travel photography articles

The Complete Guide to Travel Photography

By Megan Spurrell

As travelers, our cameras can feel like a fifth limb—an essential tool with which to move through the world and absorb new experiences. They make it possible to document the people we meet. They provide tangible memories of the remarkable beauty we travel so far to see. Ultimately, they help us communicate what words cannot.

In the digital era, the tie between travel and photography feels more innate than ever. Photography has become more accessible and affordable to dabble in (who even needs a real camera with phones these days? ). On the flip side, it can feel as if documenting and sharing our travel experiences has become half of the seeing itself. In her essay on pushing herself to take a photo-free trip , Allie Jones asks a question we can all relate to: “If you visit a trendy upstate New York museum and don’t take any photos, were you ever really there?”

As the routine of snapping and sharing becomes as habitual as rinse and repeat, others urge us to become more thoughtful with our travel photography. Just because we can photograph and share everything, in a matter of seconds, doesn’t mean we need to. In his feature, Tyler Moss explores the #nogeotag movement , and looks at just how our photo sharing can drastically alter a destination—and decide who gets to experience it. For professional photographers Gray Malin and Alex Strohl , the “how” of nailing their iconic travel photographs has relied more on patience, and analog techniques like driving massive props cross-country, or waiting for the perfect shot in sub-zero temps, than on any new developments.

And, just in case you were starting to let your Instagram feed convince you that you’ve seen it all, we’ve pulled in photo studies from photographers whose work we can’t help but ogle. Jessica Sarkodie shares a refreshing look at the unspoiled beaches of her native Ghana. Cedric Angeles flew to Mongolia for a peek inside the lives of the country’s famous eagle hunters (and yes, there are photos of the eagles in their hunting caps ahead). For Sandy Noto , photographing harvest season in the Dolomites while off-duty yielded gorgeous slices of life.

Of course, if you’re ready to step up your own game, we’ve also got the gear you need—from underwater cameras to camera bags that don’t look like camera bags. And, we’ve rounded up our favorite photographers to follow right now, because as much as we want to cut the social media umbilical cord, there is so much to admire there. You just need to know where to look.

Through the lens

Think before you shoot

Behind the scenes

The gear you need

Everything else you need to know

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How to get started in travel photography: tips from a landscape expert

Travel and adventure photographer James Popsys has travelled to more than 40 countries. He shares the secrets behind a successful photography business and his tips for getting started in the industry.

From the snowy tundras of Antarctica and the rocky coastline of Greenland to the winding waterways of the Chilean fjords, James Popsys' assignments have taken him to some of the world’s most remote locations. Over the last decade, his career has gone from strength to strength, but like everyone, he started out with just a camera and a passion for photography. He discusses how to improve your own skills behind the lens, delving into everything from angles to equipment.

How did you first get into photography and what were some of the challenges you faced when starting out ?

I did a lot of travelling in my early 20s, and I always had my camera with me. But it wasn’t until I was living in London that I started to get hooked. I couldn’t afford to travel much, so I spent my weekends taking photographs around the city. Sometimes it can be beneficial to photograph scenes close to home because you learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. It also allowed me to hone my skills and discover my own photography style.

The biggest challenge was getting people to care about my work. We live in a world where the vast majority of people consume photography on social media. The reality is that you can spend weeks chasing the perfect photo, but you can’t change the fact that most people will only see it for a few seconds on a very small screen. They may hit ‘like’, but before long they’ll be scrolling again. That’s why I started my YouTube channel — I wanted to show people the story behind my photos and make them care about the shot. In doing this, I found that people became much more familiar with my work and were much more likely to support me through buying prints or recommending me for photography jobs.

What kit would you advise budding travel photographers to buy?

My first camera was a compact Lumix with a huge zoom range. I then upgraded to a DSLR.

I used to have a huge kit bag full of different lenses and cameras, but as I honed my skills and found my photography style, I found that I didn’t need so much equipment. Today, my ideal gear bag would have one mirrorless camera and one 24-70mm zoom lens. This type of lens is versatile enough to capture the vast majority of things you want to capture at normal focal length. If you’re a beginner, any mirrorless camera made in the past 10 years with a standard zoom lens is a good place to start. If you have a phone released in the last three or four years, that’s a great place to start, too — camera phones can be just as good as regular lenses these days.

What's the key to capturing landscapes?

All photography, especially when you’re out in nature, is about simplification. It’s about taking complex scenes and simplifying them so that people know exactly what the photo is about. A mindset of constant experimentation is also useful — you may think you’ve got the shot, but always try different angles or take the shot from a different viewpoint or at a different time of day. Often when I get home, I find that the fifth photo I took is actually the one that sticks.

Finally, don’t focus on things you can’t control. If the weather or lighting is bad, don’t despair. Your aim isn’t to get the best photo that’s ever been taken of that scene, but to capture something that reflects your own perspective at that moment in time. On a practical level, make sure you have a camera that you’re not too precious about. Too many people will buy an expensive camera and then they’re terrified when they have to expose it to the elements. When I’m shooting in exposed areas, I plan for the worst — I always have an emergency bag with extra layers and a microfibre towel to dry my camera with.

Your photographs have a distinct style. How can new photographers go about finding their own style?

When I was starting out, I was in a rush to arrive at my style. But I’m realising that style isn’t a destination — it’s a constantly moving target. The reason for that is that a photographer’s style is formed by thousands of different inputs: you can be influenced by your personal experiences, other people’s work, books that you’ve read, films that you’ve seen, etc. I know what kinds of photo I want to take right now, but there’s no saying that this won't change or evolve over time. So, my advice would be don’t rush. Remember that the beauty of photography is that you can’t complete it — it’s a fruitless chase for perfection.

What’s the one thing you wish you’d known when you were starting out?

It’s a myth to think that as a photographer you’ll spend all your time taking photos. Making people care about your photos, and being able to promote yourself, is just as important as taking the photo. As a freelance photographer, you’re first and foremost a marketer. Another piece of advice that I found really useful was to think of photography as solving a jigsaw. In any given scene, you’ve got lots of different pieces — a car, the sea, a lamppost, maybe — and our job as photographers is working out how to fit them all together.

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21 TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS (Easy Ways to Improve Today)

• Last Updated: February 8, 2024

Here are our best travel photography tips for beginners and intermediates, based on our experience of going from complete beginners to professional travel photographers, and now working in the industry for 8 years.

Picture this.

You finally book a trip to your ultimate bucket list destination.

Antarctica, Iceland, Namibia, Bali, seeing the Aurora Borealis – wherever it is, you’ve waited your whole life to finally visit.

Naturally you are going to want to capture the best travel photos possible of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure to share with your portrfriends and family members, on social media, and maybe even print on the wall at home.

Moments in time or a travel experience that you always want to cherish.

So you’ve splashed out on a new camera based on expert recommendations , and you’re keen to hit the road.

But here’s the problem – you don’t have the faintest idea how to get the same kinds of images you see in postcards or on the internet.

The kinds of travel photos that just pop, stand out from the rest, inspire you to book a flight immediately.

Luckily that’s where we come in.

We’ve been fortunate enough to work as professional travel photographers for almost a decade now, being paid to fly around the world, running photography workshops, take pictures for the tourism industry and tell stories.

And now we want to share our knowledge, secrets and insights from our travel photography journey with you so you can take better travel photos.

In this post you’ll find many of our favourite travel photography tips you need to know to come home with shots you will be proud to show off.

Today is the time to learn. Let’s begin.

Table of Contents

1) Know Your Camera

2) focus on the golden and blue hours, 3) plan your shots, 4) learn about composition, 5) framing, framing and more framing, 6) move your feet, make them feel comfortable, 8) use a tripod, 9) find the right travel photography gear, 10) be unique, 11) find your voice as a photographer, 13) aperture, 15) shutter speed, 17) bonus – general ideas for camera equipment settings, 18) use manual mode, 19) shoot in raw (if available), 20) learn about post processing, save this pin for later, general travel photography tips for beginners.

To start with let me talk about the general travel photography tips that I feel are not only the most important, but also the most difficult to master.

Developing an eye for photography takes time. Years in fact. It’s a never-ending learning process, but I promise you with practice you will get much better.

And once you start to get the skills for framing and composing a shot, the rest is easy.

Whether you shoot on a dSLR, mirrorless, smartphone or an old film unit, the first travel photography tip is to get to know your camera equipment.

Whatever you have in your camera bag , take the time to read the instructions, play around with all the buttons and camera settings, and spend hours with it in your hand so that it becomes a part of you.

Study the menu so that if you need to change camera settings in the field you’re not spending minutes scrolling through it when timing is critical.

Also don’t forget to learn your camera’s limitations.

Does it perform well in low-light or does the image fall apart? Is it sharp wide open, or do you need to stop down to get the best clarity? Does it have inbuilt image stabilisation?

Ultimately when you pick up your camera you want to feel comfortable and know exactly how it works. Then getting better pictures will come faster and easier.

Light is everything when it comes to travel photography images, and there’s a good chance you’ve already heard about the golden and blue hours.

The Golden Hour is that time when the sun is low in the sky and it throws a magical, warm glow across the scene.

Think the first hour after the sun peaks in the morning, and the last hour or two before the sun drops over the horizon in the afternoon.

The Blue Hour is when the sun is below the horizon and the sky gives off a beautiful blue hue.

If you really want better travel photos, one of the best travel photography tips we can give is to get used to waking up early and stay out late to make the most of these two times of day.

If you’re not a morning person, get used to setting an alarm. Many of the great travel photos of the Taj Mahal and other tourist sites with no one in them for example were taken by people who got there early.

Taking photos in the middle of the day can still result in great shots, but in general you’ll find the blue sky too blown out unless there are some interesting clouds, and on a sunny day you’ll find the lighting conditions can be a bit harsh.

Instead use the middle of the day to get street photography, or scout out photo locations and a vantage point for your sunrise and sunset photos to come back later.

Bonus Tip – Even if it looks like the sunrise or sunset might not be so beautiful, wait around. You never know when the clouds might break or the sky randomly lights up in brilliant colours.

Before you arrive in your tourist destinations, spend a few hours planning out your shot list of images you want to photograph.

You can get inspiration from Instagram, Google Maps, travel guides, magazines and more.

Make a note of these pictures, and then plan your day around the optimum time to shoot (sunrise or sunset for example).

Doing this will help you nail the shots you want to go, and give you more purpose and direction.

You need to know that all of the best photographers use tools like Google Maps or social media to form a shot list, and you should get used to it too.

You’ve probably heard about how important it is to compose a shot properly, and I bet if you’ve ever read a photography manual you would have come across the ‘ rule of thirds ‘.

Good composition can be the difference between an average shot and award-winning travel photos.

There’s all kinds of ‘rules’ that theoretically make a photo look nicer, such as not putting your subject in the middle of the shot, don’t cut elements out of the frame, etc.

But right now let’s go a bit into the Rule of Thirds.

This concept is where you divide your image into 9 even squares (many cameras actually have this grid line feature built into their display options).

Then what you do is you place the subjects and points of interest such as a human element along those lines and squares.

Here’s an example of how this looks:

The idea of the rule of thirds is that this is a mathematical idea of what our eyes naturally find pleasing. So it’s good practice to incorporate this method into your shots.

Another thing to look for is leading lines that naturally draw your eye around the photo, as well as different angles and shapes.

Have a river flowing from the side of the shot up to a waterfall on the top left for example, or the foreground bending around, leading the eye towards a church at the top of the photo.

This is a skill that you’ll learn with more practice.

An important thing to remember is that rules are meant to be broken .

Get used to analysing your shots with the rule of thirds, but please don’t use it as gospel if you think a different composition would work.

Adding a human element also brings a lot of interest to a good shot, so place people in your frame.

When you look through the viewfinder or LCD screen, don’t just focus on the subject.

Make sure you run your eyes around the entire frame to make sure you’re not accidentally cutting off something important.

Double-check that the top of a mountain is fully inside the frame, or that your friend’s whole body is in the shot as an example.

This isn’t gospel, because sometimes having something cut off from the frame can be good for composition, but you’ll have to be the judge of that.

Also check to see if you can use something natural in the scene to create a frame inside your picture.

Think of looking out a window at a building, or a bent-over tree surrounding a pretty lake.

These can all help make better travel photos.

This is one of the most important travel photography tips I can give – Move your feet.

Don’t just arrive to a scene and take a shot from the place you’re standing.

Instead take a few minutes to walk around and see if there is a better frame or composition.

Go closer, move back, step to the side, consider your lens’ focal length, etc.

Imagine trying to take that iconic Taj Mahal photo, only to find out later that you were 2m to the left of centre, throwing off that perfect symmetry.

Or maybe if you walk to the river’s edge you’ll be able to incorporate some interesting rocks into the scene instead of just water.

Better yet, take multiple travel photos and fill up those memory cards from the same photo locations so you have lots of options when you get home to see which is your favourite.

7) Ask People for Permission

Travel photography isn’t all about capturing the most beautiful sunsets and gorgeous architecture around the world.

Travel photography is also about the people you meet. But if you’re a bit shy like me, how do you get those amazing portrait photos without feeling rude?

Simple – just ask for permission.

Asking someone for permission to take their photo is polite and respectful.

If you have had a great encounter with someone, or you just see a great opportunity and want to capture a wonderful portrait, give them a big smile and ask if it’s ok to take their photo.

You’ll find many people are more than happy to pose for a photo if you just ask (just make sure you respect them if they say no).

But what if you want to get a candid shot, with the subject looking natural?

There’s always another way to get these without annoying the person.

Don’t make it obvious that you are taking their photo. Act natural and take lots of photos of the environment around them.

You can also keep your camera down by your side and point the lens in their direction.

If you have a zoom lens, use it. This was you can be on the other side of the street or market and still photograph the person.

Interested in learning more? Join one of our exclusive photography workshops in Antarctica, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan or Mongolia !

Another one of my favourite travel photography tips for portraits is to bring in another element to the shot.

Some people will feel uncomfortable posing for a stranger, but if you can make it about something else they will feel much more at ease.

As an example, maybe ask if they can pose with something in their store like a rug, or ask them to show you their wedding ring.

This way they’ll realise there is more to your photo than just them. This will also add a lot more interesting elements to the shot!

A tripod is one of the best camera accessories you can have in your camera bag, and really essential for travel photography.

This will allow you to get excellent shots in low light, as well as get creative with your images (like taking long exposures).

These days you don’t always need a massive tripod to travel around with, especially if you want to travel light and are a hobbyist photographer. Look at some of the Joby Gorillapods .

Another good thing about using a tripod is that it will force you to slow down with your photography and put more thought into each shot.

Rather than just pointing and shooting, you will think carefully about where you want to set up your tripod and how you want to compose your shot.

Honestly if you want to become a better travel photographer, you’ll need to invest in at least a small tripod.

You don’t need to go out and spend tens of thousands of dollars on new travel photography gear to get the best shots.

In fact chances are you already have a perfectly adequate camera right next to you (your phone).

Instead just get what you an afford, and as you grow with your photography style, post production, etc, you’ll learn what camera gear you need as well.

Things like filters, tripods, flashes, prime lenses, zoom lenses, etc will come in time.

For now, all you really need is a camera, memory card and enthusiasm!

Check out our recommendations for the best travel tripods .

There’s nothing wrong with getting those iconic shots of the Eiffel Tower or Machu Picchu to share on social media.

They’re beautiful and are often amazing camera angles of famous places that everyone wants to visit.

But don’t forget to be unique as well! Find a different perspective that hasn’t been photographed a million times.

In fact make it your goal to get a few unique shots that you can be proud of.

Over-expose, under-expose, incorporate motion blue – the only limitation is your imagination!

Just like a writer or musician finds a particular style they like, as a photographer you need to discover your ‘voice’.

Travel photography is such a broad term that can cover just about anything.

Really just taking any travel photos will fit the description, whether it is landscape photography, wildlife photography, architecture, portraits, food or whatever.

Just find a style you love most, and focus on getting better at it.

If you really like black and white photography, then start shooting in black and white! Love taking images of crazy street markets? Then get out there and find them!

Experiment, learn, discover and nurture!

Technical Travel Photography Tips

While the technical side of using a camera is usually the most overwhelming thing for a new photographer to think about, it’s actually one of the easiest things to master. All it takes is a bit of study and practice.

If you’ve never looked into getting out of ‘Auto mode’ on your camera, then terms like ISO, aperture, white balance and shutter speed will seem completely foreign.

READ MORE: Check out our great article and blog posts featuring our best landscape photography tips !

12) Exposure Triangle of Photography

The Exposure Triangle is a metaphor to explain the 3 elements that allow light onto a sensor.

A camera captures light, and the right amount is needed so that your image isn’t too bright or too dark.

The 3 parts of the Exposure Triangle are aperture, ISO and shutter.

Each one affects how light reaches the sensor in different ways, and getting this combination right is essential to capturing a beautiful image.

If you want more information, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to understanding the exposure triangle which you should really check out.

For now though I’ll explain these three things briefly, and how they relate to taking better travel photographs.

Aperture is how wide, or small, the blades in your lens are and how much light goes through the lens.

The aperture size is measured in ‘F Stops’, and displayed as numbers. f5.6, f8, f11, f16, etc

A wide aperture (small number – f1.8) lets in more light than a low aperture (big number – f22).

A wide aperture also has a shallowed depth of field than a low aperture. I know it can be a little confusing, but you’ll pick it up the more you play around with it.

If you want the background blurry in your photo, you’ll want a wide aperture. If you want everything in focus, you’ll want a low aperture.

ISO is how sensitive your camera sensor is to light. A small number, such as 100, means it’s not very sensitive and therefore needs more light to leave an impression.

A high number, like 6400, means it’s very sensitive and needs only a little bit of light to show up on the sensor.

The higher the ISO, the more noise shows up in a photo. Noise lowers the quality of your image, so in a perfect world you’ll want to keep this as low as possible (unless you’re going to stay out late doing astro and night photography ).

It’s also necessary to raise your ISO if you’re shooting moving subjects (or handheld) indoors.

Shutter speed is pretty straight forward – how long it takes for your shutter to open and close. This allows you to freeze a frame, or introduce motion blur.

Want to capture a bird in flight? You’ll want to have a fast shutter (1/4000th of a second for example).

Want to make a waterfall look silky smooth, like you see in so much Iceland photography? Go for slow shutter speeds (3 seconds for example), and check out our guide to waterfall photography tips while you’re at it!

Keep in mind that if you are holding your camera equipment rather than using a tripod, you’ll need to have a fast enough shutter to eliminate your own hand movement.

As a general rule 1/60 of a second is the slowest you should go so your picture doesn’t pick up hand movement. Any slower than that and you’ll probably need a tripod.

16) Combining All Three for Perfect Exposure

There is no ‘perfect setting’ for aperture, ISO and shutter. It all depends on what you are trying to photograph and the style you’re going for.

Luckily most decent digital cameras have two little tools that will let you play around figure out how all three work together – manual mode and histograms.

Manual gives you complete control over your camera’s ISO, aperture and shutter.

If you change one, nothing else will change, unlike in ‘aperture priority’ mode or ‘shutter priority’ mode.

The histogram is a visual display of light. When the bars are all the way to the left, the image is darker. When they are all the way to the right, the image is lighter.

When most of the bars are in the centre, this is perfectly exposed.

The best way to figure out what combinations work best when you’re a complete amateur is to put your camera on “manual” mode, activate the histogram, and play around with the settings.

Pick an aperture (f/8 for example) and point it at the scene. Now look at the histogram.

If the image is too dark, then you’ll need to let more light in. Let’s make the speed slower. See a change?

Now put the shutter back to where it was and instead change the ISO. Make the ISO higher. Is the image getting lighter?

Spend an hour or two playing around with different apertures, ISO and shutter so you get an idea of how each one affects the light hitting the display.

Take note at how drastically things can change if a cloud goes in front of the sun, or you take the camera inside.

This just comes with practice of course, and knowing what settings you want for a particular scene will become second nature

Keep in mind that not all travel photos needs to be perfectly exposed. Sometimes having a darker image looks much better than having one that is nice and bright. You can use your judgement for this.

This is very, very basic and by no means should be read as gospel. There are a million different things that can affect why you would want a faster shutter, or wider aperture. But if you are confused about what to pick for what here’s a quick idea.

• Landscapes – You’ll want your aperture around f8-f11. You’ll also want your ISO as low as possible. Slow down the shutter accordingly.
• Portraits – You’ll probably want to photograph your subject to be sharp, but the background blurry to bring focus on the person. Have a wider aperture (say f2.8 for example), and a faster shutter (around 1/160 at the absolute slowest) to freeze the subject. Adjust ISO accordingly.
• Indoors – Because it is darker inside than outside, you’ll need to let a lot more light into the sensor. Unless you’re using a tripod, keep the speed at around 1/60 as the slowest, and the aperture around f5.6 to start with. Adjust ISO and aperture accordingly.

Of course there’s a bunch of other styles of travel photography that would use different settings, such as astrophotography, architecture, street scenes photography, wildlife photography, etc.

In time you’ll learn what settings work best for each scene.

The best way to get to know your camera and how light works is to have complete control over what settings you choose.

The only way to do this is to shoot in manual mode (shown by the letter M on most cameras).

It will take months of practice, but I promise you that in time you’ll be able to look at a scene and instantly know what aperture, ISO and shutter to use to get the exact style of image you’re looking for.

You can also use aperture priority mode (the letter A on your camera) if you don’t want to make the big leap to manual just yet.

This way you can lock in the aperture you want (f8 for landscape photography, f2.8 for portraits, etc) and the camera will automatically adjust the ISO (although you can control this part too) and shutter to get perfect exposure.

I highly recommend focusing on learning manual settings though until you have it perfected.

When you take a photo on your digital camera, the computer chip inside it takes what you captured on the sensor and converts it into a format that can be easily read. For most cameras, these two formats are RAW and JPEG.

JPEG is a compressed format that the camera creates to save on space. In doing so it ‘locks in’ all the data that it picked up such as the colour and white balance.

RAW files actually saves all the data of what you took and doesn’t compress it.

Most decent digital cameras will give you the menu option of shooting in RAW, and I recommend you use it if you ever plan on editing your photos.

Keep in mind that the file sizes will be a lot bigger (for example on one of our cameras a RAW is 42, while a JPEG is just 20), so you’ll need to have extra memory cards and external hard drive storage.

If you have no plans on editing your photos then shoot in JPEG.

Some people think that editing your photo is ‘cheating’. But the truth is photographers have been editing their photos ever since photography was invented.

Yes, even your favourite photos in National Geographic have been manipulated in some way.

99% of photos you see in your favourite travel magazines have been edited. Every professional photographer edits their photos to some degree.

The reason is that not all cameras are great at capturing exactly what the eye saw in terms of colour and light.

If you really want to get the most out of your professional travel photography business, you should start playing around with post processing.

Many people have heard of Adobe Photoshop , but it’s a pretty advanced tool that most people wouldn’t ever need to use (until you get more experience).

To start with look at the free apps that you can get on your phone, such as Snapseed, or free editing programs on your computer, like iPhoto or GIMP.

Once you get serious about travel photography and you want to start editing all of your photos that are filling up your memory cards and external hard drive, we recommend purchasing Adobe Lightroom.

If you’re ready to make the jump to using Lightroom and Photoshop, Adobe have a great ‘Creative Cloud’ package, which is what we use for only $10 a month. You can buy it here with a 7-day free trial

21) Practice, Practice, Practice

Just like anything, becoming a great travel photographer takes time, and a lot of practice. The only way you can get better is by getting out there taking travel photos!

You don’t even have to travel the world to tourist destinations or have the most travel camera available to be a great photographer.

Borrow some family members to take their portraits, get a friend who is also interested in photography and push each other, or grab your smartphone and go shoot sunset.

Buy whatever you can afford, go for a walk around your city and snap away.

We hope that this general guide on travel photography tips for beginners has been helpful.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other questions. We have a lot of experience working with tourism boards, and would be happy to help you too.

Good luck on your photographic journey, and maybe we’ll see you in National Geographic one day!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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I indeed agree in Know your camera and Plan your shots. These tips would make a good start in achieving your socmed worthy travel shots. And ofcourse, the other tips will surely be useful too. Great post!

Good article but I need to say something about using Manual – it’s not that great. Manual is just a different mode of settings for exposure, little different from either shutter or aperture priority, except these two give you a leg up, to where you’re going anyway. At the end of the day whatever exposure setting you choose will be just a combination of the 3 on the ‘exposure triangle’. Instead of using manual try these other two in conjunction with exposure compensation, which overrides the exposure meter reading. You still need the meter for any exposure anyway, just not necessarily using the value it recommends. It amounts to the same thing, only easier, quicker, and still constraining one of the triangle sides that you want. I use manual for specific unusual objects, such as sun, moon, stars, but during general daytime subjects it’ll be very unusual to hamper yourself by not using the aid provided when there is no advantage.

Your blog has become my go-to source for insightful content.

Thank you so much. So glad to hear. 🙂

Before you go, research your destination and its culture. This will help you better understand the people, customs, and landscapes you’ll be photographing.

I benefited a lot from your post. Thank you

So glad you did. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂

Thanks for sharing all this amazing tips & information. Fabulous post !

You are welcome. We are happy to help. Happy photographing

nice summary of basic photo tips that will improve my shots, thanx!

You are rocking..keep it up your work

Thank you so much. We really appreciate it.

Great article with great tips and i also like the pictures

Thank you so much Alesha and Jarryd for these amazing photography tips! I look forward to putting into practice some of your wonderful ideas and tips! I do so appreciate any tips that I can get to improve my photography. :)) Cheers, Marilyn

I absolutely loved this article! Like you I received my first ‘proper’ camera at 14 and since then have been hooked. I recently purchased a Nikon D750 and am absolutely loving it. Although at the moment I only have two lenses for it I am hoping to be able to afford more soon. What are your favourite lenses?

In my photography I love capturing candid portraits of people I encounter during my travels. I always struggle with the dilemma of getting the perfect candid shot and feeling compelled to ask permission before taking the shot. As a very shy person directing people in images is daunting, but it is something I am striving to work on. It’s nice to read that you are also shy yet manage to capture such incredible images of people.

As I am mostly self-taught, I always love to read technical tips to improve my images. I found the technical side of your post incredibly helpful and wanted to say thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed post. I believe it really helps and inspires amateur photographers like myself.

Glad you liked the article. Thank you for your comment. Keep photographying Caitlyn 🙂

Great tips and awesome photos! I always tell people if they aren’t comfortable with their settings, the #1 way to make sure their images aren’t blurry is to shoot in TV/S (shutter) priority. That way you can prioritize having no hand shake.

Thank you so much. Great advice. Thanks for your comment. 🙂

Awesome tips for everyone and specially to me who loves capturing photos everytime i travel.This one also help me and give me more knowledge on how to make awesome photos and its good because you don’t need to buy expensive camera to have a good quality photos, just your iPhone or smartphone you can make a great photos.

Hi, you are so right. You can take great photos with your phone. Glad the article could help you.

Great article! Do you even bother carrying your camera with you during the day in broad sunlight? I find it’s not worth the hassle for such poor shooting conditions.

Hi Scott, It all depends what we are doing. If we are on a job, we always carry our cameras with us. The midday sun is harsh but you get used to working with it. Especially indoors with the sun coming through the cracks, it can work out really lovely sometimes. When we are travelling on our own time, we don’t usually carry the camera. Happy travels

I really enjoyed reading this post, as I am a beginner in photography as well and it’s always interesting to see what gear other people are using!

I have the Canon Rebel as well, and also love the 50mm lens. It’s just great and is so versatile!

Thanks for sharing.

Glad we could help. Thank you for your comment. Happy photographing,

Great tips guys! Photography is an art so it must be learned properly. A good guide can teach art in a great way. This article is similar to a guide because it is an eye-opener for blooming photographers and travel lovers.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for your comment Glorias. Glad the article could help.

Hello Alesha and Jarryd, not sure to whom I adresse the message to, but I’m guessing Jarryd took the pictures and Alesha wrote about it :p

Anyway, do you guys use any customized Firmware on your DSLR? like the CHDK or Magic Lantern. That’s one question, the other one will be: can’t find any Mobile Phone photography on your blog? can you please refer me to any article that provide valuable info around Mobile phone photography?

Hi Ayoub, The photos and words in the article are a combination of both of us. Usually Alesha is the photographer and Jarryd is the writer.

We use use no customise firmware at all. We haven’t ventured this way as it voids our warranty.

As for phone photography, maybe this is an article we should write. With our phone photos, we do use Snapseed to edit them. But do not take any photos through any apps. All the best

Thank you for the tip regarding phone photography, I mostly use the customized firmware to do timelaps and edit directly on the camera, keep me posted after publishing the new article. (Already subscribed to the weekly newsletter)

Definitely will do. Thank you so much. Happy photographing. 🙂

you are doing a great job

Thank you so much. 🙂

This was really an amazing list of tips, I am a hobbyist photographer and this would really helps me a lot

Glad we could help. Keep up the photographing. 🙂

Great tips Alesha and Jarred. I really liked your golden and blue hours tip. Will try it soon and hope get amazing pics 🙂

Glad we could help. Practise will get you on the right track and before you know it you will be taking amazing shots. We are still learning about photography everyday. We love that you can never stop learning. Thanks Linda.

Some of the best tips I have read so far. Amazing post and captures so much detail. Worth the read for every travel photographer. 🙂 Keep it up.

Thank you so much,. We really appreciate it. 🙂

Priceless tips for amateurs like me. Thanks for sharing. For a long while, I’ve tried to follow the rule of thirds, but the best shots came out when I finally dared to break it. You’re absolutely right about the rules are meant to be broken. Regarding the camera, I agree it doesn’t have to be the most expensive. But sometimes I have a feeling my shots would have been better had I owned a proper camera. What device is the best balance between price and quality?

HI Robin, you’re welcome. We are so happy we could help. Sometimes breaking the rules works out to be better. 🙂 We definitely know what you mean. You do not need to buy the most experience camera. A camera that you can use manual settings, is great as you can start using and playing with aperture, shutter speed and ISO. We started off with a Sony RX100ii and it was great. Compact and a great camera to learn. Here is some articles that may help. https://www.nomadasaurus.com/best-camera-for-travel-ultimate-photography-series/ https://www.nomadasaurus.com/best-camera-accessories-ultimate-photography-series/

Thanks a lot for the great advise! I especially like your explanations about the exposure triangle. I was a bit aware of it before, but never played around with it unless I wanted to change the depth of field (and even then, I did this very rarely). But thanks to focusing more on it, I am starting to get the hang of it. I have taken some very good hummingbird pictures, for example, which never would have been possible if I hadn’t raised the ISO so I can keep the shutter speed fast. Those birds zip around like crazy!

Also, I think one of the most important pieces of advise, and the one I’m struggling with most, is to always look at the whole frame. I am guilty of looking at the main subject and later finding out that I cut off important things on the side or that something weird is in the photo that shouldn’t have been there.

Hi Ilona, so happy the article could help you. That’s amazing you experiment with your hummingbird shots. They are fast birds. By practising photography, you will get better and better. No matter how experienced you are, there are always things to learn. When you come to a scene you want to photograph, stop for a minute look around, walk around and think about what shots you want to take. Obviously this is hard when the subject is moving but great for landscape and street photography. All the best and keep up the awesome work. 🙂

Hi, I took around 500 shots on a trip to Kyrgyzstan recently, some I think are pretty good, but now after reading your tips, I think I will make another trip to that part of the world again soon!

what a great tips especially the lighting part – i also agree that getting up earlier and shooting in the natural sunlight is so great for your photos. talking to the locals and knowing your camera, You guys covered it all

Thank you so much for reading Shama. Glad you liked our article. Natural lighting is the best. Even though sometimes that early morning is hard it is worth it. 🙂

u are absolutely right u don’t need an expensive camera or go to Bali ( although it’s a good idea) to get great photos. it’s just simple common sense and a good eye and you can master photography

Well said. Thank you for your comment and reading Shama. Have a great week.

Thanks a lot for the helpful tips on holiday photos. My partner and I are in Easter Island, irresistible place for photo opportunity. My Nikon D7000 will keep on taking photos on auto mode for the time being until I have had enough practice following your guidelines and the who knows what photos I might produce! Thanks.

Glad we could help Balu. Definitely when you have time, go out and take some photos on manual. Play with the different settings. Before you know it, you’ll only be on manual. At the beginning when I was still learning, I would take a shot on the manual settings I thought and then a shot of the same view on auto in case I messed up. Better safe than sorry. Have a great time in Easter Island. There is so much to do there and learning about the history is amazing. Take care. Alesha

Guys your advice are completely helped me. I was stressed before, i want to travelling at the moment but i hope i can take a good picture cause you know how annoying it will be when we take a picture and then when we are home they are completely bad. So then you have to comeback at the same place again just to take a picture. But this one is helpfull

Hi Fabio, Don’t stress. You are going to bring back amazing photos from your travels. It is all overwhelming at the beginning but it gets easy. When you are shooting, put some time aside and concentrate on what you have learned. It doesn’t matter if it takes you 20 minutes to an hour to get your shot. If their are other photographers around, most of the time that are happy to give you some advice. Let them know you are new. Maybe they will let you know their settings for ISO, aperture and shutter. When it comes to editing, take your time as well. There are many You Tube videos that can help you for free. Have a great time on your trip. Happy travels

Hey Guys, very useful tips especially the Bonus tips.

Keep Sharing!!!

Glad we could help. Thanks for reading.

P(Program) you set either the aperture or shutter and the camera adjusts the other one accordingly to maintain the right exposure. Thanks

Thanks Rezan

I love traveling around the world. I wish to capture some of the beautiful places that I enjoyed. The above tips helped me to improve my travel photography skills. It also helped me to click some of the memorable moments of my travel with my friends and relatives.

Hi Vivek, Glad we could help. It is all about practise. We love having a day to ourselves and just getting out and shooting anything – landscape, cityscape, people or animals. We try to give ourselves a challenge sometimes. It makes it interesting and we are enjoying ourselves. 🙂

Great tips to help out beginners like me. I need to work on to ask people for permission as I get shy sometimes. I love the quote “rules are meant to be broken”!

Thank you Mao. Don’t worry, “asking” will come. Alesha was so shy and I used to take all the people shots. Now she is more confident and really enjoys shooting people. All the best.

THANK YOU . Your very easy to read starter guide to photography was AMAZEBALLS I learnt so much .cheers LIZY

Thank you. Glad we could help. Happy shooting and get creative. 🙂

Hey guys, this is an amazing guide, thanks for writing this up in such detail. As an amateur, I always look for good travel photography tips from other travellers. I left my tripod behind in Thailand and I think this was a huge mistake, I need to get a new one, urgently 🙂

By the way, really enjoy your photos on your blog and Instagram, they are amazing! 🙂

Glad we could help guys. We never used to use a tripod in our early years until we discovered how amazing the shots can be with one in low light and now we have 3. You can rest your camera on something to get a shot but you are limited to positions. Thanks for reading guys. 🙂

thanks for the tips. i’d make one edit: instead of ‘move your feet’ i’d say “don’t be lazy”…move left or right. move forward or back. climb up on something or get down on your knees.

Love it Aaron. You are so right. A little to the left might be the perfect shot or a little to the right and crouching might be the perfect shot. thanks for the input. Have a good one.

I love this post. It is incredibly helpful to all beginner travel photographers like myself! I have only been shooting in manual mode for the past 5 months and have already seen a huge increase in the quality of my photos! But I am always looking to improve. Will definitely be sharing your post

It is crazy how you improve when you start shooting manual. I know Alesha did also. You learn so much about the camera and what it can do, it is incredible. Thank you for reading and all the best with your photography Hayley. 🙂

this guide is amazing, thank you so much for explaining everything in a way an amateur can understand 🙂

Bookmarking the post for future reference!

Cheers, Naddya

Thank you guys. We are glad it is useful for you. 🙂

Wow! Amazing Tips. These tips will help a lot to click great pictures with your camera. Love the point of Shutter Speed. and about RAW.

Thanks for Sharing Helpful Post.

Thank you so much Nitin. Glad we can help. Thank you for reading.

Yeah I agree with you buddy.

Thank you 🙂

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Inspiration 20 Travel Photographers You Should Know

“My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.” – Steve McCurry

Intrepid and visionary, photographers have long ventured forth to document their journeys and capture the essence of the places they explore. In celebration of our 2023 Travel Photography Award , (open for entries until the end of August) we’ve curated a list of 20 photographers, past and present, whose inspiring images embody the unique allure of travel.

1. Steve McCurry

Steve McCurry , the esteemed judge of our current Travel Award , is a globally-renowned figure in the world of photography. His remarkable oeuvre encompasses some of the most iconic images of our time and showcases the awe-inspiring beauty and cultural diversity of our planet.

Born in Philadelphia in 1950, McCurry studied cinematography at Pennsylvania State University, after which he worked as a staff photographer for the local newspaper Today’s Post . However, driven by his passion for travel and photography, he embarked on a journey to India, a country that would become synonymous with his name due to the stunning images he captured throughout his career. It was this inaugural trip that sparked the epiphanic realization, “if you wait, people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view”, setting the foundation for a remarkable career and some truly captivating images encompassing every corner of the globe.

2. Inge Morath

One of the most influential photographers in the history of the medium, Inge Morath travelled extensively throughout her career, forming close relationships with the places she visited through her absolute immersion in the local culture. The remarkable images she captured, display her wonderful artistry and serve as fascinating mementos of their time, whilst demonstrating the profound potential of color photography long before it gained widespread acceptance.

3. Michael Yamashita

Few photographers convey the sheer joy of travel like Michael Yamashita . Over the past three decades, he has embarked on a journey around the world, capturing breathtaking images of its landscapes and people.

Though, throughout his career, Yamashita has photographed on six different continents, it is his work in Asia that has become particularly renowned. With an Asian Studies major from Wesleyan University and Japanese heritage, Yamashita has become an expert in the region and has photographed extensively in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India, capturing images that articulately convey the cultural diversity and stunning beauty of this fascinating continent.

4. Denis Dailleux

Though he has photographed various locations, Denis Dailleux is inseparably linked to Egypt , a country with which he has had a long and complex love affair, that has engendered some truly stunning imagery. His images convey a deep understanding of the Egyptian people and their culture, capturing their humanity and resilience.

He first visited the country in 1992, to join his Egyptian lover whom he had met in Paris a year earlier, and immediately fell in love with the country, captivated by its beguiling beauty and the warmth and generosity of its people.

He spent the next three decades visiting the country (before eventually, living there for several years), capturing its unique essence with love, tenderness, profound respect, and a masterful eye for form, light, and color.

5. Martine Franck

One of the finest practitioners of her time, and, like her husband Henri Cartier-Bresson, a major proponent of the humanist style, Martine Franck spent much of her life traversing the globe, capturing utterly compelling depictions of everyday life with remarkable grace and artistry. Her subjects and locations were as diverse as Tibetan temples, and industrial Northern English towns, whilst she also photographed her homeland extensively, notably in 1976, when she and four female compatriots, were commissioned by La Fondation Nationale de la Photographie to document their countrymen and women on vacation, during which she captured her now iconic photograph ‘Swimming Pool Designed by Alain Capeilleres, La Brusc’.

6. Alex Webb

“Most of my projects seem to start as exploratory journeys with no visible end in sight.” — Alex Webb

Renowned photojournalist, and judge of our 2020 Street Photography Award (alongside his wife and fellow photographer Rebecca Norris-Webb) Alex Webb is a master of capturing the decisive moment, rendering images filled with energy and movement that communicate brilliantly the atmosphere of the scene.⁠ ⁠ While he has photographed extensively in his homeland, Webb is best known for his vibrant and dynamic work in Latin America and the Caribbean. His images capture the region’s unique atmosphere, rich colors, and intricate details, offering a captivating glimpse into this part of the world.⁠

7. Maggie Steber

One of the finest photographers of her generation, Maggie Steber has dedicated her life to documenting some of the most important stories of our time, a mission that has taken her to some 70 countries, and encompassed everything from the African slave trade to natural disasters. Forthright and rooted in compassion, her images, which have graced the pages of many of the world’s most important publications including, National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, and The Guardian, cut to the heart of the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on viewers worldwide.

8. Frédéric Lagrange

Frédéric Lagrange is a French-born photographer whose breathtaking imagery showcases the dramatic beauty and cultural diversity of our world. Over the last decade and a half, he has traveled extensively, visiting approximately 100 countries across almost every continent, focusing particularly on secluded shores and remote areas, such as the wild and rugged Wakhan Corridor in northeastern Afghanistan. His stunning images, which have been published in The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and The New Yorker (among others) evoke a sense of intrepidity and solidify his position as one of today’s most talented travel photographers.

9. Sebastião Salgado

One of the medium’s most masterful living practitioners, Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Salgado is renowned for his powerful monochromatic images that tell the human stories behind some of the most important issues of our age.

During the course of his near-five decade-long career, he has traversed the globe, capturing extraordinary images, though it is perhaps his depictions of his homeland for which he is best known. In 1986, he travelled to the notorious Serra Pelada gold mine, to photograph some of the 50,000 workers who worked in terrible conditions. His most recent project, the landmark, Amazonia a series of stunning images of the landscapes and people of the world’s largest rainforest captured during a series of trips over the course of six years, is one of his most impressive, communicating the dramatic beauty, incredible biodiversity, and rich cultural heterogeneity of what the photographer calls “paradise on earth”, and thus highlighting the importance of its conservation at what is a crucial tipping point in the fight against climate change.

10. Pia Riverola

One of the best-known travel photographs of recent years, Pia Riverola , is renowned for her dreamy, pastel-hued renderings, which flawlessly capture the very essence of their subject matter.

Whether it’s vibrant flower markets in Mexico City, neon-lit and rain-drenched streets in Tokyo , or the lush landscapes of South American jungles, Riverola ‘s photographs exude a nostalgic and dream-like quality, displaying her masterful understanding of light and inducing a powerful sense of wanderlust.

11. Bruno Barbey

One of the finest photographers of our time, Moroccan-born, French photographer Bruno Barbey, has spent the last five decades travelling the world capturing powerful images that display his unique artistic voice and intrepidity. Over the years he has photographed in Brazil, China, India, his homeland France, and Morrocco, his birthplace, returning on numerous occasions to capture stunning, color-rich images that convey the unique essence of the country.

12. Jimmy Nelson

Judge of our recent Portrait Award , Jimmy Nelson, has dedicated the last ten years to documenting indigenous cultures around the world, which face increasing threats to their traditions and ways of life.

Nelson ‘s adventurous spirit was ignited during his childhood through his father’s work as an exploratory geologist. His first major project involved an epic journey on foot across Tibet in 1987, while seven years later, he documented the newly-opened People’s Republic of China in his acclaimed project “Literary Portraits of China,” which was exhibited in Tiananmen Square before touring globally.

However, it was his subsequent travels around the world to photograph remote cultures using a traditional 50-year-old plate camera, that laid the foundation for the project for which he is best known. “Before They Pass Away”, comprises stunning portraits of 35 different indigenous communities across the globe, capturing their unique traditions and practices in the face of globalization and industrialization.

13. Jim Richardson

Though born in the US, Richardson is immensely proud of his Celtic roots and has spent much of his career focusing on Ireland and Scotland. The latter has been a particularly prominent subject, his fascination with the wild landscapes of the Scottish highlands and the remote islands off its western coastline, engendering a wealth of captivating landscape images that articulate its unique, rugged beauty.

14. Matthieu Paley

French-born Matthieu Paley is one of the finest contemporary travel photographers, whose practice focuses on remote areas, and those communities that call them home.

Working on assignments for National Geographic and other leading publications, he has captured profoundly fascinating photo essays on hunter-gatherers in Tanzania, Greenland’s Inuit and Afghanistan’s Kyrgyz nomads (which he did over the course of a decade), leading to a number of notable awards, including a 2017 World Press Photo award for his portrayal of a Uighur woman in western China.

15. Brooke Holm

The 2nd Prize Winner of our 2018 Color Award for her breathtaking depiction of an Icelandic landscape, Australian-American artist Brooke Holm is one of the most exciting emerging proponents of travel photography. Inspired by satellite imagery and therefore, captured almost invariably from above, her depictions of some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenery are akin to paintings. Rich in color, texture and form, they offer a divergence from conventional viewpoints, showing the natural world at scale, in an attempt to subvert traditional anthropocentric narratives and advocate for coexistence with our environment and its inhabitants.

16. Galen Rowell

Equal parts adventurer and photographer, Galen Rowell spent the majority of his extraordinary life traversing some of the world’s most lofty areas, and capturing stunning landscape images that convey the beauty of the subject.

Throughout his career, Rowell undertook assignments for prestigious publications like LIFE and National Geographic, fearlessly venturing into remote and unforgiving locations, capturing them with unmatched artistry that still resonates today. His work not only showcased the natural wonders of these landscapes but also left a profound impact on the field of photography, inspiring generations of landscape photographers and ensuring his legacy lives on through his work.

17. Ami Vitale

Considered one of the most important conservation photographers of her generation, Ami Vitale has spent her career travelling the globe, traversing more than 100 countries and capturing stunning images that illuminates the often-overlooked heroes and communities whose efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world are truly inspiring. A Nikon Ambassador and regular contributor to National Geographic, Vitale has received numerous awards and commendations over the years, among them a Lucie Humanitarian Award and numerous World Press Photo prizes, which stand as a testament to her dedication and talent in her field. 

18. Jody MacDonald

Few can rival Jody MacDonald when it comes to intrepidity. The award-winning adventurer and photographer has visited over 100 countries and spent a decade travelling the globe on a 60-foot catamaran, on an expedition to uncover the most remote and untamed corners of the planet. Working on assignment for National Geographic and other leading publications, or commercial projects for the likes of Patagonia and Red Bull, MacDonald has photographed some of the harshest and most difficult-to-reach corners of the earth – from the Sahara to the Himalayas – capturing stunning images that communicate the wild beauty of our world.

19. Evelyn Hofer

Few, if any photographers in history captured the essence of cites in the manner of Evelyn Hofer , the enigmatic German-born photographer who, throughout her impressive career, travelled the world photographing its landscapes and people with rarely-matched grace and artistry.

Whether it was Dublin, Paris, Florence, or the cities of her adopted homeland, the United States, Hofer’s photographs capture the essence of the subject. Underpinned by a masterful understanding of form, light, and color, today they stand as timeless testaments to her artistic vision and her ability to reveal the profound beauty that exists within the tapestry of our world.

20. René Burri

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Travel Photography Explained

A Personal Perspective from Travel Photographer: Clint Burkinshaw

Importance of travel photography, the photographer, proactive and reactive photography, travel photography gear, quick access bag, lighter weight camera body, lens choice, travel tripod, safety and security, travel photography tips for beginners, tip #1. know your gear, tip #2. reduce complexity and keep things simple, tip #3. noise is better than a blurry image, tip #4. get lost, tip #5. respect local customs, tip #6. mix up your shots, tip #7. take the time to post process your photos, tip #8. maintain your gear, tip #9. backup your photos.

Travel photography differs from other subcategories of photography. It is a genre that has few limitations to its image qualifiers, but will also test the photographer to great lengths due to the abundance of challenges faced. Within the travel photography genre, one can expect to see a vast range of images aimed to capture anything from the combination of landscapes , portrait, street, culture, food, underwater scenes and more.

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However, the unique component at the heart of travel photography, is that the images from the vast range of subcategories are aimed to capture and share moments in time from different cultures, an alternate way of life, and varied geographical locations from around the globe.

See our popular Summer Photography Tours & Workshops in Iceland

5-day summer photo tour | black sand beaches, waterfalls & glacier lagoons, 8 day summer photography workshop in iceland, 3 day photo workshop in the icelandic highlands.

Travel photography goes further than just capturing a great image. It’s there to tell a story, educate and inspire.

So what exactly is travel photography? In this article, I'll share with you my own perspective as a travel photographer, why travel photography is important, what you'll need to get started and above all, how to stay safe on your travels.

To me, travel photography transcends just “landscape” or “portrait” photography. It’s about capturing and documenting that distant place in a single frame, pulling the viewer into the shot and making them wish that they were there.

A good travel photo will be more than just a slice of time captured in a rectangle. It will tell a story and convey emotion. Travel photography is a source of inspiration and driver to see and experience the best our world has to offer. Subsequently, it brings out the best in me.

• See also:    Tips for Planning a Photography Trip to Iceland

Travel photography is all about bringing the world to people and exposing to them what else is out there. It’s about educating people about the customs of other cultures, showing them how they differ from their own.

The world is far grander and more exquisite with beautiful differences than just the area that surrounds us. Bringing nature's majesty to the people, inspires and promotes the diversity of this planet and helps encourage others to explore and see the great outdoors.

• See also:    25 Useful Tips to Quickly Improve Your Landscape Photography

Anyone can do a bit of travel photography, just as anyone can do landscape or portrait photography, regardless of what the definition of “professional” is.

There are essentially two main groups of people engaging in travel photography. One group consists of those who travel for the purpose of photography, and the other group consists of people who travel for the sake of travel and take photos to compliment their travels.

While there is no reason to promote one group over another, it is still a good idea to prioritise your intended scope prior to planning your trip, as the experience will be somewhat different.

• See also:    How to Become a Professional Landscape Photographer

There are two main categories for which one needs to focus their skill development and preparation within. These consist of proactive and reactive photography.

Reactive photography becomes significantly evident when engaging in street, cultural or wildlife shoots. These unpredictable and dynamic scenes tend to present golden opportunities, which seem to come and go in the blink of an eye. Photographers need to be incredibly quick and demonstrate the skills to make the most of these opportunities and capture the images in an efficient and effective manner.

Proactive photography in essence is being “proactive” about your next photo shoot, by doing things in preparation (like researching your upcoming location) prior to arriving.

Of course, no matter where a photographer goes and what he shoots, being proactive is always encouraged. However, there are more prevalent and anticipated situations where proactive photography will be much more beneficial.

Landscape photography is a great example of this, as the success of such photos can heavily depend on the preparation gone into the shoot. Additionally, these scenes also require quite a bit of reactive photography when on site, in areas such as lighting and newly discovered composition opportunities.

• See also:    How to Start Taking Landscape Photos with a Smartphone

When it comes to what equipment to take, travel photography has its own unique considerations in contrast to other photography categories. What to pack will also depend on the trip itself. As a travel photographer, if I could give one imperative tip; it would be to ‘go light’!

As mentioned previously, much of travel photography is reactive. This means, being in the right place at the right time, and NOT missing that golden opportunity. For this, being ready with equipment that is not going to slow you down, is vital.

First of all, you'll need a bag that’s going to allow you to get your gear in and out quickly. When that opportunity presents itself, you need to be able to access your camera extremely fast.

For this, I recommend a day pack with a side access pocket which can be undone in a single zip, giving you access to your camera body with an appropriately attached lens. Also, if the voyage is a long one, quick access will help you keep your sanity with the hundreds (if not thousands) of times you’ll be grabbing your camera. Hybrid camera bags are good for this, and also allows you to take additional non-photography related belongings.

When I previously mentioned “going light” is the key for successful travel photography, I very much meant it. If you’re going to be walking for hours on end each day, or going on regular hikes, lighter weight equipment is going to help you out with your photography much more than you think.

A lighter body with fewer lenses than normal, gives you the opportunity to go further with ease and allows you to get your camera out more often than not, especially in those times when you might think twice. So shelf that hefty camera body, and take something much lighter.

Thankfully, full frame sensors are fitting into smaller and smaller bodies these days, and the choice has grown substantially.

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The type of lenses you take is also key to getting great photographs. While taking enough lenses to cater for all situations, going overboard with too much lenses only works against the photographer. I recommend taking nomore than four lenses for short trips, and no more than 3 lenses for longer trips.

For landscape lovers, an ultra-wide angle lens is an absolute necessity.

A nice standard zoom for a walk around street photography lens is very useful, combined with a fast prime for nice low depth of field shots to really enhance favourite subjects.

Telephotos aren’t generally required for standard travel photography (depending on the trip), but is something to be considered based on photographic intentions.

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One good thing about going light with your camera body and lenses is the fact that it’s now possible to downsize the tripod. A smaller smaller (or lighter) body and lens combination means a lighter weight tripod and all of this together will cut down the weight required to carry on the shoulders. It’s also quite helpful to have a tripod that folds up small to fit in your day bag. This means one with 4 leg sections.

See our popular Greenland Photography Tours & Workshops

Caring for both you and your equipment is paramount when it comes to travelling in a foreign environment. Depending on the location visited, there may be areas which should not be ventured into.

Walking around at night, or even walking around with your expensive equipment during the day, may put you and your possessions in danger. Always seek local advice for do’s and don’ts in the area, and take them seriously.

Having strong familiarity with your equipment is one very important aspect of travel photography. Walking busy streets will often throw all kinds of lighting conditions at you, and within these hectic, constantly changing conditions, golden opportunities come and go within a matter of seconds.

Being able to act quickly with the right lens and appropriate camera settings, is an absolute necessity to capturing these magic moments.

Another crucial aspect is to not over complicate your setup. If you’ve got an inappropriate number of lens (because you just “need” the best of the best for each situation) and organised in a fashion that makes you scramble each time you want to change things up. You’re doing it wrong.

Have a nice high quality lens that’s capable of a broader spectrum, with a simple setup, that’ll allow you to snap photos with ease. The more complicated and burdensome things get, the less photographs you’ll take.

You can always work with an image that's slightly noisier than you’d prefer, but you can never work with an image that's blurry. If lighting conditions are ever a question, and you’re doing a whole bunch of that reactive photography talked about earlier, then always bump up the ISO a bit to be on the safe side.

• See also:    Understanding Image Noise in Your Landscape Photography of Iceland

In the kindest way possible, of course! Taking the time out to spend a day wandering the streets, is one of the best things that could be done for street photography. You’ll discover places you never would have had normally. Getting off the tourist trail is also a great way to get authentic and interesting culture shots.

A major part of travel photography is being sensitive to foreign customs and cultures. It’s very common for other cultures to find it rude (or an insult) to be photographed. Especially without permission. This needs to be heavily be considered when in a foreign place photographing people and cultural scenes. Do your research, respect customs, and ask people before taking a photo. A simple kind gesture will go a long way in terms of getting what you want and doing the right thing.

• See also:    Golden Myanmar | 12 Day Travel Photography Workshop

Instead of sticking to just one genre of photography (e.g. street shots), mix it up and shoot a range of different subjects. Photograph everything from food, people, to landscapes and wildlife. After all, it’s about capturing as much as you can about that distant location.

• See also:    9 Day China Photography Tour | Yunnan Rice Terrace & The Red Land

Instead of waiting till the trip is over to start processing your photos, take some time out along the trip and process as you go. This could mean spending a few hours a couple of times a week, in a cafe, with your laptop. Even an extra drink or two after dinner at a local restaurant will go a long way when it comes to progressing your photos.

Also, use the time to catalogue, label and rate your photographs, as it will save you a huge task later on. If you plan on writing about your trip in a blog or article later on, take as much notes as possible. Some things you just don’t remember once you get home.

• See also:    5 Simple Lightroom Post Processing Tips for Landscape Photography

A dirty lens or a flat battery are two things easily avoided, but could very much be responsible for missing those golden opportunities. Keeping your spare batteries charged and lens clean will give you a big head start in making sure you catch that magic moment around the next corner.

There’s nothing worse than losing your camera, and coming to the realisation that all the photographs you’ve taken of your trip, are now gone. Backup as often as possible onto a USB hard drive and store it in a separate bag to your camera.

About the author:  Clint Burkinshaw is a travel photographer based in Australia. You can find more of his work on his  website  or by following him on Instagram .

There's no better way to get started in travel photography than to get out and about! Join one of our photography workshops and tours and you can begin taking your photography skills to the next level!

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Who doesn’t love traveling, visiting new places, and going on adventures? And who wouldn’t want to capture these memories and look back at them later?

If you want photography inspiration during your journeys, this article is just for you! We have collected 30 of the most influential travel photographers from across Instagram.

Believe us… they are worth following! Their work and unique style might give you some ideas next time you travel.

What Is Travel Photography?

Simply put, travel photography captures adventures and locations you visit during your journeys.

This photography niche involves so many different genres. A travel photographer must also know landscape, architecture, street, and environmental photography.

Travel and adventure photography often involves storytelling . And it focuses on capturing special moments and atmospheres.

There are many different approaches to travel photography. You can focus on people, take self-portraits , emphasize landscapes, or dive into aerial photography . Mixing these approaches can result in a unique style and, over time, get you professional recognition as a travel photographer.

30 Most Influential Travel Photographers to Follow

Let’s take a look at the work of these amazing travel photographers!

1. Frauke Hameister

This German photographer captures stunning landscapes and adventures. This is mostly when he’s surrounded by mountains and cliffs. Frauke does an excellent job at visualizing stories through her images.

Her style revolves around cold colors and a foggy atmosphere . She mostly includes herself in her photos, giving her work an extra personal touch.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Frauki – made in Germany 🌊 (@frauki)

2. Robert King

From wildlife to landscapes and night photos , Robert King is exceptional in several areas of photography. But first and foremost, he travels around the world and captures the unique views in front of him.

His passion for traveling shines through his photographs. His compositions are top-notch, often created with an extra touch of drone perspective .

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Robert King 📸 (@king_roberto)

3. Pedro Quintela

Pedro is a true visual artist. His photos look as if they were paintings. He takes advantage of gorgeously colorful skies and landscapes all around the world. His way of using a central composition proves that this technique is definitely not as cliché as some think.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Pedro Quintela | Visual Artist (@pedro_quintela_images)

4. Adam Desjardins

Snowy mountains, exotic islands, and vibrant cities. Nothing stops Adam when he arrives with his camera.

He uses a unique perspective to capture his traveling adventures. Adam mostly uses a wide-angle lens to include all his surroundings. He also likes to shoot from a bird’s-eye view , often including himself in his travel photography.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Adam Desjardins (@_adamdesjardins)

5. Chris Henry

Chris is an American photographer who visits places like Norway, Iceland, Alaska, and Italy. He loves to shoot wildlife, getting unbelievably close to his models.

He uses a certain photography style for every country he visits, making each photo series unique and distinguishable. He also owns his own streetwear brand, where the designs are based on his photography.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Chris Henry (@chrishenry)

6. Morten Munthe

Morten is a photographer from Norway, mainly taking photos of his own country’s treasures. He has a consistent style of dark, contrasty, and moody photographs.

He likes to include people in his photos, turning landscapes into lifestyle portraits . Not only that, but he also captures wildlife when he gets the chance.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Morten Munthe (@morten_munthe)

7. Luke Stackpoole

This English photographer perfectly combines landscape and travel photography. Wherever he travels, he tries to take a photo of the hidden gems of the place.

Tiny houses, forest trails, and local animals are all common subjects of Luke’s photography. He prefers northern locations like Iceland, Scotland, or Greenland.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Luke Stackpoole (@withluke)

8. Marcel Siebert

Marcel does an excellent job at depicting what’s best in each season. He likes to include as much detail in his photos as possible. He often uses props that symbolize the current season (such as pumpkins during autumn).

His images are like a fairytale. His subjects are often magical forests, breathtaking castles, and traditional villages.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Marcel – From Germany 📷 (@_marcelsiebert)

9. Disa Wold

If someone is enjoying life to the fullest, it’s Disa. Wherever she goes, she embraces the opportunities that the place gives. From tenting to petting a reindeer or chilling in a hot tub, she knows how to bring the best out of each moment.

And she captures these moments authentically and joyfully. Disa also has a portrait photography account. So check it out if you are interested in her work.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Disa Wold (@disa)

10. Monika Jeske

If you are looking for magic, you should definitely check out Monika’s photography. She uses spectacular skies to emphasize the beauty of locations such as Sicily or Jordan.

Apart from these, she also takes everyday places, like Prague’s old town. And she gives an extra touch to them with her editing style.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Monika Jeske / Outdoor (@beautyland_photography)

11. Rach Stewart

Rach is a photographer from New Zealand, mainly taking photos of mountain landscapes. Her images are incredibly refined and thoughtfully composed.

She plays with colors like a true artist. The smooth transition between shades of the blue hour and cotton candy clouds in her pictures is remarkable.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Rach Stewart ↟ New Zealand (@rachstewartnz)

12. Stijn Dijkstra

Stijn loves creating dramatic images. He often uses silhouettes , sunsets , and flares to reach the desired atmosphere. He often uses a bird’s-eye view to include as much scenery as possible.

Capturing himself in his scenes is also a common part of his work. Check out this account if you want adventure photography at the most varied locations!

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Stijn | 📸 Travel & Photography (@furstset)

13. Nazariy Kryvosheyev

Nazariy uses his photography to capture the moment while hiking and traveling through gorgeous places. You can often see a patch of sky, a ray of sunlight, or a passing cloud giving his images an extra touch. He knows how to play with shadows and contrast to create his own style.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Travel Feeling🏕 (@nazarudi)

14. Roam The Planet

Unlike the other accounts in our list, @roamtheplanet is not an individual artist. It’s a photography community built on a passion for adventure.

It features images from a variety of travel photographers. You can use this account for inspiration. But you can also get featured using the #roamtheplanet hashtag under your travel photographs.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von ROAM THE PLANET (@roamtheplanet)

15. Thrainn Kolbeinsson

Thrainn is an Icelandic photographer traveling through his country. The sheer beauty of Iceland shines through his photos, from glaciers to highlands and waterfalls .

He captures details, such as close-ups of Icelandic horses, frozen grass, and landscapes. He often takes drone photos, showing the location from a unique perspective.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Thrainn Kolbeinsson (@thrainnko)

16. Gábor Nagy

Gábor is a Hungarian photographer with a passion for traveling and adventures. His work is special because he often manages a minimalistic style of landscapes , with only two or three elements in the picture.

This makes his photographs simple yet breathtaking. One of his favorite locations is Iceland, and he is good friends with Thrainn.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Gábor Nagy | Hungary 💪 (@gabornagy_photography)

17. Peter McKinnon

Peter is one of Instagram’s most-followed travel photographers. This is no accident. He takes a unique approach to travel, combining lifestyle self-portraits with adventure photos.

He visits a wide variety of locations. You can find photos of huge cities, northern landscapes, or even Californian beaches in his account.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Peter McKinnon (@petermckinnon)

18. Michael Kagerer

His photos radiate calmness, partly thanks to his editing technique and partly because of his location choice. He prefers to visit places with minimal human habitation, explore the wild, and interact with animals.

Wherever he goes, he highlights the main characteristics of the area. This includes moody forests, frozen mountains, or bare hills.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Michael Kagerer | Photography (@michaelkagerer)

19. Giulio Groebert

Giulio is a German photographer. He loves traveling through Europe and sharing his journey through his photography. He uses a harmonic set of colors in his pictures. This creates a warm atmosphere that defines his style.

Giulio proves that there are hidden gems everywhere. Looking at his pictures, the viewer gets an irresistible motivation to go out and discover new places.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Giulio | Travel & Outdoor (@giuliogroebert)

20. Tom Juenemann

Tom is a German travel and outdoor photographer , often taking bird’s-eye view photos. He loves visiting castles and traditional villages, creating fairytale-like images .

He aims to inspire his followers to travel. He also cooperates with tourist offices and brands, like Vans, Sony, and Adobe, to help them get a bigger audience.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Tom | Travel & Outdoor (@tom_juenemann)

21. Stuart Price

Stuart is a photographer who is experienced in many different areas. Apart from travel photos, he also does lifestyle, product , and portrait photography.

He has pictures from England, Portugal, and Greece, to mention a few. And he is extremely skilled at using various compositional techniques. He is also the writer of our Intuitive Composition eBook!

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Stuart Price (@stuartprice)

22. Mandy Rosenfeld

If you are looking for mountain landscape photography inspiration, check out this account. From the Dolomites to Iceland, Mandy has a talent for capturing the cold yet beautiful winter atmosphere through her photos. She loves rocky surroundings, fog, and sunsets peeking through the clouds.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von MANDY ROSENFELD (@rosenfeld.mandy)

23. Fabian Huebner

Speaking of cold and foggy photos, Fabian is one of the area’s leading travel photographers. He embraces the mystical atmosphere of cloudy days while using the occasional sunset. If you check out his account, be prepared that his dark and moody images will give you the chills.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von F A B I A N • H U E B N E R (@fabian.huebner)

24. Manuel Dietrich

Manuel is passionate about capturing his adventures from California to Germany to Norway. He loves having mountains and lakes in front of his camera.

His composition technique is dynamic. He often creates a foreground by letting plants and stones into his frame. A preset is also available so that his followers can reproduce the unique color tones he’s using.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Manuel Dietrich | Germany (@manueldietrichphotography)

25. Marvin Kuhr

Marvin is yet another travel photographer who prefers to take a minimalistic approach. He doesn’t overcrowd his frame. He visibly composes each subject of his while consciously using compositional rules. He mainly travels in Europe. But he has also visited locations such as La Réunion and Canada.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Marvin Kuhr (@kuhrmarvin)

26. Emmett Sparling

Other photographers on our list mostly take photos of mountain sceneries. But Emmett regularly visits exotic places and seashores. He has a vibrant and colorful photography style.

He often plays with different lighting conditions. And he ventures into underwater photography , taking portraits and wildlife photos.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von TRAVEL 🌎 EMMETT SPARLING (@emmett_sparling)

27. Brayden Hall

Brayden’s seasonal photo series is outstanding. He visualizes exactly what’s most appealing in each season. The colorful leaves of autumn or the sea adventures of summer are often the subjects of his photos. How he utilizes light can serve as an example for other photographers.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von BRAYDEN | travel + adventure 🗺 (@braybraywoowoo)

28. André Alexander

This German travel photographer takes pictures of landscapes as much as castles, villages, and cities. He prefers to do photoshoots at sunset or sunrise, which adds to the dreamy atmosphere of his shots. Looking at André’s photos really makes you want to travel through Europe and visit some of the places he captures.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von André Alexander | Germany (@formgestalter)

29. Dave Williams

Dave is an internationally recognized travel and wildlife photographer. He has been featured by sites and magazines such as Forbes or National Geographic.

He uses gorgeous lighting and landscapes, often choosing wild animals as his models. If you want to see some gorgeous Aurora Borealis photos, check out his account!

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Dave Williams (@idavewilliams)

30. Lennart Pagel

Lennart takes pictures of cities and villages just as much as nature. He loves using a bird’s-eye view when capturing his adventures all around the world. Whether it is landmarks or natural creations, he can capture the essence of each location.

            Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an                         Ein Beitrag geteilt von Lennart Pagel | 📍Germany (@lennart)

Conclusion: Most Influential Travel Photographers

Looking at other photographers’ work can give you inspiration and new ideas you can implement in your photos.

That’s why it is a good idea from time to time to go through some outstanding artists’ profiles and see if you like anything about their style. When it comes to travel photography, these artists can even motivate you to go on a trip yourself!

Do you agree with our list? Please drop us a comment with your favorite travel photographer under this post!

We are always on the lookout for exciting new travel photographers. If you are a travel photographer and feel you should be considered on our list, email us at [email protected] with your bio, website, and Instagram link!

What is travel photography?

What is a good travel photo, aspects of travel photography, travel photography, a popular genre, travel photography is underestimated, travel photography explained, receive photography and travel tips, travel photography.

Travel photography is a form of photography that for example involves photography of landscapes, historical buildings, cultures, and people in a specific place and destination to document a certain place and make others make to wish they were there.

With a collection of travel photographs of amazing landscapes, wildlife, breathtaking nature, cultures, and people, you will have the possibility to showcase a place, country, or even the world through photos. Travel Photography goes further than just capturing an awesome image.

A good travel photo tells a story, inspires the viewer about other beautiful places in this big world, and educates them about a place or culture by showing them how they differ from their own.

There are travel photographers that specialize in a specific aspect of photography , for example, landscapes or travel portraits but I basically shoot all aspects of travel and I combine that with photographing properties, such as hotels and lodges. When I travel to a certain place or country I try to showcase that place at its very best using a variety of images including landscapes, nature, wildlife, and people from different cultures.

Travel Photography became popular through magazines like National Geographic Magazine . Since more people travel, more people photograph while traveling. Therefore, it's a popular genre among travel and photography lovers.

Travel photography is an underestimated photography genre . To shoot high-quality travel photos you have to do a lot of research on the subject you want to photograph, but you still can't control all shooting conditions. You have to deal with different conditions that affect the final result, such as low light, unpredictable weather conditions, and unexpected moments that sometimes make an ordinary photo a spectacular photo. Something, I experienced myself while photographing wildlife, where you come across moments that rarely recur.

I hope you got a better understanding of the travel photography genre, one of the many types of photography .

Check out the Travel Photography Guide to learn more about travel photography, including many useful travel photography tips to improve your travel images and learn how to make money with your images.

Related photography articles:

• How to take better travel photos? Follow this 4-step formula
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Travel Photographer of the Year 2022 winners

Matjaz Krivic wins the competition with poignant rhino picture

The Travel Photographer of the Year awards has today announced the winning images from the 2022 edition of the competition! If you haven't caught the travel bug and made plans for 2023 getaways just yet, you definitely will after seeing these stellar shots captured from all around the world.  

The Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) is one of the most prestigious photography awards in the world, and the high standard of imagery from this year's selection of winners is truly astounding. Taken on an array of the best cameras , they prove that you don't have to use the best travel camera or the best lenses for travel to get great pictures.

Matjaz Krivic from Slovenia has been awarded the title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2022 with his photo series showcasing emotive portraits of man and mammal, photographing his subject, Zachary Mutai, with Najin – one of the world’s last two remaining Northern White rhinos. Zachary is Najin's keeper, and their bond is tender. The images were captured at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya.

"I am particularly delighted for the overall winner. Matjaz has been entering Travel Photographer of the Yearsinceour very first year-2003–and has secured a number of individual category awards with us over the past two decades. Now he has finally landed the ‘big one’ in our 20th year,” shares Chris Coe, founder of TPOTY.

Krivic has stated: “I am honored to have my work recognized and acknowledged by the judges of the Travel Photographer of the Year awards. This competition is special to me since I have been with it from its beginning in 2003 when I was given a Judges’ Favourite Award. Now, 20 years later I received their highest award which makes me very proud and means a lot to me." His image was shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV .

"Travel and photography have been my passion and a big part of my life since I remember and this award inspires me to continue with my journey" he concludes.

Aside from his prestigious title, Krivic will receive a new Fujifilm X100V camera, as well as £1000 ( approximately $1,240 / AU$1,742) cash from TPOTY, plus a personalized leather portfolio book or iFolio from Plastic Sandwich, Radiant Photo imaging software, and a membership to the Royal Photographic Society.

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The Young Travel Photographer of the Year title was awarded to Cal Cole, age 18, based in Manchester, UK. Cal has a focus on themes of melancholy, dystopia, and loneliness in his images of cityscapes - but the results are truly captivating. 

The judges spoke of Cal's work highly, stating that “Travelling the world begins on your own doorstep and it is great to see a young photographer honing their skills not with the exotic, but with a less glamorous but still popular destination, and doing do so in such a creative fashion.” 

Cal used a Nikon D3200 with an 18-135mm lens to capture the image above. 

18-year-old Isabella Smith from Tennessee, USA, was also awarded with the title of Young TPOTY in the 15-18 age category. In 2018, aged just 14, Smith was awarded the title of overall winner of Young Travel Photographer of the Year. Her images might be a little different, but that's what the judges loved about them. 

The final Young TPOTY winner in the 14 years and under age category was Kaia Tham, aged 14, born in Australia but now residing in Lisbon, Portugal as a student. Tham shoots purely on an iPhone and her work with reflections shows a unique and different perspective of how she sees the world.  

Runners-up for the Young TPOTY awards included Zhiyu Zheng, age 14 from China, and Rohan Shah, age 14 from Kenya.

“Our latest winners form a fascinating collection of images. From the intensely powerful to the exquisitely subtle, sensitive, and beautiful, they reach every corner of the world and cover every facet of traveling with a camera. Conservation and sustainability permeate the collection and illustrate the role which photography can play in creating awareness of the issues facing our planet " Shares Coe.

Coe continues, "This year, we’ll be first exhibiting these images in May at the Royal Photographic Society as part of World Photography in Focus. 2023 is TPOTY’s 21st award and we hope you’ll share your images with us again.”

Stay tuned for news on when entries open for the 2023 edition of the Travel Photographer of the Year Awards. 

Looking to improve your own travel photography? You might need the best travel tripod . And if you are leaving the county remember to pack the best travel adaptor

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A staff writer for Digital Camera World, Beth has an extensive background in various elements of technology with five years of experience working as a tester and sales assistant for CeX. After completing a degree in Music Journalism, followed by obtaining a Master's degree in Photography awarded by the University of Brighton, she spends her time outside of DCW as a freelance photographer specialising in live music events and band press shots under the alias 'bethshootsbands'. 

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This a list of magazines that regularly publish travel photography. Before submitting your work, you should familiarize yourself with the magazine, so you understand the magazine’s needs. We have only included magazines that pay for your work, as we don’t believe in giving away photos in return for “exposure.” We advise you to read over the submission requirements carefully and submit your work as requested. You should NEVER agree to give up all rights to your photos.

Click the links below to go directly to submission guidelines for each of these magazines. If you can’t click through on the title of the magazine, it means that we’ve included it because it’s a popular travel magazine, but they do not accept work from freelance photographers. If you know of a magazine that should be included here, please send us a link!

Adirondack Life – Adirondack Life  covers New York’s six-million-acre Adirondack Park, which offers more wild country than Yellowstone, Yosemite and Glacier National Parks combined. Within six bimonthly and two special-focus issues, the magazine, based in Jay, New York, explores the region’s people, places, wildlife, history and public issues, and gives readers insider tips on outdoor recreation, from hiking and canoeing to ice-climbing and backcountry skiing. Adirondack Life works with freelance photographers on every issue. All images must be taken in the Adirondack Park. Ideas for photo essays and photo features are welcome.

AFAR Magazine –  AFAR is the multi-platform travel media brand that inspires and guides those who travel the world to connect with its people, experience their cultures, and understand their perspectives. Its platforms include the award-winning AFAR magazine; AFAR.com, recently named a Top 10 site That Makes Travel Easier; the non profit foundation Learning AFAR; and immersive travel series AFAR Experiences. AFAR has several departments that may be of interest to travel photographers.

Alaska Airlines Magazine – Alaska Airlines Magazine is the complimentary, in-flight magazine of Alaska Airlines. Our photographic interests lie specifically in places within Alaska Airlines’ route system. The airline’s territory is primarily Alaska and the West, but other destinations can be found on the route map in the back section of the magazine. Our subjects cover a variety of topics, such as: nature, sports/adventure, travel, arts and entertainment, lifestyle, and business. The images should offer a sense of location and possess sharp, clean, bright color, and thoughtful composition.

Alaska Magazine – Alaska Magazine  is dedicated to depicting life in Alaska through high-quality images of its people, places and wildlife. Color photographs from professional free-lance photographers are used extensively and selected according to their creative and technical merits.

Backpacker Magazine –  Backpacker Magazine primarily covers hiking. When warranted, we cover canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other human-powered modes of travel. Backpacker generally uses stock photography and assigns photographers for a limited number of magazine-sponsored trips.

Blue Ridge Country – Blue Ridge Country  is an international award-winning bimonthly regional magazine covering travel, history, food, festivals, outdoors and the environment in the mountains of nine southern U.S. states. We can especially use more images from Kentucky, South Carolina and Alabama as well as our other coverage states: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. All shots must be taken in the coverage states.

Canadian Geographic  – Canadian Geographic  magazine is a Canadian magazine that is unapologetic about celebrating Canada. We’re dedicated to uncovering and communicating the stories about Canadian people, places, frontiers and issues (past and present) that Canadian magazine readers want. Owned by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Canadian Geographic  magazine is more than a geography publication, each issue of  Canadian Geographic  is a voyage of discovery and exploration that features the latest science, environment, travel and human and cultural stories from across Canada. The writing comes to visual life through stunning photography and elegant art direction.

Caribbean Beat Magazine – Caribbean Beat Magazine  is the inflight magazine of Caribbean Airlines and Air Jamaica. It is the Caribbean’s leading magazine on Caribbean and West Indian arts, culture and society. It gets behind the familiar stereotypes to show how rich Caribbean life really is – its music, art, dance, books, sport, fashion, design, festivals, history, environment, people, lifestyle. Caribbean Beat prefers to work with authors based in the Caribbean and the diaspora, but all proposals which meet our guidelines will be considered.

Conde Nast Traveller – Conde Nast Traveller  is the most discerning and trusted monthly travel magazine in Britain. Inside every issue the world’s best travel writers and specialists share their insider secrets and offer you new and authentic experiences. We don’t buy photographs directly from photographers, but instead use agencies, mainly iStock and Rex Features.

Cruising World – Cruising world is a magazine about cruising and people. We are constantly on the lookout for exciting new cover shots and photographic material that we can use in special sections and in promotion pieces. They should represent the cruising lifestyle of exciting sailing and beautiful anchorages as well as on-board images of people enjoying themselves. Concentrate on good composition and avoid cluttered scenes, shadows and silhouetted sunsets.

Delta Sky Magazine – Delta Sky Magazine is looking for expertly executed stories about travel, lifestyle and business. Destinations should be a mix of U.S. and international locales. Whatever the topic, writers should bring a fresh new perspective and an ability to convey the subject in vivid detail. Readers should feel as if they’re sitting down with a profile subject or wandering through the streets of a travel destination. The more in-depth, the better.

DesertUSA Magazine – DesertUSA Magazine is an Internet-based, regional publication, focusing on travel, wildlife, geology, desert lore, cultural and natural history related to the North American Desert regions. The main editorial focus of DesertUSA.com is travel in the North American Desert and surrounding regions. A strong emphasis in natural and cultural history is a major theme in our magazine and a popular interest to readers. Adventure, desert lore, photo essays, events, southwest arts & crafts are also consistently represented in our editorial.

EnCompass Magazine – EnCompass Magazine  is distributed six times a year to 340,000 members of AAA Colorado (Rocky Mountain Motorist). At least four of our six cover stories describe “mini-tours” of Colorado destinations. Other regularly featured destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, and Disney’s U.S. parks. We’ve also published articles on international destinations accessible through AAA Travel. We purchase one-time articles and images for the printed edition of EnCompass , as well as rights to post articles on the magazine’s website.

Ensemble Vacations – Ensemble Vacations  is a national, consumer travel and lifestyle magazine published by Ensemble Travel® Group for its member agencies, including American Express Canada and Uniglobe Eastern Canada. It is published four times per year by Ensemble Travel Group for the top clients of Ensemble agencies, comprised of mid- to high-end leisure travellers who are seeking unique, luxurious getaways and impeccably personalized service. Accepts freelance material for most departments.

Escapees Magazine – Escapees Magazine’s  readers are those interested in sharing the RV lifestyle, including full-time RVers, snowbirds, and those looking forward to traveling extensively.  Escapees  magazine is primarily a compilation of articles, tips, and personal views submitted by Escapees members. Although member material is considered first priority, nonmember material is also reviewed. Travel/destinations-type articles are kept to a minimum and generally selected only when the location coincides with an Escapees national event. Well researched technical and informational articles are in high demand.

get lost – get lost  is an independent, international travel magazine that puts the excitement back into travel and dares to be different. get lost gets kicks out of discovering hot new destinations, pioneering out-there experiences and telling travel yarns of intrigue. Combining world-class photography with inspiring and engaging writing, our expert team of travel junkies will blow your mind with experiences you never imagined.

Horizon Edition Magazine – Horizon Edition Magazine is Horizon Air’s monthly, complimentary inflight magazine. We are a travel, business and lifestyle publication. Our photographic interests lie specifically in places within Horizon Air’s route system. The airline’s territory is the Pacific Northwestern United States and Canada.

Los Angeles Times Travel Section – Los Angeles Times Travel Section, both print and online, is looking for bold, original travel features that tell a great story and are strong character-driven or first-person narratives. Stories should be sophisticated, compelling, complete and written with flair. They should evoke a strong sense of place (sounds, colors, smells, tastes), time (when did you go?), expertise and personal perspective, and they should be written with a precise story angle in mind. To that end, we seek two kinds of destination stories: Weekend Escapes and longer destination features.

MotorHome Magazine – MotorHome Magazine is devoted to covering all aspects of the RV lifestyle, including travel destinations, activities and events, the newest motorhomes on the market, do-it-yourself proj- ects and RV service and repair recommendations. Travel destinations are virtually unlimited — as long as they are accessible by motorhome. We are seeking adventure features on lesser-known but exciting destinations and attractions, as well as articles on more widely known areas written with an RV-related approach.

National Parks Magazine –  National Parks Magazine  is an award-winning, quarterly magazine known nationwide for high-quality photography and reproduction, depending heavily on contributions from both professional and outstanding amateur photographers. The magazine is published by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), a non-profit group dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the National Park System. While historically the magazine has covered more policy-oriented park issues, today’s editors have begun to include subjects that encompass travel, natural history, politics, conservation, and our country’s heritage and cultural diversity.

Nevada Magazine – Nevada Magazine  is the official state tourism magazine. Since the publication first appeared in 1936, readers have relied on  Nevada Magazine  for informative and entertaining features on the Silver State. Readers are active travelers and Nevada enthusiasts. We also print  Nevada Events & Shows  and  Las Vegas Events & Shows , as well as other special projects.

New Mexico Magazine –  New Mexico Magazine  is about the power of place — in particular this place: more than 120,000 square miles of mountains, desert, grasslands, and forest inhabited by a culturally rich mix of individuals. The magazine is an enterprise of the New Mexico Tourism Department, who strives to make potential visitors aware of our state’s multicultural heritage, climate, environment and uniqueness. The magazine features high-quality images from a variety of sources for our monthly publication and annual Vacation Guide. We obtain these images from freelance photographers on both stock and assignment basis.

Oklahoma Today –  Oklahoma Today  is a regional bimonthly magazine. All of the magazine’s editorial content focuses on the best of Oklahoma’s people, places, events, and culture. We are known for our high-quality scenic photos, but we also know that people are a very important asset to stories and like to see them in photographs when appropriate. The one common denominator we seek in photographs is for them to evoke a sense of place.

Oregon Coast Magazine – Oregon Coast Magazine  features stories of regional interest, written in a clear, crisp style that is rich in anecdotes and quotes. OCM does not send out “want lists” but will review photographer’s pertinent work. Send no more than 40 samples. We accept only scenic photos for calendars, and scenic and human interest photos for the magazine and guide.

Outdoor Canada Magazine –  Outdoor Canada is Canada’s leading national magazine for those interested in traditional outdoor activities. We cover fishing, hunting and related conservation issues. As our name suggests, the content is entirely Canadian. We are looking for strong, attention-grabbing images that capture the love our readers have for hunting and fishing. We’re interested in finding and cultivating new Canadian talent and appreciate submissions from new photographers and illustrators to add to our list.

Outdoor Photographer  – Outdoor Photographer is a national magazine published 11 times per year for enthusiasts with a special passion for nature, travel and outdoor sports. Outdoor Photographer is written and presented to accomplish two ends: to stimulate outdoor, sporting and nature enthusiasts to enhance their recreational and travel enjoyment through photography, and to satisfy the needs of amateur and professional photographers with a special interest in the outdoors. The majority of the magazine’s features and several departments are freelance-written and -photographed. We look for a variety of contributors from different backgrounds and geographic areas.

Outpost Magazine – Outpost Magazine  is Canada’s best travel magazine. In every issue of our travel magazine, we aspire to take our readers on an amazing journey to the planet’s most incredible destinations. Our travel magazine focuses on adventure travel, world cultures, world history, local cultures, eco-tourism and more.

Outside – Outside  is a monthly national magazine dedicated to covering the people, sports and activities, politics, art, literature, and hardware of the outdoors. In particular, we cover outdoor events, regions, and activities; informative seasonal service pieces; sports and adventure travel pieces; profiles of engaging outdoor characters; and investigative stories on environmental issues.

Outside Bozeman Magazine – Outsize Bozeman Magazine is a seasonal publication that explores and celebrates the outdoor world of southwest Montana. Our magazine examines not only the dramatic beauty of the landscape and the innumerable recreational possibilities it affords, but also the issues surrounding its use and the wide range of lifestyles it engenders. It is both an interesting, entertaining journal and an informative where-to guide for fun and adventure in Bozeman’s outdoors.

Pennsylvania Magazine – Pennsylvania Magazine  is a bimonthly magazine emphasizing history, travel, and contemporary topics. Uses about 40 photos/issue, most supplied by freelancers. Needs travel, wildlife and scenic, but all photos must be taken in Pennsylvania, USA.

Perceptive Travel – Perceptive Travel Web Magazine is not interested in guidebook-type destination rundowns or stories that are very wide in scope. Think small and focused. Tell us a good story or immerse us in a place we haven’t already read about a hundred times. Have a point, a clear angle.  Only articles from authors with book(s) in print  will be accepted.

Ride Texas – Ride Texas  is a journalism award-winning travel magazine for motorcyclists. We publish work that emphasizes storytelling using compelling photography and engaging narrative. We need a strong selection of photographs with subjects that show insight into the topic. RT wants to transport the reader to the place with vivid imagery. We need bikes and roads, but as important are images of interesting places, strange/unusual things, and people.

Russian Life – Russian Life  covers Russian culture, travel, history, cities, towns, politics, art, geography, issues, business and society. RL often focuses on current issues and events facing Russia and Russians. But it is not a newsmagazine. Several departments will be of interest to travel photographers.

Saudi Aramco World – Saudi Aramco World  publishes positive and non-political stories of lasting educational value about aspects of the Arab and Muslim worlds, their arts, history, geography, biography, cross-cultural connections and trends. Saudi Aramco World   welcomes proposals from free-lance writers and photographers, who supply nearly all of the magazine’s content.

Texas Highways – Texas Highways is the official travel magazine of Texas. Features Texas roadtrips, travel tips, recipes, Texas Gifts and much more. To be considered for an assignment, please e-mail the photo editor a portfolio that includes five of your best images.

TAzine – TAzine  is the digital edition of what used to be Transitions Abroad Magazine. TAzine is dedicated to work, study, living, volunteering, and cultural immersion travel abroad. Its purpose is the dissemination of practical information leading to a greater understanding of other cultures through direct participation in the daily life of the host community.   Our greatest ongoing need is for interesting and engaging close-ups of people of other countries in a “natural” setting for our webzine covers. Subjects of photos should be seen in the context of their normal lives, not as interesting curiosities for tourists.

Times of the Islands – Times of the Islands focuses on in-depth topics specifically related to Turks and Caicos Islands. Photography needs include landscapes/scenics, environmental, wildlife, adventure, architecture, travel, and scuba diving. Photos must be specific to Turks and Caicos Islands.

Travel + Leisure Magazine –  Travel + Leisure fuses expert reporting on culture, food, style, and design with stunning photography, transporting readers to the places-and the travel experiences-that matter now. To be considered for photography submissions, please have a website or relevant travel work.

TravelWorld International Magazine –  TravelWorld International Magazine (TWI) is published by the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and highlights the writing of its members even though it is geared for the general public. The magazine is published every other month and includes a variety of travel features and columns. You must be a NATJA member in good standing in order to submit work.

Up Here –  Up Here  is the flagship magazine of Canada’s North, exalting, exploring and examining the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and related Northern areas for a national and international audience curious and passionate about the region. Needs photos of Northern Canada including landscapes/scenics, environmental, wildlife, adventure, and performing arts.

Vagabundo Magazine – Vagabundo Magazine  is the world’s premier online travel magazine committed to the goal of inspiring travellers everywhere to hit the road and make their dreams a reality. Born with the vision of serving a community of like-minded independent travellers, as well as those with ambitions to travel, Vagabundo Magazine aims to be the number one platform for reading and sharing fantastic travel stories and experiences in a unique digital-only format.

Verge Magazine – Verge  is the magazine for people who travel with purpose. It explores ways to get out and see the world by volunteering, working and studying overseas. Editorial content in Verge Magazine is intended to inform and motivate the reader by profiling unique individuals and experiences that are timely and socially relevant. We look for articles that are issue-driven and combine an engaging and well-told story with nuts-and-bolts how-to information.

Vermont Magazine – Vermont Magazine  has been a trusted independent source of information and inspiration for over 25 years, and emphasizes all facets of Vermont culture, business, sports, people, crafts, architecture and more.

Wanderlust – Wanderlust, the UK’s leading magazine for people with a passion for travel, was launched in 1993 by Paul Morrison and Lyn Hughes, who schemed the project on a flight to Ecuador. Wanderlust regularly uses freelance photographers and photo libraries. Years on,  Wanderlust  leads the way in the production of intelligent and inspirational travel publishing, picking up awards and accolades along the way with its blend of quirky features, practical reviews and tips, and insights and ideas.

Wild Junket Magazine  –  WildJunket Magazine  is a digital flipbook magazine with a focus on outdoor adventures and special interest journeys. Our mission is to inspire readers to travel light and travel far.  As an advocate of active travel, we encourage readers to go beyond the conventional trail and seek out extraordinary experiences. We see travel as an experience that enriches our lives and makes us better people – and we want to share that invaluable experience with you. Each section presents a different travel angle, ranging from photo essays to short dispatches and food articles, and many sections use high-quality photos to illustrate different aspects of travel.

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Going Deeper Underground: Photographer Alexey Fokin on the Moscow Metro

Moscow’s metro system is mainly known as being one of the most beautiful in the world, but photographer and actor-in-training Alexey Fokin (1995) is more interested in the gritty, human side of it. Born and raised in Russia’s hectic capital, he knows the city inside-out, and loves to go underground to capture the diverse faces of this metropolis.

Whereas most sane people would try to avoid the chaotic rush hour in the subway, Alexey enjoys getting up early, taking his camera, and capturing Muscovites making their way to work. “People are rude, everybody wants to sit down, and you’ll see faces looking like they want to kill somebody. And themselves,” he laughs, “but then suddenly, there’s a smile.” Preferring the busy stations in the city centre which connect two or more of the 14 lines, he walks through the tunnels, rides the escalators, and boards the trains – looking for scenes worth shooting.

It is hard to imagine that Alexey only took up photography two years ago. But his shots effortlessly show what life inside one of the world’s busiest metro systems is like. They display everything you expect, and more. The lovers, the cleaner, the babushka, the businessman, the tourist, the youngster, the beggar, the child. They tell you their stories with their eyes, their newspapers, their pets, their musical instruments, their flowers, their groceries, their phones, their clothes. Some with the stunning architectural backdrop of the famous stations, others in sober and at first sight unnoteworthy settings.

He likes to think of the Moscow subway as an underground metropolis in itself, as “another city with other rules”. Even though he considers it to be different from its actual streets, this subsurface universe reflects the many different faces of the capital: “Maybe poor, maybe homeless, maybe with money: all of them in one place, where they are just looking for each other, sometimes confused. So many lines of love you can find there.”

With over 200 stations and countless kilometres of underground streets, Alexey notices that people behave in ways they wouldn’t above ground. You can find people – and animals – who actually live in Moscow’s parallel world. They are smoking on the trains, drinking, getting very intimate, feeling like ‘normal’ behavioural codes do not apply to life underneath the surface.

As he is currently in his last year of acting school, Alexey is busy every day from early in the morning until late at night. But his free time is inseparable from his camera, and his intention is to make a collected photo essay about life in different metros worldwide.

Until then, he continues to show how the metro is quintessentially part of Moscow culture. He believes that everyone in Moscow has a metro story, and he does a damn good job in telling several of them through his captivating work.

©AlexeyFokin @fokinman

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I was born and raised in a working-class city, Elektrostal, Moscow region. I received a higher education in television in Moscow. I studied to be a documentary photographer. My vision of the aesthetics of the frame was significantly influenced by the aesthetics of my city – the endless forests and swamps of the Moscow region with endless factories, typical architecture and a meagre color palette. In this harsh world, people live and work, raise children, grow geranium, throw parties and live trouble, run a ski cross. They are the main characters of my photo projects.

I study a person in a variety of circumstances. We blog with friends with stories of such people. We are citizen journalists. In my works, I touch upon the topics of homelessness, people’s attitude to their bodies, sexual objectification, women’s work, alienation and living conditions of different people. The opportunity to communicate with my characters gives me a sense of belonging and modernity of life.

My photos create the effect of presence, invisible observation of people. I don’t interfere with what’s going on, I’m taking the place of an outside observer. I’m a participant in exhibitions in Rome (Loosenart Gallery), Collaborated with the Russian Geographical Community.

30 Under 30 Women Photographers 2021

• --> --> Thailand Biennale 2023 / The Open World Dec 9, 2023 – Apr 30, 2024 Thailand Biennale Mueang Chiang Rai, Thailand The first edition of Thailand Biennale was initiated by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Thailand’s Ministry of Culture in Krabi in 2018, followed by Korat in 2021. By alternating the locations from various provinces throughout the country, the spirit of the Thailand Biennale decentralizes artistic activities (more…) Show Post >
• --> --> Tarek Lakhrissi: BLISS Feb 10 – May 20, 2024 Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst Zurich, Switzerland In his solo exhibition BLISS , Tarek Lakhrissi invites the audience on a journey: in a stage-like setting, visitors become protagonists in search of dreamy moments in the midst of chaos. Over the course of three acts, they encounter immersive installations, an enchanting film work and larger-than-life sculptures. (more…) Show Post >
• --> --> Tina Berning ARTIST / ILLUSTRATOR Featured Profile Tina Berning (b. 1969 / Braunschweig, Germany) is a Berlin based artist and illustrator. After working as a graphic designer for several years, she began to focus on drawing and Illustration. (more…) Show Post > See Full Profile >
• --> --> Anish Kapoor: Unseen Apr 11 – Oct 20, 2024 ARKEN Ishøj, Denmark Anish Kapoor’s monumental sculptures and installations speak directly to our senses and emotions. Through his unique eye for materials, shapes, colours and surfaces we are drawn into and seduced by his artwork, which turns the world upside down – often quite literally. Kapoor has been shown in the largest exhibition venues in the world, and he has also created several significant pieces for public spaces. (more…) Show Post >
• --> --> Pia Arke: Silences and Stories Feb 10 – May 11, 2024 John Hansard Gallery Southampton, UK In February 2024, John Hansard Gallery, in collaboration with KW Institute for Contemporary Art , Berlin, presents the first major survey of Danish-Greenlandic artist Pia Arke (1958–2007) to be shown outside of Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), and the Nordic countries. Seldom exhibited outside the Scandinavian context, this exhibition of Arke’s work is both timely and long overdue. (more…) Show Post >
• --> --> Jalan & Jibril Durimel Photographers Featured Profile Twin brothers Jalan & Jibril Durimel draw inspiration through their diversified upbringing between the French Antilles and the US. Born in Paris to parents from the island of Guadeloupe, at the age of 4 they moved to Miami where they first immersed themselves in American culture. (more…) Show Post > See Full Profile >
• --> --> Boris Mikhailov Photographer Featured Profile Ukrainian born Boris Mikhailov is one of the leading photographers from the former Soviet Union. For over 30 years, he has explored the position of the individual within the historical mechanisms of public ideology, touching on such subjects as Ukraine under Soviet rule (more…) Show Post > See Full Profile >
• --> --> Maria Sturm: You Don’t Look Native to Me Publication Void International In 2011, Maria Sturm began to photograph the lives of young people from the Lumbee Tribe around Pembroke, Robeson County, North Carolina. Through the process of documenting their lives, Sturm began to question her own understanding of what it means to be Native American. Her new book You Don’t Look Native to Me combines photographs with interviews and texts to preconceptions and show Native identity not as fixed, but evolving and redefining itself with each generation. (more…) Show Post >
• --> --> 30 Under 30 Women Photographers / 2024 Selections Announced Artpil International Artpil proudly announces for its 15th Edition the selection of  30 Under 30 Women Photographers  /  2024 . Founded in 2010, this annual selection has helped emerging, mid-career, as well as some accomplished women photographers to gain further exposure and participate in the collective among peers. (more…) Show Post > See Full Article >

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

When the landfill site is closed, discharge water filtration and clarification equipment is installed, the territory is covered with specific material and backfilled. Then many tubes used to purify gas are installed. The greatest danger in landfill restoration is the groundwater contamination. In and around Moscow there are a few dozens of waste deposits, some of which are growing higher than multistoried residential houses standing nearby.

During my work on the project, I visited 7 landfills in Moscow and the Moscow region. Some objects were guarded, and it was so absurd that the guards actually guarded a heap of rubbish.

While in these landfills, I saw that the liquid produced by the rotting waste flows out of the pipes sticking out on the slopes into the nearby rivers. Working on this project I wanted to show the rubbish not in the way everyone is used to see it. What is seen in front of our eyes is hilly landscapes, hiding million tons of consumer waste — a typical view of the contemporary system. We do not always see what is hidden.

Nikita Zhirkov

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Watch CBS News

What time the 2024 solar eclipse started, reached peak totality and ended

By Sarah Maddox

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 5:04 AM EDT / CBS News

The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible across North America today. As the moon's position between the Earth and sun casts a shadow on North America, that shadow, or umbra, will travel along the surface from west to east at more than 1,500 miles per hour along the path of totality . 

That means the eclipse will start, peak and end at different times — as will the moments of total darkness along the path of totality — and the best time to view the eclipse depends on where you are located. Some places along the path will have more totality time than others.

In Texas, the south-central region had clouds in the forecast , but it was better to the northeast, according to the National Weather Service. The best eclipse viewing weather was expected in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, as well as in Canada's New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

What time does the 2024 total solar eclipse start?

The total solar eclipse will emerge over the South Pacific Ocean before the shadow falls across North America, beginning in parts of Mexico. The path of totality , where onlookers can witness the moon fully blocking the sun (through eclipse viewing glasses for safety ), is expected to first make landfall near the city of Mazatlán around 9:51 a.m. MT. 

The total solar eclipse will cross over the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas, where it will emerge over Eagle Pass at 12:10 p.m. CT and then peak at about 1:27 p.m. CT.

In Dallas, NASA data shows the partial eclipse will first become visible at 12:23 p.m. CT and peak at 1:40 p.m. CT. The next states in the path of totality are Oklahoma and Arkansas, where the eclipse begins in Little Rock at 12:33 p.m. CT. 

Cleveland will see the beginning of the eclipse at 1:59 p.m. ET. Darkness will start spreading over the sky in Buffalo, New York, at 2:04 p.m. ET. Then, the eclipse will reach northwestern Vermont, including Burlington, at 2:14 p.m. ET. Parts of New Hampshire and Maine will also follow in the path of totality before the eclipse first reaches the Canadian mainland  at 3:13 p.m. ET.

Although the experience won't be exactly the same, viewers in all the contiguous U.S. states outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial eclipse. Some places will see most of the sun blocked by the moon, including Washington, D.C., where the partial eclipse will start at 2:04 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:20 p.m. ET.

In Chicago, viewers can start viewing the partial eclipse at 12:51 p.m. CT, with the peak arriving at 2:07 p.m. CT.  In Detroit, viewers will be able to enjoy a near-total eclipse beginning at 1:58 p.m. ET and peaking at 3:14 p.m. ET.

New York City will also see a substantial partial eclipse, beginning at 2:10 p.m. ET and peaking around 3:25 p.m. ET.

In Boston it will begin at 2:16 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:29 p.m. ET.

The below table by NASA shows when the eclipse will start, peak and end in 13 cities along the eclipse's path.

What time will the solar eclipse reach peak totality?

Millions more people will have the chance to witness the total solar eclipse this year than during the last total solar eclipse , which was visible from the U.S. in 2017. 

The eclipse's peak will mean something different for cities within the path of totality and for those outside. Within the path of totality, darkness will fall for a few minutes. The longest will last more than 4 minutes, but most places will see between 3.5 and 4 minutes of totality. In cities experiencing a partial eclipse, a percentage of the sun will be obscured for more than two hours.

Mazatlán is set to experience totality at 11:07 am PT. Dallas will be able to see the moon fully cover the sun at 1:40 p.m. CT. Little Rock will start to see the full eclipse at 1:51 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 3:13 p.m. ET and Buffalo at 3:18 p.m. ET. Totality will reach Burlington at 3:26 p.m. ET before moving into the remaining states and reaching Canada around 4:25 p.m.

Outside the path of totality, 87.4% of the sun will be eclipsed in Washington, D.C. at 3:20 p.m. ET, and Chicago will have maximum coverage of 93.9% at 2:07 p.m. CT. New York City is much closer to the path of totality this year than it was in 2017; it will see 89.6% coverage at 3:25 p.m. EDT. 

Detroit is another city that will encounter a near-total eclipse, with 99.2% maximum coverage at 3:14 p.m. ET. Boston will see 92.4% coverage at 3:29 p.m. ET.

What time will the solar eclipse end?

The eclipse will leave continental North America from Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NT, according to NASA.

At the beginning of the path of totality in Mazatlán, the eclipse will be over by 12:32 p.m. PT, and it will leave Dallas at 3:02 p.m. CT. The eclipse will end in Little Rock at 3:11 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 4:29 p.m. CDT and Buffalo at 4:32 p.m. ET. Burlington won't be far behind, with the eclipse concluding at 4:37 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, the viewing will end in Chicago at 3:21 p.m. CT, Washington, D.C. at 4:32 p.m. ET, and New York City at 4:36 p.m. ET. 

In Detroit, the partial eclipse will disappear at 4:27 p.m. ET, and in Boston, it will be over at 4:39 p.m. ET.

How long will the eclipse last in total?

The total solar eclipse will begin in Mexico at 11:07 a.m. PT and leave continental North America at 5:16 p.m. NT. From the time the partial eclipse first appears on Earth to its final glimpses before disappearing thousands of miles away, the celestial show will dazzle viewers for about 5 hours, according to timeanddate.com . 

The length of the total solar eclipse at points along the path depends on the viewing location. The longest will be 4 minutes and 28 seconds, northwest of Torreón, Mexico. Near the center of the path, totality takes place for the longest periods of time, according to NASA.

Spectators will observe totality for much longer today than during the 2017 eclipse , when the longest stretch of totality was 2 minutes and 32 seconds.

The moon's shadow seen on Earth today, called the umbra, travels at more than 1,500 miles per hour, according to NASA. It would move even more quickly if the Earth rotated in the opposite direction.

What is the longest a solar eclipse has ever lasted?

The longest known totality was 7 minutes and 28 seconds in 743 B.C. However, NASA says this record will be broken in 2186 with a 7 minute, 29 second total solar eclipse. The next total solar eclipse visible from parts of the U.S. won't happen until Aug. 23, 2044.

Sarah Maddox has been with CBS News since 2019. She works as an associate producer for CBS News Live.

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Your last-minute guide to Monday's total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday , offering millions a rare opportunity to see afternoon skies temporarily darken as the moon blocks the face of the sun.

Tune into NBC News NOW as Lester Holt hosts a two-hour special at 2 p.m. ET Monday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The eclipse's path fortuitously cuts across Mexico, 15 U.S. states and a small part of eastern Canada. In all other states in the continental U.S., viewers will be treated to a partial solar eclipse, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun and obscuring part of its light.

Here’s everything you need to know about the rare celestial event.

What is a solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses occur when the sun, moon and Earth align. The moon passes between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light and casting a shadow on Earth.

A total solar eclipse is when the moon fully obscures the sun, whereas a partial solar eclipse means it blocks just a portion of the sun’s face.

Solar eclipses occur only with the new moon. Because the moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted, the three bodies don’t always line up in a way that creates an eclipse.

“Imagine if the moon’s orbit were in the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun — if that were the case, then every new moon, you’d have a total solar eclipse and every full moon, you’d have a lunar eclipse,” Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, told NBC News. “So, because things don’t always align, it lends to the rarity of the event and the specialness of the event.”

Where and when will the eclipse be visible?

This year’s eclipse will follow a slightly wider path over more populated areas of the continental U.S. than other total solar eclipses have in the recent past.

NASA estimates that 31.6 million people live within what’s known as the path of totality, where the total solar eclipse will be visible. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path, according to the agency.

The path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Tiny parts of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.

After the eclipse crosses into Canada, it will pass over southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.

Those outside the path of totality can still take part in the astronomical event by viewing a partial solar eclipse — visible throughout all 48 states of the contiguous U.S. — or a NASA livestream.

The timing, including how long totality lasts, depends on the location, but some spots will see the moon fully cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

Below is a list of timings for some cities along the path of totality, as  provided by NASA . A number of other resources, including NationalEclipse.com  and  TimeandDate.com , can also help people plan.

• Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m.
• Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m.
• Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
• Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.

How to safely view a solar eclipse

It is never safe to gaze directly at the sun, even when it is partly or mostly covered by the moon. Special eclipse glasses or  pinhole projectors  are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent eye damage. Failing to take the proper precautions can result in severe eye injury,  according to NASA .

Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than normal sunglasses and specially made to enable wearers to look at the sun during these kinds of celestial events.

Sky-watchers should also never view any part of the sun through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses unless they have specific solar filters attached. Eclipse glasses should not be used with these devices, as they will not provide adequate protection.

However, during the few minutes of totality, when the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to look with the naked eye.

Beware of fake eclipse glasses. On legitimate pairs, the lenses should have a silver appearance on the front and be black on the inside. The manufacturer’s name and address should be clearly labeled, and they should not be torn or punctured. Check, as well, for the ISO logo and the code “IS 12312-2” printed on the inside.

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can make a homemade pinhole projector, which lets sunlight in through a small hole, focuses it and projects it onto a piece of paper, wall or other surface to create an image of the sun that is safe to look at. 

All you need is two pieces of white cardboard or plain white paper, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack. Cut a 1- to 2-inch square or rectangle out of the center of a piece of white paper or cardboard. Tape aluminum foil over that cut-out shape, then use a pin or thumbtack to poke a tiny hole in the foil.

During the eclipse, place a second piece of white paper or cardboard on the ground as a screen and hold the projector with the foil facing up and your back to the sun. Adjusting how far you hold the projector from the second piece of paper will alter the size of the image on the makeshift screen.

What to look for while viewing the total solar eclipse

For people along the path of totality, there are some fun milestones to keep track of as the total solar eclipse unfolds.

As the eclipse progresses and the sun gets thinner in the sky, it will start to get eerily dark, according to Tyson.

When the last beams of sunlight are about to become obscured, look out for the “diamond ring effect”: The sun’s atmosphere will appear as an illuminated halo, and the last light still visible will look like the diamond of a giant ring.

As the sunlight decreases even further, an effect known as Baily’s beads will be created by the moon’s rugged terrain. Tiny “beads” of light will be visible for only a few seconds around the dark moon, as the last bits of sunlight peer through the moon’s mountains and valleys.

When the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to remove eclipse glasses and look at the total solar eclipse with the naked eye.

Some lucky sky-watchers may even catch a glimpse of a comet .

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks — nicknamed the “ devil comet ” because an eruption last year left it with two distinct trails of gas and ice in the shape of devil horns — is currently visible from the Northern Hemisphere as it swings through the inner solar system.

The comet can be seen in the early evenings by gazing toward the west-northwest horizon. During the eclipse, when skies darken during totality, it may be possible to see the comet near Jupiter, but its visibility will depend on whether it’s in the middle of an outburst and thus brighter than normal.

Most likely, all eyes will be on the alignment of the moon and sun.

“Most people won’t even notice,” Tyson said. “But if you know to look, it’s there.”

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will be in 2026, but it will mostly pass over the Arctic Ocean, with some visibility in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain. In 2027, a total solar eclipse will be visible in Spain and a swath of northern Africa.

The next total solar eclipse visible from North America will be in 2033, but only over Alaska. Then in 2044, a total solar eclipse will cross Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, parts of Canada and Greenland.

The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S. coast-to-coast in will occur in 2045. The path of totality for that eclipse will cut through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

Lucas Thompson is a content producer for the NBC News Climate Unit.

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