Visit Mikayla Hiebert on Instagram.
About you
My name is Mikayla I am 24 years old and have just started my solo traveling journey this year. With the pandemic ending and everything aligning in my life I felt it was the perfect time to start venturing out of my comfort zone. I am an aspiring landscape photographer. What better place for landscape photos than Iceland!? So that’s where I started. On my very first solo trip, I went on and took so many photos, 2 months later I am still looking through them. I think getting out of your comfort zone is a big deal and more people should explore that. Whatever that means for them. I have a dream of building out my own tiny home on wheels so I can keep exploring this wonderful world and continue to grow outside of my comfort zones.
Why do you travel and photograph your journeys?
Photography is such an amazing art form that can capture a moment in time. Not all art forms can do that. I think it’s original and creative. I could capture a single tree and when I look back I remember exactly how I felt at that moment. Almost like an emotional time machine. Travel photography gives me more experiences and more memories to capture so I can look back and always get transported back in time to those moments.
What is your favourite thing or item to photograph?
Nature. Landscape. Anything in its natural state. I find it beautiful to be able to capture an image and over time you can see the difference or similarities that may have occurred.
What’s your go-to travel hack?
Go to travel hack is to just be prepared for anything. Make sure you look at the weather that day and always have a plan B. I like to make sure I have tons of waterproof gear if it’s going to be raining so that I can still go out and do what I love.
Got any gear you can’t travel without?
My obvious answer would be my camera/ cell phone (I take photos with my phone a lot ) But to think outside the box I would say I would be lost without my favorite pair of hiking boots.
What destination are you eager to go back to?
I would love to go back to New York City so I can skip the touristy things and focus on capturing real time photos of buildings or people. The architecture in that city is incredible.
How do you stay safe when you’re travelling?
The biggest thing I do is trust my gut. I walk alone everywhere and if my gut tells me that this path doesn’t feel right, I will turn and take an extra 20 minutes just for my own peace of mind. More materialistic things to keep me feeling safe, I have a pocket knife on me as well as I always tell someone back home where I will be and at what times. This ensures that if they don’t hear from me a few hours after they should have, they know something happened.
What’s the best way to experience a destination like a local?
Food! The answer is always food. You need to go to the local restaurants and try local foods. Nothing bonds people together like drooling over the same tastes. Also, I like traveling during the off seasons so that there are fewer tourists and more locals on the streets. Don’t be shy, start conversations with the locals and they might just show you around!
What’s your favourite word in another language?
Bueno dias – good morning in Spanish. Currently planning a trip to Mexico so I am learning the language. Good Morning is beautiful in any language, because any morning you get to wake up, is a good one.
When and where are you next travelling?
Planning a trip to Mexico this summer! Bringing a few of my friends along for the experience. It will be extra specials to share with others.
