Experienced COVID-19 infection just before a 5-week business trip to Central America, a twist of fate that turned out to be advantageous for my travel photography profession.
In late 2020, Bella Falk, a freelance documentary director and creator of the multi-award-winning travel and photography website Passport & Pixels, embarked on a unique journey. Amidst the global pandemic, Falk was set to document the Ancient Maya Civilization for an upcoming documentary series. However, the unpredictable nature of COVID-19 led to a series of unexpected events.
Despite the shoot's cancellation due to the creator's inability to attend, Falk saw an opportunity in adversity. With the documentary series put on hold, Falk decided to book a solo trip to Guatemala, a country she had grown to love during her research for the project.
However, just ten days before her departure, Falk contracted COVID-19 from a friend. Heartbroken but resilient, Falk was forced to cancel her trip. Yet, this setback did not deter her. Instead, it fueled her determination.
Falk returned to her small travel blog and started pitching stories and images to national publications. Her work, showcasing the beauty and resilience of Guatemala amidst the pandemic, resonated with readers and editors alike.
Falk's work was soon featured on the cover and in a Guatemala supplement of National Geographic Traveller, with three articles and six images. This recognition marked the beginning of a new chapter in Falk's career.
Fast forward to today, Falk has won numerous accolades, including Best Photography at the Travel Media Awards 2020 and Blog of the Year at the British Guild of Travel Writers' Awards 2023. Her blog now receives over 100,000 page views per month, primarily from travelers seeking Guatemala tips.
In addition to her blog, Falk's work has been published in multiple national publications, including National Geographic Traveller, BBC Travel, Wanderlust, JRNY, The Great Outdoors, and BBC Wildlife.
Falk is also in talks to lead her own photography tours and has been invited to speak and write about travel photography. In two months, she will be speaking at the Royal Geographical Society.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Bella Falk's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative potential of adversity. Her journey serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, one can turn lemons into lemonade.
- Bella Falk, a freelance documentary director who created the travel and photography website Passport & Pixels, turned a cancelled documentary project on the Ancient Maya Civilization into a solo trip to Guatemala.
- Despite contracting COVID-19 ten days before her trip, Falk's resilience led her to pitch stories and images to national publications, resonating with readers and editors.
- Falk's work showcasing Guatemala's beauty and resilience amidst the pandemic was soon featured on the cover and in a Guatemala supplement of National Geographic Traveller, with three articles and six images.
- Today, Falk's blog receives over 100,000 page views per month, attracting travelers seeking Guatemala tips.
- Falk's work has been published in multiple national publications, including National Geographic Traveller, BBC Travel, Wanderlust, JRNY, The Great Outdoors, and BBC Wildlife.
- Falk is in talks to lead photography tours and has been invited to speak and write about travel photography, with an upcoming speaking engagement at the Royal Geographical Society.
- Bella Falk's story, a testament to resilience and the transformative potential of adversity, serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that one can turn lemons into lemonade, even in the face of challenges such as the pandemic.
