Fernweh: A Longing for Far Away and Unseen Places

When the global pandemic hit, the tourism industry was one of the most affected sectors. All the tourist destinations were suddenly empty. Parks, beaches, fairs, mountains, and whole cities.

Now that we are more free to travel, we can give in to that feeling of longing for unseen places. But have you ever wondered what that longing is called? The Germans have an exact name for it: fernweh.

Fernweh (pronounced fern·wee) is the feeling of longing for distant places. It's an ache that reminds you of the many places you wish to visit but still haven't.

In this photo series, we bring to you images that tug at the heartstrings of all those travelers at heart. They're reminders that the world is open again and is inviting you to get out and roam once more. They're postcards from different places in the world, written by strangers who wish to share the scenes and experiences they once only dreamed of.

“Traveling is like oxygen for me. It doesn’t necessarily mean that I stay months away from home, but I constantly feel the need to be surprised by my surroundings. To fill my eyes with new images, my nose with new smells, and my ears with new sounds. So I try to travel as much as I can in the most different places.” - Camilla Ferrari

“As a pro-skater getting to travel the world with this group of young celebrities in the world of skateboarding, acting like rockstars, hooking up with girls, self-medicating. I decided that I wanted to document that scene and lifestyle. And from there it was a natural progression to start to shoot street photos wherever I was and document my personal life. Once you have the camera on your shoulder at all times, you see everything differently.” - Ed Templeton

“My travels have definitely influenced my photographic style, but most importantly, the people that I have met along the way and the friendships that I have made have had the most significant impact on me. Always learning from one another and sharing experiences I have been able to find authentic raw moments to photograph.” - Emmanuel Rosario

Simply going through our community's vast photo collection can be enough to get that spark back. Inspiration can come when you least expect it and something as passing as a photo of a place you saw on your feed can be the sign you've been waiting for. Suddenly there's a series of questions running through your mind, your curiosity starts to build up, and you're filled with a sense of mystery that somehow you feel only travel can satisfy.

If you feel anything similar when you look at travel photographs, then don't worry since you're not alone. It's an itch that can only be scratched by going out on an adventure of your own. Tick off that country from your bucket list and bring home memories that will last a lifetime. Stop longing for those places and start enjoying them while you can. Let the unseen places in your mind serve as a roadmap. Embrace these feelings, impulses, and desires. They're a good source of inspiration for your next film photography journey.

How about you? What places call out your name and invite you to satisfy your wanderlust? Share them with others in the comments section below!

written by cheeo on 2022-10-20 #culture #travel #journey #fernweh #longing-for-unseen-places #travel-ache