Ok, enough of the wonderful warm beaches of the Caribbean… How about some snow?
Two of my favorite winter destinations; Zermatt Switerland and Bavaria Germany.
The little town of Zermatt lights up beautifully at twilight and the Matterhorn is always looming overhead – makes for a pretty scene.
The little town of Fussen in Bavaria is adjacent to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. In addition, this beautiful church – St Coloman stands out against the mountains. There’s so much to photograph in this region, but you have to be ready for serious coldness!
Some of my favorite photos are from Paris. There seems to be an endless supply of shots to be made. I especially love the nights – breath-taking scenes totally come to life once the lights are turned on. And when you’re finally done with your shoot for the day, you can indulge in the best pastries the world has ever known…
Once again I’ll be teaching photography in Paris this September. If you have a chance, come join me. We’ll begin at whatever level your needs are. You’ll learn about technique, visualization, composition, and other elements that go into creating great images.
You will come away inspired with a new vision for your photography and some new tools to make it all happen.
Dawn is my favorite time to be up and about in Venice. The beautiful town is on full display, and for an hour or so it seems likes it’s just for me.
There’s an exhilaration that takes over as I walk down the dark streets – so narrow that I can touch the buildings on either side at the same time, but so full of rich history and beauty.
I remember one morning I was so excited to be out headed toward my chosen photo op that I forgot to bring my camera. How does that happen…? As I returned sheepishly to our hotel room to pick it up, my wife reminded me that most professionals would have remembered to bring their gear with them – thanks for the tip! 🙂
The pre-dawn in Piazza San Marco is breathtaking. The architectural details impressive under the glow of ancient lamps. The dark blue sky beginning to glow with the coming dawn. That’s the rush, as you witness these incredible scenes coming to life.
The biggest challenge in these situations is picking out what to shoot. There are so many possibilities and you just don’t have time to get them all. Oh well, there’ll just have to be more trips to Venice.
As the sunlight begins to warm everything in it’s path there’s a moment where you feel like you’ve stepped onto an opera stage – or like you’ve been featured in an old painting. But there’s work to do, photos to be made, so you can’t linger too long. And when you’ve finally finished your shooting for the morning, there’s that great jolt of espresso waiting for you at the cafe.
I’ve stood in this very spot along River Rhone overlooking the medieval town of Avignon at least a dozen times – normally bringing one of my photo tours here at dawn. For some reason it always turns out to be a successful morning. I don’t know if it’s the simplicity of the lines, the soft river and trees juxtaposed against the hard stone bridge, or maybe the amazing history of this area. Whatever the case, it’s a great little town to photograph.
Arriving typically 45 minutes prior to sunrise, I have my choice of vantage points all along the mile long river walk. The occasional jogger/walker will pass by (I always smile and say hi – it freaks out the locals!).
Pre-dawn lighting is very blue in color and the resulting photos can be very moody and atmospheric. Over the next few minutes the color and quality of the lighting will change dramatically. As the sun begins to creep up, the colors intensify and become much warmer. At that point you have about 20 minutes to make your photo. After that, the sunlight on the bridge becomes extremely bright and you’ve lost the moment…
I’m sure I will continue to bring my tours here – not only is it a nice photo op, but there’s so many lessons to be taught here.
Sunrise over Pont Saint Benezet, Palais des Papes, and the medieval town of Avignon, Provence France
A beautiful old town tucked away in a valley next to the border of Italy and under the watchful guard of the Matterhorn. So pretty, majestic, picturesque… all kinds of terms needed to describe this little village.
If you’re ever in southern Switzerland, or have some time available to get there, this is a must-see. The only way into town is by train – or by skiing in. But once there, you won’t want to leave – I promise.
Photography Workshops and Tours