Today, we’d like to take you to distant corners of the world—places we still have so much to discover. This journey is made possible by Spencer Montero, a photographer who explores different parts of our planet, documenting cultures and the people who inhabit them.
Drawn to learning about the world from a young age, Spencer always felt the pull of the open road, eager to explore beyond his doorstep. He shared how it all began: “My first great adventure—a three-week solo motorcycle journey through Morocco—ignited a passion for travel that would shape my life forever. But with every return home came a deep longing to keep the journey alive.”
Scroll down to discover the locations and people Montero has encountered on his travels and explore his captivating collection of photos.
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#1
“I found it very difficult to photograph people in Senegal. Most people I met were very reluctant to have their photograph taken. But one day, whilst riding my bicycle, I came across a small village in Casamance where I noticed a group of women drinking home made palm wine. They had already been drinking for a while and were feeling quite happy. I knew that would be the perfect photo opportunity. This elderly lady was amongst them.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#2
“I came across these two friendly boys in a tiny village outside the town of Kibish in southern Ethiopia. What an experience it was to spend the afternoon with them.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#3
“The Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo is a vibrant celebration of faith, culture, and unity. It showcases the Filipino spirit through colorful parades, rhythmic drumbeats, and the unwavering pride of its people. A true testament to the beauty of their traditions and the strength of community.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#4
“It is uncertain how this bizarre custom of wearing a lip plate came into being. One theory is that lip plating originated as a deliberate disfigurement designed to make women and young girls less attractive to s***e traders. Some researchers claim that the size of the lip plate (the bigger the better) was a sign of social importance or wealth within the tribe. Another analysis indicated that the bigger the size of the lip plate, the bigger the dowry a bride would receive on her wedding day. For example, the larger the lip plate, the greater the number of cows the bride’s father can demand in his daughter’s dowry. But some researchers dispute this theory, arguing that marriage of most tribal girls, as well as the size of their dowries, is prearranged long before their lips are cut. Others suggest that lip plating is simply an ornamentation meant to symbolize a woman’s strength and self-esteem. The practice is also described as being a sign of social maturity and reaching reproductive age, thus indicating a girl’s eligibility to become a wife.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#5
“Behind the vibrant energy of the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo lies months of dedication, passion, and tireless effort. Performers wake before dawn, their hands skillfully painting intricate patterns on their faces, each brushstroke a tribute to culture and faith. They adorn themselves in elaborate costumes, heavy with beads, feathers, and history, carrying the spirit of their ancestors with every step. Despite the heat, the weight, and the exhaustion, they dance with unshakable pride—because Dinagyang is more than a festival. It is a celebration of identity, devotion, and the unwavering heart of the Ilonggo people.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#6
“In the heart of Varanasi, by the quiet edge of the Ganges, a lone sadhu tends to the Harishchandra Burning Ghat , his presence as constant as the smoke that curls toward the heavens. Wrapped in ash and silence, he is both guardian and witness, a keeper of the eternal fire where life surrenders to death, and death surrenders to the divine.
Each ember he stokes is a prayer to Kali, the dark mother who dances between destruction and rebirth. In the flickering flames, he sees her fierce love—the power that dissolves illusion and grants liberation. He does not mourn what is lost; he honors the truth that nothing is ever truly gone.
As the river flows and the fire burns, the sadhu remains—an anchor between worlds, chanting her name, walking the thin line between the mortal and the infinite.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#7
“The women of the Kayan tribe of Myanmar embody strength, resilience, and cultural pride. With their signature brass neck rings, they carry generations of tradition, symbolizing beauty, identity, and perseverance. Despite challenges, they continue to honor their heritage, inspiring the world with their grace and determination.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#8
A member of the Molave tribe during the 2025 Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo, Philippines.
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#9
A young lady wearing her school uniform in the city of Berastagi.
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#10
A portrait of a young Muslim woman wearing traditional dress.
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#11
A portrait of an Adivasi woman.
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#12
A member of the Paghidaet tribe participating in the Dinagyang Festival 2025 in Iloilo, Philippines.
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#13
“Batak Karo marriages follow a complex system of customs and traditions that emphasize kinship, clan relations, and social harmony. The marriage process typically involves several stages, including nganting manuk (engagement negotiations), kerja ngerana (traditional wedding ceremony), and erpangir ku lau (a symbolic purification ritual). Marriages are traditionally exogamous, meaning partners must come from different clans (marga), and family elders play a significant role in matchmaking and negotiations. The wedding is a grand celebration with traditional music, dance, and the exchange of gifts to strengthen bonds between families.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#14
“Manobo, or Aeta, as they are known. They are thought to be the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines and often lived in isolated and mountainous areas in Bileran.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#15
“Over 95 percent of the scheduled tribes of Odisha still live in rural areas, and economic exploitation remains their most acute problem. Less than 10 percent are itinerant hunter-gatherers, but more than half depend on forest produce for their livelihood, many in the form of the tendu leaf, used for the production of bidi (cigarettes). From the time of the British administration, there have been laws regulating the ownership and use of the forests, and today, most forest land is effectively nationalized, with large areas contracted out to private commercial interests. This has progressively deprived Adivasi communities of rights in the land, and they can be fined or imprisoned for taking forest produce which has traditionally been theirs.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#16
“It was during a bicycle ride, along a sandy lane in the beautiful region of Casamance, that I came across a tiny hamlet where local elderly women were gathered. Upon closer inspection, I realized that they were all drinking a strong homemade alcoholic drink. I took advantage of the situation where they were all happily under the influence, and got close with my camera. They were all from the Jola tribe and wearing traditional dress. Not only did I manage to get some great shots but really enjoyed spending some time sitting and laughing with them.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#17
A portrait of a Suri woman.
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#18
“A lady from the Batak Karo people dressed in the traditional costume. It’s not common anymore to see the traditional dress being worn on a daily basis. It’s mostly something now reserved for weddings, funerals and other events.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#19
A Muslim gentleman sitting outside his home.
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
#20
“Meet Bartolo, a 37 year old Cockfighter from Manila, Philippines. Bartolo has been involved in Cockfighting for almost 20 years and regularly attends the Roligon Mega Cockfighting arena, wehre he’s very well known by all.”
Image credits: spencer_travel_photographer
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