April 2026 (One Month - One Picture)
Explore Landscapes #112: Adjusting to being home. How three months of almost constant travel have left me feeling discombobulated and needing adjustment.
A rainy day in the Zhongshan District of Taiwan | © 2026 Jon Norris
April 2026 | Hong Kong | Taipei (Taiwan) | Hamburg (Germany) | Chesterfield (UK)
Yep, I’m playing catch up again. It’s almost the end of June and I’m writing about April. I’ve really missed writing and I’d like to make a concerted effort to start writing each and every day as part of my morning routine.
For those of you who are new here - welcome! I try (emphasis on ‘try’) to recap each month with a single photograph that sums up my month. Last time this happened was October 2025 - so I need to try harder.
Travel (for work) has a way of putting all your good intentions and habits aside and taking over your every waking hour. Or at least it does for me.
April’s photograph is a snap that I tool on my iPhone as I was having a wet walk around downtown Taipei. I was desperate to get out and do some exercise after having been on board a 14.5 hour flight from LAX to Hong Kong, and then another 2-hour flight from Hong Kong to Taipei.
I needed to see some daylight - albeit on a wet and gray day in Taipei. I arrived early in the morning and wanted to get a feel for the place - as it was my first time visiting. I was going to be here for just one night before heading to Hamburg (Germany)
Travel (for work) is a mixed blessing (and I guess a first-world problem). It’s exciting to visit new places and have a chance to experience a different culture, meet new people, and sample the local food. At the same time, it takes a tole on your mind and body, something that I used to be able to deal with better than I do now (as I’m the wrong side of 50).
I mentioned adjustment in the post title, and this is something I was pondering this morning in my journal. There seem to be three layers of adjustment that I need to make when returning after a long international trip:
Time adjustment. Getting over the jet lag and trying to sleep without having to resort to taking a sleeping pill. No one enjoys the jet lag ‘fug’ as you try and function with a 15-hour time difference from home.
Home adjustment. Falling into line with the day-to-day of being back at home. Making food, shopping, cleaning, walking the dog, cleaning etc. I actually enjoy getting back to the more mundane tasks at home. It makes me feel grounded.
Family adjustment. Reconnecting with your family who have got used to you being away (just like you got used to being away), and getting back into the flow of being together again.
Anyway, it’s great to be home again, and hopefully I can stay home for a while, although I suspect that may not be the case. Let’s see.
Shutter Nonsense: A Nature Photography Podcast
Episode 29: Jon Norris and an Ode to Joshua Tree
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down for a great talk with Michael Rung and Jeffrey Tadlock, the hosts of Shutter Nonsense: A Nature Photography Podcast.
We discussed, my love for Joshua Tree National Park, and what keeps pulling me back to Joshua Tree after hundreds of visits, from the strange character of the trees to the glowing rock formations, hidden corners, old mine workings, and the need to explore beyond the obvious roadside views.
The conversation also gets into how learning more about a place, its geology, history, plants, wildlife, and people, can shape the way we photograph it.
We also talked about the challenges of leading photography workshops in national parks, including recent CUA restrictions in Joshua Tree that led me to step back from offering workshops there. From there, the conversation turned toward stewardship, responsible park use, volunteering, and the role photographers can play in helping people better understand and care for public lands.
You can find the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or the platform of your choice (just search for Shutter Nonsense). Here are some links to help you find the show:
I hope you give it a listen, and be sure to subscribe to Shutter Nonsense while you’re at it!
