Behind the Lens With 24 Best Travel Photographer Michaela Trimble

Stunning scenes from nature and civilization, Michaela Trimble, one of Fathom's 24 Best Travel Photographers 2016, captures the world with a discerning eye for beauty. She talks about her photography style and shares a few favorite images.

Tell us a little about yourself

I'm a Brooklyn-based travel writer. At the end of April, I wrapped up a South America adventure with photographer Marianna Jamadi. We documented our experience in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru for several publications and on social media using our hashtag, #babesinsouthamerica. After our adventure, I went to Kosovo, Macedonia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

My friends tease me because when I'm traveling I always say, "I could live here for a while." But I really feel that way about so many places. I love the world we live in and find infinite beauty in different cultures and ways of life. I think I get this from my childhood. My mother's job required us to move often, and by the time I left for college, I had no problem with comings and goings, the hellos and goodbyes. It felt natural to continue this into adulthood. I crave the initial feeling of stepping into a place I've never been.

How would you describe your photography style?

I mostly report on adventure travel and cuisine as a portal into the culture of a destination. My photography mimics this, as I gravitate toward dreamy aerial shots at markets and the vast images of barren deserts or lush rainforests.

What do you love most about photographing on the road?

I love the idea of movement. Staying on the road fascinates me and my favorite sidekick is my camera. I'm constantly inspired and uninhibited by a traditional day-to-day schedule, which makes my writing and photography more fluid and insightful. When I'm on the go, I'm meeting countless new people, having new awakenings and experiences in unfamiliar places. I want to hold those memories forever. My camera and stories allow me to do that. It's my way of never saying goodbye to the people and places I love most in this world.

Where are you headed next?

My next travels include an orca kayaking expedition in British Columbia, a road trip from Seattle to Lake Tahoe, a hike from Italy's Lake Como to the Swiss Alps, and a journey through Alaska to eventually arrive at the Adventure Travel World Summit in Anchorage.