Capture the Atlas

Today, Capture the Atlas is an exhilarating endeavor that guides over 300 passionate photographers each year in their quest to capture stunning images around the globe. But let’s rewind to the beginning!

When we first dreamed up Capture the Atlas, we had no idea that our passion project would blossom into this—or, even less so, that we could make a living from it for ourselves and the other photographers who are now part of the Capture the Atlas crew. It started as a heartwarming adventure—a way to blend our love for travel and photography while sharing our excitement for exploration with others.

In 2016, Ascen began writing her personal Spanish-language travel blog, Atlas de una Amazona, where she documented her first trips across Asia and Europe. Meanwhile, Dan’s photography began attracting attention, showcasing his talent for capturing stunning landscapes and enchanting night skies. In 2017, when Ascen landed a job in the United States, we decided to move there and rebrand, seeking a name that reflected our new adventures and made our content more accessible to a global audience.

This led us to Capture the Atlas. Ascen’s enthusiasm for trip planning, combined with Dan’s knack for photography, made for a perfect collaboration. Dan began sharing photography guides alongside Ascen’s travel posts, enhancing them with his breathtaking images. Soon enough, our readers started asking if they could join us on our adventures.

As interest grew, we recognized a demand for group trips and photography lessons. In response, we launched our first photo tour to Iceland in 2019, marking the beginning of a thrilling new chapter for us. The journey didn’t stop there; we quickly expanded our offerings to include photography trips to many national parks in the U.S. and other international destinations like Norway, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and beyond.

Though the pandemic temporarily disrupted our plans in 2020, our travel itch never faded. By 2021, demand surged, prompting Dan to leave his corporate job and fully commit to this adventure. By the end of 2022, Ascen followed suit, and together, we now travel full-time, documenting our journeys, creating detailed travel guides, and designing photography tours that help fellow photographers capture breathtaking images.

Looking back, we can hardly believe how far we’ve come since those early days of Atlas de una Amazona. Every trip we lead, and every story we share reminds us of the power of following our passions and the incredible community we’ve built around our love for travel and photography. Thanks for being part of our journey!