ABSTRACT
At the very least, a travel photographer will be responsible for captions that go along with their photos. Commercially speaking, when it comes to stock photography, strong keywords, starting with the location, can make the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. Memories fade as the years go by. Carefully preserved photos don't. If the goal is to produce a self-published book of a journey, the photographer must tie the loose ends together with an introduction. Since one of the prime goals of The Travel Photo Essay is to help readers create books of their own journeys, it is important to start with an introduction. It gives the reader a basic understanding of the subject matter, in this case Japanese hot springs, as well as insight into my personal interest in this unique tradition. Natural disasters and conflicts are part of the human condition and while it's healthier not to dwell on them, they should not be forgotten.
