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 […]
For a few weeks each year during the Winter Solstice, the sunset casts an ethereal glow through Keyhole Arch on Big Sur’s Pfeiffer Beach that is absolutely breathtaking. This natural phenomenon doesn’t have fixed dates, but if you’re in Monterey, California in December or January, it’s a must-see. In this post, we’ll share tips for […]
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 […]
This Nikon D850 review features travel and landscape photos I’ve taken with the new DSLR, its pros & cons, how it performs as compared to the Nikon D810 and D750, and other assorted thoughts about why I think the Nikon D850 is the best all-around DSLR for travel photography. For starters, a brief overview for […]