Our Favorite Travel Photos: 10 bloggers share the stories behind their favorite travel photos

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Geisha Maiko in Gion Kyoto, Japan

I’ve taken thousands of photos in really amazing places, but this one is my absolute favorite. I realized this as I was going through some of my photos and came to this one. As soon as I saw it, I filled with joy and pride and I could remember the exact moment that I took it.

Dave and I were on a trip with his parents in Kyoto. We split up with them for a bit because I wanted to head to Gion to see the geisha and maiko. We spotted this gorgeous maiko in an alley just behind the old famous geisha school in Gion. We had been perched there for ages, waiting patiently, as if we were stalking our prey. We spotted her from a ways back and tried to contain our excitement so that we could get a photo before the other tourists could block our shot. She walked expressionless and looked into my camera as I took her photo. Out of all of the places I have been, this moment and this photo is by far my favorite.

I got so inspired after seeing this photo that I decided to ask my blogger friends what their favorite travel photo is. Here are the results…

JessicaBowersFollow our ordinary family as we try to live an extraordinary life through travel at Suitcases and Sippy Cups. And on twitter and Facebook.

Feeding the Pigeons in St. Mark’s Square, Venice

This photo was taken in St. Mark’s Square in Venice and is a snapshot of everything I love about traveling with kids.  Here we are, in this iconic square, surrounded by inky, black canals and golden sunlight, but the most beautiful thing for miles is the joy on the faces of my children as they fully experience the joy of feeding the pigeons.  This picture is perhaps even more poignant because, shortly after we visited, feeding the pigeons was outlawed in St. Marks square.  This picture reminds me to live every moment to the fullest, for you never know if you will get another chance.

JessicaKayFollow Jess as she travels the world always looking for new adventures while attempting to control her wanderlust at A Passion and A Passport (blog), Twitter, and Facebook.

Oia, Santorini Greek Island honeymoon

This photo was taken in Oia, Santorini, during our Greek Island honeymoon last summer (2012).  I just love this photo, I really do.  Brings back some great memories, and it was taken around the time I began to really start enjoying photography!  The composition may be a bit off, but I love how the path leading down gives the impression you are going straight into the water.  Much of our honeymoon was spent in the water, so it’s a perfect fit!

SONY DSCAgness is a Polish vagabond who, after graduation, left her comfort zone and set off for a journey of her lifetime to China in 2011. She has been constantly travelling the world since then (slowly, but surely as she says), living like a local for less than $25 a day. Follow Agness on her blog, eTramping, on twitter and Facebook.

Fenghuang, Hunan province, China
One of the first places I was lucky to explore in China was Fenghuang – one of the oldest Chinese towns ever. I took a boat and I was admiring the incredible scenery for hours. Since that day, I love to explore every country/city/town by boat if possible (Fenghuang, Hunan province, China).
MegClaireThis next photo comes from Megan and Mike at
Mapping Megan.
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list!”
You can follow her journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram also.

Black Racer Snake Eating Frog

International wildlife is a passion both myself and husband Mike share, and this photo depicts one of Florida’s Black Racer Snakes devouring his favorite form of lunch!  The frog desperately clings to a nearby blade of grass in a last minute attempt to save his life, however at this stage there is no hope left for him!
There are round 50 species of snakes found in Florida, however only 6 are venomous and dangerous to humans.  The majority of snakes including this black racer are harmless and are protected as they play a beneficial role in natural ecosystems, eating insects, rodents, rabbits and, as you can see in this photograph, frogs!  We were lucky enough to snap this photo as the majority of snakes in Florida are not actually aggressive – and chances are they’re not going to attack in the middle of a meal!
charli-mooreWanderlusters: Freelance writer and blogger Charli is a digital nomad currently travelling the world with her other half Ben. Whether backpacking through Central America or road tripping around Australia they embrace each and every opportunity for adventure. Follow their blog, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Parque Colon in Granada Nicaragua
I took this shot in the Parque Colon in Granada Nicaragua. It was out third day in the city and I had yet to take a shot of the street children who had already featured so heavily in our experience of Nicaraguan life. I think I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to capture their spirit, innocent yet wise beyond their years. They appeared so fragile and alone yet terribly strong.

BennettThe Further Adventures of Bennett 
Bennett has spent over 21 months living and working in China and is ready for her next leap into the unknown in New Zealand.
You can also find Bennet on twitter and Facebook.

Piha Beach, Auckland, New Zealand

Piha Beach, Auckland, New Zealand

I took this photo on 29th December 2012. It overlooks Piha beach, before the road meanders down the hillside to the beach.

To me it sums up my time there over Christmas 2012, the waves, the beach and the too-hot-to-walk-on sand and especially the red Pohutekawa flower which only flowers around Christmas. I love this scenery and can’t wait to get back there in September!

Planet Lew“Life is an odyssey and I want to get lost as much as I can.” – Planet Lew

Follow Lew’s adventures: blog, twitter, Facebook

Trek to Amadalblam Everest Base Camp Himalaya

This photo is from my trek to Everest Base Camp. The lake was at Amadalblam Base Camp – a huge challenge to get to. Almost vertical for a few hours! But what a reward. This was high up on my bucket list and one of the few with a deadline – I wanted to complete it before I was 30. And I did! There are so many great memories from the trip. I will never forget the challenge, the achievement and camaraderie. The Himalaya are an awe-inspiring place and I’m glad I experienced a piece of it.
You can read the entire post about Lew’s Everest trek here.

Kimmy & Drew of AfterGlobeAfterGlobe
How one couple quit the American Dream and went after their own.
You can also find AfterGlobe on twitter and Facebook.

Snorkeling with Honu Hawaiian Sea Turtle MauiWhile snorkeling in the waters of Maui, we swam with this Honu (Hawaiian for sea turtle). Every time I see this picture it puts me back in the water, doing something I love in one of my favorite places in the world. It’s complete peace.

 JillOsteenHey, I’m Jill Osteen, an avid blogger and 32 year old Southern California native, who’s spent the last 4 years living and teaching English in South Korea.  I found the love of my life and now my husband, (who’s from North Carolina), in South Korea!!!  We’re back in America and on a 2 1/2 month road trip across the US!
We own a wedding / lifestyle photography business as well, Aaron Nicholas Photography. I can usually be found with my Nikon D700 tucked away in my over sized bag somewhere, ready for the perfect opportunity to snap a photo for a new blog post!
You can follow Jill’s incredible life through her must-see blog, Instagram and Pinterest.
Sunset over Grand Teton’s National Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

My husband loves to photograph sunsets, so while we were in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (The Grand Teton’s National Park) I decided I’d come along for the sunset adventure.  We parked the car and walked through the forest (dodging deer and buffalo) for a good mile or so before we reached this AMAZING spot to watch the sunset over the Teton Mountain range, along the snake river!

Do you have a favorite travel photo? I’d love to see it! Leave a link in the comments or email it to me.

53 thoughts on “Our Favorite Travel Photos: 10 bloggers share the stories behind their favorite travel photos”

  10. What a fabulous post! I wanted to share a photo from my 2012 Bike Trip … but … I’m not smart enough to figure out how to make a link to a photo. How pitiful is that 🙂 Anyway, imagine the reflection of trees in the waters of the Ocoee River in Cherokee National Forest!

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  15. I’m really impressed by all of the photos. They are all special and amazing! Well done to us :). Thank you so much for having me there. It was my pleasure to share one of my favourite photos from Fenghuang with you. Megan, what a great snapshot!!! WOW!!

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  18. This is a beautiful collection!

    One of my favorite photos is while in Amsterdam. I was almost run over by bicyclists a hundred times! Finally, I caught a quiet moment where life just stood still. Quintessential Amsterdam: pic.twitter.com/EFFGqOWnrZ

    One more all-time favorite was in Boston, MA Public Gardens. It was autumn and is typical of the area, the turning of the leaves was incredibly beautiful. I was shooting everywhere. Then I saw her… This tiny little girl in her pink outfit arms out embracing the wind. She looked so small compared to the tree. When you focus on her in the photo, though, she becomes the centerpiece.
    pic.twitter.com/7RZc9ZifEB

    Please keep sharing! I love to see other traveler’s moments frozen in time.

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    • Great photos! I’d love to visit Amsterdam. My boyfriend is half dutch so he still has a lot of family living in the Netherlands. And the pic in Boston is lovely. I love fall and it’s so much fun to see people stopping to take in the beauty of a moment. Thank you so much for sharing these with me!

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    • Thanks, Christine! The maiko were my absolute favorite part about Kyoto. They’re so beautiful. Because you have to wait around for a while to see one, it feels really gratifying to spot one and to get a good photo. We actually found the perfect place to wait and a few times we were able to get photos before anyone else saw them.

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  20. Some fantastic photos! And new blogs to follow. We were just in Kyoto in January, and while we saw a few maiko, I didn’t attempt to get any pictures except for behind. I still feel really weird about taking peoples photos! It just seems so intrusive, unless I can ask them for a photo in their language. I’m glad you did though, that photo is gorgeous!

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    • I feel really weird taking photos of people too. In this situation I wasn’t bothered because people were lining the streets like paparazzi. I think it’s an occupational hazard for them. I have a few other photos of maiko. One of these days I’ll do a post about them.

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  22. Great pictures, everyone! Excellent job compiling them, each of these makes me want to leave Korea 😉 I’ll go through and find one from my collection, hopefully it’s up to par!

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  25. Oh man. This is amazing! I kept staring at the first photo & the one of the little boy with the pigeon on his head SO perfectly captures joy. These photos really do remind me how beautifully a moment can be frozen in time and take you back to that time and special place. How wonderful!!!

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