Full disclosure: OK. To be realistic you are probably going to want to pack your smartphone.

But why not throw in that old unused-for-forever camera that is sitting at the back of your closet?

Doesn’t matter if it is an old point-and-shoot with not much megapixels or an SLR with a way flat battery, or even a film camera (I’m not jealous….I’m very jealous).

Dust it off. Charge it up. Load it up.

Take it out on your next trip. Leave your smartphone in your bag and re-discover the process of taking photos.
Don’t worry that they turn out shit. Its about the experience within the experience. Have fun.

Get home. Pull the SD card or develop the film and load the images onto your device of choice. Take a look.

Yup. They turned out shit.

“Hmmmm, my iPhone takes waaay better photos than this…and I can upload them directly to Facebook!“

Do not fall for this con.

Go read a little bit about taking photos. Its easy.

Here is a good resource to get you started: https://photographylife.com/learn-photography

Take your camera again on the next trip. Pay attention to the whole process of using it. Enjoy pulling it out and fiddling around with it. Engage with people who wonder out loud why you are using such a crappy camera when your iPhone takes better photos. Look at other peoples photos. Really look at them. Take a photo for no other reason than taking a photo, not for social media. Sit in coffee shops and virtue signal your photographic non-conformity by sitting your camera on the table. Enjoy thinking about things happening around you that might make a good photo. Be the frame.

Get home and check out your photos.
Yup…they are still shit.
But not quite as shit.
And that one. That one is…..well, not too shabby.

Repeat.