Before I visited, I wasn’t sure if this was what I would actually experience in this North African country of 34 million people. Morocco is unique in almost every way possible, even being only one of three countries in the world that border both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. When I first arrived to lead a workshop for The Giving Lens, I immediately fell into the fable that Morocco weaves as I walked through the gritty mazes of Marrakesh.

For the next ten days, I would be overwhelmed by the sites, sounds, scents, and tastes that Morocco provided. I have always felt at home in desert environments, but even I was unprepared for the surreal experience of being part of a camel caravan as we trodded over golden sand dunes as the low sun began to disappear behind the never-ending desert dunes.

We even got caught in one of those famed Sahara sandstorms.

As the massive sandstorm quickly crept over the pristine sand dunes of the Sahara desert, I asked Beehee, our camel guide, how long it would be until the imposing storm hit us. “5 minutes” he answered. Seeing Said, , Nancy and Tony as specks in the distance (zoom in to see how small they are on the left side of the photo), I asked the logical follow up question.

“How long until we reach camp?”

25 minutes he calmly answered.

He was right. And riding though a chaotic and painful sandstorm was maybe the most incredible 20 minutes of my life.

I will be co-leading a return trip to Morocco this October with The Giving Lens. Find more information and apply on The Giving Lens website.
Follow my Instagram and Facebook for more of my travel adventure photographs. 

When nightfall began to descend, our team settled into the sand as our guides from Open Doors Morocco started a campfire. As I looked up to the sky, I was greeted by a crystal clear Milky Way rising over the moonlit dunes. At that moment, I knew I had found my perfect slice of paradise. A paradise filled with friendly people, incredible history, and endless adventure. And I cannot wait until I return to my desert paradise.

The post 50 Photos That Show The Colorful Adventures Of Morocco appeared first on Resource Travel.

After centuries under foreign governments, the independent country started to find itself. Its culture began to blossom and as travel became easier over the years, tourism became a large part of the nation’s economy, resulting in over 8 million visitors in 2010. Tourists see no shortage of historical landmarks, as Jordan is home to 100,000 archaeological and tourist sites, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Experiencing the Treasury at Petra as nightfall descends is worth the price of a plane ticket to Jordan alone. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

I have been fortunate enough to visit Jordan twice in the last three years, having led photography workshops in the country for The Giving Lens. The country stole my heart. The people, the history, the Wadi Rum desert, Petra, the tasty shisha…I could go on and on about how Jordan should be on every photographer’s bucket list. I even show you how you could visit only the Wadi Rum desert and get enough incredible photographs to fill a portfolio.

But instead of rambling on about why you should be planning your trip to Jordan, with the help of Resource Travel Staff Writer Sébastien Beun, we put together 40 of our favorite photos from our adventures in Jordan. If this doesn’t convince you to visit Jordan before her 71st birthday, we don’t know what will.

See more from Michael Bonocore on his website, Instagram and Facebook.
See more from Sébastien Beun on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Start planning your trip by visiting the Jordan Tourism Board and My Jordan Journey. 

Photographers from The Giving Lens set up to take photos of another golden Wadi Rum sunset. Photo by Michael Bonocore

A street vendor in Al-Salt. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

Even kittens feel at home at Petra’s Treasury, best known for it’s role in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

The famous Mushroom Rock in Wadi Rum. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

Driving through the desert region in the open air jeeps is a must do to really experience all of what Wadi Rum has to offer. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

Photographers could spend days in Petra finding unique angles. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

During a rest break, our jeep driver took a short walk through the Martian landscape. Photo By Michael Bonocore

The faces of Jordan are filled with smiles and character. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

The Wadi Rum provides beautiful sunsets when clouds over take the sky.

It’s easy to get lost in the endless slot canyons of Petra. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

You don’t need to venture far from your tent at Captain’s camp to view the vibrant Milky Way in the Wadi Rum.

Shaban, always a playful character, poses with two of his camels in the Wadi Rum Desert. Photo by Michael Bonocore

Get up high for spectacular views of the Wadi Rum. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

A man sits with a group of camels on the warm Wadi Rum sand. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

The most recognized rock formation in Wadi Rum, the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

Our jeep driver looks over the Wadi Rum as the sun begins to set in the Wadi Rum Desert. Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photographing out of the back of a fast moving truck provides plenty of obstacles, but the adventure captured in the photographs is an exciting way to document your trip through Wadi Rum. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

The Jeep Tour Guides work to start a campfire as the sun sets over the mountains in the distance.

Our guides make tea as blue hour starts to set in deep in the Wadi Rum desert. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

When camping at Captain’s Camp, set your intervalometer to capture exposures of the stars with one second intervals between photos, and then stack them using Star Stax to create a cool Star Trail image. While your camera is working, head on over to the campfire to talk to Shaban, the “Shisha Man of Wadi Rum”. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

Musicians play in the old Roman city of Jerash. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

The Dead Sea at Sunset. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

A portrait of our friend and guide, Mohammad in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

While recommended, seats belt laws are not enforced in the Wadi Rum desert. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

Horse carriages are common in Petra, as the UNESCO World Heritage site is massive. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

Quite possibly the nicest view from any souvenir shop in the world is at Petra. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

Petra isn’t just buildings carved into rock. Photo by Sébastien Beun.

Shaban, an Egyptian who moved to Jordan for work, has been providing Shisha, entertainment, and friendship to the guests at Captain’s Camp in the Wadi Rum desert for years. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

Young Jordanian men take a break from work and enjoy the view overlooking Petra. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

Jordanian boys take a break from an after school football match to pose for a group shot. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

Sunrise over the sprawling capital of Amman. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

A decorated camera at the Treasury in Petra. Photo by Michael Bonocore

The people of Jordan are some of the friendliest I have encountered when it comes to taking portraits. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

A man concentrating on an intense street game with his friends in the city of Al-Salt. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

The post 40 Photos That Show Why You Should Visit Jordan Before Its Next Independence Day appeared first on Resource Travel.

That all changed four years ago when I took a trip to Peru that would forever change my direction in life, my career, and my internal happiness. My friend Colby Brown had recently founded a company called The Giving Lens, whose mission was to bring aspiring and professional photographers alike to international locations. On the ground, the trips would hold two goals. One was a workshop angle, where the team leaders would help the team members improve their photography skills in a fast moving, real world experience. The second goal was what set The Giving Lens apart from traditional travel photography workshops. The team would work with a local organization helping to improve the communities from within. Today, the majority of our trips consist of bringing donated cameras and teaching local children how to express themselves through the art of photography. It goes far, far deeper than that and I wrote more about the experiences and the emotional impact it has had on me over the years.

Sunrise in the Serengeti. Photo by Michael Bonocore

Over the years as the Senior Trip Leader for The Giving Lens, I have travelled with teams to Nicaragua, Peru, Jordan, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Tanzania and just earlier this year, we led our first trip to Cuba. As people who know me can tell you, I am very passionate about travel, photography, and my role here at Resource Travel. But there is no aspect of my life and career that I am more passionate about or more proud of then my work with The Giving Lens. Nothing.

A young Masai boy watches over the controlled fires in the village. Photo by Michael Bonocore

When returning over the years, I have seen first-hand the impact that our work has on the organizations that we work with, like Empowerment International in Nicaragua. I have seen countless TGL team members return time and time again to experience this rewarding work in a new location, or sometimes even the same location. We have four of our Nicaragua 2015 team members returning with us this July!

Anyway, it occurred to me, after years of seeing the incredible photographs taken by our team members during our adventures, I should help tell our story through the photographs, and hopefully, it will inspire others to live the experience that would change who I would become and help me discover my true passions.

I am starting with Tanzania, which truly is a perfect mix of adventure and giving back. While not working with the smiling children of Excel Education Foundation and visiting schools in Moshi, the TGL team can be found photographing Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Zebras, leopards and the countless other species of wildlife we find both in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

Leopards are notoriously hard to photograph on Safari. They are masters of stealth and are usually only seen at night or the early morning hours. We had gotten lucky when we came upon this female with a fresh kill. She was dragging the meal from the rocks out to her young who were just outside of the rock cropping. Photo by Michael Bonocore

Take a look at this impressive collection of photos from past TGL Tanzania team members and see why Tanzania should be on everyone’s bucket list, whether with The Giving Lens or not. It is an adventure not to be missed. I have included some of my photos in here as well as Kate Siobhan Mulligan’s, who is truly the backbone behind TGL. In addition to leading trips, Kate does almost all of the organizing and planning of the trips behind the scenes. There really would be no The Giving Lens without Kate. And I wouldn’t have found my passion in life, my career, and my love for travel and photography without The Giving Lens.

The sun sets on a herd of elephants in the Serengeti. Photo by Michael Bonocore

The Giving Lens team heads out of the Serengeti as a full moon rises in the distance. Photo by Michael Bonocore.

Applications are open for The Giving Lens Tanzania, running from August 14th, 2106 – August 24th, 2016. Apply on The Giving Lens Website.

Follow our trips around the world with The Giving Lens on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thank you to The Giving Lens team members who contributed photos. Give them a follow. There are amazing photographers. Pat Corlin; Anita Bonnarens; Sébastien Beun; Joseph Epperson; Andreas Sigrist; Catherine Etherton; Donald Sudy; Jacqueline M. Koh; Patt Dickson; Swetha Ramachandran; Meagan Corlin Brogan.

If traveling to Tanzania, we can’t recommend local guide Godlove Urassa enough!

Photo by Kat Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Pat Corlin

Photo by Anita Bonnarens

Photo By Sébastien Beun

Photo by Joseph Epperson

Photo by Pat Corlin

Photo by Jacqueline M. Koh

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Andreas Sigrist

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Catherine Etherton

Photo by Kate Siobhan Mulligan

Photo by Donald Sudy

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Pat Kennedy Corlin

Photo by Jacqueline M. Koh

Photo by Sébastien Beun

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Joseph Epperson

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Anita Bonnarens

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Andreas Sigrist

Photo by Pat Corlin

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Catherine Etherton

Photo by Swetha Ramachandran

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Meagan Corlin Brogan

Photo by Patt Dickson

Photo by Michael Bonocore

Photo by Pat Corlin

Photo by Anita Bonnarens

Photo by Patt Dickson

Photo by Andreas Sigrist

Photo by Donald Sudy

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Swetha Ramachandran

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Pat Corlin

Photo by Sébastien Beun

Photo by Meagan Corlin Brogan

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

Photo by Kate Siobahn Mulligan

The post 50 Photos That Will Inspire You to Travel to Tanzania Right Now appeared first on Resource Travel.

Armed with a 6-megapixel point and shoot Canon SD600, I headed to Costa Rica, frightened, excited, and above all, curious. What was it like? Was it full of scary people who wanted to prey on me? Would anyone speak English and be open to an American on their turf? Once I hopped on my first converted American school bus, all of those fears subsided. The Costa Rican man next to me on the bus turned and said “Your first time?”

Wait, is he speaking English?!? Confused and excited, I began a meaningful conversation with him where I learned he was a born and raised Costa Rican, working in the tech industry in San Jose, the capital. I was shocked. I was seemingly on the other side of the world, and yet, this young man was just like me. It was then and there, at the tender young age of 27, I realized that there was a whole world out there, waiting to be explored. An entire world outside of the Bay Area bubble I grew up in.

My love for photography was born on that trip. Today, looking back at my horrible images, I am surprised I didn’t toss my camera into the vibrant blue ocean that stretched for miles in front of Shake Joe’s Beach Shack and drown my self-pity in another Pina Colada. But I was having fun. I didn’t think about whether someone would buy a print or whether a tourism board would ever pay me to document their country. All I knew is that the euphoric feelings that would wash over me when I created a photograph were addicting.

After a couple of years honing my craft (aka, taking thousands of more horrible images), I decided to travel to Peru with a company called The Giving Lens. As a small team of six, our mission was to introduce and teach photography to the children of Picaflor House. We learned that teaching these children how to express themselves through art could have a direct impact on the course that their lives were headed, just like that moment I cautiously walked onto that bus in Costa Rica. Growing up with very little money or materialistic goods in the village of Oropesa, these children are vulnerable to many dangers. As a means of escape from their struggles, crime, alcoholism, or even drugs could be in their future. Even seemingly innocent appearing escape routes can have disastrous consequences. Begging for money and selling trinkets instead of going to school can set a child up for a lifetime of poverty, which most likely would be passed down for generations to come.

A child from The Picaflor House in Oropessa Peru practices her composition excercise in the late afternoon sun.

As we would learn, planting that small seed of creativity at a young age can set the child in a positive direction. In the short term, learning photography with their peers in after-school programs such as Picaflor House keeps children off the streets, away from the pressures of doing anything to contribute to their family’s finances. Since the photography lessons are a reward for the student’s completed school work and consistent attendance, in the long term, instilling a love of art and education at a young age can lead these children to a future where they attend college and obtain quality jobs. While not every student is a success story, next week I return to work with Empowerment International in Granada, Nicaragua, where two of our photography students are now enrolled in the local university full time. Instead of teaching these two young adults photography, this year, they will be assisting me as a new team from The Giving Lens instills inspiration into the minds of our young international photography students.

Before my work with The Giving Lens, I didn’t know what true inspiration looked like. I always thought I was “inspired”, but I discovered what my inspiration was the moment I saw my work have a positive effect on a child who is growing up without any of the same comforts that I was born with. Never did I dream that sharing my passion of photography could have life changing effects, not only for the students that I work with but also for me.

A young girl learns her ABCs by circling a G on a chalkboard in a school in India.

Most of us don’t know it, but our skills as photographers and filmmakers can be put to use to help empower a person or a community in need, whether it is halfway around the world, or in our own backyard. Even if it isn’t teaching photography, many struggling NGOs simply need visual stories to use to help generate awareness for their cause. I wrote more about how you can contribute your skills to help an organization and community in need on my blog.

We all have had experiences when photography changed our lives. For some, it’s as simple as finding a weekend hobby while, for other’s, it altered the course of our lives.

I don’t know where I would be today if I had never picked up a camera. I had decent jobs, I worked hard, and I earned a paycheck. But I wasn’t complete. I didn’t feel that I had a purpose in life. Traveling and photography opened my eyes to the world. I have seen some of the greatest wonders of the world, like Petra in Jordan and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, but the memories of the people that I met along the way are the ones that are always at the forefront of my mind. The people, the families in need, the communities forgotten, they hold the stories that I am inspired to tell. The stories that without me, others would never give a second thought too. I just hope someone is listening.

Children beg for handouts at a temple in Cambodia.

A child with mesmerizing gold eyes poses for a portrait outside of his house in Granada, Nicaragua.

A young student sits on the floor while contemplating what subject to write his day’s assignment on at a school in India.

The Giving Lens returned to Nicaragua to hand out prints of the children taken by the previous year’s team members.

A child practices his basketball shooting using a soccer ball at the Anjali House in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

A girl in traditional dress poses for a portrait outside of Cusco, Peru.

A student practices his ABCs in a school in India.

Children sit in a boat outside of their house in Tonle Sap, Cambodia. For more than half of the year, the village is under flood water.

Girls listen intently as the teacher explains the day’s lesson at a school in rural India.

The children of Empowerment International in Granada, Nicaragua love photography so much, they can’t commit to just one camera.

A student does his school work at a school in Hyderabad, India.

Students in India get a well deserved nap break.

The post How Giving Back To International Communities Through Photography Inspires Me appeared first on Resource Travel.

I never really considered myself to have an addictive personality. I am usually content with libations in moderation. But that trip, which took me outside of the comfort zone I had known for the first 27 years of my life, changed who I was, and who I would become.

And so began my journey as a ‘Travel Photographer’ began. I started small, just bringing a Canon point and shoot with me to Costa Rica. But eight years (and a couple camera upgrades) later, my photography has improved considerably. Enough so that I believe I can create compelling stories from my images for others to float away into those same daydreams that I experienced as a child.

Tessa Kit Zawadzki (tessakit.com) is an incredible photographer, and is willing to go to great lengths to get the photograph we have envisioned. Here, the powerful Yosemite Falls dwarfs Zawadzki.

Whether it be capturing the Northern Lights in Arctic Norway or documenting the impressive work of Lek Chailert, who has rescued hundreds of Asian elephants from the torture of logging and tourism, my aim is to bring both the beauty and uncomfortable realities of the world to anyone who will pay attention.

Far too often, we live in the bubble that surrounds us. Most of us may not have financial means or the time allotment to travel the world, exploring ancient temples and helping the local communities by telling stories of their plight to our friends and family back home. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn and be inspired by the beautiful world that is out there.

Inspiration comes in many forms. Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes has always made me more creative, even when working on the most mundane projects at home. Hearing stories about the kindness that locals extend to travelers has always given me faith that humanity is not lost, but, in fact, it is stronger than ever.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to travel to some of the world’s most appealing locations while leading workshops for The Giving Lens, assisting on films with SmugMug, or working to help tourism boards share the experiences to be had in their country. To consider myself lucky is an understatement, and every day I wonder how I can actually love the same thing that I call “work”.

The Aurora Borealis dance in the night sky in the Lofoten Islands, Norway.

Two Asian elephants wait for their meal at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai Thailand. Founder Lek Chailert has rescued hundreds of elephants from the abuse of logging and tourism.

Most of us don’t have the means to travel to all the places on our bucket list, but when we get an opportunity to seize a moment, even if it is right in our backyard, it is important to take advantage. A simple 5-hour drive once a month can open your eyes to a whole new world and experiences that you never knew existed. Buying a plane ticket to a country that you know little about shouldn’t cause fear and anxiety but rather excitement and jubilation. Don’t be scared. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t put it off until next year. The world is out there now. There are unique and unforgettable experiences within hours of any location you may find yourself in. You simply have to commit to the experience, and throw all of the excuses out of the window.

I was one who used to make excuses for not living in the now. That all changed in 2011 when my family was rocked to our core when we lost my sister at the far too young age of 34. Not until that tragedy occurred did I realize that life is too short…and the world is too big. No longer would I sit idle as the world passed me by. No longer would I make excuses for not seizing life and all that the world has to offer, right then and there. Not next year, not next week, not even tomorrow. But now.

Today, at 35, I have lived more years on this planet than my sister, and not a day goes by where I don’t understand how fortunate I am to still wake up every morning and experience the gleeful feeling that is inspiration. I am going to live my life to the fullest to help inspire the many people that may have that opportunity.

The ancient city of Petra, Jordan is lit up by candlelight every other night, as visitors are allowed to explore it’s historic buildings.

There may come a day where you physically aren’t able to board a plane, train, or even an automobile. If that day ever comes, will you reflect on that time you almost traveled to Russia? That time you cut your American Southwest road trip short because the weather wasn’t ideal for photography? Or will you think back and fondly remember the experiences that you lived, the people you met, and the smile that was glued to your face.

I know what my answer is…But I do have one regret. I regret that I didn’t fall in love with my life until I was 27.

Each year, the Loi Krathong festival in Chiang Mai Thailand attracts thousands of revelers who release paper lanterns into the sky to celebrate the end of the rainy season.

Wanting to share the world’s beauty and inspiration with you has been a dream of mine since my addiction was born on an old yellow school bus, traveling across the Costa Rican countryside. Leading the team at Resource Travel has given me that opportunity, and I can’t wait to bring you all along for the ride, as together, we discover the incredible photography, films, and inspiration that resides around every corner of the globe.

Welcome to Resource Travel.

Professional surfer Patrick Millin catches a wave as the sun sets on the frigid Artic Circle.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the largest waterfall in the world, is an incredible sight from the dry comforts of a helicopter.

900 year old camal thorn trees wait for the early morning sun to scorch their already fragile wood in Deadvlei, Namibia.

The skies behind the most famou waterfall in Iceland, Seljalandsfoss, light up in the midnight sun brought on by the Summer solstice

The post Travel Photography Will Change Your Life appeared first on Resource Travel.