Posted by Foto Care | Posted in Featured Photo Blogs & Websites
Posted on June 15, 2011
I just came across this blog post from PopPhoto.com, “The 25 Best Places to Photograph on Planet Earth.” I have shared a few of the top 25 places (and in some cases happenings) below. To see all 25 just click on the link above. We’d love to hear what you think of the post and….
Tell us what places you think are the BEST places to shoot
or things to capture in the WORLD.
Captivating people, breathtaking vistas, awe-inspiring natural phenomena, rare and exotic animals—we know what makes the best photos. And we know where to find them. Read on to learn where to go to get the shots of your dreams. Consider this your ticket to amazing images.
Ancient Worlds: Angkor Wat
Photo Credit: Alison Wright / Siem Reap, Cambodia
The center of the capital of the Khmer Empire until the 15th century, Angkor Wat, after the Khmer’s decline, remained lost to the outside world until 1860. The temple complex is considered one of the world’s most important architectural sites. The central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers and adorned with intricate statues and carvings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. Most of the temples face east, so the best light is the morning, while west-facing Angkor Wat gets the best light in the afternoon.
Must-get shots: A reflection of the temple complex in the waters of the moat, and the massive Bodhisattva head carvings of Ta Prohm, the only temple that’s been left largely unrestored.
Exotic Animals: Vanua Levu Island
Photo credit: Barry Peters / Fiji
The waters of Fiji are home to one of the most diverse and populous marine habitats on earth, including 1,000 species of fish and several hundred types of coral and sponges. You’ll also find myriad anemones, mollusks, and crustaceans, as well as reef passages that take you to gray reef sharks, silvertips, and hammerheads. Visit the Vanua Levu Island for the colorful corals of the famous Rainbow Reef and the opportunity to take the dive boat L’Aventure, where marine biologists will guide you through the amazing underwater world.
Must-get shots: The shallow waters of Naviavia Reef make it easy to photograph brightly colored fish in front of coral, or snap away at pipefish, squid, sea stars, butterfly fish, blue starfish, schools of barracuda, sea turtles, and giant schools of parrotfish.
Ancient Worlds: Petra
Photo Credit: Amerune / Jordan
Referred to as a “rose-red” city because of the pink-hued rock that comprises its sole building material, Petra is an enormous, ancient city that was carved into rock face by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago. The entrance to the city, through the narrow, winding, mile-long Siq Gorge, is an amazing photo op in itself. The gorge leads you to the most famous part of Petra, the Treasury, a classical Greek-style temple carved into a 130-foot cliff that dates back to 56 B.C.
Must-get shots: Hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings. For an unusual take on an oft-photographed site, crank up your ISO and take a candle-lit nighttime tour.
Festivals: The Highland Sing-Sing Festival
Photo Credit: Chris McLennan / Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea
This island’s remote location—seashells were used as currency until 1933—and vast biodiversity would put it on any travel photographer’s must-shoot list, but it’s the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea that’s the real draw. During August and September, hundreds of people from 700 tribal groups travel for days and dress in elaborate body paint, headdresses, and wigs to participate in a series of shows for the Sing-Sing festival. The event has become popular with tourists, and inevitably more commercialized in recent years, but it’s still a must for photos of people that you won’t see anywhere else.
Must-get shots: Close-ups of the vivid primary color face paint, detail shots of costumes, as well as action shots of performances.
Natural Phenomena: Aurora Borealis
Photo credit: Feichtnerc / Tromsø, Norway
One of nature’s most photogenic natural phenomena, the Northern Lights are visible on cloudless nights from late November to early April from several arctic locations and even many places much farther south. But this Norwegian city is the largest north of the arctic circle, making it one of the most popular locations to view the whirling, color-shifting lights in their full glory. Local guides can take you deeper into the mountains where the lights are most intense and you can avoid the light pollution of the town.
Must-get shots: The display is perfect for long exposures and time-lapse photography—frame with the snow-covered mountains or city lights in the foreground for added impact.
Send us your comments and/or photos – we’d love to hear about YOUR best places on the planet.
© A Photo Editor, Excerpt: Interview with Vincent Laforet, June 2011
© A Photo Editor, Excerpt: You’re Images are Stolen, Now What?, June 2011
