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  1. Home
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  3. 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
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Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: 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.
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Alaska

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

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

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Alaska

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

A view of Knik Glacier from a kayak.

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Andes Mountains

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

A view of the Andes Mountains overlooking an idyllic lake.

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Alaska

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

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

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Alaska

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

A moment of rest and relaxation mid-Alaska adventure.

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Andes Mountains

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

Hiking through the Andes Mountains in Peru.

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Arizona

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

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

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Alaska

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

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

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Bridge Into Fog

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

Even the foggiest of scenes deserve a moment of appreciation.

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Canada

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

A snowy Canadian scene, as seen from a helicopter.

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Andes Mountains

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

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

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Caribbean

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

Taking a quick dip in the Caribbean Sea.

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France

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

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

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Minnesota

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

A little holiday spirit on Christmas Lake.

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Travel Buddy

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

Never underestimate the power of a good travel buddy.

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Glacial Lake

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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A secluded glacial-water lake nestled next to a mountain.

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On the Road

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: Alex Strohl

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

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Mountain Hiking

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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If only every break in the day could look like this.

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Montana

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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A courageous traveler takes an icey dip in a river in Montana.

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Montana

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A lone canoe exploring a lake in Montana.

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Kauai

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
Credit: 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

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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This might be the ultimate remote getaway.

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Montana

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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The view of one of Montana's many stunning peaks.

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Montana

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This sunset in Montana is giving us major wanderlust.

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Glacier National Park

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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A lakeside view of St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park.

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Tent Under the Stars

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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This is ultimate camping goals.

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Switzerland

Social Ambassadors: Alex Strohl
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An aerial view of St. Mortiz, Switzerland, one of the most famous resort areas in the world.

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    1 of 27 Alaska
    2 of 27 Alaska
    3 of 27 Andes Mountains
    4 of 27 Alaska
    5 of 27 Alaska
    6 of 27 Andes Mountains
    7 of 27 Arizona
    8 of 27 Alaska
    9 of 27 Bridge Into Fog
    10 of 27 Canada
    11 of 27 Andes Mountains
    12 of 27 Caribbean
    13 of 27 France
    14 of 27 Minnesota
    15 of 27 Travel Buddy
    16 of 27 Glacial Lake
    17 of 27 On the Road
    18 of 27 Mountain Hiking
    19 of 27 Montana
    20 of 27 Montana
    21 of 27 Kauai
    22 of 27 Log Cabin at Night
    23 of 27 Montana
    24 of 27 Montana
    25 of 27 Glacier National Park
    26 of 27 Tent Under the Stars
    27 of 27 Switzerland

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