10 of our favourite images from the year

From cataloguing the diversity of cultures and people all over the world to fuelling wanderlust with breath-taking images of coastlines, cities, towns and landscapes, there’s no doubt that travel photography can inspire us in many different ways. With that in mind, Lonely Planet Travel News is looking back at photographers who changed our view of the world this year.

1. The series that showed us what 8am looks like around the world

Belgian photographer Pascal Mannaerts travelled to more than 50 countries for his series entitled 8am Around the World, meeting with a variety of different people from all walks of life in order to create portraits and snapshots of how they start their days. From images of the morning sun on the facades of buildings in the desert of Mauritania to commuters on their way to work in Japan, the project showcases the stark differences of cultures. “I was amazed to see how lifestyles, moods and daily activities can be so different from one place to another. It is the beauty and the diversity of peoples that stands out in this series of photos,” Pascal told Lonely Planet Travel News.

2. The free-diving photographer who showed us life beneath the waves 

Originally from the Czech Republic, wildlife and water photographer George Karbus moved to the west of Ireland some years ago, where he quickly fell in love with the unspoilt beauty of the rugged coastline. With work that focuses on wild marine mammals, surfing and beautifully-lit seascapes, George’s images have been inspiring travellers, as well as unveiling the hidden world that lies beneath the waves. Capturing images of humpback whales, dolphins, spider crabs, seals, and puffins amongst other wildlife, George usually takes to the ocean with nothing more than a camera, a mask, and a snorkel with fins. Preferring to free-dive, his setup allows him to get up close and personal to animals without disturbing them. While he loves travel, his most successful images are captured in Ireland, in locations such as the Blasket Islands, Dingle Peninsula, Saltees Islands, Baltimore and Skellig Michael.

3. The New York taxi driver who took us on a ride through history

When he moved to New York City in 1980, Ryan Weideman dreamed of becoming a famous street photographer. Within a month he was already feeling the pinch of city living and, after getting some advice from his neighbour, turned to driving cabs in order to pay his rent. Marrying his artistic talents with his new profession, Weideman spent the next three decades capturing portraits of the people he drove around the city. He even came across a few celebrities, including poet Allen Ginsberg, who composed a quick verse on the back of the receipt.

4. The series that showcased the bold, modern colours of Istanbul

Yener Torun is an architect-turned-photographer who has discovered the colourful hidden corners of Istanbul. Originally from the coastal city of Marmaris, Yener has called Istanbul home for nearly 20 years, and has spent his time seeking out spots that challenge what many people imagine when they think of the city. “Istanbul is a city of contrasts. It is both eastern and western, it is historical and ornate but also modern too. Also it is so alive. Istanbul is awake for 24 hours and it is still an ever-changing and surprising city,” he told Lonely Planet Travel News.

5. The French photographer who revealed the invisible side of life

Ever since its invention, photography has been a way to show the world as it truly is, allowing us to capture a moment forever. But sometimes it can also be a way to reveal an invisible world, one that is always there and that our eyes simply can’t perceive. That’s what French photographer Pierre-Louis Ferrer does with his infra-red photography, and throughout his series, the usual hues of France’s landscapes are transformed. Tranquil mountain scenes become rich with vibrant red tones, Dordogne becomes dotted with vivacious yellows, while Paris becomes accented with blinding whites.

6. The powerful portraits of Vietnam’s disappearing tribes

French photographer Réhahn has spent the last ten years photographing Vietnamese people in their hometowns. An avid traveller, he has visited over 35 countries, but has settled in Hoi An in central Vietnam. Throughout his time there, he has met nearly 50 ethnic groups, including the smallest in the country, taking time to document their personalities and way of life through striking portraiture. The project has evolved over time, and Réhahn has recently set up the Precious Heritage Art Gallery and Museum in Hoi An, a free permanent exhibition space for his portraits as well as clothing and items from the tribes. Information is available in Vietnamese, English and French, and the museum is split into four parts, with areas dedicated to northern Vietnam and central and south Vietnam, while it also features a fine art room and a coffee room that serves organic produce sourced directly from the ethnic people that the institution represents.

7. The exhibition that traced the lives of Iranian women over the past 30 years

In 1980, New York-born photographer Randy H. Goodman visited Tehran for the first time to photograph women. She was just 24-years-old at the time. In 2015 she returned again to find the same women and show how society has changed in Iran. “The photos show an aspect of Iranian society often limited to females only,” said Goodman. “Looking back to understand the socio-cultural changes happening today in Iran provides insight not only about Iranian women, but also other aspects of Iranian society.” There’s a shot of a female taxi driver driving a ‘Women’s Taxi,’ which transports women safely when they need to travel independently (the company also provides work for women who are divorced or widowed), as well as portraits of women cooks, artists, mothers and daughters, as well as women involved in politics.

8. The astounding peaks of Europe

Photographer Johan Lolos spent five months travelling around Europe, taking pictures of three main areas; the north, the Balkans and the Alps. The stunning images show sun-kissed, snow-capped peaks, powerful, rushing waterfalls and colourful, winding rivers that navigate the landscape. Visiting a total of 17 countries, Johan travelled approximately 40,000 kilometres for the project, spending his days hiking up rugged mountain trails in order to get captivating and inspiring images. “I wanted to prove to the world and to myself that you don’t necessarily need to travel far to see beautiful landscapes,” he told Lonely Planet Travel News.

9. The historical sites of Syria before the war

In 2009, two years before civil war erupted in Syria, architectural photographer Peter Aaron took a trip there with his wife and two teenage daughters. Armed with a digital camera converted to capture only infrared light (which darkens blue skies, lightens foliage and enhances the texture of stone), he captured stunning shots of a range of ancient sites in places like Palmyra, Aleppo and Damascus. With much of the country’s historical architecture now destroyed, the project acts as a pertinent and significant documentation of Syria’s history and culture.

10. The culture of a powerful people

In south-central Mexico, flanked by rugged mountain ranges, sits Oaxaca, a state with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse gathering of indigenous people who still celebrate their unique historical identities and way of life. Travelling to the region, Mexican photographer Diego Huerta created a collection of stunning portraits of these people, using Oaxaca as a colourful backdrop for the images that tell their stories. The project, called Inside Oaxaca, started four years ago, when Diego witnessed Guelaguetza (known locally as Los Lunes del Cerro), a week-long festival the state hosts every July that sees participants from 16 different indigenous groups around the region meeting to play music, sing, dance, and celebrate cultural exchange, all while donning traditional dress. The event dates back hundreds of years, with the festival proving popular with global visitors.

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