Through The Lens With Travel Photographer, Carley Rudd

A memory from one of my favourite shoots - a retreat at Son Ru, a 13th Century Monastery. I loved coming to this spot in the mornings, capturing the beauty and essence of slow living when everything was quiet. I'd often be visited by a sheep or two from the flock that roamed the olive groves around the property. 

 

After years of living nomadically it meant so much to me to be able to set roots again back in Maine and share the raw, untouched beauty it has to offer. A lady on the island told me something after the shoot: 'you don't choose Maine, Maine has a way of choosing you'. It's stuck with me.  

 

 

 

I may have even been on a camel myself as I shot this desert caravan traversing the Sahara before we made our way to our desert camp for the night. Morocco holds a special place in my heart: the vastness, stillness, and mystery of deserts have always inspired me creatively.

I shot this on assignment with the Amanzoe hotel and I can still remember the smell of lavender filling the air, and the sound of olive tree branches gently blowing in the breeze. Photographing design properties and boutique hotels is one of my biggest passions.   

 

This trip will always hold a special place in my heart, as Australia was one of the first countries I visited after I left my 9-5 job in advertising to pursue my dream career in photography. My husband and I spent a month road tripping along the coast. 

 

I shot this during my honeymoon in Greece. One of my favourite memories on this trip was a local family arranging us breakfast at a nearby farm that supplies fresh produce to the property. The Greeks have a way of keeping you happy and full.    

 

 

 

This was taken during a road trip in Portugal. We made a spontaneous stop and walked out to the most amazing panoramic cliffside views. The sparkling blue tones of the mediterranean sea below immediately caught my eye.    

 

 

I spent a month in Lisbon, and really considered moving there. This photograph was taken at one of my favourite boutique hotels in the heart of the city. The intention that went into this hotel, including locally sourced pine, tiles and stone, is something that I tried to captured in this image.  

 

 

Puglia is my favourite place to visit. This image - a group of locals enjoying a swim in a hidden cove - was shot in the southern Salento region. The water was so nice that one day we drove along the coast wearing our swimsuits, stopping to swim in as many little spots we could find. 

 

I lived in LA for 6 years - the longest I've lived anywhere besides where I grew up in Maine. This was shot on assignment for Halle Berry's Respin brand in Venice Beach. I love the natural tones and wabi-sabi aesthetic this place embodies. A true sanctuary that makes my zen-heart sing.