Photographer Self-Funds Trips Around the World to Document Cultures

Porter Yates is a Brooklyn, New York-based photographer who takes his camera to the remote corners of the world, documenting the beauty and uniqueness of different cultures by embedding himself in those communities of people.

What’s more, the photography trips are entirely self-funded by Yates through a combination of savings, his full-time job, and some money earned through his photos. “Photography isn’t my primary source of income,” Yates tells PetaPixel.

Yates’ goal with his work is to “reveal universal elements that express the human condition as well as capturing people’s relationships to their community and environment.”

Here’s a selection of photos created during trips through Asia and the Americas:

Yates was just announced as “Photographer of the Year” by the photo sharing service EyeEm, which writes that Yates’ “incredible portfolio of photography offers a unique insight into what it means to be an outsider.” Here’s a short feature they published about Yates and his work:

You can find more of Yates’ photos and connect with him on his website, Facebook, Instagram, and EyeEm.

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Image credits: Photographs by Porter Yates and used with permission