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Find Out What Inspires Travel Photographer Alex Strohl’s Incredible Work

Find Out What Inspires Travel Photographer Alex Strohl’s Incredible Work

By Erika Owen

March 16, 2017

Alex Strohl

The T+L Social Ambassadors are a team of photographers who are taking it to the next level on Instagram. These are the people we see living their best lives, and inspiring our travels on a daily basis. These ambassadors help us all discover the world, whether it’s exploring a set of national parks, embarking on an African safari, or just taking some time to enjoy the sound of waves from a beach in Europe. Follow along as we introduce more of our ambassadors on the T+L website and social accounts.

When you think of travel Instagrammers, you might have a favorite picture that comes to mind. With so many places being documented around the world on the platform, it's not hard to gather a virtual scrapbook, filled with stunning shots of other people's travels — a wish list of sorts. And there's a good chance @alexstrohl has taken some of the photos you've mentally added to your Instagram bucket list.

The photographer has been documenting his trips around the world for his (now 1.7 million) followers for years — often to incredibly remote spots that are nearly impossible to plan a casual vacation around.

"I once took the summer and kayaked up into a glacial lagoon like 30 miles from civilization in the middle of an ice field on Knik Glacier in Alaska," Strohl told T+L. "You're standing on 300 to 400 feet of ice, but there's a lake on the ice. It's very surreal, especially when you get dropped off there for a day from a helicopter and it's just you and the kayaks and this lake that could disappear any day. There's an unnerving sense of freedom, but also a very short time where this lake would exist. I don't know how many people have paddled in a field of ice like that, but I'm sure it's not many."

While most might deem this an extraordinary experience, and it certainly is, "extraordinary" is not what Strohl is necessarily looking to photograph. "I'm usually not trying to chase the extraordinary because it's easier to do," he said. "I'd rather focus on the ordinary — but I do love a good challenge."

You'll notice a theme throughout his photographs: grounding photos of the beautiful scenes that surround us in nature. His tendency to search for alpine views doesn't surprise him one bit, and he attributes it to his childhood.

"I grew up in Spain, so being exposed to the mountains as a kid helped," he said. "We lived in an area that was 45 minutes from Madrid, and 45 minutes from the nearest ski resort."

His father was always on the road, but made sure to take the time to explore the great outdoors with his son. "He shared it with me every weekend," Strohl said. "He worked a lot, but on the weekends in the winter we would go skiing, and we'd go hiking in the summer. We swam in the lakes, chased cows...little memories like that. It's things like this were I'm like, 'Okay, yeah—this is why I'm constantly chasing an alpine landscape.'"

But the first time Strohl picked up a camera didn't come until a couple of years later, when he was living in France with his family. After he was kicked out of high school in Spain, his family bought some land in the woods and Strohl attended a boarding school. "There wasn't much to do, so I would roam around with a motorcycle. I was 15 years old, and I would just get lost in the woods," he said.

After becoming bored with the same ride weekend after weekend, Strohl borrowed his dad's camera and started documenting his trips. Soon his aunt, a painter herself, hosted a show featuring his photographs in her home. Another big move (both physically and artistically) happened next: Strohl relocated to Quebec.

"I got to experience the whole set of seasons — I have never seen anything like it before," he said. "The seasons were really something that inspired me."

And this is clear in his work. All of these things — solo adventure, alpine scenes, seasonal transition — have combined to create what very well may be one of the most wanderlust-inspiring accounts on Instagram today.

So, as I mentioned before, some of Strohl's photos may have made your list of favorites. But what are his favorite photos? We asked, and boy did he deliver. Check them out ahead.

Start Slideshow

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Alaska

Alex Strohl

Kayaking at Knik Glacier was one of Strohl's favorite experiences as a photographer.

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Alaska

Alex Strohl

A view of Knik Glacier from a kayak.

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Andes Mountains

Alex Strohl

A view of the Andes Mountains overlooking an idyllic lake.

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Alaska

Alex Strohl

An inside look at one of Alaska's glacial caves from a kayak.

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Alaska

Alex Strohl

A moment of rest and relaxation mid-Alaska adventure.

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Andes Mountains

Alex Strohl

Hiking through the Andes Mountains in Peru.

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Arizona

Alex Strohl

Taking a moment to enjoy one of Arizona's many hot springs.

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Alaska

Alex Strohl

This gives a new definition to the phrase "room with a view."

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Bridge Into Fog

Alex Strohl

Even the foggiest of scenes deserve a moment of appreciation.

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Canada

Alex Strohl

A snowy Canadian scene, as seen from a helicopter.

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Andes Mountains

Alex Strohl

View of the Andes Mountains in Peru from the coziness of a tent.

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Caribbean

Alex Strohl

Taking a quick dip in the Caribbean Sea.

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France

Alex Strohl

The view of the French Alps from the Chamonix resort area.

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Minnesota

Alex Strohl

A little holiday spirit on Christmas Lake.

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Travel Buddy

Alex Strohl

Never underestimate the power of a good travel buddy.

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Glacial Lake

Alex Strohl

A secluded glacial-water lake nestled next to a mountain.

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On the Road

Alex Strohl

A great reminder to take in the scene while you're driving, as well.

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Mountain Hiking

Alex Strohl

If only every break in the day could look like this.

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Montana

Alex Strohl

A courageous traveler takes an icey dip in a river in Montana.

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Montana

Alex Strohl

A lone canoe exploring a lake in Montana.

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Kauai

Alex Strohl

If this stream in Hawaii isn't the kind of thing dreams are made of, we don't know what is.

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Log Cabin at Night

Alex Strohl

This might be the ultimate remote getaway.

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Montana

Alex Strohl

The view of one of Montana's many stunning peaks.

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Montana

Alex Strohl

This sunset in Montana is giving us major wanderlust.

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Glacier National Park

Alex Strohl

A lakeside view of St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park.

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Tent Under the Stars

Alex Strohl

This is ultimate camping goals.

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Switzerland

Alex Strohl

An aerial view of St. Mortiz, Switzerland, one of the most famous resort areas in the world.

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By Erika Owen

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Find Out What Inspires Travel Photographer Alex Strohl’s Incredible Work

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Alaska

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Alaska

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Andes Mountains

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Arizona

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Alaska

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Bridge Into Fog

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Canada

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Andes Mountains

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Caribbean

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France

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Minnesota

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Travel Buddy

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Glacial Lake

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On the Road

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Mountain Hiking

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Montana

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Kauai

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Log Cabin at Night

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Glacier National Park

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Tent Under the Stars

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