10 travelers reveal the incredible stories behind their most jaw-dropping photos

Sometimes great risks can lead to incredible photographs. 

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Some of the world's most daring travelers have scaled great heights, survived intense weather, and explored remote destinations, all to capture stunning images. 

We teamed up with @BeautifulDestinations, which is currently one of the most-followed travel Instagram accounts, to pull together 10 examples of extreme photographs travelers have taken on Instagram, and what it took for them to get the perfect image. 

@timkemple
A climber tackles an iceberg in Iceland. Photograph and text by @timkemple, via @BeautifulDestinations

From scaling Iceland's icebergs to taking a daring dive off the edge of a cliff, here are the fascinating stories behind 10 risky photos. 

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"Trolltunga is world famous; it’s the Norwegian rock that juts out over the fjords with a death defying drop ... Anyone else fancy balancing on the edge of infinity with only inches of rock between you and the drop?" — @thiagomlcorrea

@thiagomlcorrea
Photograph and text by @thiagomlcorrea, via @BeautifulDestinations

"'Big Drop Romance' was taken in Washington of my brother and his fiancé. She was terrified of the idea of hanging over the edge but decided to follow through with it. I shot this from above them, reaching out with a 14mm lens to capture as much of the moment as I could." — @isaacgautschiphotography

@isaacgautschiphotography
Photograph and text by @isaacgautschiphotography, via @BeautifulDestinations
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This selfie was taken at 6 a.m. at Yosemite National Park. "I left my camera down below on continuous self timer, as I sat there waiting for the sun to come up. I can't quite put into words what it felt like to look out over the valley from this spot, but it's a moment I'll remember forever."— @andrewling

@andrewling
Photograph and text by @andrewling, via @BeautifulDestinations

"A city like New York has an infinite number of perspectives, but if you want to find something truly unique, it helps to take some risks. Hanging from a harness ... 2,000 feet above Times Square, the massive infrastructure of New York City looks like a densely packed circuit board. Sometimes the best images lie at the edges of possibility." — @dave.krugman

@dave.krugman
Photograph and text by @dave.krugman, via @BeautifulDestinations
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"Nestled deep in the woods on the eastern German border lies Rakotzbrücke. Its perfectly constructed arch allows the reflection to create a complete circle, mirroring the bridge and its surroundings to create the feel of a new world beneath the surface. Walking in the freezing cold through eerie forests and desolate villages to find this bridge made the whole experience one that will live in my mind forever."— @jacob

@jacob
Photograph and text by @jacob, via @BeautifulDestinations

"It’s actually in New Zealand that people can see the clearest skies at night, so one day I decided to drive up to Cardrona Alpine Resort, 30 minutes away from Wanaka. I explored the slopes by foot, observing the stars with the resort’s chair lifts as a background—an extreme and memorable moment for sure." — @lebackpacker

@lebackpacker
Photograph and text by @lebackpacker, via @BeautifulDestinations
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This image was taken at Monument Valley in San Juan, Utah. "Even after seeing hundreds of photos of this place, they still couldn't convey the thrill of seeing the sun rise on these giant pillars of rock ... When the sun broke over the horizon, I sat for a moment on the edge of the cliff, feeling small and yet a part of the landscape I was beholding." — @ravivora

@ravivora
Photograph and text by @ravivora, via @BeautifulDestinations

 

 

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This photo was taken at Alberta's Abraham Lake, where methane from decaying plant life rises to the surface and becomes trapped under ice, resulting in these bubbles. "There's usually a seven-minute window every year to photograph them in the best conditions before snow or warm temperatures affect the lake. I've waited five years to photograph them in these conditions, trying and failing every year up until this year." — @calsnape

@calsnape
Photograph and text by @calsnape, via @BeautifulDestinations

 

 

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"This is a photo of my good friend Klemen Premrl climbing the inside of an iceberg in Iceland. Being that it was Iceland, it meant the conditions were constantly changing, but a moment of calm was enough for me to capture this shot of Klemen in action." — @timkemple

@timkemple
Photograph and text by @timkemple, via @BeautifulDestinations

"I wanted to capture a unique and exciting perspective of [Las Vegas] and shoot from the perfect angle. Taking all the necessary precautions with my new bride, we managed to access the rooftop from the famed Bellagio hotel and get the shot, adding another outstanding image to our FollowMeTo photo series." — @muradosmann

@muradosmann
Photograph and text by @muradosmann, via @BeautifulDestinations
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