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.

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 🙏

In what is perhaps no surprise to those who know m

In what is perhaps no surprise to those who know me best, I’m taking you to Scotland in the newest issue of my newsletter that went out this morning! In fact I had to laugh at one friend that said, “My only surprise is that it took you four issues to do so.” It includes some tidbits you might not know about Scotland and some good news for voting rights that I found out about yesterday.

Is anyone planning a trip yet?? I ask because I keep getting asked this now that I’m fully vaccinated but I’m more worried about everyone not being vaccinated where I’d want to travel yet. And I feel tremendously privileged to even consider traveling again with situations like what is happening in India, which then makes me feel guilty. There’s a lot of layers to emerging from this pandemic that I don’t think are being discussed in depth but you know you can always rely on me to be considering all the sides. Perhaps over-considering.

Anyway, I truly hope you have a good weekend wherever you are in the world. ❤️

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #visitscotland #edinburghscotland #visitedinburgh #scotlandisnow #scotlandisbeautiful #scotlandtravel #scotlandforever #edinburgh_snapshots

It’s late at night on a mid-June day in Iceland.

bit of a random photo taken in Minneapolis years a

bit of a random photo taken in Minneapolis years ago to say that I see the accountability that happened yesterday, I see the journey toward some healing that it represents, I am thinking of you and feeling all the feelings with you — but for all of us who care about racial justice: remember yesterday was only one step towards what we need in this country. Ma’Khia Bryant was killed by police in Ohio right around the time the verdict was being read. we must ensure momentum doesn’t drop and that the fight continues ❤️ #blacklivesmatter

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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

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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 and When to Visit Scotland thumbnail

June 4, 2021

How and When to Visit Scotland

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

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