This church is one of my favorites. I have driven past it many times and had hoped to one day get a shot of it above the fog. Even when the weather was on my side, the story of how this photo came to be was filled with more challenges than I’d anticipated.

When it comes to nature on the British Isles, most people immediately think of Scotland. But let’s go just a bit south to Northern England. There’s an almost continuous strip of three national parks with landscapes reminiscent of Tolkien’s world. What types of opportunities does this lesser-known part of Europe offer photographers?

What exactly is the Way of St. James or Camino de Santiago? Originally, it was the pilgrimage route to the tomb of St. James, located in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. Today, there is more than one route to Santiago. The most famous is the 770km (478mi) long French Way (Camino Francés), but there are many other official and unofficial routes.  

Are you looking to photograph something in Europe that’s exotic, but think Iceland and the Canary Islands are overdone? Try exploring the Portuguese waters. In addition to the beautiful and photo-worthy Madeira, there are also the Azores. These islands have a little bit of everything, yet are very distinctive. Thanks to their remoteness, the Azores are still a safe haven from mass tourism. You will need at least one stopover when visiting any of the islands. Today, we’ll be talking about the largest and most easily accessible island, São Miguel. There are nine islands in total and all are unique. However, it is on this island where you’ll find the highest concentration of sights.

You have probably been somewhere and thought to yourself, “Wow, this is a true photographer’s paradise.” On the island of Madeira, this phrase takes on an entirely new meaning. The main reason is the island’s incredible diversity which is concentrated in a very small area. Imagine going from a tropical city at sea level to a mountain that’s over 1800m above sea level in an hour’s drive. If your goal is to try as many photographic scenarios as possible, then this is the place.

The story of how this photograph came to be takes us to the foot of some of the tallest mountains in Austria, to the small village of Heiligenblut. As usual, some planning and preparation was needed. Still, my planning was not enough, and I had to make up for some imperfections with editing in post-production.

Short day hikes certainly have their charm. You have more freedom when planning and only need to carry the essentials. On the other hand, you’re usually hiking in the blaring midday sun and missing out on some of the most beautiful parts of the day. It’s a different story when you head into the mountains for days, weeks, or even months. All of sudden, you’re waking up to beautiful light, everything is constantly changing, and you’re rewarded with epic sunsets at the end of the day.

Imagine being literally flooded with greenery. It’s so thick it even blocks the sun and only a ray or two sneaks through every so often. Everywhere you turn, there’s a new scent to discover, something rustles, and then there’s the howling of monkeys that carries over everything. From this beauty, unique hills emerge that upon closer inspection reveal mysterious monuments of lost civilizations. Does this sound like something out of a movie to you? The truth is this is the reality you can encounter in the jungles of Mexico and Guatemala.

Mexico has a varied reputation among travelers. On one hand, we picture monumental pyramids and a turquoise-blue coast. On the other hand, some travelers only picture drug cartels and immense poverty. This may make a photographer wonder if this country is at all worth visiting. My response is absolutely Yes. Let me elaborate on why I think so.

There are many of you out there who have thought about what it would be like to start making money with your photography. You’ve certainly considered whether it’s worth it, if you could even handle it, and how it would all work. There is no simple answer to these questions. But the short answer is: it’s a struggle. However, for some people, it is a struggle that is worth the uncertainty. In this article, we’re going to get into how to start making a living with your photography and what it’s like to become a freelance photographer. It may give some of you the confidence you need to finally take the plunge!