Hi Everyone,

Charleston had been on my list for years. When I finally made it there in March, it didn't just meet expectations; it exceeded them. It completely exceeded them.

Early morning light hits pastel homes along Rainbow Row, quiet streets before the crowds, and sunrise at the Pinepapple Fountain. That's Charleston before the world wakes up.

Beautiful architecture, rich history, and a pace that invites you to take your time. The food lived up to the hype. I finally had my first real biscuits. Worth the wait. The people were just as memorable. Warm, welcoming, and genuinely kind.

From a photography standpoint, it delivered everything: birds, landscapes, architecture, and street scenes. The workshop with Hudson Henry and Rick LePage was outstanding. Both are incredibly talented and generous teachers who focus on practical, real-world advice. If you ever get the chance to learn from them, take it.

This month, I also received two Gold awards in the MUSE Photography Awards, one for Nature and Wildlife and one for Architecture and Cityscapes.

Spring always reminds me of something important. You don't need a plane ticket to create great images. Some of the best light you'll ever find is right outside your front door. Here in Washington, D.C., that couldn't be more true this time of year.

The Cherry Blossoms peaked early on March 26. I arrived at 6:30 am and walked into a sea of people, including a surprising number of very determined three-year-olds. It's always crowded, always chaotic, and always worth it.

I also led three photography walks this month with some fantastic photographers. Teaching continues to be one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

On the writing side, the book is moving forward. My beta readers have been honest, which is exactly what I need, even when it stings a little. Editing continues.

Next up, Europe. I'm heading back in early April, and I can't wait to share what's coming.

Keep shooting. Keep exploring, even close to home.

My Best, Vito

My Charleston Blog

Photography & Tech Gear I Love

My latest gear and tech recommendations:

NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C: Why This Might Be the Only Camera Bag You'll Ever Need

If you travel with a 400mm or 600mm f/2.8 attached to a camera body, your bag options get brutally narrow, fast, especially if you are flying on a small plane.

It Was Built for Big Glass but Fits on a CRJ Airplane

Nobody wants to check an expensive lens at the gate, especially on a regional jet where the overhead bins look like they were designed by someone who has never held a camera bag.

The Fjord 60-C features a three-stage expansion system with 44, 52, and 60 liter modes, and it stays carry-on compatible in all three. That's small enough to fit within most airline carry-on restrictions, including on a CRJ, where gate agents watch overhead bins like hawks. I travel constantly, and this kind of peace of mind is worth every penny.

The Material Is Genuinely Interesting

It's made from fishing nets.

The bag is made from ECONYL regenerated yarn derived from nylon waste, woven into 210 Denier ripstop fabric. ECONYL is a regenerated nylon made from ocean waste, including old fishing nets, fabric scraps, and industrial plastic. So you're carrying a bag that's tough, weatherproof, and actually good for the planet.

The Comfort Is Serious

I've carried heavy backpacks through some long hikes, and the first thing that breaks you isn't your legs. It's your shoulders. The hip belt on the Fjord 60-C is far larger and sturdier than what you find on most camera backpacks. That's not an accident. Shifting weight onto your hips instead of your shoulders changes everything on a long day in the field.

The Interior Is Smart

The Fjord 60-C uses a modular RCI (Removable Camera Insert) system that comes in three sizes. You need the XL size for a long lens. Each insert has a zip-on lid, so you can pre-pack them for specific shoots and drop them into the bag in seconds. No digging. No repacking. Just swap and go.

The Tradeoffs

The removable camera insert can run a bit tight in depth when you pair a big telephoto with a body with a vertical grip attached.

And if you fill this bag, it gets heavy. Airlines outside the US are far more likely to weigh your carry-on, so pack with some intention. The capacity is almost too good, and it's easy to overload it.

Bottom Line

If you're serious about traveling with big glass, staying carry-on-only, and not babying your bag when conditions get rough, the NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C is one of the very few bags that can actually do all of that at once.

What I’m Reading

My 2026 Reading List

• Reread - The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackay (A)

• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

• Theo the Golden by Allen Levi

• Phosphorescence: A Memoir of Finding Joy by Julia Baird

• On the Shortness of Life by Seneca

• The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson

• 84 Charing Cross Rd. by Helen Hanff

• The Frozen River by Arial Lawhon

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

• Montaigne by Stefan Zweike

• Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

• The Peregrine by J.A. Baker (Thank you Ian for such a wonderful gift)

One book I want to put on your radar this month is An Unfinished World by Saul Leiter. If you are not familiar with Leiter's work, he was a painter and photographer whose images of New York City in the 1940s and 50s are unlike anything else. His use of color, reflection, and negative space is extraordinary. This book is a beautiful reminder that great photography is about seeing differently, not just having the best gear.

Highly recommended for any photographer who wants to think more deeply about the art of image making.

TV/YouTube Videos I Recommend Watching

1. Gear Essentials for Going Light by Andy Mumford

2. New York Street Photography with the Leica Q3 Monochrom by Paul Reid

3. My Solo Trip to Charleston, South Carolina by Alison Anderson

Photo of the Month

What if I told you that one of Hong Kong's most photogenic spots sits atop a parking garage?

That's Choi Hung Estate for you. Nobody expects much when they hear "public housing complex in Kowloon." But the moment you step onto that rooftop basketball court, you forget every expectation you walked in with. The colors hit you first. Green, yellow, red, and blue courts stretch across the surface, all set against a massive residential tower painted in soft pastels, blues, yellows, and pinks. It looks like someone handed a box of crayons to an architect and said, "Go for it."

And they did.

Choi Hung means "rainbow" in Cantonese. Once you see it, the name makes complete sense.

Why Photographers Love This Place?

The geometry here is remarkable. The court lines pull your eye straight into the frame. The tower behind it fills the background wall-to-wall, creating this perfect compression that makes the colors pop even more. Toss in a few palm trees, and you've got a scene that looks almost too good to be real.

This is one of those rare spots where your smartphone and your mirrorless camera will both deliver. The colors are so bold and the composition so natural that the location does half the work for you.

Pro Tip: Go early on a weekday morning. The courts are quieter, the light is softer, and you won't be competing with a crowd of photographers all going for the same shot.

Final Note

“One day you will wake up, and there won't be any more time to do the things you've always wanted. Do it now.” — Paulo Coelho

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Thanks for reading,

Vito

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