Best Photography Locations within the World: A Photographer’s Bucket List — Chasing Hippoz

After 25 years of photographing greater than 75 international locations, some places cease you chilly. Not as a result of they’re well-known, however as a result of the sunshine, the geometry, and the second align in a method that feels unrepeatable. This is my working listing of one of the best images places on the earth, organized by area, with full guides for each.

Every vacation spot on this listing has earned its place. I’ve stood in these spots at daybreak, waited for the sunshine, and are available again greater than as soon as. These will not be suggestions from a journey brochure. They are the locations I maintain returning to.

Best Photography Locations within the World: A Photographer’s Bucket List

After 25 years of photographing greater than 75 international locations, some places cease you chilly. Not as a result of they’re well-known, however as a result of the sunshine, the geometry, and the second align in a method that feels unrepeatable. This is my working listing of one of the best images places on the earth, organized by area, with an entire images information for each.

Every vacation spot on this listing has earned its place. I’ve stood in these spots at daybreak, waited for the sunshine, and are available again greater than as soon as. These will not be suggestions from a journey brochure. They are the locations I maintain returning to.

Europe

Amsterdam, Netherlands One of essentially the most photogenic cities on earth, and one of the forgiving. The canals replicate every part, the sunshine at golden hour turns the bridges copper, and the Jordaan neighborhood affords quiet streets that the majority guests by no means discover. My full [Amsterdam Photography Guide] covers one of the best spots, timing, and methods to keep away from the crowds.

Mont Saint-Michel, France The tidal island that rises out of the ocean like one thing from a dream. Arrive earlier than daybreak, {photograph} the reflection within the moist sand because the tide retreats, and you should have one of the dramatic panorama photographs of your life. Read my full [Mont Saint-Michel Photography Guide] for timing, places, and one of the best angles.

Hallstatt, Austria. The lake reflection at daybreak is without doubt one of the most acknowledged photographs in European images. But Hallstatt rewards the photographer who will get there early and stays late. The salt mine viewpoint, the church at nightfall, and the hillside cemetery all provide one thing the postcard model misses. Full information: [Hallstatt Photography Guide].

Vienna, Austria, Schönbrunn Palace at golden hour, the Naschmarkt at morning gentle, and the Belvedere mirrored in its formal backyard pool. Vienna strikes slowly sufficient that you could really compose a shot. My [Vienna Photography Guide] covers one of the best spots, palaces, and road scenes.

Prague, Czech Republic, Charles Bridge at daybreak, earlier than the vacationers arrive, is without doubt one of the nice images experiences in Europe. Add Old Town Square at blue hour and the hidden courtyards most photographers stroll previous, and you’ve got two full days of taking pictures. Full information: [Prague Photography Guide].

Tuscany, Val d’Orcia, Italy. The cypress-lined roads of Pienza and Monticchiello at golden hour are among the many most stunning landscapes I’ve ever photographed. The rolling hills flip gold in late afternoon, and the hilltop cities glow. My [Tuscany Val d’Orcia Photography Guide] covers one of the best roads, viewpoints, and timing.

The Dolomites, Italy Tre Cime di Lavaredo at dawn, the meadows of Alpe di Siusi, and the Val Gardena villages at golden hour. The Dolomites reward early risers with among the most dramatic mountain gentle on the earth. Full information: [Dolomites Photography Guide].

Lofoten Islands, Norway Reine at dawn is without doubt one of the most photographed views in Scandinavia, and it earns each click on. Add Henningsvær mirrored in nonetheless water and the Northern Lights over Å in winter and you’ve got a vacation spot that delivers year-round. My [Lofoten Islands Photography Guide] covers all of it.

Copenhagen, Denmark Nyhavn’s candy-colored canal homes at daybreak, Rosenborg Castle at golden hour, and the biking streets of Frederiksberg. Copenhagen is compact, walkable, and terribly photogenic in each season. Full information: [Copenhagen Photography Guide].

Stockholm, Sweden Gamla Stan’s medieval alleyways glow at golden hour in a method that few European outdated cities can match. The waterfront of Djurgården and the archipelago gentle past the town make Stockholm one in every of Scandinavia’s most interesting images locations. My [Stockholm Photography Guide] covers one of the best places and timing.

Munich, Germany Marienplatz at blue hour, the English Garden in each season, and day journeys to Neuschwanstein and Hallstatt make Munich top-of-the-line images bases in Central Europe. Full information: [Munich Photography Guide].

Bruges, Belgium Rozenhoedkaai at dawn earlier than the vacationers arrive is as near an ideal composition as any canal metropolis affords. The Belfry at blue hour and the medieval bridges replicate within the water beneath. My [Bruges Photography Guide] has every part you want.

Ghent, Belgium Fewer crowds than Bruges and simply as stunning. Gravensteen Castle, the medieval Graslei waterfront, and canal reflections that rival something within the Netherlands. Full information: [Ghent Photography Guide].

Siena, Italy Piazza del Campo at golden hour is without doubt one of the nice medieval squares in Europe. Arrive the evening earlier than and keep over so you may {photograph} the town earlier than the day-trippers arrive from Florence. My [Siena Photography Guide] covers the Duomo, the Palio, and one of the best viewpoints.

Florence, Italy Piazzale Michelangelo at daybreak for the skyline, the Ponte Vecchio at blue hour, and the slim streets of the Oltrarno neighborhood in morning gentle. Full information: [Florence Photography Guide].

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany Germany’s best-preserved medieval city. The cobblestone lanes, half-timbered homes, and metropolis wall at golden hour make it one of the photogenic small cities in Europe. My [Rothenburg ob der Tauber Photography Guide] covers one of the best spots and timing.

Zurich, Switzerland The Lindenhof at golden hour, Augustinergasse’s colourful facades at daybreak, and the lake framed by Alpine peaks on a transparent morning. Full information: [Zurich Photography Guide].

Budapest, Hungary The Hungarian Parliament at blue hour from the Buda aspect of the Danube is without doubt one of the nice architectural images photographs in Europe. Fisherman’s Bastion at dawn and the Chain Bridge at evening full the image. My [Budapest Photography Guide] covers all of it.

London, England Tower Bridge at blue hour, Borough Market at morning gentle, and the South Bank at golden hour. London rewards the photographer who wakes early and avoids the noon crowds. Full information: [London Photography Guide].

Paris, France Trocadéro at daybreak, Montmartre earlier than the crowds, and the aspect streets of the Marais that the majority photographers by no means discover. Paris is endlessly photogenic and endlessly aggressive. My [Paris Photography Guide] offers you the sting with particular timing, places, and insider spots.

Cologne, Germany The Cologne Cathedral at dawn from throughout the Rhine is without doubt one of the nice Gothic images photographs in Europe. The Hohenzollern Bridge at golden hour and the Rhine riverfront at blue hour full a powerful two-day shoot. Full information: [Cologne Photography Guide].

Admont Abbey, Austria The Admont Abbey Library is without doubt one of the most spectacular inside images places on the earth. Barrel-vaulted ceilings, frescoed domes, and pure gentle from tall home windows make it not like anything on this listing. My [Admont Abbey Photography Guide] covers every part you want to know earlier than you go to.

Middle East

Dubai, UAE Burj Khalifa at dawn, the historic Creek at golden hour, Al Fahidi’s wind-tower district in morning gentle, and the desert past the town at nightfall. Dubai rewards the photographer who appears previous the plain. My [Dubai Photography Guide] covers each layer of the town.

Abu Dhabi, UAE The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque at dawn is without doubt one of the most stunning architectural images topics on the earth. The Louvre Abu Dhabi at golden hour and the desert simply past the town full a outstanding images vacation spot. Full information: [Abu Dhabi Photography Guide].

UAE Desert Liwa’s infinite dunes, the Empty Quarter at golden hour, and Al Maha within the early morning silence. The UAE desert is without doubt one of the most photogenic landscapes on earth and one of many least crowded. My [UAE Desert Photography Guide] covers one of the best places, timing, and kit.

Doha, Qatar The Museum of Islamic Art at sundown, Souq Waqif’s lantern-lit alleyways after darkish, and the West Bay skyline mirrored within the Corniche at blue hour. Doha is without doubt one of the most underrated images cities within the Middle East. Full information: [Doha Photography Guide].

Asia

Bali, Indonesia Rice terraces at dawn in Ubud, sacred temples glowing at nightfall, and Nusa Dua’s shoreline at golden hour. Bali is without doubt one of the most visually layered locations in Southeast Asia. My [Bali Photography Guide] covers one of the best spots throughout the island.

Singapore Gardens by the Bay at blue hour, Marina Bay Sands mirrored within the water beneath, and the hawker facilities of Maxwell and Tiong Bahru in morning gentle. Singapore is compact, clear, and endlessly photogenic. Full information: [Singapore Photography Guide].

Tokyo, Japan Shibuya crossing at daybreak earlier than the crowds, Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa at first gentle, and cherry blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen in late March. Tokyo rewards the photographer who wakes up early and stays out late. My [Tokyo Photography Guide] covers places, timing, and seasonal ideas.

Hong Kong Victoria Harbour at blue hour from the Kowloon waterfront, the Mid-Levels Escalator in Central at evening, and Lantau Island’s monastery in morning mist. Hong Kong is without doubt one of the nice city images locations on the earth. Full information: [Hong Kong Photography Guide].

Kyoto, Japan The bamboo grove at Arashiyama at daybreak, Fushimi Inari’s torii gates in night gentle, and the geisha district of Gion at nightfall. Kyoto is Japan’s most photogenic metropolis and rewards a number of visits. My [Kyoto Photography Guide] covers one of the best spots and the ethics of photographing geishas respectfully.

Africa and the Indian Ocean

Kenya The Masai Mara at golden hour in the course of the Great Migration is without doubt one of the biggest wildlife images spectacles on earth. Lions on termite mounds at daybreak, cheetahs sprinting throughout open savanna, and 1000’s of wildebeest crossing the Mara River in a chaos of water and dirt. Kenya delivers the form of photographs that outline what wildlife images will be. Add Lake Nakuru’s flamingos and the Amboseli elephants silhouetted in opposition to Kilimanjaro and you’ve got a vacation spot that rewards each sort of nature photographer. My [Kenya Photography Guide] covers one of the best parks, timing for the Migration, and the gear that works within the area.

Tanzania The Serengeti at first gentle, the Ngorongoro Crater at daybreak mist, and Zanzibar’s Stone Town at blue hour. Tanzania combines among the most interesting wildlife images on the continent with a shoreline and island tradition that the majority safari photographers by no means hassle to discover. The Southern Circuit parks, Ruaha and Selous, provide the identical high quality of wildlife with a fraction of the automobiles. My [Tanzania Photography Guide] covers the total nation, from the northern safari circuit to the Swahili coast.

Cape Town, South Africa Table Mountain at dawn from Signal Hill, Boulders Beach with its African penguin colony at golden hour, and the Cape Point shoreline in dramatic afternoon gentle. Cape Town is without doubt one of the most visually spectacular cities on the earth and combines city images, panorama images, and wildlife in a method that just about no different vacation spot can match. Add the Winelands at harvest time and the West Coast wildflowers in spring and you’ve got a vacation spot for each season. My [Cape Town Photography Guide] covers the mountain, the coast, the town, and the day journeys that the majority guests miss.

The Maldives Overwater villas at dawn, reef sharks in crystal-clear water, and seashore gentle that defies description. The Maldives is without doubt one of the most visually beautiful locations on earth and one of the technically demanding to {photograph} nicely. Full information: [Maldives Photography Guide].

India From the Taj Mahal at dawn to the chaos and colour of Delhi’s streets, India is without doubt one of the most visually overwhelming and rewarding images locations on the earth. The gentle within the Golden Triangle is extraordinary, the wildlife in Ranthambore and Dudhwa is world-class, and each metropolis affords a very completely different visible language. My [India Photography Guide] covers one of the best places, cultural ideas, and methods to {photograph} respectfully in one of many world’s most advanced and delightful international locations.

Sri Lanka Ancient temples, leopards in Yala, colonial forts glowing at golden hour in Galle, and tea nation roads that wind via emerald hills. Sri Lanka packs a rare vary of images topics right into a small island and rewards the photographer who slows down and stays longer than deliberate. My [Sri Lanka Photography Guide] covers the southern coast, the cultural triangle, and the wildlife.

North America

Washington DC Tidal Basin at cherry blossom season, Lincoln Memorial at blue hour, and the aspect streets of Georgetown that the majority guests by no means discover. As a DC-based photographer I’ve lined this metropolis in each season and each gentle situation. My [Washington DC Photography Guide] is essentially the most complete images useful resource for the town.

Big Sur, California, McWay Falls, Bixby Bridge, and Point Sur in coastal fog at golden hour. Big Sur is without doubt one of the most dramatic coastlines in North America and rewards the photographer who pulls over consistently. Full information: [Big Sur Photography Guide].

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, Skyline Drive overlooks at golden hour, Dark Hollow Falls, Big Meadows at daybreak, and Milky Way images in August. Just 90 minutes from Washington DC and delightful in each season. My [Shenandoah National Park Photography Guide] covers one of the best spots and timing.

Acadia National Park, Maine, Cadillac Mountain at dawn, Bass Harbor Lighthouse at nightfall, and Jordan Pond at golden hour. Acadia is without doubt one of the most photogenic nationwide parks within the United States and rewards a number of visits. Full information: [Acadia National Park Photography Guide].

Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, Arizona. The gentle beams inside Antelope Canyon seem noon from March via October and are not like anything in nature images. Horseshoe Bend at dawn from the higher rim is without doubt one of the nice panorama photographs within the American Southwest. My [Antelope Canyon Photography Guide] covers permits, timing, and the settings that work.

White Mountains, New Hampshire, peak fall foliage from late September, tumbling waterfalls, and mountain villages that look hand-painted. The White Mountains provide among the greatest autumn images in New England. Full information: [White Mountains Photography Guide].

Stowe, Vermont, lined bridges, church steeples within the mist, and peak fall foliage that peaks between late September and mid-October. Stowe is Vermont’s most photogenic village. My [Stowe Vermont Photography Guide] covers one of the best places and timing.

Nova Scotia, Canada, Peggy’s Cove lighthouse at daybreak, the Cabot Trail in fall colour, and the fishing villages of the South Shore in morning fog. Nova Scotia is without doubt one of the most underrated images locations in North America. Full information: [Nova Scotia Photography Guide].

North Africa

Marrakech, Morocco. The medina at daybreak earlier than the souks open, the rooftop views over a sea of terracotta rooftops, and the Djemaa el-Fna sq. at nightfall when the meals stalls gentle up, and the storytellers take their place. Marrakech is visually relentless, layered with colour, sample, and lightweight that shifts dramatically from morning to nighttime. The slim derbs of the outdated metropolis reward the photographer who wanders and not using a map and accepts getting misplaced as a part of the method. My [Marrakech Photography Guide] covers one of the best places, the etiquette of photographing folks within the medina, and the sunshine circumstances that make this metropolis extraordinary.

Atlas Mountains, Morocco, Kasbahs perched on cliffsides, Berber villages glowing at sundown, and the highway to the Sahara winding via valleys of pink stone. The Atlas Mountains are one of the dramatic landscapes in Africa and one of the rewarding for the journey photographer. My [Atlas Mountains Photography Guide] covers one of the best places, villages, and timing.

A Note on Gear

You don’t want costly gear to {photograph} these locations nicely. Most of the pictures in my guides had been made with a Canon mirrorless system, however many had been additionally made with an iPhone. What issues is being there on the proper time, in the proper gentle, together with your eyes open. Every information on this listing contains particular timing suggestions and kit ideas for each DSLR and smartphone photographers.

If you’re simply getting began, my [beginner photography guides] and [DC photo walks] are one of the best place to start.

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