Roads Travelled
We all enjoy discovering new places. There’s something about it that makes you feel like you’re growing—whether it’s standing in a mountain range you’ve never seen before, or finally turning down that side road you’ve passed a hundred times but never taken.
It’s no secret that I’m drawn to the outdoors—especially places I haven’t explored yet. New landscapes, new perspectives, new light. I find myself constantly chasing them. Before almost every job, I’m scanning maps, looking for somewhere unfamiliar, somewhere I can pull over, step out, and take it in.
I shoot in a lot of the same locations year after year, and that’s part of the job. But when something takes me further afield—somewhere I don’t often get to—you can bet I’m already planning the detours.
A few weeks ago, I had to head straight from Thredbo Interschools up to Glen Innes. If you know NSW, you know that’s a serious drive—10 hours at least.
Naturally, I didn’t take the direct route.
It turned into closer to 14 hours on the road. But that’s the whole reason I do this. I’ve never been drawn to the idea of a 9–5 office job. I want to set my own schedule, to build something different. And if that means taking the long way around to see places I’ve never seen before—or revisiting familiar ones in completely new light—then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
You might be thinking, “Sure… working.”
My Schedule
So here’s what that week actually looked like:
- Monday: Shoot 8am–4pm, edit 5pm–10pm
- Tuesday: Shoot 8am–7pm, edit 8pm–12am
- Wednesday: Shoot 8am–4pm, edit 5pm–12am
- Thursday: Drive 7hrs to Orange, ride MTB, shoot sunset at Mt Canobolas
- Friday: Drive 7hrs to Glen Innes, scout course
- Saturday: Shoot 5:30am–3pm, edit 4pm–10pm
- Sunday: Sunrise drone landscapes, ride Armidale, edit, sunset shoot in New England NP
- Monday: Sunrise landscapes, drive to Mudgee
- Tuesday: Ride MTB, drive back to the Blue Mountains
- Wednesday: A well-earned day off
This isn’t about bragging rights—it’s just the reality of the work. But I wouldn’t change it. There’s a lot more behind it than taking photos and uploading them.
As a freelancer though you have to set aside time for personal activities or you will end up working any and all hours of the day.
If anything, I’m always looking for more—more events, more places, more opportunities to create. Sometimes personal projects have to take a back seat while client work comes first. Other times, they just need time to sit and evolve.
Slowing Down
Lately, I’ve been slowing down a little more when I can—spending time with landscapes not just to shoot them, but to enjoy them. To reset.
You’ll probably start to see more of that work coming through. These are the moments that feel less like work and more like breathing space.
I’ve started adding some of these images to the Visuals Vault on my site—prints that represent those quieter moments found between the chaos of the schedule. You can view them here: girovisuals.com/visualsvault/prints
If any of them connect with you, I’d love to hear from you.
And wherever you’re heading next—take the time to make more roads travelled.