purpose of Travel Photography? To record your visit to a fascinating, new, exotic or historical place?

Maybe.

I say it's more. Much more. 

Aruba Sunset

One purpose of traveling is to "discover yourself . "  What does this mean, anyway?

For instance, what did I learn or discover about myself when I photographed this scene?  Well, I discovered that I needed to look out into the world (and the sea) to find some serenity ( and I did! ).

And what of the following scene?

Aruba Boats

What I was looking for in this photo of mine was the shimmering silver waters which "took me to another place" (not my home, but Aruba ).  

Sometimes , a travel photo is not about travel at all. This photo was taken as I arrived on the floor where my room was located. The corridor revealed an orderly placement of homes , in a kind of "triptych" created by the steel window frames of the hotel. Yet it qualifies as a travel photo because the homes are so exotic-looking (to me) .

Aruba View

Finally , a travel photograph can just be plain "thought-provoking".

Aruba Flower

Or just plain beautiful.

Leaf, Aruba For more of David Oppenheim's travel photos on Stockopp.com ( prints are on sale in the various website Galleries)

click on one or more of the following:

Amsterdam  , Food in Holland ,The Hague, Netherlands , and Cologne, Germany