Jason Tinacci at first light. Machu Picchu, Peru 2009. Photo by Hannah Euser.

From an early age I felt the compelling power of story telling through pictures. The family shelves didn't have encyclopedias, rather in their place sat several years' worth of National Geographic magazine. I recall pouring over the pictures of wondrous lands, exotic people, creatures and cultures that were so foreign, almost alien from my Brooklyn upbringing. These volumes were my prized comic books!

I felt a real sense of gratitude that these images and stories, these experiences, were being shared and made so accessible. No doubt they were also directly responsible for inciting wanderlust in me.

Any chance to travel, I take it! Being able to immerse myself into new cultures gives me fresh eyes and desire to tell a story far beyond saying, "Hey ma, look where I went!"

Not long ago, I was standing atop Machu Picchu while bus-loads of tourists marched like ants wearing knit beanies along its ancient farming platforms. Transfixed, all distractions fell away as I tried to convey the beauty of this special place through my photos. Don't tell anyone this, but I actually pretended I was with Hiram Bingham himself rediscovering the lost city of the Incas... the photos bound for the signature yellow frame of National Geographic.

~Jason

Jason Tinacci is an editorial and travel photographer based in California’s San Francisco Bay Area. His work has been published internationally and his fine art prints adorn the walls of some very cool folks.

Tinacci is also the founder and owner of TrellisCreative, a boutique stock photography agency that focuses on wine, food and lifestyle themed stock photography. Visit TrellisCreative.com to view more photography by Jason Tinacci and other talented photographers.