The One Lens Changed the Way I Create Travel Content 📸

When I first started creating content, my camera bag was packed to the brim with gear - usually gear that I didn’t need.

I thought having more options would make me a better creator - instead, it slowed me down.

I’d spend precious minutes debating which lens to use or scrambling to switch to the “right one”, only to miss the moment entirely.

Recently, I decided to try something new. I sold my prime lenses and committed to a single, versatile solution - the 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens.

The 24-70mm range is the Swiss Army knife of lenses - it’s wide enough to capture landscapes and tight enough to frame details and portrait shots.

For a travel content creator, where you’re constantly switching between styles, this flexibility is invaluable.

With just one lens, I can handle almost any situation - without needing to carry (or change) multiple lenses.

One of my first concerns with going minimal was that I would be sacrificing the quality of my fixed focal-length prime lenses.

But the reality is, a fixed aperture zoom lens offers quality that is more than good enough, especially for social media and online-only content.

There’s no doubt that a good prime lens is sharper, but in most cases, the difference is negligible - for the convenience a zoom lens offers, it's a trade-off I’m more than happy to make.

A constant f/2.8 aperture provides exceptional low-light capabilities, perfect for shooting during my favourites times of day, at sunrise & sunset.

The wide aperture also creates a beautiful shallow depth of field, allowing you to separate your subject from the background - something that many people associate specifically with prime lenses!

Plus, as much as I love travel photography, hauling around heavy gear can quickly take the fun out of it (I stopped travelling with a tripod a long time ago!).

Fewer lenses mean less bulk in my bag, more enjoyable hiking and a lot less stress at airport security.

When you limit yourself to one lens, you learn to think differently and find creative ways to adapt.

Instead of relying on lens changes to frame your shot, you’ll be forced to adapt - changing your position to find different angles and perspectives.

This often leads to more interesting shots than if I had multiple lens options available.

Having just one lens doesn’t limit my creativity - it focuses it.

If you’re a travel content creator looking to streamline your kit, I’d highly recommend giving this approach a try.

Until next time, keep creating.

Rory, a travel creator 🤘