MY NAME IS KIRSTEN

I’m a freelance travel photographer based in Los Angeles. I’ve worked in more than 50 countries on 6 continents. Scroll down and let’s connect, Shop my Store or Learn more…

Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.

– WALKER EVANS

Instagram Kirsten Alana

Follow my posts to see where I am and what I’m currently working on! I also provide travel tips and historical details in my captions so you can use my feed like your own personal guide book.

A heartfelt short essay about what’s happening i

Do you ever struggle with knowing how to help or w

I don’t know what to post anymore while travel i

I don’t know what to post anymore while travel is still on hold and everyone else is doing Reels (seeing them + trying to make them is hell on my migraines 🙅‍♀️🤦‍♀️). What would you like to see me post?? 🙏❤️

For those who are Asian or AAPI, women in particul

For those who are Asian or AAPI, women in particular, I cannot fathom the full depth of the pain and trauma you have had to live through this week. It was wrong, it’s never warranted, there’s no excuse for it - as a survivor of assault and violence, this type against women specifically hits me differently. And yet I recognize that my skin color means that even my experience of that, has been different from yours. I see that. I see you. I am so sorry.

Traveling around the world helped me begin to see that for 40 years I’ve lived in a country which centers the experience of people who look like me. And I’ve benefitted from it. I’ve been privileged because of it. I carry the shame of having stayed silent, even when I was harmed by this system - because I am a woman. I won’t change it overnight. But I can try to change it, by continuing to learn and by trying to be part of the solution.

Something my friend @eddiepearson tweeted has really taken root: “Some white people don't like the way you look, but they'll sure as hell eat your food and attempt to hijack your culture.”

That’s uncomfortable to read. But I can’t disagree with it.   Leaving you with the words of my dear friend Yvonne who rightly pointed out that the events of this week are not at all isolated incidents. I encourage you to click over and read her full caption: @millie.and.company, “What happened […] in Atlanta […] was inevitable. Yes, because it’s been a full year of daily anti-Asian hate crimes and no-one’s been speaking out against it. This is not just an Asian Female fight, or an Asian fight. When racism and misogyny win, we all lose.”

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️🍀 Did you know that while we often think of, and wear, green today that it was actually 💙 blue 💙 which was most commonly associated with Saint Paddy himself? Or that he didn’t banish snakes from Ireland but they never existed there in the first place? [Thankfully! I hate 🐍 🐍 🐍!] And it was Boston here in the USA that was actually the first place in the world to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in 1737!
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I chose this blue storefront from my trip to Dublin, a few years back, in honor of today’s patron saint and the storefront itself, to represent all the wonderful brands that contributed to what is surely the largest gift box I’ve ever been gifted from @tourismireland. It’s been such a hard year for all of us but sometimes most especially for smaller businesses. So I wanted to make sure they received my sincere thanks. It’s a comfort for sure to have our apartment filled with Irish goods since I can’t have my eyes filled in person by the beautiful land of Ireland or my ears ringing with Irish tunes in a pub while I drink a pint o’ Guinness. Hopefully next year! 🤞🙏☘️ Wherever you are when you read this, I hope something in your day fills you with the sense of warmth and welcome I’ve always found when I visit Ireland. 💚 #happystpatricksday #stpaddys #stpaddysday #stpatricksday #ireland🇮🇪 #loveireland #bestofireland #discoverireland

Let’s keep the ☘️ Ireland 🇮🇪 theme goi

Let’s keep the ☘️ Ireland 🇮🇪 theme going into Paddy’s Day tomorrow with a wee moment from Northern Ireland and its famed ‘Dark Hedges’ made so popular by Game of Thrones. @katia_mi_ [in the red cape] was one of a group of creators I visited with in 2019 on a whirlwind day touring all the famous sites the show so beautifully highlighted in its years filming in and around Belfast. I still hope to go back one day and take more time to dig deeper and travel slower but I’m grateful for the chance to visit at all, as I was surprised by how much I adored every bit of Ireland that I saw and every local we met.
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As far as I can tell, these Beech trees were planted in the 18th century by the Stuart Family who hoped to impress visitors to their home, Gracehill House. Now, two centuries on, their “driveway” is one of the most famous stretches of road in the world though the mansion is now a golf course and the nearby Hedges Hotel is the best place to park before walking over to visit The Dark Hedges. Sunrise and sunset are beautiful times to visit but be prepared for the crowds that will require a bit of creative shooting to eliminate from your photos, if you so desire. Walk the length of the Hedges to find the right angle first, there are a lot of options to choose from! Don’t get caught up in the bottleneck of people who choose the most obvious angle and then return to their cars. It’s a nice walk! In a lovely bit of countryside with sheep and rolling fields! And quiet, once you leave the crowd. 💚 #thedarkhedges #darkhedges #discoverni #mygiantadventure #northernireland #loveireland #discoverireland #wondermore #bestofireland

a little something for all my fellow Francophiles,

a little something for all my fellow Francophiles, from Dublin - this is just one of so many places outside France where you can indulge your love of all things French. in this case, 🥖🥐☕️ and since I mention it, do you follow @thefrancophiles yet? if not, you should! the account is one of my favorite ways to armchair travel and after a year of practicing that truly full time, I can sincerely say few people do this idea as well as founder @fleurishing [who has 🇫🇷 and 🇮🇪 heritage]! ❤️ #thefrancophiles

So much talk and posting about how it’s now been

So much talk and posting about how it’s now been a full year of Pandemic in our lives everywhere I go online. Which, of course, makes me think of all the places I wish I could have gone in the last year instead and all the places I hope to go when this is all over. Like, the Black Forest in Germany. I only got a few hours there and less than 10 minutes in this beautiful spot by the river across from an old, ornate chalet selling handmade clocks and slices of cake....
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Where are you dreaming of?
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And for those who celebrate it today, Happy Mother’s Day to all who are mums! ❤️

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A heartfelt short essay about what’s happening i

Do you ever struggle with knowing how to help or w

I don’t know what to post anymore while travel i

I don’t know what to post anymore while travel is still on hold and everyone else is doing Reels (seeing them + trying to make them is hell on my migraines 🙅‍♀️🤦‍♀️). What would you like to see me post?? 🙏❤️

For those who are Asian or AAPI, women in particul

For those who are Asian or AAPI, women in particular, I cannot fathom the full depth of the pain and trauma you have had to live through this week. It was wrong, it’s never warranted, there’s no excuse for it - as a survivor of assault and violence, this type against women specifically hits me differently. And yet I recognize that my skin color means that even my experience of that, has been different from yours. I see that. I see you. I am so sorry.

Traveling around the world helped me begin to see that for 40 years I’ve lived in a country which centers the experience of people who look like me. And I’ve benefitted from it. I’ve been privileged because of it. I carry the shame of having stayed silent, even when I was harmed by this system - because I am a woman. I won’t change it overnight. But I can try to change it, by continuing to learn and by trying to be part of the solution.

Something my friend @eddiepearson tweeted has really taken root: “Some white people don't like the way you look, but they'll sure as hell eat your food and attempt to hijack your culture.”

That’s uncomfortable to read. But I can’t disagree with it.   Leaving you with the words of my dear friend Yvonne who rightly pointed out that the events of this week are not at all isolated incidents. I encourage you to click over and read her full caption: @millie.and.company, “What happened […] in Atlanta […] was inevitable. Yes, because it’s been a full year of daily anti-Asian hate crimes and no-one’s been speaking out against it. This is not just an Asian Female fight, or an Asian fight. When racism and misogyny win, we all lose.”

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Get social by following me on these platforms but make sure to engage so I can get to know you back!

How Honeymoons Will Look in 2021 thumbnail

January 21, 2021

How Honeymoons Will Look in 2021

The Perfect Sound System for Your Road Trip thumbnail

August 26, 2020

The Perfect Sound System for Your Road Trip

Black Lives Matter [and more] Resources thumbnail

June 16, 2020

Black Lives Matter [and more] Resources

Earth Day 2020: Tips and Advice thumbnail

April 22, 2020

Earth Day 2020: Tips and Advice

7 Reasons to Visit San Francisco in 2020 thumbnail

January 30, 2020

7 Reasons to Visit San Francisco in 2020

See where I’ve been, where I am and where I’m going next…

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DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY | WEBSITE BY FURTHER BOUND | Portraits of Kirsten by Danté Vincent | COPYRIGHT © KIRSTEN ALANA 2008-2021