Yes, I agree with Vanessa: photos really are my souvenirs, too. Even if they are not the only souvenirs, they are always the most important.

This thread is an absolute joy to read. Dan, you once again were able to write the perfect description of that moment of discovery for a photographer. I have often felt while taking a photograph that this is how an artist must feel when he creates on canvas. I cannot draw, but I can photograph. My office walls in my home are filled with these personal photographic memories.

I always take a ton of photos when I travel. I use an "advanced" point-and-shoot with a zoom that gives me enough control without having to lug around a ton of camera equipment. Like others here, I cherish my photos because they document my trip and help me remember details I would have forgotten long ago without them.

My wife is the shutterbug. The good news is camera and computing technology . . . she now has this teeny tiny Sony digital that takes stills and movies - compact and light. Her computer gets a work out for weeks after a trip. <BR> <BR>Our friends appreciate nicely edited 'clips' for 'sharing the experience' - and the photos are great for a collage of emails. <BR> <BR>We revisit the raw film before the 'next' visit. <BR> <BR>One of the most memorable experiences, was digging out several 40+ year old postcards of Barcelona before a trip to Spain (she lived there as a 7 - 8 year old). <BR> <BR>We searched for the same spots to 'replicate' the shots. In Stiges the shot we took was exact - down to the season (shadows) and the clock on the bell tower - exact same time. (All by accident of course). <BR> <BR>We never get tired of revisiting that unique side-by-side shot - and oh what a conversation piece it is. <BR> <BR>Gotta go - Off to the airport for 7 weeks in Italy, Germany, Paris - with our camera -

I'm with Brian - I bring my Elph everywhere. It's small (approx. 4x3 and an inch thick) and can almost fit in your shirt pocket, definitely into your pants pocket, or your purse - takes up less space than my wallet! I can change rolls mid-way, so if I move from bright sunlight to a dark room, I can pop in a different speed film. I'm not a "photographer" by any means, but I love this camera for its size and versatility. I'm not sure if they have b&w film for it, but I assume they do, and I'm going to pick up a few rolls for my upcoming trip.

If you enjoy the process of selecting scenes to photograph and taking the photo, if you enjoy possessing the photographs after your trip and having the option to look at them whenever you want to, then of course you should take a camera, or two, or three, etc. If the nuisance of transporting the camera and the expense of film and developing outweigh your pleasure from taking and having the pictures then of course you should not take a camera. (If not sure, then a lightweight, easy to carry, automatic camera that takes good quality pictures may be a good option.) <BR> <BR>Postcards cannot replace photos. Unless you travel only to major tourist sites, and unless your photos are merely a record of certain fixed scenes, and unless you have exactly the same taste in scenes as the commercial postcard photographer, you will not even find cards of the scenes you're likely to take. <BR> <BR>Both scenes uncluttered by human figures and pictures of the people you know are perfectly wonderful subjects for photos. It is no one else's business if you prefer one or the other or both. <BR> <BR>I always take a camera or two and would miss the opportunity to take pictures if I didn't. However, sometimes I'll take a lighter water-resistant point-and-shoot camera on certain days to avoid the inconvenience of carrying my older, heavier, partly manual, better camera. I enjoy the intense visual concentration of choosing scenes, framing them for the camera, focusing, etc. But I also love seeing many many things that I will never attempt to photograph, even though I will remember them in my own subjective way. I used to take a drawing pad on all my trips, but found that I never wanted to take the time even to sketch. By comparison, photos are so much faster (though not truly a substitute for drawing). Writing a journal is definitely not a substitute for taking pictures. Because I write constantly every day at work (boring stuff), I try to refrain from writing on vacation. (This abstention from writing is a way of switching more fully to right-brain mode.) However, I recently started writing up some vacation observations after my return.

Photography is a hobby for many people. We'll go to the woods where we live and shoot a roll over a couple hours and consider it a fun experience. For such people (myself included), it would be unthinkable not to have a camera or two. (I have an old Olympus SLR and a Stylus Epic - GREAT little shirt pocket camera, but not a zoom.) <BR> <BR>But REAL picture-taking takes time, and your traveling companions may not want to stand around while you set up a shot. I often get up at dawn and take pictures with my SLR while my wife sleeps in... it's a great time of day to take pictures anyway! When we are exploring together, I have my tiny point & shoot and take a few snapshots, handing it off to her when she wants to get some shots. Both kinds of pictures are treasured when we return, and some that I have enlarged and mounted on my wall were taken with the P&S. <BR> <BR>Even if you don't think of photography as "fun", however, I can't see traveling without a shirt-pocket camera. They make some excellent ones these days. The $89 Stylus Epic for simple non-zoom, or one of the Olympus zooms if you want to give up a bit of picture quality in return for flexibility of a zoom. <BR> <BR>For those of you with drawers full of miscellaneous pictures - get the "shoe box" style of photo holders (go to a Target-type store). It'll have dividers that you can label. Then sit down in the evening and sort all your pictures into separate piles on the dining room table, and file them away in the shoe box(es). A lot easier than albums. <BR> <BR>Also - and this is very important - THROW AWAY your mediocre pictures. Save only the good ones. If you took two or more essentially identical shots, save only the best one. It's not a sin to throw away boring pictures!

Sidebar: I use my not-so-hot photos and duplicates for postcards, you know, "send in a postcard with your name and address to win two free tickets to the new Pia Zadora movie". They also make great gift tags. Just pretend you took that blurry photo of a trashcan on purpose.

Thanks for all responses<BR>Next time I'll bring my Canon Ixus and shoot a picture with a time stamp on every 90, 150 or 210 minute, no matter how interesting the motive.<BR>Thus I get a misty and assosiative leading thread to help me refreshing the contents and details of my trip, without being rushed by the camera.<BR>I probably also will reduce card shopping.<BR><BR>B<BR>

Hi Cindy,<BR>I also have a little elph &amp; Kodak does produce a B&amp;W film for APS cameras - I haven't used it yet but am planning on getting some to take for my upcoming trip to France. It should produce some wonderful atmospheric pics of Notre Dame in the misty morning...Mmmmmm, I want to go NOW!!!<BR>Cheers...

Photos are great. It all depends on you. I own a Canon Ixus and an Olympus Super Soom 300. The Elph is about 1/4 the size of the Olympus and since I bought it I keep it loaded with film and it lives in my handbag, beachbag, or where ever I am. As a result I have been fortunate to have taken some great on the spur of the moment photos where I least expe t and with a minimum of equipment or trouble. I have used the bw aps film and it is great. I also have a mini tripod which also travels with me as I have found that sometimes depending on the lighting situation it makes the difference.<BR>Snap away and have fun.!!!!

Hi Mags,<BR>I'm thinking about getting a little tripod myself &amp; was wondering what type you you had - the little table top kind with bendy wire legs or one that folds down to a a manageable size? If the former (this may be a silly question) but what do you balance it on when taking photo outdoors? The reason I ask is I'd like one as small a possible but only if its still functional to travel with. Many thanks...

Just this evening, I came across a picture of Mars hill looking across the valley toward the Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens. I had stood in that very spot, or five feet to the right in February of 1989--right where the shadow of the photographer was--and actually felt the breeze, heard the sounds and all sorts of memories flooded across my mind. I went upstairs and got my album (with a hammered copper cover of an enameled peacock, that I bought in Glyfada) and once again enjoyed that memorable trip. As someone mentioned here, I would have forgotten many things without these pictures--we were there for five weeks, and with the six or so rolls of pictures I took, I vividly remember what was worth remembering. I have an automatic Cannon Sure-shot with a zoom, so it is quite simple to get very nice photos if you have a good eye.<BR><BR>I took our Sony digital camcorder to France, Italy and Switzerland in April of 1999 and have some very good footage, but still have not edited it to the point of sharing it with others without boring them. It is much easier to weed out lesser photos.<BR>

Always bring a camera. Over the years, I have seen and done things I never would have if it weren't for I wanted that picture. Why else would you climb to the top of the dome at St. Peters for just one small example. I've got many pictures of which I am very proud that you will never find on a postcard, video etc. You never know what unique or special thing will happen right there in front of you. They save my memories of the trip. And when you study your pictures you will often see things that you never saw when you were there in person. I'm there in every picture because I was there at that exact moment in time. A postcard is never the same.

B, For the standard shots, I'd agree that postcards will do and would probably be better, but I'd still bring a camera for those moments that might be special to you but not necessarily 'postcard-worthy'. Also, for the people that you might meet and want to remember on your travels.

I am quite the photo-taking fool on my vacations and am very proud of all my pictures because they are a part of me and my life. I like to have pictures of both just scenery and ones with my friends in them. I really appreciate the ones that I can be in too, with the assistance of a stranger to take the picture. I'm getting more and more comfortable with asking strangers to do this for me. <BR><BR>I actually just ordered a new camera and should get it by UPS either today or on Monday. I hope it comes today!! I am going to Rome in March and have already been thinking about the great photo opportunities I will have. I have read on this forum and in several different travel magazines that having a 28mm wide angle can make a big difference in your pictures. I ordered the new Pentax IQ 120 that has a range of 28-120mm. Has anyone ever ordered by mail from one of the many camera equipment stores in New York City that have pages and pages of advertisement in the back of magazines such as Popular Photography? I called them all and not even half of them sold this camera yet, I think it's too new. But Adorama had it for the best price and was the most helpful with my questions. I think I saved a considerable amount of money, aside from the fact that this model is not available at any of my local stores or even professional camera shops. <BR><BR>I don't understand all the stuff about aperture and f-stops but I am learning a lot about composition and lighting. <BR><BR>Personal photos are priceless to me and I also like to enlarge favorites to frame and display in my home and office. <BR><BR>Sandi

Sandi, I think you can trust Adorama. I have dealt a little with them and a lot with B&H for nearly four years (with absolutely no problems). Camera World of Oregon also has a mostly good rep, but many of the others do not. I had very bad experiences when trying to buy from one or two but luckily realized before ordering that these were true weasels.

I don't think it's foolish to travel the way you want to travel, with or without a camera.

I use a Nikon digital. In 1 or 2 weeks will take 130 pictures or so. Then when I return I download to my computer and us a "slideshow" program which allows us to view the good, the bad, and the ugly in the same order as the trip. It brings back all the good times. Very seldom do I actually print out any pictures.

Now to the next question Video Recorders.Do you bring it or just a still camera. I have been so turned off by people in Disneyworld with the Video Camera on the whole Monorail trip, or for a live show. They aren't even watching the faces of their children as they see Disney for the first time. I've seen people on the ski lifts with video cameras just contantly rolling. For me personally, even with the new 3 inch screens when you are videotaping you are not really seeing that site at that moment . Sure you have the video when you get home, but you missed the action while it was actually happening. So I still think I will not bring Video. As far as point and shoot camera, I always bring one, take way too many pictures, come home put them in album and seem to not revisit them very often at all. I don't know why. It's like the planning, and the actual trip are what I like. Most pictures really don't bring me back to the feel of being there. I am 47 and seem to not remember things as well as before, so if I took no pictures I might not have many visual memories. Do most of you really have detailed memories of your vacations in your mind or do I need to see a doctor? I just tend to really remember a few hightlights. Then when I get back I start planning for a new trip. Do any of you share my seeming lack of interest in looking at the pictures very often after I get home?