travel & documentary photography Dec 2015

A seasoned collaborator and worldwide traveller, Brian Hodges is a Santa Barbara-based travel and editorial shooter known for capturing authentic moments and images with a powerful connection to place.

In love with travel and the lure of the road, his camera has taken him to more than 60 countries around the globe. Brian comes to photography from a technical background. He holds a software engineering degree and lived 10 years in Paris designing satellite telecommunications systems.

He believes that great photography is not just about captivating images, but creating images with lasting emotional impact.

His award-winning work has been recognised in the creative industry’s leading publications including Photo District News, National Geographic Traveler and GEO Magazine, among others. When not shooting, he's likely surfing, snowboarding, or cruising down dusty trails with his mountain bike.

Born in Uganda, raised in Liverpool and based in Spain for the last 17 years, Chris Willan has a natural affinity with all people - from Rastas to Royalty, burger flippers to billionaires - means he creates images of rare sympathy wherever he goes. In recent years, that eye for the narrative within has seen him solo exhibit at Tate Modern, Museu d'Història de la Immigració de Catalunya, The Gallery Oldham and The National Theatre, and win the World Responsible Travel Award for photography in 2013.

Chris tells the stories of places and people through crisp and authentic images that hum with warmth, humanity and humour. His 20 years of experience have seen him work across advertising, TV, film, NGO, editorial and corporate assignments, both alone and as part of creative teams, with some of the best-known photographers and agencies in the world, including Magnum.

2014 saw him move into moving image and he is currently completing a worldwide shoot for a major travel company.

He lives in the heart of Barcelona with his wife Belen and teenage sons Luis and Pablo.

David Köster is a Germany-based travel, outdoor and landscape photographer. Through his images, he mainly stages wild, epic nature sceneries but also loves to realise commissioned projects.

By means of dramatic perspectives, atmospheric imagery and the systematic use of natural light, David creates work that often resembles painting rather than photography. His photographs are used by a wide range of clients, among them agencies, publishers and tourism institutions. David's images are presented in exhibitions and published in print and online media worldwide. In addition David writes articles for travel and photography magazines.

Clients include ODLO, Asiana Airlines, Ministry of Tourism / Republic of Kazakhstan, 4-Seasons Magazin / Globetrotter, Accor Hotels, Almgwand, DuMont Media Group, Falke Media, Polyglott, RWE, DigitalPHOTO, FRISCHLUFT Magazin, Landscape Photography Magazine, PHOTOGRVPHY Magazine, Chasing the Light Magazine, Light & Land Photography Tours, and LOOK Photo Agency.

David has been awarded at IPA International Photography Awards, Travel Photographer of the Year, Asferico, ND Awards, Glanzlichter, Smithsonian, National Geographic, Oasis, Kontinent and Color Awards.

With more than 40 international awards to his credit, including six World Press Awards, Donald Miralle has been recognised as one of the most innovative photographers in the industry for the past two decades.

Born and raised in Southern California, Donald graduated from Loyola H.S. and University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in Fine Arts. His artistic approach to his editorial and commercial photography has been sought by some of the largest agencies, publications, and brands to shoot the world’s greatest athletes and biggest events.

Donald has shot major brand campaigns for Nike, Discovery Channel, Dicks Sporting Goods, Target, Gatorade, Adidas, Ironman and the NFL Players Association and his work has graced the covers and pages of The New York Times, Newsweek, Golf Digest, ESPN the Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, Outside, and National Geographic.

Donald's work has been profiled in publications including Photo District News, British Journal of Photography, The Holland Times, The San Diego Union Tribune, and Top Magazine in Brazil; as well as on TV shows like ESPN, Entertainment TV, and the Today Show.

Donald has served as a keynote speaker at many international events and is also the founder and owner of Leucadia Photoworks, the only full service studio and photographer collective in North County San Diego.

2015 has been an exciting year for Piers Golden.

First up, a trip high in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria photographing snowy boutique hotel Villa Gella. From snow to sun, his next project took him to Dunes Electroniques Festival on the edge of the Tunisian Desert, and then to Puglia in southern Italy to photograph traditional artisan cheese-makers.

Later in the spring, Piers travelled to Dubai to shoot a promotional campaign for Dubai Tourism Authority, while in September, a trip to Symi, Greece saw him photographing the distinct fading grandeur of Chorio Town for an editorial. Next up are projects in Sofia and Quinces, Armenia.

This year also brought an Honourable Mention in the Colour Awards 'Photography Masters’ 2015, a third place finish in the Pink Lady 'Food Photographer of the Year' 2015 awards, and a finalist in 'Colours of the World - Travel photographer of the year’ 2015.

"I am lucky, I work with inspirational clients who send me to the ends of the earth to create photography that resonates, informs, engages and stimulates consumers."

Clients include Angsana Resorts, ADTA, BAA, BA, BBC, CNN, Conde Nast, Corsican Places, Glenfiddich, Skiworld, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Echo, Four IV, Serenity Hoildays, Sainsbury’s, Exclusive Escapes, Nivea, Harrods, Telegraph Ultratravel, Simpson Travel, Virgin and Holiday Extras.

Jasper James is a China-based photographer working in Shanghai and Beijing, shooting editorial, advertising and corporate work. His photography ranges from portrait, travel and interiors to concept driven projects.

Over the past decade he has lived and worked in New York, London and Beijing, covering assignments around the globe for some of the world's leading magazines, design and advertising clients.

Clients include Ferrari, British Airways, Wrigley's, Volvo, Bosch, China Mobile, Marks and Spencer, Bank of China, QQ.com, Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Dockers, Wallpaper*, Traveler, Travel and Leisure, Departures, Men's Journal, Telegraph Magazine, Dwell, Vanity Fair and Monocle.

"A self-winding watch…as you move, it powers itself. I love photography - my work, my hobby, my obsession, my life. The more I shoot, the more I feel renewed and recharged. So I shoot all the time - structures, landscapes, people, botanicals, and architectural details - anything that captures my eye.

The pursuit of beautiful images has taken me all over the world from Anguilla to Zambia. So wind me up, and watch me go."

"Regardless of the visual content, photos take us directly into the world of the subject matter. They bring us closer to what is distant and allow us to sympathise and experience a momentary journey through our thoughts and emotions."

Munich-based photographer Marina Kloess is specialised in People, Kids and Lifestyle photography. She regularly works on a diverse range of personal projects and is well known for her honest and natural images.

Her latest projects took her to Panama and Liberia.

Clients include Allgaier, Beeline, Brunnen, Bosch, BZGA, Chaos Magazine, C-Heads Magazine, DeBug, Dinkelacker, Fraunhofer Uni, Fault Magazine, Garnier, Hohes C, LJM, Intersport, KaltblutMagazine, Landlust, Marbet, NKD, Neuroversum, Qvest Magazine, Risiko, Schinacher, Takko, Trost, Weisses Kreuz, Wolfangel, World in Need and Öttinger, among others.

Matt Russell is a London-based photographer specialising in food, travel, lifestyle and portraiture. With a strong reputation for his natural style and ability to capture life, Matt has established himself internationally as a trusted, reputable photographer. He has an inherent ability to work closely with clients to achieve their vision for both editorial and advertising.

“I absolutely love my job and the places that it takes me, not to mention the amazingly talented and passionate people that I get to work with everyday. I feel incredibly privileged.”

Client list: Jamie Oliver, Saatchi & Saatchi, The Times, The Guardian, Waitrose, Jamie Magazine, Diageo, The River Cafe, Virgin, Channel 4, Phaidon and Tesco.

Tom Blachford’s graphic, considered style has led to his sought-after take on both places and spaces. Endeavouring to capture places in new light or from a new perspective, Tom is able to distill a place down to its essence and take the viewer on the journey with him.

His aerial and fine art work has been featured widely on the Internet by many of the largest culture and creative journals.

Based in Australia, he frequently travels for assignments wherever they may take him.