As a photographer, to show off your hobby to its best, even take it to professional levels, you will require the views to practise on. There are none better than the ones that I mention below. Why not combine your holiday plans with some photography? Not just go sight-seeing for the moment but capture what you see for later. It will be the talking point of all your conversations when you return home. You can create your own picture postcard album for future generations to enjoy. So, here goes for a journey through some of the best locations in the world.
Machu Picchu (Peru)
If you are looking to take large-scale landscape photographs, then Machu Picchu in Peru is just a photographer’s dream. The 15th century landmark sits nearly 8,000 feet above sea level and complements the most wonderful and stunning views of the Andes, and of the ancient Inca ruins and temple. Then at the foot of Machu Picchu can be found Aguas Calientes. Here you can capture some amazing shots of the Milky Way. That is, the galaxy which contains our Solar System, and named from its appearance from Earth resembling a hazy band of light. It is made up of the stars that the naked eye cannot distinguish individually. So, if you fancy some astrophotography, this is the place to visit.
Reed Flute Cave (China)
This cave really is a sight to behold. It is also referred to as the “Palace of Natural Arts”. Considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in Guilin, China, it has existed as a wonderful attraction for over a thousand years. In age it is 180 million years old. It is often photographed using artificially and multi-coloured lighting which will illuminate the exquisite rock formations, as well as show to their best the surreal and magical reflections of its lake. It can only be described as something of a fairyland.
Portmeirion (England)
Portmeirion is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, England. It is famed from its use in the 1960s TV series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan as an unnamed British Intelligence Agent who is held prisoner in the mysterious village. Known only as “Number Six”, he desires to not be a number but a free man, as he is prevented from escaping by a large white balloon. From a photography point of view, it does not matter how many shots you take of the same buildings on this peninsula, they will all look different. It is the way that its architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis has cleverly arranged his Italian-style architecture and beautifully set it among the gardens and woodland. There is so much to explore, including a domed building which resembles those of Florence in Italy, a tower, a shell house, and a mock boat. The view of the estuary is a must to capture on film, or as a digital image.
Pyramids of Giza (Egypt)
For some wonderful panoramic shots, there are none better than having the grand scale of the pyramids of Egypt depicted in your photography. On the outskirts of Cairo, exists the Pyramids of Giza, which are a complex of three pyramids. This includes the oldest of the Pyramids, named the Pyramid of Khufu, and a large sculpture of a Sphinx. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a statue constructed from limestone which depicts a mythical Sphinx creature. It is situated on the Giza Plateau, which is on the west bank of the Nile, which would make another wonderful shot. By using a polarizer, you could produce images of the pyramids that contrast with a much deeper blue shade of sky.
So, that is 4 places in which to practise your photography. Each of them unique and lending themselves to images that will show off your efforts to those sharing your hobby, or who just like looking at beautiful views.