Restless Lens Week 30: Peru is a Tough Act to Follow

July 23 - 29, 2026

Arequipa, Peru, was a tough act to follow.

After a week surrounded by extraordinary light, colorful markets, and endlessly photogenic streets, I found myself back in New York. As much as I love this city, I'll admit my photographic motivation was running on a slightly emptier tank than usual.

I still managed to come home with a handful of photographs I like, but there wasn't quite the same sense of discovery that comes with wandering through a place you've never been before.

That's the funny thing about photography. New York offers more subjects than I could possibly photograph in a lifetime, yet there's something about foreign travel that flips a switch in my brain. Suddenly I'm seeing everything with fresh eyes again. Every street corner, every face, every café, every market feels like an invitation to explore.

Fortunately, that feeling won't have long to wait.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Amsterdam, one of my favorite cities in the world. I've photographed there many times before, but it always seems to reveal something new. I'm looking forward to seeing what catches my eye this time around.

In the meantime, here are a few photographs from my first week back in New York.

Let's see what next week brings.

close-up of frog skin