Travel Photography Guides to Beautiful Destinations

Where to Stay in Kyoto: Finding the Right Base for Photographing Historic Kyoto

Lisa Michele Burns — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:27:53 +0000

A Guide to the Best Areas to Stay in Kyoto Kyoto will be sitting pretty as a highlight on most itineraries to Japan, whether you’re visiting for the first time, or like me, try to visit annually. I’ve photographed in and around Kyoto for over 20 years now; it’s a city I find so culturally fascinating, with 1600 temples, 400+ shrines and 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I doubt I’ll ever get bored; there’s always something new to see, favourites to revisit, or somewhere I haven’t yet explored. Now, if you’re planning a trip to Kyoto and want to find an ideal base for your time there, the city map can look a little overwhelming. There’s Gion, Higashiyama, Kyoto Station area, Arashiyama, and you’re no doubt asking yourself, where do you stay in Kyoto for the best experience? The answer lies in the type of experience you’re keen to have. If you’re a foodie and love evening wanders, want to explore the bars and nightlife, but still fill your day with iconic sites and cultural wonders, anywhere in Gion or downtown Kyoto will work just fine. If, though, you want to plan a little more thoroughly and learn what is...

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Exploring the Photogenic Green Spaces of Singapore

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:13:20 +0000

There’s a smell in the air once you land at Changi Airport, for me, it represents the blend of humidity and tropical landscapes. It smells ‘green‘, I guess, and I’m always so excited to see the lush foliage along the ECP into the city. For photographers visiting Singapore, the green spaces and environments are worth exploring in addition to the key sites, especially early in the morning before that heat takes hold. From elevated forest walks and tropical gardens to indoor waterfalls and UNESCO-listed parklands, nature isn’t confined to the outskirts, it’s woven into the city’s identity. In most of the green spaces noted in this guide, architecture and nature exist in harmony, making each location ideal for landscape lovers, and photographers who enjoy incorporating a sprinkle of history and culture too. Cloud Forest – A Walk Through the Clouds Stepping inside the Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay feels like entering another world. A towering indoor waterfall tumbles through a lush landscape of orchids, ferns and moss-covered cliffs, while elevated walkways wind through the mist, offering constantly changing perspectives. It’s a fascinating place to photograph, with shifting light, drifting mist and layers of tropical planting creating new compositions...

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Light, Nature and Design: A Visual Hotel Review of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:23:59 +0000

Where Architecture and Nature Meet There are very few hotels where I find myself reaching for my camera before I’ve even checked in. Stepping into the soaring atrium of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, my attention was immediately drawn upwards as I walked toward reception after my flight from Brisbane. Sunlight streamed through the vast sky-lit roof, filtering through layers of lush greenery and sculptural timber forms, creating an ever-changing display of light, shadow and texture. It wasn’t simply impressive architecture; it felt alive, especially because the sound of songbirds created an enchanting echo. Throughout my stay, I found myself taking a photo each time I crossed the atrium, curious to see how the space had transformed. Morning light revealed soft highlights across the foliage, while the midday to afternoon sun cast dramatic patterns that shifted across the walkways and timber structures. Even after returning from photographing around Singapore, the hotel itself continued to inspire. As Singapore’s first Garden-in-a-Hotel, the property blends contemporary luxury with biophilic design, creating a sanctuary that feels remarkably calm despite sitting in the heart of the city. Home to more than 2,400 plants representing over 60 species beneath one of Southeast Asia’s largest skylit hotel atriums,...

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Behind the Lens: Hokkaido Drift Ice Swimming

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 05:16:57 +0000

Some people say their happy place is lying by a resort pool with a cocktail, mine is floating amongst icebergs like a puffer fish. The location doesn’t bother me too much; I’d be just as happy among the 50ft icebergs off the coast of Greenland, as I would be doing a cold plunge in Antarctica; however, if you’ve been reading The Wandering Lens for a while, you’ll know one of my favourite countries is Japan. And this February, I had the chance to combine my love for Japan, AND icebergs. Every winter, drift ice travels from Siberia to the shores of Eastern Hokkaido across the Sea of Okhotsk. While its arrival is completely dependent on tides, wind, and temperature, you can usually assume that by mid-February, you can whip on a dry suit and get amongst it. Now, before you squeeze a dry suit into your luggage and venture north, due to the strong currents and ever-shifting drift ice, it is recommended to only do this experience with trained guides. It’s all in the name actually, drift ice, known to swirl, drift, and travel quite large distances each day…and you don’t want to get stuck in below-freezing water for very...

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Photographing the Steller’s Sea Eagle in Eastern Hokkaido

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:45:48 +0000

Winter Wildlife Photography Experience in Japan These feathered friends, endemic to the Kamchatka Peninsula, Sea of Okhotsk, and other parts of Siberia in Russia, are the very reason I’ve had Eastern Hokkaido on my wish list for many years. On par with drift ice, a fascinating environmental process I’ve tracked and wanted to photograph since I saw a poster in Sapporo about it, way back in 2000. Luckily, the two combine to form one of the most photogenic experiences you can have outdoors, especially if you’re a fan of icy wonders and wildlife like me. The Steller’s Sea Eagle is one of the biggest draw cards for wildlife photographers, with their immense wingspan of up to 2.5m (8ft), striking yellow beaks, and dramatic fishing behaviour, presenting an action-packed experience to witness these beauties in the wild. While you can get lucky and see the eagles amongst the drift ice along Hokkaido’s northern coastline in winter, Rausu offers the chance to see them up close, with trained captains knowing where to find them to ensure you’re capturing images as the warm glow of sunrise illuminates the scene. *Just to note, the conditions will determine if boats depart or not. If seas...

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A Photographer’s Guide to Winter in Eastern Hokkaido

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:11:50 +0000

Exploring the Wildlife and Natural Wonders of Eastern Hokkaido For photographers seeking quiet landscapes and wildlife opportunities, there’s a different pace to winter in Eastern Hokkaido, Beyond the ski fields and busier resorts of the western side of Japan’s northern island, the landscape opens into something far more spacious. Frozen lakes sit beneath low winter light, steam rises where geothermal activity meets the cold air, and wildlife moves quietly through snow-covered terrain. It’s not a destination built around a single landmark or viewpoint. Instead, the appeal lies in the variety within a relatively compact region. Forest, coastline, volcanic activity, mountains and wetlands all sit within a few hours of each other, each offering a distinct photographic approach and adventure. On top of the landscapes, you have the wildlife that inhabits them. From the elusive snow fairies Shima-enaga, to foxes, eagles, swans, bears, and deer. The region delivers continual surprises, with the chance to slow down, explore quietly, and photograph amongst some of the most diverse scenery you’ll find in Japan. This guide focuses on key locations and experiences well-suited to winter photography, drawing on my personal adventures. From lakes shaped by geothermal activity to coastal drift ice and wildlife encounters,...

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Beyond the Bamboo Grove: Photographing the Quieter Side of Arashiyama

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 06:08:59 +0000

A Photographer’s Guide to Arashiyama, Japan Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most photographed areas, and for many visitors, it begins and ends with a short walk through the Bamboo Grove. It’s an iconic scene, tall green stalks arching overhead and light filtering through the dense forest, but it’s also one of the most crowded stretches of pavement in the city, if not all of Japan. I’ve visited Arashiyama twelve times, yes twelve, Kyoto is one of my favourite cities, and each time I expect my favourite spots in Arashiyama to be suddenly overwhelmed by crowds, but to my surprise, they’re still not, despite the Bamboo Grove mere minutes away, seeing thousands of tourists packed like sardines along the path. Every time I go to write this guide, I hesitate because I don’t want the quieter places spoiled; however, I noticed on my most recent visit that new cafes and stores are starting to open up along the route I walk, and it would be nice to see them get a little more love and foot traffic. Plus, one of the temples in this guide now has a new ticket machine, so I’m assuming it’s gaining in popularity already, particularly in...

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Photographing Puma in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:33:39 +0000

Day of Adventure with Kali Travels in Patagonia As my alarm went off bright and early, I opened the curtains of my room at Remota Lodge to see the distant peaks of Torres del Paine National Park slowly waking up. This region, known for its explorer-ready landscapes, weather and sculpted peaks, is also home to one of South America’s most elusive inhabitants: the puma. Having visited Torres del Paine before, I’d explored these valleys, lakes, and trails for two weeks without ever seeing a Puma. The thought that they were there, quietly watching from the shadows, always added a certain thrill to every hike and photograph, and I admit to getting a little faster in my strides once darkness hit on my hike down from Mirador de las Torres. This time, however, things were different. As part of the Adventure Travel World Summit, I joined Kali Travel and Adventure for a full-day excursion, one that promised not only the chance to witness the park’s wildlife but to do so alongside conservation-minded guides and trackers who know the land and likely movements of these majestic big cats. The drive out was filled with anticipation, and a few little naps, before I...

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Parque Futangue: A Valdivian Rainforest Retreat

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:10:54 +0000

Where Stillness Meets Ancient Wilderness A Visual Hotel Review – Luxury Adventure Retreat in Chile Deep within Chile’s Los Ríos Region, Futangue Hotel & Spa sits quietly within a private nature reserve at the edge of the Valdivian rainforest, near Lake Ranco and framed by the Andes. The landscape feels untouched, where rainfall lingers in the air, ancient trees wear moss like cloaks, and rivers echo the mountains’ quiet power. Arriving here feels like entering another world. The tree-lined road gives way to a lodge whose timber, stone, and glass façades reflect the same calm stillness that surrounds it. From my first step inside, despite being incredibly weary after flying direct from Australia, I sensed this would be more than a stay, it was a chance to become part of the rhythm of the landscape…after a decent sleep. Waking early on my first morning, birdsong joined in a chorus with rain on the roof, a sound that echoed the environment we’d be soon out exploring, with Laguna Pichi first on the itinerary for a wander in the Valdivian Rainforest. Beyond the comforts lies adventure, and the hotel sits within a 34,000-acre private reserve with more than 100 km of trails,...

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Photographing the Darwin’s Frog: A Rare Encounter in Chile’s Valdivian Rainforest

Lisa Michele Burns — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 08:47:28 +0000

Photographing the Darwin’s Frog – A Rare Encounter in Chile’s Valdivian Rainforest Deep within Chile’s Valdivian rainforest, where rain falls in patterns of gentle whispers and torrential waves, and where the forest floor glows a vibrant green beneath layers of fog, a tiny creature quietly tells one of nature’s most extraordinary stories. A really tiny creature, one with an average size of just 22 to 31mm. When researching Parque Futangue, I saw photos of the Darwin’s Frog (Ranita de Darwin) and was instantly drawn to learn more about this leaf-like little wonder. Because it’s listed as endangered, with some outlets even stating that it’s close to extinction, I assumed there would be no way I’d be lucky enough to photograph one on my ATWS pre-summit adventure with the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Sernature Chile. Then I met Felipe, our guide at Parque Futangue and a fellow photographer who shared images he’d captured during his years guiding in the park. While it could never be guaranteed, he explained that there was a chance we might encounter one along a specific guided trail within the reserve. I couldn’t put my MC-20 2x teleconverter on fast enough. A Frog Unlike Any Other...

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The Power of Community in Adventure Travel

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 09:22:05 +0000

As the Chamamé music began on stage, supporting Mauricio Kusanovic of Las Torres Patagonia as he made his closing remarks at the Adventure Travel World Summit in Puerto Natales, Chile, I felt a sudden wave of emotion. I told myself, “Lisa, keep it together, be professional”, but looking around the room, one filled with industry leaders, media, and tourism operators, everyone was up on their feet, smiling, hugging and dancing. The emotion was shared, the kind that’s created from an immersive experience we all knew had been so special. It was my first time attending a summit, and while my emotions caught me off guard, it’s clear that bringing together a like-minded group of delegates in this way fuels connections, growth, and empowers change in an industry known for its ability to create experiences and positively impact communities far and wide. Two weeks prior, I had arrived in Chile expecting inspiration from the landscapes and nature. I’d visited the peaks of Torres del Paine National Park previously, and knew I was in for a treat when it came to exploring more of the country’s environmental diversity in Parque Futangue, for my pre-summit adventure. As someone who lingers on the introverted...

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Why Churchill Is on My Photography Radar for 2026

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:27:09 +0000

Polar Bears and Aurora in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. When I think about destinations that combine raw wilderness with once-in-a-lifetime photographic opportunities, Churchill in northern Manitoba quickly rises to the top. Perched on the edge of Hudson Bay in Northern Canada, this beautifully remote Arctic gateway offers a rare mix of luminous night skies, rare wildlife sightings, and unique ways to experience them. After learning about the region over coffee with the team from Travel Manitoba, I started researching and exploring the adventures possible for photographers (and myself!) who are keen to visit in 2026. I already know it’ll be a destination that fills my memory cards faster than the northern lights dance across the sky! Here are the experiences that have firmly placed Churchill on my radar for 2026. #1 Aurora visible up to 300 nights each year Churchill sits directly beneath the auroral oval, making the northern lights a near certainty, rather than a chance encounter, visible up to 300 nights each year. Having photographed aurora in Iceland, Greenland and across Scandinavia, plus the Aurora Australis in New Zealand, the concept of an easier hunt sounds very enticing! I don’t think I slept a wink on my first...

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