Orbitz travel photographer Elina Fuhrman

: Elina Fuhrman riding an elephant in South Africa. Photo by Johnny Jet

Elina Fuhrman is the Orbitz Travel Blog’s travel artist of the month. Each week we will feature a series of photographs from her collection. Before we share her photographs, we asked Elina to share a little about herself.

By Elina Fuhrman

The first time I saw the world through a camera lens was during my assignment in Afghanistan. I was there in 2002 to cover the war for CNN, but I brought six rollsof film with me to capture events as I saw them. With just six rolls to last me two months, I learned to trust my instincts and my eyes to see the truth through the faces of the people. I found myself trying to feel the right moment just before squeezing the shutter.

Since then, but now armed with digital chips, I take my camera wherever I go, snapping away at the moments that touch me. Whether it’s the redwoods in Big Sur, carnival dancers in Rio, or the lovers strolling on Paris streets, I get inspired by the quiet moments of humanity and enjoy catching them unnoticed. There are so many places on our planet that are truly home to the people who live there. Sharing these images is just one way to bind our spirits across thousands of miles, and spark the desire in you — I hope — to hop on a plane and see the beauty for yourself.

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Elina Fuhrman is an intrepid traveler based in Los Angeles. She grew up in Russia but knew before she was 10 years old that she would spend her life exploring the world. She is now a contributing editor to Travelgirl and JEZEBEL magazines. Her work has appeared on CNN, in The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Conde Nast Traveler, InStyle and other publications. Fuhrman’s photos often accompany her stories. To see more, visit her website www.elinafuhrman.com.

Tagged: Photo essay