Sandra Jasinoski
Travelling is my passion. When I moved to South Africa in 2009 I became aware of the endless possibilities for travel and adventure in that part of the world. It inspired me to photograph and write travel articles, which was a big departure from my day job as a palaeontologist. Three years later I moved back to Canada, but I still haven’t stopped exploring. Equipped with a fresh perspective, I now seek out forgotten stories in familiar places.
You can work pretty much where you want to – on the road, do you find it hard to work or do you just have fun and work when you come back home?
When you are on the road you tend to forget about deadlines, but I do make sure that I write down the important details. I edit my photographs and write my blogs on the computer at home, so I'm free to live mostly in the moment.
Do you feel many people are envious of your lifestyle?
No, because most of my friends have paying jobs :) Actually it is nice to have the freedom to travel, unlike a lot of people my age who are tied down with kids, mortgage, and a boring job. I just have a very independent cat and a couple of turtles who don't mind being babysat by friends.
In which countries have people recognised you, even when you thought nobody would?
Thankfully no one recognizes me. Although it is hard to blend in when you are carrying a camera with a giant lens.
Which three items would you never travel without?
That's easy: camera, notebook, and lots of chocolate!
Are there any specific souvenirs or other things you collect from the places you go to?
As a photographer, I mostly collect images. But I'm also prone to collecting figurines of birds, especially those made from exotic materials. I have birds fashioned out of scrap metal, sun-baked clay, and a hollowed-out gourd!
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