My iPhone is making me a better photographer, the oddities of living in Athens, a motorcycle adventure through the jungle, and the sound of the mountain.

If you’ve been following anything I’ve been doing lately, including this newsletter, you’ll know that I’m currently obsessed with taking photos with my iPhone. I’ve come to realize how great a tool it can be, and using it has been a welcome change. Along with the photos I’ve been sharing over on my new Instagram page, @zachinpassing, I put together a Patreon post about how I think the process is making me a better photographer. The more I use it, the more I ignore the photos I might have mindlessly taken in the past. I’m being much more selective, at least for now, and I believe it will have a positive impact on my work going forward.

In addition, I revamped my Creative Inspiration series, something I’ve been putting off for months. Going forward, these posts will now follow their own respective themes, and this one was adventure travel. There are some gems in there, so let me know what you think. On that note, if you’re not already a member of my Patreon, and you like what I do, consider joining. There’s a ton of content that I’m proud of over there. I think you’ll like it.

Gates of Fire. Having been an embarrassingly big fan of the movie 300 back in my mid-teens, and recognizing the blatant unreality of it all, I was practically giddy when I found out about a slightly less ridiculous take on the Battle of Thermopylae. Gates of Fire is a work of historical fiction told from the perspective of Xeones, a free inhabitant of Sparta without citizenship, known as a perioikos. Though 300 wasn’t based on this book, it practically could (should) have been. I found this to be an incredibly enjoyable read, even for its many historical liberties and embellishments. It’s fiction after all. Plus, I was in Greece while I read it, so that’s fun.

Hard Rain Falling. I still get this plot confused with Fat City, which I talked about last month. They both have this tough-as-nails spirit about them, along with a few other parallels. Although this one could be shorter, specifically in regard to some of the jail chapters, I know that it needed time to let certain things grow. Honestly, the plot isn’t really worth mentioning. If you’re interested, click or tap the image above. The style, energy, and attitude of the book and its characters speak much louder than the plot itself. I don’t recommend this to everyone, but if you read the description along with what I’ve just said, and you’re still intrigued, I say jump in.

The Magus. Unfortunately, this is another one where describing the plot would be nearly futile. Nearly. The book largely takes place on a Greek (heyo, another one!) island. It’s about a guy who goes to that island to teach, but not before you read about what he was up to before that. When he gets arrives on the island, he falls into an abyss of confusion, as will you. That’s all I can say without getting into spoiler territory, and this is not one to be spoiled. Mind-melting, in a good way.

The Sound of the Mountain. One of the more quiet novels I’ve read. Intensely contemplative, focusing on family dynamics and the process of aging. I read this as a primer for my trip back to Japan, and, though there are countless available options, I think I made the right choice by choosing it. Very little happens in this one, but if you can sink into the pace, it won’t matter. Plus, it’s beautifully written.

Photos: Kam Vachon

If you need some motivation to get after it, look no further. Kam is such a go-getter in the photography space, and it’s inspiring to watch. It seems that she’s always working on some new and exciting project. Her unmistakable style really shines through in her work from Latin America, but the rest of her catalog is vast and equally as enchanting. Kam has sung my praises numerous times, so I’m always delighted when I get the chance to return the favor. The photos above are a very small taste, so do yourself a favor and take a look at what else she’s up to!

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Athens, what a place. Even now, having left Greece one week ago, I still don’t know how to put my finger on my impression of the city. The food is excellent, the people are kind and welcoming, and the light is spectacular, but the atmosphere feels tense, the streets are pretty dirty, and the infrastructure is odd, to say the least. If I were to return for an extended period, I don’t think I would make Athens the home base, and I might even skip it altogether. I find it strange that Athens is commonly grouped together with the other major European capitals, rather than some of its Balkan neighbors. Athens feels much more akin to a place like Sofia than Madrid, yet tourists flock there and rarely to Sofia. I’ve heard great things about the islands, but that’s not really my scene. I’ll probably be back to explore more by car because our road trip to Meteora was a nice time. If anything, I’ll be back to stuff my face full of souvlaki. That was the highlight for me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my time there, especially the weekday walks around our neighborhood and up past the Acropolis, it just wasn’t the city I was hoping for.

In other news, I’m back in Japan after nearly three years. We’re here with some family, doing largely the same things we did last time, and it’s been a good time. It’s not as much of a photography trip as before (Transmissions from Japan 2 is most definitely not in the works!), but I’ve had a nice time snapping away on my phone. It’s freed my mind enough to just enjoy the experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe one day I’ll come back with the intention to make a part two to my book, but today is not that day. We’re staying in Kyoto, a bit north of the center. I was initially worried that returning to Kyoto after nearly three years, this time sans-covid, could taint the previous experience, but I’ve been happily surprised. Things are still quiet and clean, and tourism hasn’t been overly frustrating. All in all, it’s a joy to be back. But hey, that's all for this month. I hope you enjoyed this issue of Recollect. If you did, or if you didn’t, let me know. Hit the black box below to send me an email with your thoughts. I’m all ears. Thank you for your support. I’ll see you next month.