A Travel Photographer Shares His Favorite Shots of the World

By Erika Owen
December 12, 2016
Matt Thiessen
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.

Matt Thiessen may just have the best job. During the school year, you can find him teaching in Alberta, Canada, but come summer, Thiessen and his wife, who is also a teacher, take off to travel the world. They've been around the world, but there are a few places they find themselves wanting to visit again and again: Bora Bora and Italy, to name a couple.

“We really loved going to Italy for the food, culture, scenery—it’s everything wrapped into one,” Thiessen told Travel + Leisure.

When it comes to a bucket list, Thiessen has his share of trips planned. “We would like to go to the Amalfi Coast of Italy,” he said. “Australia is also on our list, and I'd love to do the Serengeti.”

Most of the photos you'll find on Thiessen's account showcase sprawling mountain landscapes, which are, in fact, his favorite subjects to shoot.

“There’s something about mountains…I always found that it’s easiest to be present in the Rockies,” he said. “You spend so much time of your day thinking about the future and thinking about the past, I find when I’m there it’s very easy to be in the moment.”

Thiessen and his wife live a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the Rockies, and they manage to visit five-six times a year—a perfect location for someone looking to capture the many personalities of a mountain range.

Thiessen isn't the first one one in his family to fall in love with the camera. “As a kid, both of my parents loved taking pictures,” he says. “Monkey see, monkey do. My sister also likes to take a lot of pictures—I'm inspired by her. I just love capturing beautiful things.”

Thiessen shared some of his favorite snapshots with us. Get your fill of meditative mountain scenes ahead.
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Snowy Mountain Town in The Rockies

Credit: Matt Thiessen
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Machu Picchu, Peru

Credit: Matt Thiessen

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The Rockies

Credit: Matt Thiessen
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Lake Louise, Canada

Credit: Matt Thiessen

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Santorini, Greece

Credit: Matt Thiessen

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Bali

Credit: Matt Thiessen
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Niagara Falls

Credit: Matt Thiessen

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Venice, Italy

Credit: Matt Thiessen

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Greece

Credit: Matt Thiessen
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Stony Plain, Alberta

Credit: Matt Thiessen
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By Erika Owen