Therese Iknoian, co-owner of HITravelTales.com, named NATJA Photographer of the year, while both Michael Hodgson and Therese took home multiple gold and silver medals.
We're Michael & Therese
Award-winning Photographers & JournalistsWe’ve traveled to:
U.S. States
Countries
Continents
We’ve won a number of awards along the way.
2024
NATJA – Photographer of the Year; 3 Photography Gold Medals; 3 Photography Silver Medals. PPA’s International Photographic Competition – Bronze Medal Wildlife Photography.
2023
IFWTWA – Excellence in Journalism Award; Best in Show Photography; 2 Photography Gold Medals; 1 Photography Silver Medal; 1 Photography Bronze Medal; NATJA – 4 Photography Gold Medals; 1 Photography Bronze Medal. California State Fair – Best in Show Photography. InFocus – 1 Photography Gold Medal. OWAA Excellence in Craft – 2nd place Outdoor Adventure Writing; 3rd place Photo Essay; 3rd place Action Photography; 3rd place Wildlife Photography. Minimalist Photography Awards –3rd place Night Photography.
2022
IFWTWA – 3 Photography Gold Medals; 1 Photography Silver Medal; 2 Photography Bronze Medals. NATJA – Bronze Medal “Best Independent Travel Blog; 1 Photography Gold Medal; 2 Photography Bronze Medals.
2021
IFWTWA – Best in Show Photography; 2 Photography Gold Medals; 1 Photography Silver Medal. NATJA – 1 Photography Gold Medal; 2 Photography Silver Medals, 1 Photography Bronze Medal.
2020
NATJA – 1 Photography Gold Medal; 1 Photography Silver Medal, 1 Travel Essay Silver Medal. Washington Post Travel Photography Contest – 3rd Place.
Recent Travel Posts
We are travelers. Always have been. We engage. We explore. We immerse ourselves everywhere we go. We are both uber-curious and enthusiastic about sharing our experiences. Here are just a few of our latest travel stories.
Learn to sail with Nautilus Sailing: A sailing adventure in Croatia
Learn to captain your own catamaran during a week-long liveaboard sailing course in Croatia with Nautilus Sailing. Get a captain’s certification, too. Come along on our adventure.
Michael Hodgson wins bronze at the International Photographic Competition
Michael Hodgson was awarded a bronze medal in the global International Photographic Competition for his image of wild horses galloping through the ocean in the Outer Banks.
Riding the Alaska Railroad train from Fairbanks to Anchorage
Every summer morning Alaska Railroad trains depart on a 356-mile journey connecting Anchorage and Fairbanks with stops in Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park. We took the southbound route for a relaxing, scenic train adventure.
Explore industrial history at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham
A national historic landmark, Sloss Furnaces blast furnace plant in Birmingham was once the largest maker of pig iron in the world. Today, the 19th-century industrial site is preserved as a museum. Take a tour in photos at its collection of historic buildings, towers, machinery, and furnaces.
Exploring Fairbanks: 3 days of museums, food, & history
Fairbanks is more than an overnight stop before you board the Alaska Railroad or a bus for a cruise tour, jump in a bush plane, or head to Denali. Fairbanks has a lot going on, from the gold rush town’s history, world class museums, and a plethora of Thai food.
Stollen 1930: gin tasting inside a 600-year-old Austrian cave
Stollen 1930 in Kufstein, Austria, boasts one of the largest collections of gins in the world, deep inside an historic cave carved into the rocks beneath the fortress walls. It’s a remarkable place to visit, even for those who don’t love or even like gin.
Foodies rejoice on a Maine Windjammer cruise with J. & E. Riggin
An historic schooner, secret coves, a lobster bake and sweeping ocean views make a Maine windjammer cruise special. Oh, but the food! Thrill your tastebuds on the J. & E. Riggin, with its focus on local, homemade fare – and get an exclusive J. & E. Riggin recipe.
Craignair Inn – a wonderful MidCoast Maine waterfront hotel
Looking for a great MidCoast Maine waterfront hotel? We’d recommend the Craignair Inn on the Maine coast, ideally located on the St. George peninsula, historic, cozy, secluded and yet so close to great sights.
Hartstone Inn’s Electric Daisy restaurant in Camden a delight + bonus recipe
Hartstone Inn’s new Electric Daisy restaurant in Camden, Maine, offers creative, sustainable food that showcases local farms and foods. Plus, many of Chef Dustin Shockley’s dishes include the Szechuan pepper flower called “electric daisy” for an extra tongue-tingling delight. Subscriber Club members get an insider bonus recipe.
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