Our Top 10 Photo Travel Adventures
Enjoying the Journey is our motto and I must admit that our journeys have not taken us out of our local backyard in Ontario, Canada for about a year now, thanks to COVID-19. Over the years we have been fortunate to have travelled to some beautiful locations around the world and I love reminiscing about the stories behind the photos taken. So, when a friend asked me the other day, what were my all-time favourite photo locations, I was more than happy to share them with him and I thought I would also share them with you in this month’s blog. I love them all so much, so they are in no particular order. So, here are our TOP 10 Photo Travel Adventures that might be something you can put into your travel bucket list.
Those include:
10. Israel
A journey to Israel is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time – but it always seemed a bit too dangerous due to the travel advisory reports. But the landscape and history of Israel is fabulous. Israel offers scenic desert landscapes, lush forests, breathtaking beaches and some of the most important historic sites in the world. So, we finally met the right guide in 2019 who would take us to places that the tour guides usually don’t go to. It was certainly an adventure of a lifetime. Very close to the Golan Heights region, we waited patiently for the sun to set over the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee has been a silent witness to the miracles of Jesus over many centuries and this was certainly a magical moment. This photo was taken with my 16-35mm lens in AV mode, f/16, ISO 800, 1/160 sec. exposure.
9. Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea, located in the Gulf of Salerno in Southern Italy. The coastline is a beautiful place with its cluster of white buildings gleaming like pearls strung along the coastline. The coastal towns are placed in a dramatic natural setting along steep cliffs which make this an unforgettable experience. We stayed at Hotel Costa Diva in Praiano, situated between the beautiful towns of Amalfi and Positano. This was a great location to explore both north and south regions of the coast. Amalfi Coast has been declared one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its undisputed beauty and the uniqueness of its natural landscape. This photo was taken with my 24-105mm lens in AV mode, f/11, ISO 100, 1/80 sec. exposure.
8. Cenote, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
When I had read of this place in National Geographic, I just had to go. Aktun Chen Eco Park Caves was voted one of the top 10 underground cenote walks by National Geographic. It’s located close to Playa del Carmen in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. I took a cab there and must admit I was a bit nervous as we drove through the jungles not really knowing where I was going. But it all worked out. You can walk along the subterranean rivers and peer through the crystal-clear waters to see a surreal world of spectacular rock formations and stalactites. This place is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating nature parks I’ve ever seen. A cenote is basically just a sinkhole and is formed when the limestone bedrock collapses forming a natural pit that exposes the groundwater underneath. Can’t wait to go back and re-explore this area. This photo was taken with my 18-55mm lens in AV mode, f/5, ISO 1600, 1 sec. exposure. It’s pretty dark in there, so it would be a good idea to bring a tripod to steady the exposure.
7. Old Havana, Cuba
Old Havana is a place I’ve wanted to visit for quite a while because of its character. So, when a photographer friend of mine said he’d join in, I didn’t think twice. Even though Old Havana is collapsing, building by building, it’s the people that make this place so special. When the sun goes down, there’s music, talking, flirting, and so much life on the street. If you’re a classic car buff, Cuba is just about the greatest place on earth. It’s like one big car show, where autos from the 1940s and 1950s motor along the streets everywhere. Some are meticulously cared for while others are held together with odd parts and scrap metal. This photo was taken with my 24-105mm lens in AV mode, f/6.3, ISO 100, 1/200 sec. exposure.
6. Antelope Canyon, Page, Arizona
Antelope Canyon is a scenic slot canyon on Navajo land just east of Page, Arizona. Rainwater during monsoon season, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Over time the passageways eroded away, making the corridors deeper and smoothing hard edges in such a way as to form characteristic “flowing” shapes in the rock. A photographer’s dream land for sure, but only if you get away from the crowds. Make sure you take the photographers tour if you go there, otherwise you will be crowded along the narrow slots with the herd and it will be impossible to capture the canyons without people in the photo. This photo was taken with my 16-35mm lens in manual mode, camera in tripod, f/8, ISO 320, 1.3 sec. exposure. You literally have about 1 – 2 minutes to get your shot and then you need to move along. But it was worth it.
5. White Pocket Trailhead, Arizona
Once I discovered this moon-like place, I just had to go. But it’s very difficult to drive into and you need a special 4WD to access this area. A guide would be helpful. It’s about a 1-hour long bumpy ride to get into this location. The area is on the Paria Plateau in Northern Arizona and it’s really impressive. White Pocket is an outcropping of white rock plopped in the sand of the Coyote Buttes area in Paria Canyon. Every direction you look, there are fantastic photo opportunities. The brain rocks area at White Pocket is amazing. These rocks look like sections of some enormous central cortex for the brain. This photo was taken just after sunset, when the cloud formation above the rocks was really interesting and a young girl was practising her yoga poses on top of the peak. This photo was taken with a 11-24mm F/4L USM lens in AV mode, f/16, ISO 4000, 1/30 sec. exposure.
4. Iceland
Iceland is a place like no other. Iceland is a sparsely populated country with one of the most geologically and volcanically active landscapes in the world. Surrounded by water and ice, its perfect for capturing some of the most striking landscape images on Earth. Upon landing in Reykjavik, we rented a car early in the morning and headed out to east end of the island. That is where our journey began as we made our way back over a six-day period to the capital, Reykjavik. This photo was taken on the east end of the island. Vestrahorn mountain is an amazing mountain that extends out into the Atlantic Ocean at the south eastern corner of Iceland. This was definitely one of my favorite places to photograph on the island. This photo was taken with a 11-24mm F/4L USM lens in AV mode, camera in tripod, f/11, ISO 100, 1/250 sec. exposure.
3. Portugal
Portugal’s coastline is a land of extremes with jagged coastlines and pristine beaches. The southernmost region of Portugal, Algarve, is a photographer’s paradise. The morning sunrise shining through the ochre stone cliffs show off the deep blue sea. So many places to explore here and the food and accommodation was really reasonable. This photo was taken with my iPhone 7. It may be an older phone but it still takes great photos. The famous photographer Chase Jarvis once said “the best camera is the one that’s with you,” and given the fact that our smartphones are always with us, they offer the most convenience for photo taking at each “Kodak moment.”
2. Costa Rica
Costa Rica is lucky enough to have two beautiful coastlines, the Pacific Coast and the Caribbean Coast, each with their own unique culture and landscapes. Life is laid back and warm and too easy to get used to. Costa Rica is known for its miles of white sandy beaches, monkeys swinging in the trees and endless waves that begged to be photographed. With the name Costa Rica meaning the “rich coast”, it certainly lives up to its name by having some of the best beaches in the world. This photo was taken with a 16-35mm F/4L USM lens in AV mode, camera in tripod, f/16, ISO 100, 10 sec. exposure with 10-stop ND filter.
1. Yellowstone National Park
Lastly, Yellowstone National Park is a photographer’s paradise in so many ways. This is a place that I always wanted to visit for its sheer beauty. From the geysers, steam vents, hot springs and unique animals, to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Park, this place has it all. I must admit I was a little nervous just as we were about to board the plane a few years ago. The realization that this park sits on top of a super volcano, made me have second thoughts, but we pressed on for the adventure of a lifetime. We stayed at the Old Faithful Inn in the centre of the park, which I highly recommend because its central to many of the attractions. This photo was taken with a 16-35mm F/4L USM lens in AV mode, f/8, ISO 200, 1/100 sec. exposure
Conclusion
So, if you are interested in photo travel adventure, like we are, then you are going to love these places.
Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy.
Cheers! Peter & Susan
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2 thoughts on “Our Top 10 Photo Travel Adventures”
As always Peter, superb photos and a joy to look at. 🙂
Thank you both. for sharing.
Cheers Lois
Thanks Lois for dropping by + sharing your kind comment 🙂