In Focus: Yemen's Young Truck Drivers and Bustling 24-Hour Markets

We're always pleasantly surprised by the accomplishments of our childhood friends, and Darren Ornitz is no exception. Upon graduating from college in 2008, Ornitz, a photographer by trade, has become a globetrotter — making his way around the world in search of the perfect photo op. A particular trip through Africa and the Middle East caught our eye. Whether it's a boy doing a flip mid-air or a lobster diver with a fresh catch, his intimate take on the daily lives of his subjects makes you feel like you're right there alongside him. In addition to setting up a travel, fine art, and commercial photography studio, Ornitz is also a licensed United States Coast Guard Captain and the co-founder of American Pressed Bakery. We asked him to share his favorite photographs as well as what he was thinking while taking them.

"I was walking down the beach when I came across these women and girls wearing traditional Swahili dress — they were on their way home from collecting sea urchins. Some photographs are taken with thought and precision — others, like this one, are simply about being in the right place at the right time."