Life on the Go: trashand, 13thwitness, and Bee Walker Share Their Favorite Places Around the Globe

The three photographers reveal their favorite cities, countries, and locales to shoot in.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The world's most cutting-edge, non-traditional, and forward-facing photographers are in various far-flung locations when Complex catches up with them—a testament to the wanderlust that drives their creativity. The Instagram famous trashhand, known for his beautiful shots of distressed landscapes, is in Chicago. Another beloved IG photographer, 13thwitness, dials in from a venue in Houston while on the road with Beyoncé (no big deal). Meanwhile, Bee Walker is at her home in New York City, along with fellow photographer, business partner, and husband Rog Walker.

From exploring their own backyards to traveling the world, these three photographers throw themselves into all kinds of unfamiliar situations to capture stories and share them with the rest of us. Photography has afforded trashhand, 13thwitness, and Bee Walker the opportunity to visit new places and push the bounds of artistic expression.

Here, the three discuss their favorite cities, countries, and locales around the globe to shoot in.

trashhand

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Website: trashhand.com

Handle: @trashhand

What are some of your favorite locations to shoot at?

Mostly urban. I love heavily populated cities with a ton of architecture, intensity, character, authenticity, and history. Obviously, my favorite place to shoot is Chicago.

Chicago has grown to become a home for cutting-edge music and pop culture. Have you seen how that's influenced the facade of the city?

Chicago is coming into its own and finally getting the light it deserves. As long as America's existed, New York and L.A. have taken the shine for everything, especially from a creative standpoint. Now with all the music, style, and photography coming out of the city, we're starting to get our own spotlight.

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Outside of Chicago, where has photography taken you?

Everywhere! Africa, Bhutan, Madrid, Iceland, Istanbul, Paris, Barcelona…

Which place would you say contains the subjects that inspire you the most?

I would have to say India. India is filled with authenticity and intensity. My senses were on overload there. People were very real. When I took their photos, they never once changed their expression or standpoint. They were them the whole time. I appreciated that. Nobody prevented me from taking their photos. Most of the time, somebody would tell me to get out of the way, but in India, it was a free for all. I also love London—the style, the life, the history, the character of that city. It's so international, but it holds onto its roots very well.

Is there any place you've traveled to that's disappointed you?

I wasn't a big fan of Dubai. That surprised me considering how in love I am with architecture, symmetry, and lines. That's what Dubai is all about. But there's nothing genuine about that city. It's the Vegas of another desert. There's no history or character there, just architecture. Even though I'm a fan of architecture, there needs to be something more. I wanna capture a city that has soul. Dubai has a long way to get there.

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Is there anywhere you haven't been that's still on your bucket list?

Hong Kong and Shanghai are on the top of my list. I wanna go to Ukraine and I'm dying to check out Chernobyl. I also wanna go to Russia and check out St. Petersburg. Then there's Chile, Argentina… so much of the world. When I go to a new city, I try to book trips for as long as I can and go as hard as I can. I don't wanna leave that country feeling like I have to come back because there's so much more in the world to go see.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face when you're shooting at a location you've never been to before?

Trying to see everything from a brand new perspective. Trying to open your mind. The most important thing is to document everything that is you.

13thwitness

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Website: 13thwitness.com

Handle: @13thwitness

What are your favorite locations to shoot at?

I'm from New York, so I explore the city and shoot random places. Whenever I have an opportunity to travel, I like to get out and see the world.

Where has photography taken you?

It's taken me to a lot of places. But it's not about the places; it's the people who I've met through photography in those places. Whether other photographers, artists, or whoever it is that I'm shooting, I build relationships with them.

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Where have your subjects interested you most?

I recently went on a two-week trip to India, one of my favorite places I've ever traveled to. Most of my photography is based around places and landscapes, but in India, it was a lot of portraits. The incredible colors and faces of people in India, the different looks and personalities—that was refreshing.

Do you have a bucket list of places you'd love to shoot in?

I'd love to go to Iceland, Alaska, maybe the Maldives. I've been lucky enough to go to Japan, Dubai, Hawaii, Europe, China… I've already ticked off so many on my list.

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Are there any places you've been to that have disappointed?

Huh, that's a good question. I try to make the best out of every place. There's good everywhere, you just need to find it.

What are the biggest challenges when you're shooting in an environment that's unfamiliar to you?

Some places you go to, you don't have any idea of what you're getting yourself into. It can get tricky. Always have someone else with you when you're going to places you haven't been before. You can be in situations sometimes where you'll need someone to help you out.

Bee Walker

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Website: beewalker.com

Handle: @beewalker_

What are your favorite locations to shoot at?

New York City. I particularly love downtown neighborhoods like Chinatown, as well as the Upper East Side. Whenever I can, I love to go abroad to shoot.

Where has photography taken you?

So many places. Domestically, it's taken me to Oakland, Seattle, San Francisco. Abroad I've gone to Ghana, Jamaica, Haiti... Haiti was fascinating, and I wouldn't have had the chance to go unless it was for a specific project.

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Where are the subjects that have interested you the most?

I'd still say New York. The city is so diverse. There are people from everywhere, and little enclaves that are harder to find elsewhere. The thing about New York is the vibrant, modern, cosmopolitan culture. You can find a Polish neighborhood in Brooklyn, or generations of Bangladeshis living in Queens. Even around where I live in the Bronx, there are so many communities of people who are culturally and ethnically really diverse.

You must have watched New York develop physically over the years, too…

Yeah, it's amazing to see. Even SoHo has changed so much from when I was first hanging out there. The pulse of culture moves. There are still some really traditional American images here too on the Upper East Side, like after school when you see all the kids in uniforms coming out of private school. It's wonderful.

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Are there places on your bucket list you want to go to?

I wanna go to Brazil, but that aside, I don't have a bucket list. I'm open, and opportunities pop up. We're going to New Orleans later this year again. It's one of the best cities in America. I'm going to Italy in a week. I've never been there before. When I was younger, my parents brought me to places that I've been able to go back to shoot. I'd love to revisit some more places from my childhood. My family moved to Zimbabwe for a few years, and I'd love to photograph that. We were in Edinburgh in Scotland after that, and my husband and I want to head out there and photograph it. We also lived in Burnley (this small town in the UK), and I'd love to go back there.

Is there anywhere that hasn't lived up to your expectations?

Not really, no. I wind up finding things that I love to shoot. When I went to Oakland, there was nothing to take photographs of. That's the weirdest feeling. Then a friend took us into the mountains, and it was gorgeous. There was a labyrinth, hiking, beautiful sunsets, and I wound up getting photographs.

What are the biggest challenges to shooting in a place you've never been to before?

Actually, that's the best thing for photographing—the feeling that I've never seen something before, that I don't know what the light would do. I feel really in the moment and I love that.

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