📷 Less thinking, better photos — and a few ideas for the future

February 2025 newsletter

I’m writing this newsletter a little ahead of time — right now, I’m traveling in Oman with a small group of Czech travelers. By the time this lands in your inbox, I’ll be somewhere between desert light and evening conversations, but I’ll save the stories and photos for next month.

For now, I wanted to share a few things that have been on my mind lately: what’s coming next, what I’ve been working on quietly in the background, and a bit of visual inspiration to carry us through February.

Why Auto ISO quietly changed the way I shoot

Over the past year, I’ve noticed myself relying on Auto ISO more than ever — especially when traveling and shooting on the move.

Most of the time, I’m in aperture priority, walking with the camera in hand, pointing it in different directions. Light changes constantly. One moment you’re shooting into shade, the next toward bright sky. Auto ISO quietly takes care of the technical side so I don’t have to keep checking whether my shutter speed is still fast enough for sharp images.

It’s a small thing, but it removes a surprising amount of mental load.

📦 Quick refresher: the hand-held shutter speed rule

The classic rule:Your shutter speed should be at least 1 / focal length (full-frame equivalent).

So:

• 35 mm → ~1/40 s
• 50 mm → ~1/60 s
• 100 mm → ~1/100 s

Anything slower may result in motion blur from camera shake.

Yes, modern image stabilization helps a lot — and it really does work — but I still treat it as a bonus, not a replacement for solid fundamentals.

When Auto ISO makes the most sense for me

I use Auto ISO anytime I’m moving and reacting rather than setting up a shot:

• walking through cities
• sightseeing during trips
• casual exploration with camera in hand
• situations where light changes fast

I don’t use Auto ISO when shooting on a tripod.

⚙️ How I set it up

• Maximum ISO: 8000 (Still perfectly usable on modern cameras)
• Minimum shutter speed: adjusted based on movementMost cameras let you bias this:StandardFast / FasterSlow / Slower
• Standard
• Fast / Faster
• Slow / Slower

I usually choose Fast or Faster when:

• my subject is moving
• I am moving (boats, hot air balloons, vehicles)
• I want to freeze motion more decisively

A small challenge for your next walk

Next time you head out with your camera, try Auto ISO on a simple walk.

At first, keep an eye on sharpness — zoom in, check your images, make sure your limits are set sensibly. Once dialed in, it becomes almost invisible.

And that’s the best part: less time watching numbers, more time seeing light, composition, and moments.

Icelandic Highlands — a quiet idea for the future

This section comes from a question I received from a dear friend recently — and it planted a seed I can’t quite shake.

What if we took the time to explore the Icelandic Highlands properly?

Not rushing between highlights.Not ticking boxes.

But spending real time in the interior — where Iceland feels raw, spacious, and beautifully indifferent to schedules.

The rough idea (nothing fixed yet)

This would be a small-group summer journey, likely in June or July, when the Highlands become accessible and the light stretches long into the night.

Think:

• colorful rhyolite mountains
• geothermal steam drifting through empty valleys
• river crossings and remote tracks
• wide landscapes that reward patience more than speed

It wouldn’t be about “doing everything.” It would be about being there.

What kind of trip would this be?

A few honest expectations:

• Physical level: moderate. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking several hours a day on uneven terrain. Some locations involve optional hikes with uphill sections, typically up to about 1,200 ft / 350 m of elevation gain. These hikes aren’t mandatory, but they’re highly recommended, as they often lead to the views and experiences that make the Highlands truly special.
• Pace: unhurried. This wouldn’t be about chasing light at all costs or flipping day and night. We’d keep a normal daily rhythm, allowing time to explore, rest, and simply be in the landscape, not a hardcore photo schedule.
• Comfort: simple, clean, and real. We wouldn’t be camping. Nights would be spent in simple but clean accommodation with proper beds, right in the Highlands. Think functional, warm, and well-located. Comfort without pretending the interior is something it’s not.
• Photography: optional, never forced. This wouldn’t be a hardcore photo expedition. Photography would naturally happen, because the Highlands invite it, but without pressure, alarms at 2 AM, or expectations to “perform.”

Why I’m sharing this now

This is not an announcement.There’s no signup page. No dates to book.

I’m simply curious:

• Would something like this interest you one day?
• Or would you like to hear more if it were to happen around summer 2027?

If yes, just reply to this email and let me know.

I’ll quietly keep a short list and share more details if the idea grows into something real.

No pressure at all. Just an open door.

Uzbekistan — moving forward

A quick update on Uzbekistan.

I’ve received really encouraging interest since first mentioning the idea, and based on that, I’ve decided to move forward with the trip.

If this is something you’ve been considering — or if you’d simply like to stay in the loop as things take shape — the best next step is to leave your details on the interest page here.

That helps me plan properly and makes sure you’ll receive all relevant updates as they come together.

No pressure, just a clear signal of interest.

Inspiration from Cappadocia

I’ll leave you with a small selection of my favorite images from Cappadocia, taken during a photo tour last September.

No horses this time — just land, texture, light, and space.

Cappadocia is one of those places that doesn’t demand attention. It rewards patience instead. Subtle shifts of light, quiet valleys, soft shadows — the kind of scenes that slowly grow on you the longer you stay.

I hope these images give you a moment to pause and simply look.

Hot air balloons at sunrise (24 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO 250)

Morning in Cappadocia (50 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec, ISO 125)

Rock castle (105 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO 200)

Pottery master at work (98 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec, ISO 500)

Ortahisar rock castle (30 mm, f/13, 15 sec, ISO 100)

Hot air balloons in Love Valley (32 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO 200)

Sunrise over Göreme(24 mm, f/16, ISO 100, stacked from 9 brackets shots)

Wrap Up

If anything in this newsletter sparked a thought, curiosity, or question, feel free to reply directly to this email. I genuinely enjoy reading your reactions.

I’m currently on the road in Oman, but I’ll reply to everyone once I’m back in early March.

Until then, thanks for being here — and for taking the time to read.