FREQUENTLY ASKED
TRAVEL QUESTIONS
HOW CAN YOU AFFORD LONG TERM TRAVEL?
A blog post answering this is posted here because a quick answer won’t cut it. In short, years of saving, working as a civil engineer, and choosing to not buying many things I’d have really enjoyed. For context, my starting salary in 2014 was $55,500 which is likely lower than what most folks thought a new engineer made at that time. Hoarding my savings and long term investing was key.
WHAT’S IN YOUR TRAVEL BACKPACK?
Many things with a stupid heavy amount of photography gear. This blog post has my LighterPack list for Europe, but this is a link to every major piece of camping, travel, or backpacking gear that I own. You know, for thoroughness. It’s never comes at once, but whatever does come is in that master list.
WHERE ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO GO?
Italy for its history and art, Patagonia for the photography, Thailand for the food, but Japan overall! Japan has the best mix of everything I am excited for while traveling. Update from 2025, Japan is still my answer.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT TRAVEL?
It’s hard to leave family and friends. I’ll miss a lot of moments because I won’t be around. However, on the road it’s dealing with my contacts. They’re the absolute worst, but they’re also a necessity because Stevie Wonder has better vision than I do without them. Like Gollum and the ring, they are precious to me.
WHAT’S YOUR BEST PIECE OF TRAVEL ADVICE?
Try everything twice.
DO YOU HAVE ANY HIDDEN TALENTS?
I can neatly crack an egg using either hand, I can successfully cancel a print job, and I can move one ear at a time. They're kind of big deals.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
PHOTOGRAPHY QUESTIONS
MAY I USE ONE OF YOUR IMAGES?
First and foremost, thank you so much for your interest in my images! You are welcome to share my images for noncommercial purposes only if you credit Michael Barton or MBarton Photography with a link to the page on this website it was taken from. Please contact me for licensing if you wish to feature my images in physical print, or as a permanent website or article feature.
WHAT CAMERA GEAR DO YOU USE?
Camera: Sony a7IV
Tripod: Benro Travel Angel 2 Carbon Fiber (FTA28CV1)
Filters: Kase Wolverine Circular Magnetic
Primary Travel Lenses:
Sony E 10-18mm f4 OSS (domestic trips only)
Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM
Sony FE 24-105mm f4 G OSS
Sony FE 70-200mm f4 G OSS
WHERE WAS THAT PHOTO TAKEN?
Unless noted in an image description or blog posting, I don’t share locations online. I may share additional image information in person or verbally at my discretion.
HOW DO YOU POST-PROCESS YOUR IMAGES?
Most of my images are captured through a single ‘raw’ file, though many blend multiple exposures. I may blend exposures of changing focal points, focal lengths, shutter speeds, or slightly different moments to best convey the scene. I will never add something to an image that was not on location.
HOW DO YOU __________ IN PHOTOSHOP OR LIGHTROOM?
When I created this website I had never used Photoshop or Lightroom. I used Gimp instead of Photoshop, and darktable instead of Lightroom. I finally invested time to learn the Adobe suite starting in March 2024 and never looked back. However, I’m always learning, so hit me up if you have a question and maybe we can both learn something!
WHAT’S YOUR BEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ADVICE?
A gorgeous view doesn’t necessarily make a gorgeous photograph unless it’s your significant other.
IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR AND YOUR QUESTION WASN’T ANSWERED, THEN PLEASE CONTACT ME!