Michael Runkel

Michael Runkel - Germany

He visited all the 193 independent countries of the UN and all 7 continents, 312/330 countries and territories on the Travelers' Century Club list, 1323/1 500 countries and territories on the MTP list, 1 238/1 301 regions on the NomadMania list, 869/1 199 UNESCO World Heritage Site and spent over 10 years on the road.

I am a freelance and commercial travel photographer and have  photographed every country in the world and many of the planet's provinces. Born in Bavaria, Germany, I discovered my passion for adventure travel while reading  Karl May in elementary school. My  photo collection covers over 2 million images of travel destinations, people, traditional lifestyles, ancient temples and archeological sites as well as in-depth coverage of wildlife in its natural habitat, flora and fauna and scenic landscapes. I am specialized in photographing UNESCO World Heritage sites and my collection covers around 650 of them.

In January 2018 I published for the German publisher of National Geographic a picture book with personal stories with the name: "My travels to the ends of the world". So far it is only out in English.

Photoshelter rewarded me in 2018 to be one the top 5 travel photographers in the world in their list "https://thelist.photoshelter.com/.

My goal is not to go to every place in the world but to every place I am interested in.

Bunt geschmückte und bemalte Volksstämme feiern das traditionelle Sing Sing in Mount Hagen im Hochland von Papua Neu Guinea, Melanesien*Colourful dressed and face painted local tribes celebrating the traditional Sing Sing in in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Melanesia

Michael Runkel - website       facebook.com/michaelrunkelphotographs       Instagram: michaelrunkelphoto