Trading Travel for Photography

Australian Shantanu Starickwanted toquit his day job and do photography full-time. He also wanted to travel the world. But, as a practical matter, he couldn’t figure out how to make either of those dreams work. Taking inspiration from the “sharing economy,” Starick decided to offer his skills as a photographer, for free, to anyone who was willing to provide room and board —and a ticket to his next destination.

Starick has taken that formula around the world and back again in a bartering project he callsPixel Trade. The people Starick trades with getprofessional-quality photographs —Starick has photographed weddings, hotels, coffee shops, app developers, and lotsmore. In return, Starick receivesfood, lodging, transportation, clothing, and anything else he needs.Hehasn’t spent a dollar since he started on the road inJune 2012, and since then he’s gone to places like Ireland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, India, and around the US.

Tei Food Market, in TeiSpain

(Shantanu Starick)

An architect’s home in Melbourne, Australia

(Shantanu Starick)

A wedding in Guyra, Australia

(Shantanu Starick)

Along the way, Starick hashad the chance to take some extraordinary photos on his own, outside of the trades he’s made:

New York City, USA

(Shantanu Starick)

Marrakech, Morocco

(Shantanu Starick)

For many of us, following an artistic passion full-time seems like an impossibly remote dream, but Starick has found a way to make it work. Still, it’s not all fun: he’s had some awkward trades over the past two years, mostly with people who don’t have a very clear idea of what they want to get out of his photography.”The result is maybe some bad food, awkward conversations, and a few reluctant clicks of the camera,” he explains. “Nothing too painful.”

Traveling for over two years, living exclusively with strangers, probably requires a particularly laid-back philosophy. And Starick has one: “Give a little, and you get a lot back.”