I keep looking at these journals by photographer Jessica Hilltout and I can’t stop thinking about how much I want to create photo journals, similar to these ones, documenting my time in Jordan. (We are almost fully booked by the way! Hurry! I believe only 3 spots left! omg!)

Jess and I have a pretty similar way of journaling, as we both use masking tape to stick out photos onto the page, we are not very “neat” (sorry Jessica, I hope you don’t mind! I say that as a compliment!), and we both write, paint and draw on the pages, creating somewhat of a collage that looks like a ‘study’ of sorts.
After seeing these, aren’t you just dying to get down to the page too? I sure am!

Jessica Hilltout is originally from Belgium, but she was raised by nomadic parents that exposed her to East, West, North and South, inspiring her to become a gypsy herself.
I love how she explains: “After college, along with an old friend, I bought a jeep and headed East.” Sounds so free spirit. No destination in particular, just East!
And she continues: “The journey lasted two years. The jeep took us 80000k through Central Asia and Africa. The money (or lack of it) forced us to live a simple life. This was a time to drift and appreciate the countries that nourished our eyes and mind. I took photographs when it felt right, capturing faces and places, not quite knowing where my work was going… ”
Oh how I can relate! She said it so well.. The joy of traveling for me is exactly that. In my ideal travel situation, I never rush and never seek anything in particular either, I just let my eyes and mind be nourished by my surroundings and by the faces I encounter along the way. I love watching people go about their lives… I LOVE studying faces, whether they are angelic and young or wrinkled and wise… I love them all! Always have…

A few years after her first trip East, Jessica headed solo to Madagascar, only with a Hasselblad, an 80mm lens and a few other essentials. She says: “My mind was full of thoughts. I traveled by bus, foot, pirogue and ox cart, taking time to observe in silence. Many paradox fascinated me. Little things are big. Less is more. Imperfection is beautiful.”
I adore Jessica’s adventurous poetic heart, don’t you? Her words are a sweet balm to my gypsy heart.
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So this week I invite you to get your pics off the web and onto the page!
Make a study of what you’ve been shooting. Create your own field guide!
Perhaps you did not notice until now, but you’ve been studying the effect summer has on you… Sun flares, water, sandy shoes…
Or maybe you’ve been studying your child’s face… You’ve got pics of his/ her rosy cheeks, eyelashes, the twinkle in his/ her eye… You’ve got the shots, now it is just time to create a study and a messy journal page. You can add notes about moments you noticed but couldn’t capture, words he/ she said, etc.
What is it going to be?
+journal photographs by Jessica Hilltout