Master Storytellers: 5 Travel Photographers Share Images from All Over the World

Master Storytellers: 5 Travel Photographers Share Images from All Over the World

No matter where in the world they find themselves, travel photographers have a keen eye for connection, and are some of the rare few that have mastered the ability to truly capture the essence of people, places and cultures. We look to these professional storytellers to bring us glimpses of other worlds and inspiration for our own adventures.

All of these travel photographers are part of The List – a selection of 90 finalists from those who applied in our 80,000+ community of PhotoShelter members, chosen by a panel of independent judges.

Check out some of their memorable moments below.

Feature photo by Michael Runkel

Himanshu Khagta

Primary location: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

“Himanshu Khagta is one of the top travel and editorial photographers in India. He has captured some of the most remote regions in the Himalayas and is in constant demand for his editorial work. His work has been published in numerous publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveller, BBC Travel, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic Traveler.”

Students of government school in their classrooms in Bettiah, Bihar
A young man trying to find a network in this special spot above Komic village. In the higher villages with no network, some special spots that receive a little bit of signal are frequented by the people with mobile phones.

Tuul and Bruno Morandi

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

“Tuul and Bruno Morandi’s photos reveal the moments of truth that punctuate our everyday lives. Their images invite us on a journey. But more than just that — they also summon us to ponder over the fragile beauty of our environment, whether it is human, natural or cultural. Their work is regularly published in the international press and exhibited at many festivals.”

Nepal, young Chetri girl working as porter, Dorpatan area, West Nepal
India, Rajasthan, Sari Factory, Sita Devi, 40 old. Textile are dried in the open air. Collecting of dry textile are folded by women and children. The textiles are hung to dry on bamboo rods. The long bands of textiles are about 800 meter in length.

Jeremy Horner

Primary location: Bangkok, Thailand
Instagram

“Jeremy Horner’s unique images — a harmonious fusion of light and color — are in constant demand by leading international publications such as National Geographic, GEO, Conde Nast Traveller, The Telegraph and Colors. His career has taken him to more than 100 countries around the world.”

A shepherdess of Amantani Island cradles a lamb in her arms as the sun sets over Lake Titicaca.
Sarees and other garments are woven, bleached then dyed before being printed in the town of Pali, before being distributed all over the subcontinent. It is Jodhpur’s nearest neighbour across the desert and an important source of industry.

Mitchell Kanashkevich


Instagram | Facebook

“Throughout much of his adult life, Mitchell Kanashkevich has been traveling, seeking adventure and learning from different cultures. Photography became an excuse to look deeper and to make his travel experiences more intense. His main goal as a photographer is to create the kinds of images which combine a strong sense of story, and convey what it felt like to be with the people he met in the places he visited. He is a Panasonic LUMIX Ambassador, and 2015 Travel Photographer of the Year Winner for the People/Faces category.”

Kusti is India’s traditional wrestling on red soil — a sport which is gradually dying out in most parts of India due to the government’s pressures on the traditional Kusti schools to abandon ways of the past, embrace international wrestling standards and win medals at the Olympics. Kolhapur is one city where Kusti is still thriving. Rural families from the area send their boys to the city’s Thalims or Akharas — traditional wrestling schools, where the young men dedicate themselves entirely to the sport. Grueling daily training, strict diet and celibacy for the duration of their careers are necessary if they hope to ever achieve their dream — to become a champion ‘pailwan’ (wrestler), in front of crowds which can reach as many 20,000 spectators.
The Ethiopian Church is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 4th Century AD when Orthodox Christianity was made the official religion of the Axumite Kingdom, present day Ethiopian region of Tigray. Over the centuries, Christianity has shaped the people’s psyche, as well as the landscape of Tigray, where hundreds of churches and monasteries have been erected and even carved right into mountain faces, so abundant in the region. Modern-day Tigray has been at the cross roads of natural disasters, conflict and political turmoil. These difficulties have led to virtually no development in much of the region’s rural areas. While the lack of development has translated into relatively low living standards, the scarcity of contact with the modern-world has also meant that Christian Ethiopia’s ancient culture, traditions and history have been preserved in Tigray’s remote corners better than virtually anywhere else. In Tigray, even the most remote and the most ancient of the churches and monasteries still function and the people in nearby villages still go about their lives much as they have for hundreds of years.

Michael Runkel

Primary location: Nuremberg, Germany
Instagram | Facebook

“Michael Runkel is a freelance and commercial travel photographer. He has photographed every country in the world and most of the planet’s provinces. His images have appeared in guidebooks, newspapers, magazines, advertising, and various multimedia globally, including the New York Times, National Geographic Traveller, Conde Nast, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Penguin Books and more.”

What are some of your travel essentials?
“I always take an extra tiny little Osprey bag with me which unfolds to a small backpack. This is very handy in remote unsafe places where you will receive immediate attention if you show up with a big camera bag. For example, if I go to a market, I would take only one camera and let’s say a 24-70mm lens. This would cover well in the small bag. I’ve used that system for many years, and I’ve never had anything stolen.”

Colorful springs of acid in Dallol, hottest place on earth, Danakil depression, Ethiopia
Giant King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony before a cruise ship, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Antarctica

  

Check out our Instagram for more beautiful shots from these photographers and the blog for more highlights from other members of The List.

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There are 2 comments for this article
  1. Pingback: Master Storytellers: 5 Travel Photographers Share Images from All Over the World
  2. Shane McDonald at 10:17 am

    These are some amazing photos. I love the shepherdess of Amantani, beautiful colours and lines in that. The quality of the photos are stunning and where I would love to go with my own photography.

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