A businessman turned to a self-taught photographer, Gary Arndt has been an inspiration to many. Travel Blogging & Photography are two popular & common sectors. Gary Arndt has beautifully amalgamated the 2 to create his own space which people love to follow! 

Gary Arndt is the 1st Travel blogger to win  “The Travel Photographer of the Year Award – SATW Central States Chapter”, among many other awards. He has carved a niche for himself among the crowd of travel bloggers & photographers.

If you would like to know more about him, you can always visit his website here. In this interview, we had a chance to connect with Gary Arndt via email and to ask him a few questions.

1. As the internet states, you have started with photography and travel blogging when you were a little over 35 years old. What was your inspiration or driving force behind it?

I wanted to travel the world and I thought it was a good idea to take pictures during my trip. Soon after I started I realized that my images were horrible, so I set about trying to improve my photography. It was an incremental process that led to where I am today. 

2. You have switched jobs, businesses and sectors starting with website solutions, to travel blogging now. What was your process to gain knowledge about all the sectors to stay informed?

I always try to stay abreast of what is happening in any industry I work in. I spend at least an hour a day keeping up on what is happening with SEO, social media, and online marketing. The secret is just having an RSS reader filling with feeds from great websites.

3. With changing times and changing generations, what do you do to stay relevant to every generation?

I don’t worry about it or even think about it. I do what I do and try to address themes that are universal. 

4. Having changed multiple gears and cameras through the years which has been your favorite camera and a must-have gear you can’t leave the house without?

Currently, my primary camera is a Sony a7rii. I’m sure the newer models are probably better, but the current camera works for me and I’ll probably keep it for a while.

The one camera I always have with me is my iPhone. I think this is true of everyone now. There are certainly some limitations with what you can do with a smartphone, but the results for regular, everyday photography is quite good.

5. What led you to the name “everything everywhere” is there a story behind it?

 Not really much of a story. When I started planning for my trip, I knew I’d want to have a website. I thought about it for several weeks and eventually, the name just hit me when I was driving. I knew that was it. It embodies what I want the site to be about.

6. Being a travel photographer what type of traveler are you? Cultural, nature, wildlife landscape, infrastructural or architectural or any other?

All of the above. I think travel photography covers an enormous range of subject matters. I’ve taken photos and won awards in almost all the subjects you mentioned. I wouldn’t want to limit myself to just one sort of subject.

7. Any specific moment or incidence which you can share with us which reinstated your faith in the decision of being a full-time travel photographer and blogger.

Being named Travel Photographer of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers was a big honor. It was something I never really thought would happen.

8. Is there anyone who has influenced you to initiate, or continue your journey? (Family member, or other photographers, traveler or anyone else)

There are many great photographers I’ve met along the way and whose work I really admire: Michelle Valberg, Ami Vitale, Bob Holmes, and Colby Brown just to name a few.

9. How are you planning to move forward in this journey? Do you have a set vision or milestones in your journey forward?

I’ve done quite a bit already. I’d like to keep traveling, exploring more places, and taking amazing photos.