Photographers know that the best souvenirs cannot be bought. The best souvenirs have to be made themselves, with the help of some natural lighting, impressive scenery and just the right aperture. When picking a holiday destination a variety of elements like cuisine, history or atmosphere are certainly important, but there are other influences for those who prioritize bringing back incredible photos of their trip.
Amazing travel photos destinations will have some or all of the following elements:
- Impressive panoramic landscapes
- Inspiring architecture
- Special character found nowhere else
Whether an excited amateur or a seasoned veteran, travelers can capture all kinds of exciting images while they explore the world. While there are no limits to the subject matter available for great photos, there are certainly some destinations that are more scenic than others. Here are five locations where travelers can capture amazing holiday photos.
Ontario, Canada
Canada’s most populated province is also home to some of the country’s most inspiring scenery. Watch 4 million cubic feet of water drop 165 feet every minute at Niagara Falls. While this impressive wonder shares a border with Canada and the United States, some of the best views of the falls are from the Canadian side. In the cities, unique architecture, like the unusual design of Toronto’s Casa Loma or the riverside views of Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings, provide excellent subjects for snapshots. For the outdoor enthusiast, Ontario offers a range of parks including the popular Algonquin Provincial Park.
California, United States of America
California caters to both the photographer who likes to enjoy photographing the stars above the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the photographer that prefers to snap shots of the movie stars walking the streets of Los Angeles. California attracts photographers the way Italy attracts people who love food. Some of North America’s grandest natural wonders are found here, including the majestic, granite peaks found in Yosemite National Park and the stunning, jagged coastline running alongside Highway One. In San Francisco, visitors will find panoramic views atop the city’s many elevated streets and plenty of street art covering the facades of buildings from top to bottom.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia, in the central Anatolia region of Turkey, is a wide area of unique rock formations and unbelievable underground cities. The sediment from ancient volcanic eruptions has been eroded by wind and rain over the centuries to form a landscape that looks as if it came from another planet. In an attempt to avoid persecution, early Christians dug into the soft stone here and created complex underground cities that must be seen to be believed. When not exploring the labyrinth of chambers below ground, visitors can take advantage of the panoramic views offered from the many hot air balloon operators working in the region.
Loire Valley, France
With more than 300 chateaux alongside the Loire River in central France, travelers coming to this region will have no shortage of photo opportunities. The Chateau Amboise, Chateau Chambord and the river spanning Chateau Chenonceau are particularly spectacular, and they also offer a glimpse at the luxurious lifestyles enjoyed by the wealthiest classes before the French Revolution. Alongside the beauty of all the glamorous architecture, visitors will also find find quaint and rustic scenes in towns like Tours and Amboise. Additionally, the many ornamental gardens and lush vineyards that abound in this region make for great landscape photos.
Keukenhof, The Netherlands
Every spring the flat, monotonous topography of the Netherlands burst into color as millions of tulips bloom. The rather uninspiring fields transform into an exciting patchwork of colors as different varieties of tulips bloom for as far as the eye can see. In the small region of Keukenhof, visitors will find the world’s largest flower garden, which is home to more than seven million tulips. Even black and white photographers will find scenery worth shooting thanks to the abundance of windmills surrounding the nearby cities of Leiden and Amsterdam.
Bringing back some great photos while on holiday can help preserve the memories, update an Instagram account and help tell the story of a traveller’s journey. With an abundance of photo worthy subject matter available at every destination on this list, all that travelers need to take care of are preferences for climate, budget and finding the time to go.
A good photograph doesn’t need to be taken by a professional. Some of the best travel photos can come from travelers who just happened to use the camera in their cell phone at just the right time. If bringing back impressive photos is a priority, then travelers will without a doubt click with this list of amazing holiday photo destinations.