7 Dream Destinations for Landscape Photography
If you’re a keen photographer, chances are that you select your travel destinations based upon the opportunities to capture the perfect shot. We’ve pulled together a list of seven of the ultimate locations for landscape photographers to visit, based upon the staggering beauty of the natural landscapes to be admired and photographed.
Iceland
Spectacular scenery awaits around every corner in the Land of Fire and Ice. You’ll be spoilt for choice with dramatic landscapes, whether you opt to climb volcanoes, scale glaciers or laze in the legendary Blue Lagoon. Don’t miss out on watching icebergs drift out to sea at Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, walking amidst lunar landscapes around Hverir, and hiking in the rainbow-hued mountains of Landmannalaugar for once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. If you’re looking for something a little more unusual to shoot, head down to the beach at Solheimasandur to seek out the remains of the plane that crashed on the black sand back in the seventies.
The Isle of Skye
One of the most dramatic landscapes in the British Isles awaits keen photographers on the Isle of Skye. Catch a glimpse of the elusive Cuillin Mountains from the harbour of Elgol, before catching a boat out to scale their mist-shrouded peaks. The rarity of clear skies only adds more atmosphere to your images. To capture the diversity of the landscape on Skye, head up to the Trotternish peninsula where you will stumble upon jagged rock formations, tumbling waterfalls, striking mountains and faerie glens. Don’t miss the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing for two of the most spectacular sights.
Patagonia
Discover otherworldly scenes in this mountainous region of Chile and Argentina, where landscape photographers will be blown away with the rugged terrain. The instantly recognisable pointed peaks rising above serene blue lakes in Torres del Paine National Park make for the most iconic photographs, but don’t limit your trip to just this one area. There are 14 huge ice fields to explore, including Moreno Glacier which rises 60 metres above Lake Argentino in scenes not unlike the infamous Wall from Game of Thrones. Not to mention the picturesque waterfalls, sand dunes and glacial lagoons that are all waiting to be photographed.
The American South-West
Nevada, Arizona and Utah combine to showcase some of the most dramatic and photogenic scenery in the whole of America. Landscape photographers will feel like they’ve hit the jackpot with the soft curves of Antelope Canyon, awe-inspiring scale of the Grand Canyon and picturesque setting of Horseshoe Bend. Meanwhile, Zion National Park, Monument Valley and Bryce Canyon offer hiking trails through ochre-hued landscapes dotted with towering pinnacles, presenting plenty of photo opportunities. The US is filled with diverse scenery, but the south-west presents sights that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Lofoten Archipelago
The Norwegian fjords are filled with stunning scenery, but it is the archipelago of Lofoten that is the most spectacular. This largely untouched area is the perfect destination for photographers who are looking to discover a vast variety of scenery in just one location. Towering mountains are reflected in still waters, islands dotted in amongst them, connected by sweeping roads. Photo opportunities are rife both from the water level and from looking down on the views from above, perched on top of one of the peaks. If that’s not enough for you, the fact that the archipelago is nestled inside the Arctic Circle ensures that it is one of the best places on the planet to spot and photograph the elusive Northern Lights.
Salar de Uyuni
Situated in Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat is a photographer’s dream destination, especially when visited after a rain storm. Contrasted beautifully by bright blue skies, the seemingly never-ending white flats turn into a mirror when covered in water, providing the opportunity for a variety of creative shots. If visiting when the flats are dry, don’t be dismayed. The patterns created on the surface of the earth enable beautiful scenic shots, and the endless landscape allows for creating fun images playing with perspective.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Located in the north of Croatia, this UNESCO World Heritage site is unlike anywhere else in the world. Crystal clear pools of waters in varying shades of blue and green cascade down a series of elevations through picturesque waterfalls. Visitors can choose from a variety of routes to explore the landscape via rustic wooden walkways, but keen photographers should ensure that they head up high to shoot the scenery from above to completely capture the beauty of the area.
Emma Lavelle is a UK based writer and photographer and has her own blog Field and Nest.
