I was recently asked to rank the top places in the world for travel photography. There is no right answer to this question of course. Photography as a way of conveying one’s view of the world will always be subjective—as will be the emotional response every viewer has to the same photograph. Travel photography is also arguably the broadest possible photographic genre since by definition travel encompasses landscapes, local culture, history, nature, wildlife, architecture, food, wine, and more.
I’ve been fortunate to spend two decades on five continents seeking out the most visually captivating places to photograph while on magazine assignments, writing books, and shooting for stock agencies. So in this inaugural compilation of the world’s top ten destinations for travel photography in 2016, the criteria are simple: where are the places that combine all of these visual stimulations with the best natural light? I hope you still have some room left on your bucket list before the end of the year.
The South Of France
The Scoop: Southern France is home some of the most historically photographed locations in Europe including the medieval villages of Lacoste (of the tennis apparel fame) and Carcassonne, Provence’s endless lavender and sunflower fields, the beaches of the French Riviera (Cote d’Azur) stretching from Monaco in the east to Cassis west, and the iconic celebrity and billionaire hotspots of Cannes, San Tropez, and Nice. The south of France is also considered the world capital of perfume with its hundreds of historic perfumeries
The Shot: The lavender fields of Provence. If you want to capture all five sense of the South of France it doesn’t get more expressive than this
Greece
The Scoop: This one might be a little cliché but there’s a reason for that. For travel photographers, Greece’s visual appeal goes far beyond the white-washed, Santorini-esque islands and ancient Athenian ruins. On the mainland, the snow-capped Olympic mountains rise over 10,000’ from sea level looming over Greek temples thousands of years old that few ever visit. In the remote center of the country, the cliff-hanging monasteries of Meteora are a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site and defy physics. The Greek people are also come of the most expressive in the world so bring your portrait lenses
The Shot: Santorini at twilight. Don’t worry about the clichés. No other image says “Greece” more in most people’s minds
Patagonia (Chile-Argentina)
The Scoop: Patagonia, which comprises the southernmost regions of Chile and Argentina at the tip of the continent, is South America’s American wild west: ruggedly mountainous, historically individualist, and endlessly scattered with grasslands, deserts, buttes, aquamarine alpine lakes, and snow-capped peaks. Unlike the American West, it’s also hemmed in by ocean and fjords at the edges which make for some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Orcas, seals, alpacas, and penguins are just a few of the remarkable wildlife species. Southern Argentina’s traditional way of cooking beef has inspired four-star BBQ restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami
The Shot: Torres Del Paine National Park. There a dozen angles from which to capture the iconic view of the park’s world-famous mountain range
New Zealand (North and South Island)
The Scoop: The North and South Islands of New Zealand are roughly the size of Colorado but they encompass a range of habitats, landscapes, adventure, and native culture that exists in few other places on the planet in such a small area. The fjords of South Island’s Milford Sound rival Norway’s, and Queenstown might just be one of the coolest lakefront, mountain towns in the world. The North Island’s native rainforests, volcanoes, geothermal pools, and largest city Aukland could easily be a trip in itself. New Zealand’s native Maori culture is also still evident in various places throughout the country
The Shot: Queenstown at twilight is the signature view that captures the essence of New Zealand’s outdoor and adventure culture
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