Here I am, trying to make sense of a bunch of scattered notes written during my trip to Thailand. It was in Chiang Dao that I first started reflecting on my first year of taking photography seriously. Hard to believe, but it’s already been a year since I gifted myself a Fujifilm X-T5 for Christmas.

From that moment on, so much has happened. Since I don’t want time to pass without acknowledging it and giving it the importance it deserves, I’m here now, trying to make sense of the rollercoaster that 2024 has been.

Because 2024 was a year of traveling, photographing, editing, and then photographing again—accumulating (maybe too many) photos that I’m not sure will ever see the light of day. I visited Morocco (twice), Istanbul, Porto, Formentera, and Thailand. Each place left a mark on me, shifting my perspective—whether about myself or the world around me. I collected photos, stories, and memories—like that time I had to break into my own place in Thailand like a professional burglar after losing my keys… only to find them later.

2024 also marked the beginning of Wandering Through Life, both as a concept and as a printed magazine. Honestly, it was a bittersweet experience filled with self-inflicted pressure and a constant battle with one of my most tedious traits: perfectionism. But in the end, the first issue was out, and I could celebrate the first tangible result of my photography.

But overall—what did I learn?

Coming from a design background, I’ve always been drawn to aesthetically pleasing, minimalistic photos. But this year, I learned the power of storytelling through photography and embraced full, messy frames bursting with feelings and emotions—where you can sense what’s happening under your skin.

Of course, capturing a cool shot is great, but for me, it’s no longer just about that. And for this lesson, I have Porto to thank.

I always need to remind myself: it’s not an assignment or a competition—or at least not right now. Several times, I found myself putting too much pressure on myself and getting frustrated trying to find the right places or capture the right angles. The pressure of squeezing the most out of the time I had ended up overshadowing the joyful part of my wandering. Time always felt too short.

And then, when I stop and take a breath, I tell myself: it’s not a damn marathon—slow down and enjoy the process.

Side note: I might write about my relationship with time one day.

This is connected to the previous point. It’s one of the toughest things to accept for me. I already told you about my perfectionist personality, right? He can’t stand coming back home and not seeing a single decent photo from the session.

But hey, even the best photographers in the world say that they get very few keepers a year. How can I expect to come back with a great shot every time I go out with my camera?!

Cool down, Perfi!

Last, a practical lesson. I started with a zoom lens and then bought a few prime ones—only to find myself mostly sticking to the same prime. It came down to the fun I had using it and the relief of reducing choice fatigue, which made it easier for me to go out and photograph. One focal length—get as close as needed and make the most of it.

The prime I enjoyed the most was the 35mm (52mm full-frame), followed by the 16mm f/1.4. I struggled to find much use for the 90mm and ended up using it only a handful of times. For that reason, I might resell it—to keep my kit lighter.

This year, I will continue working on my attitude and improving my storytelling and composition. I also need to deal with still feeling like an intruder in people’s lives at times.

I want to learn to wander in the city where I live as well because I too often underestimate Barcelona.

A new issue of Wandering Through Life might see the light of day, but I’m thinking of shifting toward a handmade, hand-bound format instead of the mass-printed version of Issue One.

Travel-wise, after Thailand, I fell in love with Southeast Asia and Japan, so I might continue discovering that part of the world.

And you? What did you learn from last year? Hit me up via email if you want to share your experience — there’s always something to learn.