Yosemite's Picture-Perfect Spot

Nestled within the breathtaking expanse of Yosemite National Park, Valley View stands as a celebrated spot for photography enthusiasts. This viewpoint, situated along the serene Merced River, offers an unobstructed view of Yosemite's legendary landscape. The towering granite cliffs, led by the majestic El Capitan, form a rugged backdrop against the gentle flow of the river, providing an ideal setting for capturing the park's natural splendor.

Photographing Valley View is an authentic experience. From the soft, golden light of sunrise to the warm, soothing hues of sunset, the changing colors and textures of the landscape offer endless possibilities for composition. Here, you can frame the pristine waters, the imposing cliffs, and the surrounding wilderness in your shots, creating images that reflect the raw beauty of Yosemite.

This was undoubtedly one of my favourite spots in the park - I came back again and again to see it in different lights and at different times of the day. I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do!

The Famous Wharariki Beach

Wharariki Beach, or “that beach on the Windows desktop background”, as it is more commonly known, is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. As it is in the northernmost tip of the South Island, getting there from the Abel Tasman region takes a little bit of time, patience, and planning. I tried to leave plenty of time during my visit, allowing for two sunsets and a sunrise, but the weather was having none of it. Despite the overcast mornings and evenings, and the almost constant rain, we managed a partly cloudy mid-morning visit. It’s not all I had hoped for from this detour, but it was still certainly worth the trip.

Sunset at the Sugar Loaf

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro is the Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açucar), where you can take a series of cable cars between the mountains and see the city from above. A few years ago, I visited this spot at sunset and came out with several images I am very fond of.

The Windmills of Oia

Another classic part of Oia’s landscape are its white windmills. They are actually part of a villa which can be privately hired. I presume that the residents unfortunately miss out on the very best sunset view in Santorini - that of the windmills themselves, from a nearby hill!

As we were there in the (pre-pandemic) summer, there were countless other tourists around, and with this being a coveted spot, we arrived at the lookout and set up our tripods about 3 hours before sunset to guarantee the best views. It was worth it, as about an hour later, hundreds of other people started trickling in, many with their own large tripods and cameras that they set up alongside us. So if you ever want to capture this iconic view, make sure you plan ahead and arrive early.