
Tom & Pat Cory
Eager for adventure, Tom and Pat Cory quit their day jobs to pursue photography as a full-time career. In the 35 years since then, and now in retirement, the Corys have taken their cameras to 22 countries and 48 out of 50 U.S. states, seeking out the road less traveled and enjoying the journey along the way.

What sparked your interest in travel photography?
Both Pat and I really wanted to see the world. As Thomas Aquinas said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Both Pat and I enjoyed teaching and working with people, so we began to do small photography workshops and tours locally and in the Smoky Mountains. Through sheer good luck, two companies in New York asked us to lead photo tours in Ireland and France and then a number of other foreign countries. This allowed us to expand our travel destinations.

What are your top places you’ve traveled to?
For landscapes, Iceland is hard to beat, especially if you can get into the interior. It’s literally like being on another planet. For birds, Ecuador and Costa Rica are amazing. And for people, Ireland (but always ask permission).
How do you decide where to travel to next?
Before we retired, we simply went where the companies and publishers we worked for sent us. Now, we tend to choose a destination that is either new to us and/or relatively unknown.

Is there a photo you are most proud of?
There is a picture of a petroglyph that is referred to as the “falling man.” It’s located in one of our newest national monuments, Gold Butte. We had to drive over some of the most difficult unpaved roads we’ve ever been on to get to the cliffs where the “falling man” is, and then our guide had to hold onto my feet as I scooted out over a ledge to make the image. Since I’m not too fond of heights, I was really proud of the fact I did it.
What do you love most about travel photography?
We love seeing the beauty and diversity of the world around us and learning how people in other cultures live and think. We both like to make images that tell a historical story, such as old fishing boats, gothic cathedrals, etc. In other words, as our guide in Ireland often said, “We love to create timescapes.”