INTERVIEW - Daniel Hogston - location independent living in Dubrovnik
03.07.2023
This week we caught up with Daniel Hogston from London, as we continued to interview the digital nomads that are coming to Dubrovnik as part of the project Digital Nomad Ambassadors. Daniel has a certain way of travelling, there was a James Bond vibe, that’s for sure. And he really is looking to be (and succeeding) location independent rather than a true digital nomad. We sat over breakfast in the heart of the Old City of Dubrovnik, and also in the very heart of the tourist season. His insight into life and remote working in the south of Croatia was interesting and also his video skills bring a whole new level to his destination promotion. The Digital Nomad Ambassador project is jointly organised by the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the Saltwater Nomads agency from Split.
Is this your first time in Dubrovnik? Or maybe your first time in Croatia? And what are your impressions?
Well, yes actually this is the first time I have been to Dubrovnik, but not my first time in Croatia. I was in Primošten last year for the Nomadbase digital nomad conference, so this is my second time in Croatia. The whole country is so picturesque. Before I used to do travel photography, although I kind of lost the passion for doing travel photography, I guess you kind of get to a point where the sunsets, the waterfalls and mountains don't inspire your photos you anymore, you just want to enjoy them without a camera in your hand. It could be a question of "too much of a good thing.” But when I was in the taxi coming from the airport to Dubrovnik and saw the views, it reminded me of the last time I got excited by a panorama and wanted to reach for my camera again. Funnily enough the last time I got excited was in Primošten a year ago. I guess that indicates just how amazing this country is. It is inspiring.
And what do you think it is that makes Croatia so photogenic?
Probably, it is a combination of the architecture, the stunning nature, the culture and probably most importantly the light, the natural light. So you notice as a photographer that the sunlight hits different countries in a different way. It is to do with the spherical nature of the earth. It lands on the Croatian coast in a magnificent manner for taking images.
How has your experience of being a digital nomad in Dubrovnik been? Has it been challenging?
Well, probably the first thing to mention, and it is important, is that I have arrived in Dubrovnik in the middle of the summer, so the middle of the tourist season. And also I am really on a sabbatical, so I don’t need to sit down in front of a laptop for eight hours a day. But if I were actually here working then I can see a shortage of co-working spaces, that is a potential bump in the road for a digital nomad. I guess that most nomads use cafe bars, and in fact I did sit in one the other day for two or three hours and there were no issues. Yes, there are a large number of tourists in the city, but I guess that is to be expected in the height of summer.
Do you think that the fact that you’ve come in the summer has altered your nomad experience?
Yes, for sure. I know that there is a co-working space in Dubrovnik, at the Academia facility. However, clearly at this time of the year the whole city is geared up for the arrival of a large number of tourists. This has a knock-on effect on the price of everything, from accommodation to food and drink. I haven’t yet been to Dubrovnik outside of the summer, but I would expect it is more suitable for digital nomads.
So have you found Dubrovnik expensive?
Well, to be honest, yes. I have just spent some time in Rome, and Dubrovnik makes Rome look cheap. I eat out twice a day and have found that restaurant prices, and indeed the value for money, can vary greatly. Finding good quality accommodation at a reasonable price was challenging to say the least.
How did your life as a digital nomad begin? Did you wake up one morning and decided to work remotely or was it a lifestyle that you fell into?
I really got into Instagram in 2015, probably a little late to the party. And then in 2016 I kept seeing videos and photos of people working in Bali. And I wanted to do that! So I started following influencers in Bali. I thought there must be a way that I can just relocate and work in the sunshine. I had always wanted to be "location independent.” It was when I was doing more research on YouTube and social media that I bumped into one digital nomad who led me to Gran Canaria. I went to a conference called Nomad City in 2018. Then the pandemic happened and I was able to escape the UK after the first lockdown and continue my life of remote working.
Why is the life of a digital nomad so attractive for you?
Probably the most appealing point for me is that the lifestyle is location independent. At the moment I do a combination of freelance work and contract work. I do a lot of destination marketing, so even when I am doing a contract job I still have the opportunity to get out of a fixed office. Don’t forget that working from a desk is bad for your posture and at the end of the day your health. Travel is attractive to me, so the option of combining travel with work is ideal. Although I do have to say that the life of a digital nomad isn’t for everyone. When I am working remotely I drop my work hours from eight hours a day to five or six hours a day. Life is too short to spend in front of your laptop.
So from all of the digital nomads that I have met this year as part of the Dubrovnik Digital Nomad Ambassador program you are probably the most invested in the world of video and production. How do you think that Dubrovnik can benefit as a destination thanks to your high-end video content?
Video is really about story-telling. And you could also argue that tourism is linked to story telling. I have filmed recently in Naples and Rome, but if I don’t have a story to tell, I won’t edit that footage into a video. I have been filming a lot in Dubrovnik, and the video will certainly be released, and probably about the Dubrovnik Pass, which every nomad should buy whilst in the city, it is really good value. My videos are cinematic style, I really take my time to produce and edit them.
So how long will it take you to create your video about Dubrovnik?
A 4 minute video takes on average 20 hours to produce - this includes pre-production, script writing, recording voice-over, location, filming, and editing. So you can imagine a 12 minute video which my Dubrovnik video is shaping up to be, will be around 60 hours work.
How long could you see yourself being a digital nomad?
For me, location indepence is the key thing, not so much the life of a digital nomad. I am already at a point where I am in London for 3 to 6 months of the year and the rest of the year I am around the globe. I guess I am a nomad in the sense that I am homeless. When I am working in London I live in a co-living building in Canary Wharf. So in answer to your question, yes I could probably see myself being location independent for the rest of my life. The idea of having to go to the same place every morning at a set time isn’t what I am looking for. Work flexibility is the key.
Is it hard to keep up with your friends and family? And, what do your family think of your lifestyle?
My family is fine with my lifestyle. I speak to them on a regular basis, no matter where I am in the world. There are so many options nowadays, thanks to technology, to stay in contact with people.
What do you think Dubrovnik misses as a destination for digital nomads?
The key to any digital nomad destination is community. I have met friends, got advice and even done business all thanks to these local communities. Of course, building such a community takes time, don’t expect to see this overnight. For example, the Gran Canaria digital nomad community has been built over seven years. Once you have a community then you’ll find that other ideas and platforms will spring off and grow from the initial community. Dubrovnik needs a community manager who could organise a weekly event. But all in all Dubrovnik is in my opinion an excellent destination for digital nomads and one that I am sure will soon be a popular one. I have certainly enjoyed my time in the south of Croatia and look forward to coming back, although maybe out of the tourist season.
