Super proud to show off @marcjamesco this week as our Top Instagram Traveller. Marc is a legend, who specialises in capturing once in a lifetime moments. His photos are bloody awesome!

Photos by Marc James

Instagram: instagram.com/marcjamesco/

Snapchat: snapchat.com/add/marcjamesco

Twitter: twitter.com/marcjamesco

marcjames.co/

Oh, and if you haven’t already, make sure you download The Backpacking App – the free budget travel guide for Australia 🙂

What are you up to in life at the moment?

I’m currently living on the Gold Coast, Australia working as a freelance graphic designer and creative. In my spare time, I’m getting out as much as possible to explore new places while also capturing my adventures to share with my audience across social media.

Why do you travel? I’ve talked to quite a few people about this and something I hear time and time again is how they wish they traveled more. I never want this to be me in the future and living with that regret. I would rather travel the world and see new places, meet new people, develop who I am and have those experiences with me forever. Describe yourself in 10 words or less. Loud. Adventurous. Dreamer. Life Liver. Explorer. Outgoing. Curious.

What is your favourite spot in Australia? Why?

Well I can’t really say my favourite because there’s SO much of Australia I haven’t seen! If I did have to pick out of where I’ve traveled so far, I would have to say Yamba, NSW. That place is just absolutely stunning and there’s always something different to capture.

What is your favourite photo and why? There’s so many reasons why I love this photo (see below)! Firstly, it’s probably the most insane lightning I’ve captured to date. Not to mention the composition of where all it all hit was just perfect. Second is the way the photo was even captured. I was at home when I heard some thunder so I went outside and looked up, lighting EVERYWHERE. I quickly put my camera in the car and headed over to a friends balcony that overlooks the Gold Coast. I get there to realise that I had forgot my tripod! (This is super important when taking photos of lightning as you’re taking 5-25 second photos so the camera can’t move). I ended up using my Macgyver skills and stacked two dining chairs on top of each other and then sat my camera on top. Somehow it stayed there during the heavy wind and I got the shot.

What are your top travel tips?

Bring a friend/friends to share those once in a lifetime moments with and to have your back. In 15 years you’ll all be able to look back and remember those moments together. Also don’t forget the basics like planning ahead, packing smart, keep back-ups of all your documents, etc.

What items are essential for travelling? I haven’t really done any international traveling yet but things I normally have with me are: headphones, music, multipurpose tool (pocket knife), torch or headlamp, spare clothes and something warm, water bottle.

What advice would you give aspiring photographers?

Firstly. Keep going, never stop and capture what YOU love! Don’t feel the need to fit into some kind of mould of what everyone else is doing, just be yourself and capture whatever captures your eye. There’s no right or wrong way to take a photo or how it should be edited. Second, people think they need the best gear to capture really amazing photos. The truth is that anyone who owns an iPhone is literally holding one of the best portable cameras you could own! If you don’t own an iPhone or DSRL camera then that’s totally fine, use what you have in your hands right now to capture moments the best you can. You will find that no matter what you do, if you practically use what’s in your hands right now to produce the best content you can, then you’ll always be ahead.

Which Instagram accounts do we have to follow?

@caseyneistat – This guy is the man, just watch his videos.

@matjoez – Matthew is someone I’ve been following for a while and has a really great eye. Plus his timelapses and hyperlapses are killer!

@circa_1983 – No words. The images that he takes and how he grades his photos is mind-blowing!

What would you consider your 3 biggest accomplishments? Moving to Sydney for a yearlong Internship which was insanely good Having my photo on the front of my cities local newspaper that goes out to around 600,000+ people Getting to do what I love everyday

Why is Instagram important for travelling? Connection! I think above all, Instagram is such an incredible place for people to meet and connect. I’ve had people from all over the world contact me telling me how much they love my images and asking questions about what I do. I’ve made lots a friends simply by sending a message and starting a conversation. You never know how it might help when you’re out traveling somewhere.

What is you motto? Live life like you’re not guaranteed a tomorrow.

Where is the best place you have been to in the world? Well truthfully I haven’t had a chance to leave Australia yet, but that will be changing at the end of this year. I’m planning to move to Canada and work over there for a few months, after that I’m not sure where I’ll be but one of my favourite places so far is listed above.

Where would you like to go next, if money was no problem? Anywhere and everywhere! I want to explore as much of the world as possible.

Which famous person would you most like to go on a backpacking trip with? Probably Gabriel Macht. He plays a character named ‘Harvey’ in a show called Suits and he is just the man! If you haven’t wanted it you probably should.

Like what you read? Well there is always more juicy content on the app! Don’t be a square, be a circle. Or better yet, be someone with The Backpacking App on your phone!

So here it is…

Your chance to download The Backpacking App – the free budget travel guide for Australia. You lucky sausage.

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