Epic Shoots

I remember much of my childhood revolving around posed photo shoots.  The traditional family pictures where parents dress their children in matching sweaters and comb-overs (the norm in a family of three boys), which if I'm not mistaken were taken at church, followed by the extended family pictures where every family is designated a specific color, which never match.  Then there's every dance that I've ever been to; homecoming, sweetheart, winter carnival, prom, etc..  Finally there's graduation, which involves a picture with everyone in the extended family using the same three poses; with hat, without hat, and diploma/hat combination.

Finally, its time to have unposed, natural fun...

At a dance party in your apartment.

Or a mild sandstorm in the south of Spain.

Or a medieval castle outside of Bilbao.

Basic Spanish
Necesito - I need

Advanced Spanish
Eres Pringado - Push-over / Whipped / Teacher's pet

Basque
Aita (Ay-ta) - Dad

British English
Hench - Buff, Hunk, Beef-cake (describing an attractive, strong guy)

Burden or Godsend

What can I take a picture of?

Has technology devalued travelers' experiences?  Does traveling with technology bear an extra burden on travelers or has it helped to shoulder the burden on our miscues?  

Three people, three cameras, one picture.

Cameras

The original travel technology and seemingly the most rational of the technologies have changed over the years.  I remember my first "serious" vacation in which I was given a disposable camera with about 7 rolls of film and a pack of AA batteries.  I can still remember the sound of the film loading and finishing.  Now, everyone and their grandma has a Digital SLR (single lens reflex), 18-megapixel, camera.   

Some people, like Casey from geecasandra.com,
actually know how to use their cameras quite well.

Video Cameras

The new "it" thing in traveling is video.  I can't help but remembering a comment from a recent adventure when one of my friends was giving a running commentary of a person with a video camera.  "Hey kids look at the castle, if it moves, I will surely capture it on camera.  Any second now."  Luckily for us, the person didn't speak English.   Of course, there are those who do a great job with videos and video editing and I love to watch them, but others can't seem to rise to the challenge.

It's a beautiful view yo.

I-Phone, Pod, Pad

These devices put entertainment, media gathering technology, and useful apps at a travelers fingertips.  Need an app?  There's an app for that.  Not to mention its 3G and wireless capabilities. If you don't want to be lost, get the GPS app that determines your approximate location and calculates the best walking, biking, an driving routes in a matter of seconds.  I'll be the first one to admit that some of my greatest traveling memories have come from being lost.  However, the camera and video recording apps do come in handy when you don't feel like lugging around your big camera, but using your I-Pad to take video inside the Vatican Museum is a bit ridiculous.  That's right, I'm talking to you, lady.

When possible, turn around.

Miscellaneous (Kindle, phones, computers, GPS)

The unfortunate thing that with any bit of technology these days is that each and everyone comes with a mental burden.  Every time you leave a hotel, hostel, resort your subconscious places a ping of fear in the back of your mind at the thought of your device getting stolen.  Not to mention that everything has its very own charger.  Also, over half of my suitcase when I travel is taken up by electronics or chargers.  

Spanish Basic

Me cobras - What do I owe?  Check please. (literal - charge me).

Advanced Spanish

Te doy # (uno, dos, tres, etc) leches or ostías. - Your going to get hit # times. (literal- I'm going to give you # milks or hosts (the host that you receive at communion).

Basque

Gero Arte - see ya later

Auzokoa (Owe-so-co-a)- neighbor 

British English

chav - tool (person)