The new year has just begun and you’re already brainstorming where to go on your next photography trip. January is not a popular month for vacations. It’s cold, you’re recovering from all the holiday spending, and you want to save your vacation time for the summer. All this negativity is just the reason you should go somewhere for a getaway. You can venture somewhere warm and exotic or embrace the cold and snow deep in the mountains.

Danger is relative. It is hard to find a country that is completely safe or completely dangerous, with only a few exceptions. You should always consider specific regions and not overgeneralize security risks to an entire country. Over the years, I have intentionally visited many countries that are considered dangerous. This article explores how to approach photography in these places.