Sakura and The Camera

Flower Power

Japan is one of my happy places. So different from my Himalayan journeys to touch the top of the world, or being nestled into the Arctic winter waiting for auroras. Japan is a confluence of humanity, nature and art with a side serve of delicious.

This month I've packed the Photo Zine full of Japan. Gardens. Pottery. Coffee. Sashimi. And of course the Sakura. Lots and lots of Sakura. There's 108 pages in this edition, an auspicious number that I hope will inspire you:
ewenbell.com/zine

I want to spend a moment to talk about the experience of seeing Japan from an expedition ship. Travelling with Heritage Expeditions is how you might imagine heading to Antarctica for the penguins, or visiting remote parts of Melanesia. It's all about adventure. But it's not a bad way to see Japan either. There are real limits as a photographer to lock into a tour schedule, on a boat or otherwise. There are real limits to be on the ship for dinner every night instead of wandering the streets around a ryokan.

Expedition voyages are not the ideal form of travel for a photographer. But they're not the worst either. For two weeks I don't have to unpack my luggage, and don't have to schlep everything up and down train platforms. I wake up every morning to the view of a new city, have my breakfast in the dining room, and jump onshore for a new adventure. I literally just have to turn up. Then every night I get to sit at my laptop and edit photos, and review my work.

I don't get to decide where I spend sunrise, or sunsets. I don't get to wait in one spot for a whole day and hope the perfect light breaks through the clouds. I don't get to come back to try Mt Fuji the next day if all I got was cloud today. It's not my normal way to thinking about photography. Instead I am thrown into the deep end, and given a new set of marbles to play with each and every day. New temples, new gardens, new fishing villages, new inspiration. Every day is new and all I have to do is show up.

So please take a look at my photo zine this month. It's what happens when you just show up. And it's full of little reasons to fall in love with Japan.

ewenbell.com/zine

Upcoming Workshops

Late in 2026 I have two trips running to the Himalayas. This November we're doing the "Ancient Annapurna" route, which is a little more rough going but takes you into some stunning and hard-to-access landscapes. We don't do trekking, but there will be a few steep hills to walk up for the sake of a great photo. After that trip in Nepal we have a group heading to Bhutan as well, to enjoy some festivals and posh hotel lodgings. Bhutan is way more luxe than Nepal, and offers a very different cultural experience in the Himalayas.
https://ewenbell.com/tours.php

Finally, a mention for the "Aurora Residency Workshop" in early 2027, which has one spot remaining. We ran this format for the first time earlier this year, and it was amazing. A truly great experience and a wonderfully quiet corner of the Arctic for us to deliver the workshop. We avoid the crowds in Tromsø and Lofoten, plus we avoid driving all day and night in search of scenery. Our pocket of Norway is already rich in photogenic wonders, and we know lots of gorgeous places to setup a tripod for auroras.
https://ewenbell.com/itinerary-aurora.php