The Marquesas Islands: Paradise at the Edge of the World

Posted by on July 9, 2017

With scenery reminiscent of a Jurassic Park sequel, ancient and mysterious stone temples, and the feeling of visiting a parallel universe – visitors to the remote Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia are in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Written and photographed by Avichai Ben Tzur

Of the five archipelagos that make up the Islands of Tahiti – officially known as French Polynesia – Mother Nature devoted her finest work to the Marquesas Islands. It is the final stop in a long and enchanting voyage across the remote islands of the South Pacific, an opportunity to visit some of the most isolated and stunning islands in the world where nature is free to sculpt the landscape at it pleases in the absence of a protective coral reef. Few are the visitors that make it out here, and even for residents of the dreamy French Overseas Territory, a visit to the Marquesas Islands is a wild fantasy.

(more…)

Categories: French Polynesia Photo Essay Site News Travel Photography | 7 Comments »

Announcing My New Amazon Travel Gear Store

Posted by on July 3, 2017

I get asked all the time what sort of gear I use when I travel. The questions range from the type of bags I use to my camera equipment. Even though all of my things can be stored in just two bags when I travel, if you include all of the little items like memory cards, adapters, and wires, it can add up to a lot of stuff.

I’ve been working with the folks at Amazon to create a one stop shop for travel gear.

Everything which is listed in the store fits into one of the following categories:

  • Gear which I have personally used and tested. This covers most of the items which are listed. A few of the items like the Drobo and Razer mouse/keyboard are obviously not travel items, but I use them at home for photo editing.
  • Gear which is a close approximation to what I use, but can’t be found in the Amazon store. For example, my tripod was made my Really Right Stuff, and that isn’t listed on Amazon. Gitzo is, however, and they are a very reputable brand as well.
  • Gear which I really want but haven’t purchased yet. There isn’t a lot of this, but there are a few items I’ve been chomping to get. This store will also serve as my personal wishlist.
  • Gear recommended by my readers. I asked the question on my Facebook group asking people what their favorite travel gear was. I had several great suggestions, including some items that I had never heard of before. Several of them have made the list.

My goal is to curate the store to be a “best of” for travel and photography gear which can be found on Amazon.

If you have any suggestions for gear you love, feel free to leave a comment here or in the Facebook group.

Categories: Site News | No Comments »

Traveling to Transnistria, a Day in Soviet Disneyland

Posted by on July 2, 2017

Stephanie Craig is the History Fan Girl. She has combined her love of history with travel and has been exploring Eastern Europe the last year. She recently visited the breakaway region of Transnistria, which I thought was an interesting place which more people probably need to know about. Here is Stephanie…

This story starts with a Pinterest article. It ends facing down a public squat toilet in a bus station in Odessa, Ukraine.

In the middle, there’s another squat toilet, two bribes, a kind immigration officer, two ethnic slurs, two Russian tanks, a game of computer solitaire, and some cognac.

Oh, and a gargantuan statue of Vladimir Lenin.
(more…)

Categories: Guest Bloggers Moldova Photo Essay Transnistria | No Comments »

Announcing the Travel Photography Academy

Posted by on June 12, 2017

Travel Photography Academy

I’m pleased to announce the launch of the Travel Photography Academy!

The Travel Photography Academy is an online course I’ve been working on for the last 2 years.

When I started traveling in 2007, I knew absolutely nothing about photography. I did what many people did and purchased an expensive camera on the assumption that it would take better photos.

I was wrong. Very wrong.

Just two weeks into my trip I was in Hawaii and I could tell that the photos I was taking were terrible. My fancy camera wasn’t taking good photos. Recognizing the fact that I was taking bad photos was the start of a process which has taken me to where I am today. I slowly and incrementally taught myself about photography and how to become a better photographer. It took many years and 100,000’s of photos around the world.

As I traveled, I noticed that most people I encountered really had no idea how to use their cameras, and would often buy expensive camera gear on the assumption that it would take good photos….and it didn’t.

Photos are some of the most valuable things you bring back from a trip. They allow you to relive memories in a way which few other things can. If I was to be robbed, I’d probably give up my gear to keep the photos I took on the trip because I can always get new gear, but I can never get back the photos I took.

The Travel Photography Academy is a video-based course, much of which was shot on location in France and Spain, while I was out in the field shooting.

It covers the basics of photography including things like exposure and photo editing. However, unlike most courses I go into things which are specific to travel photography, This includes shooting on the road, how to shoot in museums and sacred places, dealing with photo backups while traveling, and a host of other topics.

We are also going to be adding content on a monthly basis. This will include new training modules, monthly webinars with the world’s greatest travel photographers, and recorded sessions where I edit photos from members and go through the thought process and technical aspects of processing images.

We’ve also lined up discounts for members with several travel and photography companies, and we have more we will be announcing over the next few months.

I’m offering everything for one, lifetime price of $495.

I’m very excited to be offing this course and am looking forward to helping you improve your travel photography!

Categories: Daily Photo Site News | 2 Comments »