Someone explain this quote for me please?

It means that people usually photograph things they treasure. like wife and kids, their dog or their mint-in-box action figure.

so if you watch what someone photographs, and you notice that they photograph something or someone a lot, then the odds are, its something they fear losing.

which is a load of crap if you ask me, You seriously telling me that Japanese tourists fear loosing everything they see in a foreign country?

The word "pen" might be seen as an allegory for the will of the person or people. Real change only really occurs with the will to do so. You can force a person or nation to change (sword), but in the end, all that is brought about is resentment, and second they get a chance to, people change back. Look at the Polish people. Look at how many times Poland was invaded through the centuries: the Russians, the Germans. And yet they remained Polish. They maintained their ideals. The idea never died. And when the media broadcast the Solidarity movement, everyone rallied for their cause. This is but one example; I doubt this page would be large enough to show you them all. The pen really IS mightier than the sword.

I think that the tourists are afraid they will never be able to see/experience the things in foreign countries again.

I think it's more about the details. It's what they enjoy taking photos of, what they take their time on the most to get the details they enjoy so much.