Camilla Bocchi, 21, is a third year Bocconi student, and our very own B&A team member. Having spent most of her life traveling and moving around, she is undoubtedly a fascinating and sensitive person, one that is able to appreciate the colourful nuances of an international lifestyle. From discussing her experience of navigating the Tsukiji market in Tokyo, to unveiling her thoughts on travel photography and her hopes for her upcoming return to Japan, the following feature speaks volumes on both this aspect of hers, as well as her aesthetic cultivation and love of beauty.
Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
One of the most hectic yet perfectly organised places I’ve seen in a long time, the Tsukiji Fish market at Tokyo, is an unforgettable experience. Being the most prestigious fish market in Japan, there is a high degree of professionally, where the world renowned Japanese hospitality fades. I was surprised yet simultaneously intrigued by the cold looks we received when walking through, some refusing to get their picture taken, others pushing their way through the crowds of tourists. It was an atmosphere that caught my attention for the dedication to quality present in their culture and the secrecy they maintain towards external crowds.
Travelling is that time of the year when my camera comes out of hiding. I don't know if this is simply an excuse for me to give my travels an objective and a sense of purpose, but I strongly stand behind the idea that if you are in some way passionate about the images and visuals that surround you, it's extremely satisfying to immortalise them. I associate my camera with timeless, more artistic images, and my phone with day to day snapshots that I most likely won't look back at in the near future.
Of course, I’m not the only one to think this way and this is where photography and travelling has its downfall. If we spend so much time and effort trying to get ‘the perfect picture’ and see the places we visit through a lens, are we really truly appreciating and experiencing our trips to the fullest? Photography is an extremely powerful medium, in terms of self expression as well as for sharing our experiences, but sometimes while seeing life through a lens can bring one closer to their surroundings, it can just as easily alienate them from the real world.
I will soon be travelling to Tokyo again for an exchange semester, and my camera and lonely planet guide are at the top of my packing list. I’m very methodic with my travelling, reading up on every guide, website, and book I can find, to pinpoint the must-sees before I arrive. I’m most looking forward to the independence I’ll have and the opportunity to treat this experience as completely my own. I’ve heard numerous anecdotes from people’s travels to Japan, and personally visited with my family, but for the four months I’ll spend there I want to focus on directing my own experiences, with fresh faces, out of my comfort zone.
I’ve learnt from my travels that what I’ve found most rewarding is not to visit the biggest museum or the most important monument but to get in touch with people. A quality I highly admire is one my dad taught me; to be open and eager to learn about anyone that crosses your path, as even a taxi driver could teach you something no guide ever could. My objective for my upcoming trip is to keep my eyes open, pay attention to the people that surround me, and never stop being curious.
