“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”
― Marc Riboud

Photography captures mundane moments of life and brings them to the forefront. There is something about it that lets you live in the moment. In the now.

This is the lesson I learnt on a photographers day trip organized by Sanaa to Nakuru Town.

I could say I met Instagram on that day. Okay, I actually met 15 über-talented creatives who mostly showcase their works mostly on Instagram. A budding community of young and ambitious individuals with an eye for detail; all to ensure that the full potential of the moment and the experience is captured through a lens.

They wield great power as they get a chance to change the narrative with the power of art.

This adventure began at dawn; desperate to catch the sunrise at Kinale Forest. African timing, however got the best of us and we arrived at Kinale when the sun was already up.

KINALE FOREST

Kinale forest is along the Naivasha-Nakuru Highway (A104). To be honest, I didn’t know anything about this place prior to the trip. I saw it many times as I drove along the A104 but I paid no mind to it. I guess it’s mainly due to the fact that I haven’t seen or heard much of it on social media or magazine articles. But im here to attest that it is a hidden gem.
To give you a visual of this place; imagine the Shire from the Lord of the Rings or the landscape in New Zealand. It may be an exact replica; hoping that im not jumping the gun here. A little Hobbiton here in Kenya. I swear I saw Bilbo running around. 😀 It also felt like a magical forest straight out of a Disney film. The massive trees create mystery with delicate rays of light haloing the trees. A seasonal river that ebbs through out the year has created a grand valley. This place is picturesque.

Don’t believe me? Then look at these amazing photos taken by some of the photographers on that day!

Views to die for (the cold there was no joke) #tembeakenya #wanderlust #wanderlustingescapades #vsco #bns_garden #rsa_nature #instagood #agameoftones #jj_allportraits #vscoportrait #vscohumanbeings #minimalpeople #justgoshoot #letsgosomewhere

A post shared by Sam Mulwa (@mulwa_) on Mar 29, 2016 at 12:38pm PDT

Sanaamag. 📰 #sanaanjiani #suavisuals #photography #sanaastory #visuals #instadaily #instagood #nature #shoot2kill #igdaily #artofvisuals #ignation #justgoshoot #igers #igworldclub #letsgo #photomafia #igersnairobi #create #instalike #igkenya #thecreatorclass #igersoftheday #outdoors #photooftheday #ig_masterpiece #yngkillers #igmasters #createcommune #agameoftones #igdaily

A post shared by IamSuave 👑 (@worldwidesuave) on Mar 28, 2016 at 1:29am PDT

Woke up during the wee hours of the night to catch the sunrise at Kinale, endured the chills of the early morning and by night, I was extremely fatigued for being on the road the entire day, but for lovely shots such as this one, it was definitely all worth it. Plus, I got the opportunity to meet some pretty interesting people! #sanaamag #sanaanjiani

A post shared by Cynthia Koech. (@koech_cynthia) on Mar 28, 2016 at 5:10am PDT

Over the weekend I had the pleasure to meet Christine (@theartofwanderlusting). She is calm, observant and listens alot. A good writer too. She is such a good writer her blog has been nominated for the BAKE awards. Christine it was a pleasure to meet you.

A post shared by Derek Murithi Micheni (@mitch2780) on Mar 29, 2016 at 10:01pm PDT

NAKURU

Nakuru was our second destination of the day; a town known for parties and flamingos. It’s the Kenyan version of  Las Vegas; Naks Vegas. However our trip did not take us to  the town itself but its outskirts. Vast undulating hills and untouched landscapes. You simply stand and stare at the horizon.

Let me tell you the story how i took this photo, of course with irrelevant bits. Yesterday met a group of photographers and creatives (more than 15) that were on a meet here. I look up to most. Took them to a cool location. I was just sweaty and full of dust from shooting a dry river, also with shoes about 2sizes smaller than what i wear just thinking of what to do then got a call and joined these awesome people. My shoes were really uncomfortable btw. We got to the location and while on top of the bridge waiting for @visualsxolet to take a group photo i saw a chopper up there and took this. Thank you for helping me waste your time reading irrelevant info haha, but i love the photo #sanaamag #sanaanjiani #sanaastory #IGKenya #Nikonkenya #nakedplanet #Natgeoyourshot #vscokenya #Justgoshoot #main_vision #naturegram #artofvisuals #agameoftones #exploreeverything #landscapephotography #brightaesthetic #neverstopcreating #Twenderaundi #natgeolandscape #moodygrams #illgrammers #folkcreative #igs_africa #thecreatorclass

A post shared by Ben Omwaka (@benstake) on Mar 27, 2016 at 1:50am PDT

One of my favorite phone shots yet. Taken during the @sanaastory trip this past weekend #sanaamag #Sanaanjiani #Scenic #Tones #colours #igkenya #loves_kenya #PotDKenya #igs_Africa #igafrica #igersafrica #way2ill #justgoshoot #ink361 #tv_soul #landscapes #hilltop #peak #adventure #wanderlust #vsco #vscogood #vscoselects #vscokenya #ig_exquisite #ig_worldclub #visualsoflife #exploretocreate #agameoftones #MobilePhotography

A post shared by Gideon Mwangi (@its_gidi) on Mar 31, 2016 at 11:32am PDT

I can remember the first time I saw a train whistle, I thought, “Boy, those are some big lips. J Kintz Shot during my best road trip. Yet. #sanaanjiani #sanaamag #sanaastory

A post shared by Mordecai. Nuni With A Beanie (@mordechai_nuni) on Mar 27, 2016 at 10:53am PDT

VIEW POINT SUNSET

Our final stop for the day was View Point to catch the sunset over Mount. Longonot. A written description cannot even do it justice.

#walkwithmein nakuru #sanaamag #sanaanjiani #africacurate

A post shared by Abdallah Agil (@elphotographia) on Mar 27, 2016 at 7:46pm PDT

Emojis in the wild #sanaamag #sanaanjiani

A post shared by O L E T (@visualsxolet) on Mar 28, 2016 at 2:18am PDT

Happiness to me is a symphony of life, love and nature. #Nature #Beauty #Kenya #photooftheday #Skyline #Life #Hope #Mystic #Sanaamag #Sanaanjiani #Nikonphotography #NikonD5200 #Happy #Africa #Color

A post shared by Dione Vugutsa (@dione_vugutsa) on Apr 1, 2016 at 2:13am PDT

Sunrise at the Rift Valley View Point. Feels so fresh, new and raw. #sanaanjiani #Sanaamag #sanaastory #Sanaa #tembeakenya #Nature #Sunrise #Skyline #Beauty #Photooftheday #NikonD5200 #Kenya #riftvalley #Igkenya

A post shared by Dione Vugutsa (@dione_vugutsa) on Mar 27, 2016 at 12:09am PDT

I would definitely say that photographers have their own mode of travel. They are hungry to explore in order to find that perfect moment; that experience which they can capture and savour forever. There is a myth that when you are taking a shot, you are not  experiencing the moment but I believe that you are even more in the now as you notice details that not every average traveller does.

So the next time you are out and about, do consider carrying your camera or a phone and be in the now!

Have a lovely week 🙂

Please click the follow button on all of these bad-ass people and travel through their lenses!

S A N A A #sanaamag #sanaajiani

A post shared by O L E T (@visualsxolet) on Mar 27, 2016 at 4:02am PDT