Brian Parton - 47 - Disabled Army Vet - Attempting to Commit Travel Photography
Well, since you’re here, I guess you want to know something about me? Fine. I’m not one who’s very big on talking about myself. I get all awkward. I never know what to say. But since you asked, I guess I’ll give it a shot. Just this once. And only because you asked so nicely and all. Let’s just not make a habit of this, ok? Ok.
I’m Brian Parton. I spent nine years in the US Army infantry, deploying three times to Kosovo, Afghanistan/Pakistan and Iraq. In 2005, I bought my first DSLR camera, wanting to learn photography to be able to photograph the things I see in better quality than the cheap disposable film cameras and bootleg digital point and shoot cameras I bought from markets overseas. In 2006, after rupturing a disk in my lower back that required back surgery, I was medically discharged. That’s when I began taking photography much more seriously, learning everything I could and buying better gear.
Shortly after my discharge, I began doing photography professionally, starting out with portrait photography. It wasn’t long after that I started expanding, venturing into fashion and modeling photography, wedding photography, commercial shoots, and more.
This continued for several years, and I photographed weddings, portraits, and events in several states in the southeast and across the United States. Unfortunately, my passion for photography was often interspersed over the years with continued back and joint problems that required further surgeries, including for my back and and my left knee. I continued doing photography for hire, not wanting to give up on doing what I loved and documenting and preserving people’s memories. In 2017, I photographed my last wedding for hire. My multiple back, neck and joint issues were becoming problems frequently enough that it was too much liability for me to continue taking paid gigs.
For a few years after this I continued to take some photographs here and there. Some of the small homestead I was trying to build up, occasionally some of snowfall in my area in north Alabama. But overall, nothing to the degree I had done for years, and it got somewhat discouraging for quite a while. It was frustrating getting to the point where I didn’t have the motivation to go out a do much photography, which was something that was such a huge part of my life for so many years
Then something interesting happened. In early summer of 2022, a longtime friend of mine sent me a message asking if I’d want to fly out to Las Vegas with him that August. Part of the trip would involve traveling out to Lunar Crater National Monument way out in the literal middle of nowhere to try to photograph the Milky Way under some of the darkest skies in the country. So of course I said yes! It was the first time in a while that I had something to spark my interest in photography again, and it did it in a big way. At this point, my cameras and gear were almost a decade old, almost ancient in the realm of digital photography. I bought a refurbished Canon RP and a couple refurbished lenses for the trip, and it was probably the best investment I have ever made in myself. This camera and that trip completely reignited my love for photography, and the desire to travel and take photographs of all of the things I possibly can. I want to get out and see places both familiar and new, and share it all with you.
So what is next? Well, my idea is this. Travel photography is something that I can do at my own pace, and do it within my own limitations. It will allow me to pursue my love for photography, seeing new places, and trying new foods as I’m able to do it, and I won’t be obligated to someone else’s timetable. This will allow me to go when I can go, and rest when I need rest. I’m currently still being treated for multiple bulging disks compressing nerves in my neck and back, and have deteriorating left knee and right hip joints, and over time these will all eventually get worse and likely lead to additional surgeries. But as long as I am able, I plan to keep moving, keep traveling, keep photographing, and keep trying new things.
The plan moving forward is to try to get to the point where the travel photography can pay for itself, and eventually fund more frequent travels. I don’t plan on doing any more for hire work or running things for profit, although I would be open to sponsorships from people or companies that deal with the travel industry. I just want to make things Currently I am planning for two big trips a year that will be several days and lots of travel, and a couple smaller regional trips that will be only for a few days and require less traveling. I hope you’ll follow along with me on these new journeys. Follow along with me on your favorite social media sites. If you’d like to help support my travels and photography endeavors, click here to learn about ways you can help out. Thank you!
