I'm Emily and I live and work in Philadelphia, though I do my best to see other parts of the world as often as possible.. There’s nothing I love more than exploring a new (or familiar) place with my camera and learning about cultures other than my own. Starting when I was just a baby, my family often crisscrossed the United States by plane, hitchhiking, or a hippie bus called the Gray Rabbit, to visit relatives scattered around the country. During the sweaty summer between my sophomore and junior years `of college, I ventured out on my own and drove my trusty (and air conditioning-free) 1992 Nissan Sentra out to San Francisco and back, discovering for the first time how much I enjoy the open road and traveling solo. Spending a semester abroad in Rome the following year really got me hooked on international travel, and I’ve had the bug ever since.
Read More#ISTANINSTA2014: TURKEY BY MANDY CAI
As part of our new Frequent Flyer series, we will be posting follow up stories from previously spotlighted travelers. Mandy is one of those inspiring creatives that is not afraid to veer into unchartered territory and dare to fiercely travel the world. In her previous feature, she shared why she decided to relocate to China from Australia. Now she's back to share what it was like when she and 19 other strangers from 5 different countries decided to plan a trip together.
The IstanInsta2014 came to be when two lovely ladies Geny and Christina were speaking about how cool it would be to do an international meet and get to know some of the people they have been interacting with on Instagram in real life. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the trip as well as help out with some of the organization.
Read MoreICELAND BY ANANYA RAY
My name is Ananya Ray and I am 23 years old and. My trip to Iceland was essentially a graduation present from my father since I recently graduated from university. I have also been traveling since childhood, mainly a result of having parents that liked to always be on the move. I think traveling has helped me learn a lot about myself and each time I travel I seem to gain a better understanding what I want from life. I like to describe myself as a hyperactive toddler that wants to travel all the time and see as much as I can; always awaiting for my next adventure. As for photography and travel, they are pretty interconnected for me. I want to capture interesting and fun images so that later in life I can look through them and reminisce about how each place helped me add a new layer into my life.
Read MoreMOROCCO BY SARAH CHAABO
My Name is Sarah and I currently live in Sydney, Australia. Two years ago I decided to turn my photography passion from a hobby to a part time profession to balance out my corporate day-job and haven’t looked back. The first country I visited was Lebanon, my country of birth that I left at the age of 3. It was a life changing experience for me because not only was I discovering an amazing country full of history, contrasts and culture, I was also reconnecting with my ancestry. I felt a connection to the land and people that I have never felt as an adult and migrant in Australia. It cemented my feeling of being a global citizen and validated my lack of attachment to one place over another.
Read MorePERU BY GUILLAUME FLANDRE
My name is Guillaume Flandre, I’m 28 and I’m a web developer living in Paris. I first started shooting with a point and shoot camera during my travels, and began to be more and more interested in photography when I moved to New York 5 years ago. What I love about traveling is the getting-out-of-your-comfort-zone aspect of it. Being lost in unknown streets in a country where you don’t speak the language is one of the most exciting feelings there is! I believe my very first experience abroad was going to Barcelona with my parents. But the true experience that made me fall in love with traveling was traveling by myself for a couple of weeks in Lithuania back in 2006.
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