Don Alney is a freelance travel writer and photographer, seeking the ‘forever moment.’
He has sought it in Ansel Adam’s Yosemite and in the Big Sur in California, among the foothills of the eastern Himalayas, in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, in the awesome grandeur of Tamil Nadu’s Chola Temples, and while hanging out on the beaches of Kerala and Goa. His writings and photography are integral to his exploration of exotic locales that make up the collective magic of his travels.
About his photography, he says ‘I have had a passionate and continuing love affair with light. Its the exotic and enchanted mistress I have sought along countless pathways, meandering through intimate and private gardens. I have danced with light, pursued her, and been witness to her many and changing moods. Travel has made this possible and permits me the unbounded pleasure of interpreting and recording the good, the gracious, the bountiful and the beautiful that I meet on my sojourns. I studiously ignore the ugly, the supercilious and the corrupt. I am not blind to these, but life has enough without ferreting for more. It is this quest which makes life worthwhile, and lends greater meaning and dimension to my work.’
As part of his personal odyssey, he was a former diving champion of New Delhi’s aquatic scene, a state level gymnast, and boxer. Equipped with two Masters degrees and an Associate Fellowship from the University of Cambridge, he has taught at some of India’s oldest and finest schools. His distinguished career in education peaked with an 18+ years spell as Principal of La Martiniere College, Calcutta. However, this was also the turning point when he re-focused his sights on the grand passions of his life and, resigning from his educational commitments, moved to full time travel writing and photography. He has not looked back since.
Born in Lucknow, India, Don Alney lives with his wife Winnie, in Calcutta. His son Duncan has settled in the USA, and the father-son team occasionally collaborates.
Don’s travel stories have appeared in the following south-east Asian travel magazines,
and American publications (blogs and ezines):
- AsiaSpa Magazine
- Rendezvous Magazine
- Discover India Magazine
- iLife Magazine
- Indiawali Bride Magazine
- The Statesman Magazine
- Better Photography Magazine
- India Traveller Magazine
- NaturAlli Magazine
- Xpressions (in-flight magazine of Air Sahara)
- Simplifly (in-flight magazine of Deccan Airways)
- Jetwings (in-flight magazine of Jet Airways)
- Swagat (in-flight magazine of Indian Airlines)
- Namaskaar (in-flight magazine of Air India)
- Free and Easy (the in-house magazine of British Airways)
- Travellady.com (an American, travel e-zine which gets an average 3 million hits a month).
- Kavitachhibber.com (an extensively read American e-zine about India, catering to Indians in the USA)
- Passionati – an online magazine on travel, music, film, photography, culture and life
- Center for Aging
For more information about Don Alney, or enquiries about the use of his many travel stories and his large stock
of photographic images on India, please contact him at: [email protected] or fill out the Form on the contact page.