Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Home
  2. Travel Photography
  3. T+L’s Photo Contest Finalists: Julian Walter

T+L’s Photo Contest Finalists: Julian Walter

By Lindsey Campbell
November 29, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Julian Walter
California-based Julian Walter uses his photography to connect with new people and explore his surroundings. “Photography has led me to some interesting places in life,” said Walter.

Walter's shot of a dunes falling into the Atlantic grabbed our judges’ attention. Take a look at some of Walter's work below and vote for your favorite of the finalists.

T+L: Tell us about yourself as a photographer.

Julian Walter: I started out becoming obsessed with it in college, spending the next few years not really knowing what I was doing until I assisted other photographers and honed in on getting a much better mastery of the craft in my last few years since moving to New York. Since then I've made efforts to travel and shoot personal projects in order to show my stories to the world.

T+L: How would describe your style of photography?

JW: My style of photography is very journalistic and highly depends on being able to connect with strangers. I've always been fascinated with the idea of exploration and travel, and photography has granted me the perfect medium through which to make it all happen with a good purpose. With every image there needs to be a story. If I can come back from a remote region of the world and make a viewer feel like they've been there after looking through my images, then I've done my job and I am happy. I'll shoot anything from a landscape, a street scene, a detail, an intimate portrait, whatever is needed to make the overall story well rounded.

T+L: What do you look for in a great shot?

JW: To create a great photograph, one has to think about aesthetics, the subject, and timing, among other factors. Often times during my travels I'm thinking "how can I describe this place and its inhabitants?" I need to be very aware of my surroundings in order to capture and convey the same sense. I'll seek out beautiful locations and make sure to get it in the best light. I find interesting people to meet to capture portraits. Understanding the subject is one of the most important factors that goes into the creation process. The viewer should be able to feel the same connection that was made when taking that shot.

T+L: What makes a great travel photographer?

JW: A great travel photographer simply has to tell the story they want to tell, and make it interesting. In my case I don't like shooting secretly, I find my strongest point is connecting with people of all types, even despite a language barrier, and I use that to my advantage to create my images. Some people say in doing so, I wouldn't capture candid situations, but I highly disagree. It's up to me to make them candid after having made that connection. They need to feel like they've known me and can relax and be themselves in front of me in order to truly show who they are, especially when I have only several frames in which to make it happen. I'd rather be immersed than a voyeur.

T+L: Do you have a favorite photo or photographer that has influenced your work?

JW: I don't have a single favorite image or photographer, but rather many different ones that have each influenced me in different aspects to make me who I am, many of whom I've had the great honor to work directly with. Steve McCurry of course for getting deep in travel stories and his incredible use of color. Anne Menke for her ability to capture people at their purest, see the world beautifully, and have a great time all in between. Kurt Iswarienko and Norman Jean Roy for their portraits, lighting, and post processing (tones, colors). Henri Cartier-Bresson for his storytelling. Ruven Afanador for not sticking to what's normal and making it look incredible. Cory Richards for capturing adventurous intensity at its most intimate. And the countless images I've seen over the years that I use as inspiration for myself to constantly become a better photographer to bring stories to life.
Start Slideshow

1 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

School children in Bali

Credit: Julian Walter

These kids were sitting quietly in their class when I asked the teacher if I could shoot a few photos, and this is what ensued.

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Burning Man Art

Credit: Julian Walter

Two burners walking through a dusty sunrise at Burning Man 2016.

2 of 9

3 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Namib Desert

Credit: Julian Walter

View of Namibia's Namib Desert from an open-door Cessna. These sand dunes are part of the oldest desert in the world and stretch for hundreds of miles up and down the coast and up to 60 miles inland.

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bali Temple

Credit: Julian Walter

Between rituals in his temple at Keramas, Bali.

4 of 9

5 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Havana

Credit: Julian Walter

A look into the entrance of Havana's chinatown neighborhood.

5 of 9

6 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bali Sunset

Credit: Julian Walter

One of the prettier sunsets I've seen, my girlfriend stopped to take a picture and we enjoyed the colors together.

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Sri Lanka

Credit: Julian Walter

I was stepping out for a surf with some friends on the south coast of Sri Lanka when I saw hundreds of school kids playing in the waves. I sprinted back to get my camera and spent a few minutes shooting with the students. Of course boys and girls separating themselves, I was happy to catch this nice moment on the girls side.

7 of 9

8 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Namibia

Credit: Julian Walter

Himba children sit for a group photo in the northern regions of Namibia.

8 of 9

9 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Boy in Sri Lanka

Credit: Julian Walter

After getting off the train in the mountainous region of Sri Lanka, this little boy was staring at me and my friends. Before the train left I asked his mother if I could take a picture and she was happy to oblige.

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Lindsey Campbell

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 9 School children in Bali
2 of 9 Burning Man Art
3 of 9 Namib Desert
4 of 9 Bali Temple
5 of 9 Havana
6 of 9 Bali Sunset
7 of 9 Sri Lanka
8 of 9 Namibia
9 of 9 A Boy in Sri Lanka

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

T+L’s Photo Contest Finalists: Julian Walter
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.