Earlier this year, we featured an extraordinary travel site. The Longest Way Home - a guy traveling the world in search of home - is full of photos, details of daily life overseas, and inspiration galore. Dave is an astute chronicler of humanity, both with words and photos. His photo galleries on The Longest Way Home are incredible - you just want to dig in and experience life with Dave!

Columns at Persepolis, Iran

Market Dome, Iran

We asked Dave to come back so we could share MORE of his photography. We were lucky enough to catch him and chat about photography, tips, changing the world, and more. Here's what he had to say...

WE: How did you get interested in photography?

D: Almost by accident, twice. The first time was when I needed to prove that a place existed. No better medium than photography.

More seriously I took a long weekend vacation with a camera stuffed into my pack as an after thought. I then found a building that I felt captured an old world feel to a town. I photographed it, and everything worked. It's stuck with me since then.

Himalayan Flag View - Nepal

5416 metres (17769 ft) - Nepal

WE: How long have you been a photographer?

D: I actually sold my first photograph from that initial long weekend vacation which is about 7 years ago. Then gave it a rest as I was working hard to get traveling via some other projects. More recently, since the start of my travel journey, which was about 5.5 years ago.

Nepalese Women

Tibetan Monks, Nepal

Street Child, Nepal

WE: What is your favorite place to photograph? Or subject?

D: Street photography and people. I like to capture real life. So much of travel photography is exactly the same. A photograph, to me, should tell a story. Or enhance it. But in this day an age you must realise that you are catering to many people, from many different cultures. So I try to make it a happy medium. If I can take a photograph of a child on the street with a past that everyone from around the world can interpret the same way, then I've done my job.

Tibet Riots - blurred faces - Lhasa, Tibet

WE: How can photographers help change/impact the world, while they are traveling?

D: Capture reality. When I left Pakistan I met a lady on a train in India. She sat in awe of my photographs from Pakistan, a place she was raised into not liking. "They are just like us," she said. My photographs had shown her that we are all the same, no matter where we are from.

Ifugao Rice Terrace Worker, Sagada, The Philippines

Stilt House Girl, The Philippines

WE: Are there rules in other countries people need to be aware of about who or what you can or cannot shoot?

D: Every country is different. In the U.S.A. you need to be careful when going to shoot in a park, just in case there are children around. In the U.K. you cannot photograph a scene with the police in it.

Strangely the retrictions are less so in many developing countries. That said, always asking persmission if photographing a person is paramount. I have a series about photography and ethics coming up soon on my website for anyone who's interested.

Drummers - the Philippines

Flash Flood Refugees, the Philippines

WE: Any tips you want to share?

D: If traveling, take a photo of a sign about the place you are photographing. It will help you remember those important details. It's easier to do it then than research later.

Backup, backup, backup. Get a card reader portable hard drive. They are light, cheap, and reliable. You can lose a camera, but you can't buy back your lost photographs. Think of them as moments in time.

If you head to high altitude areas, make sure to manually adjust your settings and take test shots. The light is a lot brighter up there and you need to be careful about over exposure.

Philippines, Bukidnon, Kaamulan festival

Lahore, Pakistan

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

D: I am giving away my photo-e-book Top Places to Travel & Photograph. It's got a tips section for photographers when traveling, not to mention some of my top travel photographs. All you have to do is sign up to my free journal updates and you'll get a copy to enjoy!  

WE: Thanks so very much, Dave! I love your photography and am so pleased to share it with our readers.

For more information, please see:

http://www.thelongestwayhome.com

Feature photo: Morning on the Ganges

All photos courtesy and copyright The Longest Way Home.