Fully embracing the lifestyle of a digital nomad, Fabio Nodari has over 15 years experience as a travel photographer and blogger. Italian born, Fabio created his website not only to showcase his incredible photography, but also to share his knowledge on how to succesfully pursue this fully flexible and nomadic lifestyle.
Fabio tries to show that anyone is capable of making the changes they need in order to live a happy and fullfilling life, and is incredibly generous with his knowledge which he hopes will empower people to do this.
His extensive portfolio is the result of his commitment to documenting his travels accross Asia, and his work has been featured by National Geographic, The Guardian, Lonely Planet and The New York Times to name but a few.
Join us as we find out more about Fabio’s favourite places, his use of drones and what projects he has coming up.
LG: How long have you been a photographer, and what made you want to get into photography?
FN: I’ve been a travel photographer for over 10 years. My journey into photography began as a way to document my travels and share the cultures, landscapes and moments I encountered along the way.
Living in China for the past 7 years has allowed me to explore some of its most remote and hidden places, and my camera, and recently drone, has been my companion throughout.
Photography became a passion because it allowed me to tell stories that words alone couldn’t capture, especially about places that are often misunderstood or overlooked.
LG: Which location or country is your favourite to have travelled to and photographed, and why?
FN: China is, without a doubt, my favorite country. It is incredibly diverse, both culturally and geographically. Living in Yunnan, I’ve had the chance to explore areas rich in ethnic culture all around the province. I’m particularly in love with the Tibetan Plateau, where I photographed a wild snow leopard a few years ago.
While most people associate China with bustling cities, I try to show a side of the country that many might not expect.
LG: You also work with drones; do you have a preference for drone or non-drone photography? How do they compare with each other?
FN: I enjoy both for different reasons. Drone photography offers a perspective that’s impossible to capture from the ground. It gives a sense of scale and allows me to showcase landscapes in a more dynamic, expansive way. For example, aerial shots of terraced fields or mountain ranges create a breathtaking view highlighting the natural world’s beauty.
On the other hand, non-drone photography lets me focus on details, emotions, and the little things that make a place or moment special. It’s more intimate, and I can capture expressions, textures, and interactions that are often missed from afar. I see them as complementary rather than competing styles.
LG: What’s your all-time favourite shot from your Alamy collection and why?
FN: That’s a difficult question to ask any photographer! I love many of my images for different reasons. Maybe some of them are not particularly interesting to the audience, but they have an interesting story behind them and for that reason, they mean a lot to me. Anyway, I think this image is quite representative of my work:
Fabio's favourite photo: Aerial view of rice terraces at sunrise with water, Southern Yunnan
I took it in the Yuanyang Rice Terraces in Southern Yunnan, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and it’s a symbol of the hardworking nature of the Hani people who have lived on these rugged mountains for thousands of years and have quite literally terraformed their environment to be able to live in the area. It’s also an aerial image one that I wouldn’t have been able to take if I didn’t have a drone.
LG: Can you tell us about your next big project and where you plan on travelling to next?
FN: My next big project is focused on photographing and documenting fading traditions in China, for example, the face-tattooed women of the Dulong ethnic group in Yunnan and the Li women in Hainan. These tattoos; symbols of beauty, identity, and cultural heritage, are becoming increasingly rare as younger generations have moved away from these practices.
Additionally, I plan to document Tibetan cultural practices, like traditional Thangka painting and the making of prayer flags, which are slowly disappearing as modernity reshapes the region. This project will take me to remote areas, and It’s a way to preserve these traditions and bring awareness to the diversity that’s quietly fading in modern China.
