Image via Complex Original
Travel photography, as many sub-genres of art and photography are, is largely undefined and encompasses a wide range of people, locations, cultures, and ideas. The Photographic Society of America defines it as "an image that expresses the feeling of a time and place, portrays a land, its people, or a culture in its natural state, and has no geographical limitations."
Publications that regularly support and commission travel photography are National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Food and Travel. If you find that a lot of the images resemble what you might just call a "cool" picture, or something you've taken yourself, you aren't necessarily incorrect. The line between amateur and professional in travel photography is much more blurred, allowing for a greater breadth and depth of image-makers in the field.
Enjoy The 25 Greatest Travel Photographers Right Now, and whether or not you're an enthusiast, make it an excuse to imagine an escape to a faraway land.
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25. Palani Mohan
25. Palani Mohan
Location: Hong Kong
Palani Mohan is a Hong Kong-based photographer. His work has been published in a variety of magazines including National Geographic, The New York Times, TIME and Newsweek. Mohan has also won awards from World Press Photo, American Photo, and Communications Arts, among others.
24. Marie Hennechart
24. Marie Hennechar
Location: Paris
Paris-based photographer Marie Hennechart spends most of her time traveling, exploring the world in search of new people, places, cultures, and (well designed) things. Hennechart has had many adventurous expeditions, scouting the Chateau de Versailles, checking out Nabokov's collection in St. Petersburg, and admiring Ernest Hemingway's Cuban house.
23. Michel Figuet
23. Michel Figuet
Location: Paris
After working with photographers such as Jean-Loup Sieff, Peter Lindbergh, Sarah Moon, and Sebastiao Salgado, Michel Figuet ventured on out on his own, taking extraordinary travel photography for numerous publications such as Vogue, Marie-Claire, Elle, and multiple editions of Condé Nast Traveler. The Paris-based photographer has also worked for brands like Gucci, Valentino, and Karl Lagerfeld, among others.
22. Blake Gordon
22. Blake Gordon
Location: Austin, TX/Boulder, CO
Blake Gordon works in a wide array of mediums, including performance, sound, art installation, and video, but his most regular gig is photography. Gordon's photographs have been featured in publications such as National Geographic, NPCA, The London Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Currently, Gordon splits his time between Austin, Texas and Boulder, Colorado.
21. Ariana Lindquist
21. Ariana Lindquist
Location: U.S./China
U.S. and China-based photographer, Ariana Lindquist, has shot for numerous clients including The Atlantic, NPR, The New York Times, TIME, and Savure. Lindquist has won first place in both The White House News Photographers Association's Best Use of Photography and Audio and the World Press Photo's A&E singles. She was also a Fulbright Grantee.
20. Caroline Allison
20. Caroline Allison
Location: Nashville, TN
Nashville-based photographer, Caroline Allison, studied at both the University of the South and the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited at PS1, The Bronx Museum of Art, Momentum Art Gallery, Bergdorf Goodman, and Chicago's NFA Gallery, among many others. Her work has appeared in publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker.
Website
19. Dook
19. Dook
Location: South Africa
Dook was born in Singapore in 1959 to British parents. His love of photography stemmed from his mother's interest in the craft. During his last year at boarding school, Dook, at the encouragement of his father, pursued a career in photography, obtaining his photographic training by working as an assistant instead of attending formal academic schooling.
18. Rob Howard
18. Rob Howard
Location: New York/Catskills
Rob Howard has been to over 135 different countries and all 50 states. He has shot for clients like Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveler, AT&T, Chase, GE, PepsiCo, and Levis. He currently splits time between New York and the Catskills.
17. Colin Roohan
17. Colin Roohan
Location: Tulsa, OK
Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Colin Roohan has been exploring the world documenting travel, culture, and life. Roohan's work has been published in magazines such as AFAR and Travel + Leisure.
Website
16. Penny de los Santos
16. Penny de los Santos
Location: New York
European-born, Texas-raised Penny de los Santos started photographing as a way to better understand her heritage. Currently, she is a Senior Contributing Photographer for Savure magazine and a Contributing Photographer for National Geographic.
15. Misha Gravenor
15. Misha Gravenor
Location: Los Angeles
San Francisco-born, Los Angeles-raised Misha Gravenor has been interested in photography since his mom gave him his first camera, a Kodak box camera. After studying at the Art Center in Pasadena, Gravenor set his sights on a photography career, receiving accolades from PDN, Communication Arts, and American Photography. The food, travel, and portrait photographer has published work in Dwell and Bon Appetite, among other publications.
14. Jason Lowe
14. Jason Lowe
Location: London
Jason Lowe is a photographer and videographer of food and culture all over the world. Lowe counts chefs Claudia Roden, Glennero Contaldo, and Fergus Henderson as clients. He has had his work published in many food and travel publications, including Bon Appetite, Food and Travel, and Saveur. Lowe has won two Glenfiddich awards for his beautiful work.
13. Jason Michael Lang
13. Jason Michael Lang
Location: Bankgkok, Thailand
Jason Micheal Lang is a Bankgkok-based photographer. He has shot for various publications such as The Atlantic, Condé Nast Traveller, Elle Décor China, GQ, Travel + Leisure, Wallpaper, and TIME.
Website
12. Berthold Steinhilber
12. Berthold Steinhilbe
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Stuttgart, Germany-based photographer, Berthold Steinhilber, is known for his landscape work and unique lighting techniques. Steinhilber studied photography at FH Dortmund and the College of Arts in Falmouth. His client list is international, and he has won several awards for his photography, including a World Press Award, a Kodak Young Talent Award, and a Reiner Wolf award.
11. Justin Guariglia
11. Justin Guariglia
Location: New York/Taipei
As Contributing Editor for National Geographic Traveler, Justin Guariglia has traveled the globe photographing numerous covers and feature stories for the publication. Guariglia lived in Asia for over a decade, spending time in various places like Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Taipei. Currently, Guariglia splits his time between New York and Taipei.
10. Eilon Paz
10. Eilon Paz
Location: New York
Eilon Paz is an Israeli-born photographer. He began taking photographs at the age of sixteen after his father gave him a Canon AE-1. In 1997, he traveled to the Far East and Australia. While in Sydney, Paz started assisting photographers with various projects ranging from portraits to conceptual to commercial. In 1999, he moved back home, opening his own studio in Tel-Aviv. Currently, he lives in Brooklyn and has started Dust and Groove, an interview-based photography project that documents vinyl collectors.
9. Justin Mott
9. Justin Mott
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Currently residing in Hanoi, Vietnam, editorial and commercial photographer, Justin Mott, works throughout Southeast Asia, photographing for both personal projects and client assignments. Mott has worked for publications and companies such as the New York Times, Newsweek, TIME, Bloomberg, and the Discovery Channel.
Website / Follow @jmott78
8. Jonas Bendiksen
8. Jonas Bendiksen
Location: Oslo, Norway
Norwegian photographer, Jonas Bendiksen, began his career when he was 19. Bendiksen interned at Magnum's London office before breaking out on his own. He spent several years in Russia documenting stories on communities. Bendiksen's editorial clients include National Geographic, Geo, Newsweek, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He has won several awards for his work, including the 2003 Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography and first prize in the Pictures of the Year International Awards. His work on life in a Nairobi slum, Kiera, which was published in the Paris Review, won a National Magazine Award in 2007.
7. Jessica Sample
7. Jessica Sample
Location: Los Angeles
Los Angeles-based photographer Jessica Sample studied at Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, and the International Center of Photography. Prior to her solo photography career, Sample acted as the Deputy Photo Editor of Travel + Leisure. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her long list of clients includes Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Food and Wine, GQ, The Wall Street Journal, and Hemispheres, among others.
6. Jake Stangel
6. Jake Stangel
Location: San Francisco
San Francisco-based photographer, Jake Stangel, has shot for numerous magazines and companies including The Atlantic, New York Magazine, Esquire, Travel + Leisure, Wired, Nike, Burton, Zara, and Wieden + Kennedy.
5. Tim Clinch
5. Tim Clinch
Location: England/France/Bulgaria
When Tim Clinch isn't traveling, he divides his time between England, France, and Bulgaria. Clinch has worked for various publications including Condé Nast Traveller, Forbes, Town and Country, and Home and Garden. Currently, Clinch is working on a new project with food writer, Kate Hill, about South West France and its food culture.
Website / Follow @clinchpics
4. Marie Takahashi
4. Marie Takahashi
Location: Tokyo
Marie Takahashi is an interiors, travel, and food photographer based in Tokyo. Takahashi graduated from the Nihon University College of Art with a degree in photography. Her work has appeared in numerous Tokyo publications including Hemispheres and AFAR.
3. Emily Mott
3. Emily Mott
Location: West Sussex, England
Emily Mott studied at Darthmouth College and at the Art Center College of Design in California. The West Sussex-based photographer has been published in numerous magazines including The New Yorker, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller, Esquire, Vogue UK, GQ, Wired and Savure.
2. Chris Testani
2. Chris Testani
Location: New York
Christopher Testani grew up in upstate New York, and he studied cinema and photography at Ithaca College. Before beginning his own career as a photographer, Testani assisted photographers like Mark Seliger and Ilan Rubin. His roster of publication clients includes AFAR, Destinations, Bon Appetite, Esquire, and Glamour, among others. In 2012, Testani made PDN's list of 30 Photographers to Watch.
1. John Huba
1. John Huba
Location: New York
Travel and portrait photographer, John Huba, has worked for clients like Vanity Fair, Town and Country, and Travel + Leisure. His vivid images immerse the viewer in the subject's culture, bringing a visual authenticity to his photographs. Huba started learning the trade under the great fashion photographer, Bruce Weber. It was in this position that Huba first discovered his excitement for travel.
