Welcome to
Vast Compass
Thank you for stopping by.
We’re grateful to connect!
About Vast Compass
Only connect!
We take to heart the deeply felt invocation from E. M. Forster’s novel, Howards End—“Only connect!”
It the driving force of our mission, because Vast Compass is all about connection. With one another, with places we’ve been, and with places we all dream of seeing one day. Connection via the wide, wide world is the reason for the handcrafted photocards on offer in our Etsy shop. Those cards and their stories, this website, the Vast Compass blog—all are ways we put a thousand worlds at your fingertips.
Travel nourishes us and we can guess you feel the same, so stop by often. We’re pleased and proud to share our travel experiences and insights with you, and invite you to share our journeys-in-an-envelope with those you care about most, because we truly believe the world is a better place when experienced and celebrated, together.
The destinations on offer in our shop can be fleeting, because we’re either in the studio, crafting even more photocards featuring even more destinations and stories from an itinerary 30+ years in the making, or we’re on the go, camera and curiosity at the ready, to capture another tranche of the world’s best places and the stories that bring them to life.
Connection via the wide, wide world
is the reason for our Etsy shop.
What you’ll discover in our Etsy shop
Handcrafted photocards featuring the world’s best places and the stories behind them. Think of them as bespoke journeys-in-an-envelope to share with those you care about most, no passport required.
Please note the photocard prints do not have a white watermark. They arrive as shown in the video clips below.
CAIE19006
Giza Plateau—Cairo, Egypt
JSIE23002
Amarantos Cape—Skopelos, Greece.
CDGE16001
le Marais—Paris, France.
About our photocards
The photographs
Shot on the fly like the typical travelers we are, the pics aren’t staged with pro lighting and a tripod in tow. But they are shot with deep curiosity and deliberate consideration. Captured on prosumer cameras and non-compressed for high-quality post-production, our current kit is just the most recent in an evolving continuum of photo technology over the past 75 years. It all comes together in photos that measure 4”x6”, and are printed with a special metallic finish—glossy, luxe, shimmering. Of course, as beautiful as the photos are, it starts with the right gear in the field.
Featured gear
Mark shoots on FUJIFILM models X-H2 and X-Pro2 using either an XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens or XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens.
We use Lexar SD cards for their write speed and video capability, plus water, temperature and x-ray tolerance, and built-in write protect switch.
Think Tank pouches keep cables and cards and batteries and dongles and adapters and USBs and everything else close at hand and easy to find.
A Peak Design slide camera strap. That’s all.
Library highlights
Guidebooks are certainly part of the equation. There are also the maps, atlases, apps, city guides, and blogs we read.
Allen and I are Francophiles, sans aucun doute (without doubt), which explains the above collection of books in our library about our favorite country. Now imagine just how many books in our library aren’t about France…
…including our section on Italy, shown above. Other countries, regions, and topics having an outsize presence in the stacks include Scandinavia, the Nordics, Greece and the Med, Egypt, Japan, New York City, botanical gardens, cathedrals, chateaux, ruins, art history, and architecture from Alvar Aalto to Zaha Hadid.
Our production process
It’s quite a journey from 4’x6’ master sheets of paper to a finished card, ready to sign, seal, and deliver. All along the way we strive to keep the production line as sustainable as possible, leaving as small an eco footprint as we can, from responsible paper sourcing and low-impact consumables, to recycled ink packs, minimal product packaging, and smart shipping materials.
Founded in 1873, Neenah Paper is internationally recognized as a world-class manufacturer of premium paper. They produce Vast Compass’ cardstock and envelopes.
Putting it all together
Please note the photocard prints do not have a white watermark. They arrive as shown in the video clip (r.).
It all comes together with a photograph on the front with the destination printed below and hand-signed by Mark. On the back is the essay, quotation, product information, and a link to stay in touch.
Currently in our Etsy shop
People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains,
at the huge waves of the seas,
at the long course of the rivers,
at the vast compass of the ocean,
at the circular motion of the stars…
…and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.
—St. Augustine
Unless otherwise noted, all images are copyright © Vast Compass, 2025.
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