A sex change and a first date

Adventures, scrapes & escapes of a photographer on the road with his companion Monty. Part one – how we got to know each other.

Travels with Monty – Introduction

Meet Brenda! She’s big and beautiful on the inside, or at least she was. This rather large Mercedes Sprinter van was specced and kitted out by photographer friend, David Newton, and he lived in her for several years, many shoots and many adventures – perfect for a photographer who wants to be off-grid and ready for the light even in the remotest places.

I acquired this beast in 2020, between lockdowns, but something was wrong. Brenda was definitely more masculine than any female I’ve ever encountered so she became he and from now on it is Monty & Me.

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Published

By Chris Coe

Chris is a professional photographer, and the founder of Travel Photographer of the Year. He has been working as a professional photographer since 1992, shooting both editorial and advertising photography, and has published over 50 books. He lectures on and teaches photography, mentors and is a competition judge.