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.

It’s been 18 months since I boarded a plane that

It’s been 18 months since I boarded a plane that would leave the USA. Even longer since I was on a plane that left the North American continent. The longest since I began my career in travel more than 10 years ago. It’s caused the worst identity crisis I’ve ever gone through and led me back into places so dark, they’re similar to the last time I tried to commit suicide and - thankfully - failed. Which is not to say that I’m not aware of the privilege of getting to travel at all! I’m very aware. And it’s one of many reasons I stayed home this long rather than getting on planes simply because I could or was now fully vaccinated. But all that changes on Sunday when I will board a plane taking me to one of my favorite parts of Austria, @visitvorarlberg. To reunite with some of my oldest friends in this profession. To see if I have anything meaningful to say about traveling anymore. To see what it’s like when I’ve been away from it this long. To see if it can be done safely and equitably for all involved. To see so many things. I hope you will want to follow along. Most importantly, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing - I hope you are healthy, and safe. ❤️

Do you love escaping city or urban life for some t

Do you love escaping city or urban life for some time out in nature? Do you have any trips coming up that get you out into nature?

It’s an idea that became a trend during the pandemic and I get why. But for me, it’s always been a needed change and a type of activity I crave. To be away from the concrete and steel of manmade places and revel in that which is wholly natural or as natural as possible. Some favorite nature quotes to accompany these thoughts…

In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful. – Alice Walker

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. — Khalil Gibran

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — Albert Einstein

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. — Henry David Thoreau

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. — Helen Keller

And if you can’t escape the city, don’t forget to sink your toes into the grass of a city park or sit your bum down on a bench under a big tree in a park. 🌱🌳 Even that, is so restorative. And if we don’t use our city parks, maybe planners will stop building them. And what a shame that would be. The more green, the better, for me in terms of cities. Hope you’re having a great Wednesday so far 💚

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As someone who loves to see almost anywhere I can

On this day in 2016, I was at @vividsydney on assi

On this day in 2016, I was at @vividsydney on assignment for @travelandleisure, covering a festival that has always taken place during Sydney’s winter season, since it was founded in 2009 - as a smart light festival drawing attention to the need for energy efficiency while celebrating technological advances, art, light, music and ideas. It was canceled in 2020 because of COVID but it’s back this year, taking place in August, and I can think of few more fitting festivals that should be taking place as we begin to emerge from such a dark chapter in global history. Light and hope are so important now and while so many countries still have such a long way to go before emerging from this crisis fully, I know I see more signs of hope every day when I look around. I’m clinging to those. Australia’s borders are still closed and at this time only open to Australian citizens, permanent resident, immediate family members and some from New Zealand — this is one event I will be trying to tune into digitally as much as is possible when it does take place in August. I had such an incredible time at VIVID in 2016 that it immediately cemented itself on my list of favorite events that you can usually travel to be a part of. If it opens back up to the whole world in 2022, I’ll be first in line to look at booking my ticket. This light tunnel and the art displayed on the trees at the Royal Botanic Garden were my favorite installations after the Indigenous art that used the Opera House as its canvas that year. I went back every chance that I got to enjoy it over and over and never felt tired of seeing it. Should I put together a photo essay with more images of this event? I never did as it wasn’t required by the project I did back then but I think it would be a fun exercise for the now, until I can travel internationally again. It’s nice to look back at old memories with new eyes isn’t it!

File under: places here in California that I wish

File under: places here in California that I wish I’d planned to spend this long holiday weekend but LOL how is it already the end of May?! Memorial Day completely snuck up on me this year and I am in shock it’s already almost June. 😂 Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I hope you and your loved ones are safe & happy as you read this ❤️

Seeing lots of people who are vaccinated, planning

I still vividly remember the circumstance that led

I still vividly remember the circumstance that led to this photo. We were in a crowded market area of Jodhpur rushing to make our way toward a textile shop, when I saw this man with the most beautiful smile sitting and making marigold chains. It was the fragrance of the basket of roses beside him that caught my attention after his smile. Quickly clocking my interest, he handed me one of the largest roses and insisted I enjoy it with his compliments before allowing me to quickly take his photo and then rejoin my group. And for more than 24 hours that rose perfumed first the bag I carried it in and then the room I slept in before finally wilting and losing its glorious fragrance. It smelled like the roses they make perfume with in Grasse. It smelled like spring and hope. It wasn’t like the roses you buy in supermarkets or in bulk from vendors on Valentine’s Day. The kindness of that interaction and so many more like it during my visits to India inspired me to make it the focus of this week’s newsletter. They’re trying to survive another wave of COVID that is one of the worst any country has experienced since this all began. It’s too easy to wonder if we can even make a difference. But I’m convinced there are small things we can do that have power especially if we’re doing them together. So I spent all week researching, talking to friends with family in India and listening to followers in India to compile a list that’s part of the newsletter. And here on Instagram, I wanted to tag some makers and creators who are in India or who are Indian that we could support with purchases to gift or keep. It was @jaminidesign who sent me the embroidered pillow in the second photo that I literally carry with me from room to room. I love it so much and adore the fact that it helps me feel connected to both France and India even when I can’t be in either and don’t know when next I will be able to. India and its people have given me so much kindness and in this latest issue I just wanted to give a little back to them. I hope you will join me when you see ‘An Eye for Life’ in your inbox tomorrow. ❤️ And if you have suggestions for ways to help, please leave them in a comment 🙏

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It’s been 18 months since I boarded a plane that

It’s been 18 months since I boarded a plane that would leave the USA. Even longer since I was on a plane that left the North American continent. The longest since I began my career in travel more than 10 years ago. It’s caused the worst identity crisis I’ve ever gone through and led me back into places so dark, they’re similar to the last time I tried to commit suicide and - thankfully - failed. Which is not to say that I’m not aware of the privilege of getting to travel at all! I’m very aware. And it’s one of many reasons I stayed home this long rather than getting on planes simply because I could or was now fully vaccinated. But all that changes on Sunday when I will board a plane taking me to one of my favorite parts of Austria, @visitvorarlberg. To reunite with some of my oldest friends in this profession. To see if I have anything meaningful to say about traveling anymore. To see what it’s like when I’ve been away from it this long. To see if it can be done safely and equitably for all involved. To see so many things. I hope you will want to follow along. Most importantly, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing - I hope you are healthy, and safe. ❤️

Do you love escaping city or urban life for some t

Do you love escaping city or urban life for some time out in nature? Do you have any trips coming up that get you out into nature?

It’s an idea that became a trend during the pandemic and I get why. But for me, it’s always been a needed change and a type of activity I crave. To be away from the concrete and steel of manmade places and revel in that which is wholly natural or as natural as possible. Some favorite nature quotes to accompany these thoughts…

In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful. – Alice Walker

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. — Khalil Gibran

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — Albert Einstein

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. — Henry David Thoreau

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. — Helen Keller

And if you can’t escape the city, don’t forget to sink your toes into the grass of a city park or sit your bum down on a bench under a big tree in a park. 🌱🌳 Even that, is so restorative. And if we don’t use our city parks, maybe planners will stop building them. And what a shame that would be. The more green, the better, for me in terms of cities. Hope you’re having a great Wednesday so far 💚

Do you have the ability to post to Instagram from

As someone who loves to see almost anywhere I can

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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!

A Global Perspective on Travel during COVID thumbnail

July 22, 2021

A Global Perspective on Travel during COVID

Learn Blacksmithing at FSHualalai thumbnail

July 12, 2021

Learn Blacksmithing at FSHualalai

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June 24, 2021

Alto Atacama joins Leading Hotels

How and When to Visit Scotland thumbnail

June 4, 2021

How and When to Visit Scotland

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January 21, 2021

How Honeymoons Will Look in 2021

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