Kazakhstan Travel Photography: Almaty, Charyn Canyon, and the Mountain Lakes
Kazakhstan is huge. Seriously huge. It’s the ninth-largest country in the world, and I managed to explore just a small corner of it.
My travels took me through southern Kazakhstan, beginning in Almaty, a surprisingly European-feeling city with leafy streets, lively neighborhoods, and spectacular mountains rising in the background. From there, I ventured into the countryside to explore the dramatic landscapes of Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lake, and Kaindy Lake. I even spent a rather cold night sleeping in a traditional yurt. Character building, apparently.
For me, travel has always been about experiences. The unexpected encounters, unfamiliar places, spectacular scenery, and occasional questionable decisions are what make a journey memorable.
As a travel photographer and watercolor artist, these experiences also provide much of the inspiration for my artwork. I’m constantly photographing interesting compositions, unusual light, architectural details, and landscapes that might eventually become paintings. Sometimes that inspiration strikes immediately. Other times, a photograph sits in my collection for years before I decide to turn it into a watercolor.
Kazakhstan provided plenty of both inspiration and adventure. And considering how little of this enormous country I actually explored, there’s certainly reason to return.
Explore my travel photographs, experiences, and artistic inspiration from southern Kazakhstan below.
