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About Backcountry Journeys
Why Choose Backcountry Journeys
If you're considering a photography tour, hear why Backcountry Journeys delivers the best experience in the industry.Frequently Asked Questions
If you're new to photography tours, or new to BCJ, you can find our common travel questions here.Fitness Levels
Our trips vary on physical intensity, and by reviewing our fitness levels, you can find out which trips may be more challenging, or aligned more closely with your comfort level.Meet The Crew
We've built an amazing team of experienced guides, and dedicated office staff that elevate your travel experience. Get to know their backgrounds, and hear their stories.Gift Certificates
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Backcountry Journeys
Backcountry Journeys
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Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.Community Testimonials
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About Our Company
Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Welcoming our Newest BCJ Staff!
Published October 24, 2022
It's been a few months coming but we'd like to shout out a warm welcome to the newest members of the Backcountry Journeys family!
Backcountry Journeys has an AWESOME team of both office & field staff, including a few ‘new’ members we’d love for you to meet today. They are thoughtful problem solvers. They are dependable, organized & efficient, ridiculously helpful, and thorough. They are the backbone of the operation working daily to connect passionate people to exceptional photography experiences.
You’ve maybe talked to or exchanged an email with Katrina Forte, Lauren Danilek or Linda Engell already and some of you have already been on photo excursions with Jose Martinez.
A good team is never a coincidence, and over the past few months, we’ve added some new faces to the family. Help us welcome Jose, Katrina, Linda & Lauren to the team!
In addition we've also recently made some upgrades to our Staff Page. You'll now be able to see Blog Posts, Articles & Trip Reports on each of Trip Leaders' bio pages - and coming soon we'll be listing all of their scheduled trips on their bio page so you can easily see your favorite photo guides' schedule & book your next trip accordingly!
Jose Martinez
Photo Trip Leader
José is a professional photographer living in the American Southwest. His eye for the natural world is inspired by the masters such as Edward Curtis, Ansel Adams, and Kurt Markus. Similarly, a key component to José’s artistry is the love of nature and use of imagery to bring attention to the diversity of our cultural and natural surroundings.
José grew up on a ranch in Southern California raising cattle and farming alfalfa. He later attended Northern Arizona University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in photography. While attending university he became particularly interested in portrait and fashion photography. José pursued these ambitions to become a professional photographer in New York City. He assisted the likes of Albert Watson, Michel Comte, and others while in New York. The scope of work included projects for Rolling Stone, Vogue, Details Magazine, Prada, Levi’s, Time Magazine, Warner Brothers and The Gap.
Working with said artists opened his mind to the many aspects of professional photography. Although many were fashion photographers, they also shot landscape, still life and documentary projects. It was the pure love for the art form that mattered and what guided José as he ventured out on his own to eventually becoming a professional photographer in his own right. During this time, José was chosen as one of the top 100 alumni at Northern Arizona University and asked to speak at the School of Communications commencement for the 100-year anniversary of NAU.
Since then, José has continued to work as a commercial photographer for the last 25 years. His assignments have taken him on various adventures throughout the world across North America, Europe, the islands of the Caribbean, and Mexico. These experiences have influenced his photography and cultivated many friendships along the way. His clients have included Anthropologie, Brookstone, Columbia Sportswear, Garnet Hill, Home Goods, Hydro Flask, J.Jill, Lands’ End, Life Magazine, Pendleton, Puma, Territory Ahead, Spanish Elle, and TJ Maxx amongst others.
Now, alongside mastering photography, José has become a milliner of bespoke cowboy hats with his business Spur Hat Company.
Favorite Quotes
“To the oft-asked question, What camera or lens do you use? I can only reply I couldn’t tell to save my soul _ it is enough for me to know that I have something that will make pictures and that is in working order.” – Edward S. Curtis
“Ask yourself: “Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream?” – Ansel Adams
Photo Trip Leader
José is a professional photographer living in the American Southwest. His eye for the natural world is inspired by the masters such as Edward Curtis, Ansel Adams, and Kurt Markus. Similarly, a key component to José’s artistry is the love of nature and use of imagery to bring attention to the diversity of our cultural and natural surroundings.
José grew up on a ranch in Southern California raising cattle and farming alfalfa. He later attended Northern Arizona University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in photography. While attending university he became particularly interested in portrait and fashion photography. José pursued these ambitions to become a professional photographer in New York City. He assisted the likes of Albert Watson, Michel Comte, and others while in New York. The scope of work included projects for Rolling Stone, Vogue, Details Magazine, Prada, Levi’s, Time Magazine, Warner Brothers and The Gap.
Working with said artists opened his mind to the many aspects of professional photography. Although many were fashion photographers, they also shot landscape, still life and documentary projects. It was the pure love for the art form that mattered and what guided José as he ventured out on his own to eventually becoming a professional photographer in his own right. During this time, José was chosen as one of the top 100 alumni at Northern Arizona University and asked to speak at the School of Communications commencement for the 100-year anniversary of NAU.
Since then, José has continued to work as a commercial photographer for the last 25 years. His assignments have taken him on various adventures throughout the world across North America, Europe, the islands of the Caribbean, and Mexico. These experiences have influenced his photography and cultivated many friendships along the way. His clients have included Anthropologie, Brookstone, Columbia Sportswear, Garnet Hill, Home Goods, Hydro Flask, J.Jill, Lands’ End, Life Magazine, Pendleton, Puma, Territory Ahead, Spanish Elle, and TJ Maxx amongst others.
Now, alongside mastering photography, José has become a milliner of bespoke cowboy hats with his business Spur Hat Company.
Favorite Quotes
“To the oft-asked question, What camera or lens do you use? I can only reply I couldn’t tell to save my soul _ it is enough for me to know that I have something that will make pictures and that is in working order.” – Edward S. Curtis
“Ask yourself: “Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream?” – Ansel Adams
Katrina Forte
Photo Adventure Specialist
Katrina was born and raised in the great state of Colorado where she grew up skiing, hiking, and camping with her family. From a young age, Katrina has had a love for the outdoors and would take any chance to be outside. Katrina is very passionate about conservation and the environment and she believes that it is important to get out in nature to understand why we should cherish and protect our natural world.
She attended the University of Colorado-Boulder where she studied Media Production and Film and developed a love for photography and movies. During college, Katrina would spend most of her free time hiking the Boulder Flatirons or hammocking on the quad.
Katrina has been to multiple countries around the world and hopes to get to all 7 continents someday. She also aims to visit all 63 National Parks and has so far been to 17. Her favorite trip yet was visiting Zion National Park and hiking the Narrows.
Katrina is also an artist and enjoys painting and drawing.
Photo Adventure Specialist
Katrina was born and raised in the great state of Colorado where she grew up skiing, hiking, and camping with her family. From a young age, Katrina has had a love for the outdoors and would take any chance to be outside. Katrina is very passionate about conservation and the environment and she believes that it is important to get out in nature to understand why we should cherish and protect our natural world.
She attended the University of Colorado-Boulder where she studied Media Production and Film and developed a love for photography and movies. During college, Katrina would spend most of her free time hiking the Boulder Flatirons or hammocking on the quad.
Katrina has been to multiple countries around the world and hopes to get to all 7 continents someday. She also aims to visit all 63 National Parks and has so far been to 17. Her favorite trip yet was visiting Zion National Park and hiking the Narrows.
Katrina is also an artist and enjoys painting and drawing.
Linda Engell
Photo Adventure Specialist
Born in Massachusetts, Linda grew up loving the outdoors and particularly the ocean, but it was her family’s “trips to no place in particular” that taught her to love travel. Her parents encouraged her to be independent and experience new things which fueled her love of solo travel right out of college.
Linda has a long career in various business fields which also required her to travel extensively, both domestically and internationally. Wherever Linda traveled, she made it a point to find time to explore her surroundings and learn about the local cultures. It was while on these trips that she knew that she wanted to share the beauty she discovered with others and developed her love for photography and documenting the people and places that she encountered.
Linda also loves problem solving and helping others. Her goal is to take as much of the stress and worry of traveling out of the equation, so that people can focus their energies on taking gorgeous pictures of the world around them.
Photo Adventure Specialist
Born in Massachusetts, Linda grew up loving the outdoors and particularly the ocean, but it was her family’s “trips to no place in particular” that taught her to love travel. Her parents encouraged her to be independent and experience new things which fueled her love of solo travel right out of college.
Linda has a long career in various business fields which also required her to travel extensively, both domestically and internationally. Wherever Linda traveled, she made it a point to find time to explore her surroundings and learn about the local cultures. It was while on these trips that she knew that she wanted to share the beauty she discovered with others and developed her love for photography and documenting the people and places that she encountered.
Linda also loves problem solving and helping others. Her goal is to take as much of the stress and worry of traveling out of the equation, so that people can focus their energies on taking gorgeous pictures of the world around them.
Lauren Danilek
Photo Adventure Specialist
Lauren grew up in and around Lake Michigan and her appreciation for the outdoors began alongside her love for both film and digital photography. She now lives around the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado, where she’s able to ski all winter and backpack all summer. Her medium format film camera is always in tow alongside her digital set up, and her love for Portra 400 has extended to the name of her Siberian Husky, Kodak!
Lauren has been published in Backcountry, Backpacker, and Outdoor Retailer magazines, as well as numerous other digital platforms and blogs, and has photographed for environmental non-profits including with The Conservation Alliance, Urban Rivers, and Alliance for the Great Lakes. She loves combining her mountaineering and backcountry skiing experience to document her adventures across North America’s glaciers and volcanoes, and continues to use photography to aid in environmental activism and people’s connection to the outdoors. You can find her work at laurendanilek.com
Photo Adventure Specialist
Lauren grew up in and around Lake Michigan and her appreciation for the outdoors began alongside her love for both film and digital photography. She now lives around the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado, where she’s able to ski all winter and backpack all summer. Her medium format film camera is always in tow alongside her digital set up, and her love for Portra 400 has extended to the name of her Siberian Husky, Kodak!
Lauren has been published in Backcountry, Backpacker, and Outdoor Retailer magazines, as well as numerous other digital platforms and blogs, and has photographed for environmental non-profits including with The Conservation Alliance, Urban Rivers, and Alliance for the Great Lakes. She loves combining her mountaineering and backcountry skiing experience to document her adventures across North America’s glaciers and volcanoes, and continues to use photography to aid in environmental activism and people’s connection to the outdoors. You can find her work at laurendanilek.com
We offer world-class travel photography
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
Get Our Trip Catalog
Receive a trip catalog that highlights all of our upcoming photo tours and workshops.Schedule a Trip Consultation
Meet with a photo experience coordinator, and experience a personal touch to your booking experience.Landscape Guide
Receive a FREE Landscape Cheat Sheet Written By a Pro Photographer.Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.