A few weeks each winter, a natural phenomenon lines up sunset through Keyhole Arch on Big Sur’s Pfeiffer Beach. If you’re in Monterey, California in December or January, it’s a must-see. This post shares peak dates, photos, and tips for experiencing this ethereal “Light Show.” (Updated November 11, 2020.) As with so much, things are […]
Kiyomizudera is one of the most popular temples in Japan. Also known as the “Pure Water Temple,” it’s a Kyoto highlight, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and unequivocal must-do. This post features my photos from the temple, plus tips for avoiding crowds, and other assorted info about it. (Updated June 15, 2020.) Let’s start with some […]
Yosemite National Park’s Firefall at Horsetail Fall is a natural phenomenon visible for ~3 weeks in February 2020. This post offers tips based upon my experiences, best dates & viewing locations, new parking restrictions, California weather, and more that could impact Firefall. (Updated January 28, 2020.) First, you can read about my experience last year in […]
It’s Christmas season in Southern California, which means two things: palm trees covered in lights and gorgeous sunrise and sunset skies! After a week of traveling when I landed at LAX last night, I decided to check the weather and noticed conditions were predicted to be ripe today in Laguna Beach for a nice sunrise. […]
Focus stacking is a way of achieving greater depth of field by combining multiple photos in Photoshop, each shot having different areas of the frame in focus. This is a photography technique I’ve used sparingly, (most recently in the Death Valley and Big Sur photos in this post) because it’s a bit of a hassle. […]
If you’re planning a day in Laguna Beach, California and don’t want to spend all your time soaking up the sun, our 1-day itinerary offers a step-by-step plan for the best things to do and where to eat & shop. It also includes several of our favorite beaches, hidden gems, and more. Having a step-by-step […]
Arc de Triomphe is a French icon, behind only the Eiffel Tower as recognizable Paris landmarks go. In this post, we’ll share tips for visiting, how to avoid lines & crowds, and share photos from the galleries and top viewing deck of the Arc de Triomphe during the day, sunset, and at night. As with […]
Miyajima is an island near Hiroshima famous for the giant floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, which is ranked as one of Japan’s three best views. This Miyajima Island touring plan offers a step-by-step itinerary for seeing the giant torii at both low and high tide, the ropeway to Mt. Misen, temples, great food, and […]
Thanks to craggy peaks, pristine lakes, and more, the Canadian Rockies is one of the most iconic photography locations in the world. Yoho, Jasper, and Banff National Parks feature Canada’s finest mountain ranges, making these places a bucket list destination for many photographers. Even after visiting all of these places, the Canadian Rockies remain on […]
Our original plan for our first full day in Kyoto was to relax and decompress. It was a weekend during foliage season, meaning all of the tourist spots with fall colors would be crazy-busy. The day before, I suggested maybe we should do something in Osaka or Nara to get more value out of our […]