Instagrammer Of The Week: Azlif Mohamed

We at The Culture Trip are dedicated to finding you the very best of art, culture, food and travel. In light of this, we bring you a #CultureTripper, a hand-picked selection of the best Instagram photographers from all around the world. From the islands of the Maldives to the Mosques of Lahore, these photographers showcase their talents through their beautiful feeds and remarkable images. Follow our Instagram page to find out more. To start us off, we talked to Azlif, from the Maldives, about the inspiration behind his colorful feed.

Where are you based?

I’m based in Maldives, a tiny island nation in the Indian ocean.

Has Instagram changed the way you photograph?
It definitely has. Every day is a creative endeavor through Instagram. The easiness of exploring the world of photography at your fingertips inspires me to create constantly.

Whose work influences you?
It’s hard to name as it constantly changes with new discoveries almost every day.
What do you want to say with your photographs? What message do you want to convey?
I try to be as authentic as possible while creating my own impression of the given subject. My approach to photography has always been very design oriented as I’m a designer, so I focus a lot on perfecting compositions and framing while trying to convey an authentic reality.

What motivates you to continue taking photographs?
The constant supply of amazing work by other creators and the easiness of discovering them.
How do you find subjects that you want to photograph? For example, do you travel to locations you know you’ll find appealing or take pictures as you experience life?
I try to capture life around me, which is more challenging than to travel to a photogenic place just to shoot. But it’s always great when you get to a new place and discover things with fresh eyes. Traveling is amazing in that sense that you discover things in new places and come home to find home in a new perspective too. So, it’s always great to take breaks and get away as often as possible.
Interview by Remy Millar

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.