USA Archives - Photo Tips, Creative Photography + Travel Guides - The Wandering Lens

A Photographer’s Guide to Southern Arizona

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 02:43:39 +0000

Southern Arizona is defined by its distinctive desert scenery, wide open spaces, and a surprising variety of environments to photograph. Around Tucson, the Sonoran Desert is on full display, with forests of saguaro cacti, rugged mountains, local wildlife, and skies that light up at sunrise and sunset. While it is easy to picture endless sand and heat, you will find new scenes and changing conditions in every direction. From winding mountain drives to historic city streets, there is plenty here to keep your camera busy. This guide highlights some of the best spots in and around Tucson, Arizona for photography. You will need a car to reach most of these locations, and it is worth preparing for the conditions. Weather in southern Arizona can be unpredictable, with temperatures shifting quickly and the sun often intense, even in cooler months. If you can, visit in spring or autumn, when temperatures are moderate and exploring is much more comfortable. Thanks to local Tucson Photographer, Rebecca Clark Andrino for writing and photographing this guide. You can find Rebecca on Instagram via @rc_photostudios Location: Gates Pass Gates Pass is a dreamy landscape to photograph with its vibrant golden hour glow and rusted colored earth...

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10 Places to Photograph Cherry Blossoms Around the World

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 13:08:49 +0000

Where + When to Photograph Cherry Blossoms Cherry blossoms are pink, floral puffs of perfection. Photographers flock to blossom filled parks around the world each Spring to capture landscape photographs, romantic portraits under the cherry blossoms or simply to take photos of these stunning flowers. Thriving in cold climates, they bloom in early spring and their appearance can be rather fleeting with wind, rain and temperature impacting their bloom. Knowing where to photograph cherry blossoms in Japan, for example, is crucial. Not only is it peak season for tourism due to these beauties drawing large crowds, the season can be very short lived. Planning ahead and following the cherry blossom forecasts can be the difference between photographing flowers and photographing branches. Let’s take a peek at the best places to see cherry blossoms, and of course, when to photograph cherry blossoms so you don’t miss your chance this upcoming spring! Cherry Blossoms in Japan, Seeking Sakura – Celebrated with Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties, Sakura 桜 (cherry blossoms) are much loved in Japan. Domestic tourism in late March to early April is largely focused on popular places to see cherry blossoms throughout Japan, with international tourists then adding to...

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A Photographer’s Guide to Death Valley National Park

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 23:55:41 +0000

Death Valley National Park Where to Photograph + Things to do in Death Valley Planetesque landscapes await within the depths of Death Valley National Park, officially home to the hottest place on earth and surprisingly accessible. Within two hours from Las Vegas and a little closer to four hours from the coast of California, this other-worldly region of dunes, deserts and salt flats is somewhere you need to visit with your camera. Back in 1913 a temperature of 57degrees (134F) was recorded at Furnace Creek and once you’ve experienced the heat in Death Valley, it’s actually not that hard to believe this is possible. To describe this place in one word it has to be harsh. Harsh in every aspect from the landscapes to the conditions and somewhere that needs to be taken seriously when visiting, it’s called Death Valley for a reason and that’s so evident when you’re standing in 40+ degree heat with nothing around for shade. While Death Valley National Park is one of the most inhospitable places, happens to be one of the most photogenic. With salt flats, sand dunes, mountain ranges and volcanic lava filled hills, it’s hard to put your camera down…unless of course...

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Bryce Canyon National Park – A Photographer’s Guide

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 10:22:42 +0000

Perspectives – A Photographer’s Guide to Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Canyon is like more National Parks in the US, a photogenic gem. Epic landscapes offering such diverse scenes, you could spend years visiting and photographing them all across the country then, once finished, you’d have to visit them all again and experience a different season! Bryce Canyon is spectacular, winter sees snow sprinkles contrast with the earthy tones on the hoodoos while warmer months provide the chance to hike amongst these towering formations and explore the park a little closer. On a road trip through Arizona and Utah in 2019, my best friend Sarah and I mapped out a rough plan of places to visit based on suggestions from others and a bit of online research. We had been told to spend more time in Zion over Bryce Canyon and while we were really impressed with the dramatic cliffs of Zion, sunrise at Bryce Canyon had us developing heart eyes. The ochre coloured formations, scattered like a maze across the canyon provide a seemingly endless subject to photograph. We had only allocated enough time to photograph sunrise here but I wanted to write this article to make sure if...

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Behind the Lens: Photographing Zabriskie Point, Death Valley

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 08:41:45 +0000

Heat, gale force winds and giggle fits at Zabriskie Point, California. As the car door opened and a gush of warmth swarmed my face I suddenly realised, oh gosh, I’m in Death Valley…and it’s HOT. Obviously I had planned to be there however being early summer I thought perhaps temperatures wouldn’t be too bad. I was wrong. Arriving at Zabriskie Point at 4pm, the cars temperature gauge was reading 43 degrees. A sign in the carpark nearby also read ‘temperatures radiating from the ground may be 40% hotter’. Perfect. This was however why I was here. To experience the hottest place on earth and photograph the landscapes of Death Valley that have been carved by these climatic extremes over centuries for The Photographic Forecast. Now the heat was one thing, the first glimpse of Zabriskie Point though signified a whole other world. Actually, make that another planet. Influenced by volcanic activity for millions of years, Zabriskie Point highlights layers of lava and minerals that’s evident in the textures and changing colours within the landscape. Up to five million years ago, the valley around this point was filled with water, now however it’s one of the driest locations in the world....

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A Photographer’s Guide to Antelope Canyon

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 18:30:18 +0000

Photographing Upper Antelope Canyon + Photo Tips for Inside Long before photography became part of my life I saw an image of Antelope Canyon that drew me in. The lines, the light, tones, vibrancy and marvels of nature in one photograph. It was an image that perhaps unconsciously inspired my path within landscape photography and for this reason Antelope Canyon has been on my wish list ever since I purchased my first camera. Antelope Canyon is somewhere that defies the imagination. Carved by water over centuries as it gushes through the canyon, the formations within are otherworldly. On a recent visit to Arizona I couldn’t resist a tour of Upper Antelope Canyon despite knowing that it’s one of the most visited sights in the US, something that usually turns me off in preference for more remote locations. I’ve written here about how to visit a secret slot canyon without the crowds, but for now, wanted to share all about photographing inside Upper Antelope Canyon; the good, the bad and how to be prepared to capture beautiful photos. Where is Antelope Canyon? In the American Southwest, located a 10 minute drive from Page, Arizona. You’ll need to book a guided...

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Photographing the Secret Slot Canyon of Horseshoe Bend

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 17:23:30 +0000

Photographing the Secret Slot Canyon of Horseshoe Bend Slot canyons are a magnet for photographers and if you’ve read my previous article, you’ll know most flock to just one, Antelope Canyon. However, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Actually…I can’t tell you the location or the name but can share that there’s a secret canyon and YOU can visit WITHOUT the crowds to photograph at your own pace! Seeking an alternative option to the crowded canyons I was given the details of a new company that leads tours to a lesser known slot canyon just a few miles from Page, Arizona. Hesitant at first because all I’d seen were images of Antelope and wanted to get those epic landscape shots, I needn’t had worried because I can assure you, the tour is ideal for photographers and I’m so excited to share it with you. Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours are young, dynamic and a creative company with professional guides that take you into the slot canyon for one of the best photography experiences you can have in Arizona…or even the US. The Tour Experience – Opting for the morning tour, we set off at 8am and...

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A Photographer’s Guide to Northern Arizona, USA

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 16:34:25 +0000

Northern Arizona Photography Locations Expansive, inspirational and naturally beautiful, Arizona had me at A. Arizona photography locations include desert landscapes that meet canyons, mountains and even lakes to form one of the most photogenic regions I’ve ever visited, this guide is going to share some of the highlights. From the mighty Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, these locations are possible to visit over a few days provided you’ve got a car to get around and battery charger for your camera because you’ll need it! They’re iconic, wow inducing wonders that have to be seen to be believed and even then you’ll need to stare pretty hard to comprehend just how insanely immense these spaces are. As always with my photography location guides scroll down to find a map that lists all the spots mentioned within this guide, you can open it up in Google Maps and take it with you! MONUMENT VALLEY Rising in darkness, knowing you’re surrounded by natural monuments that will soon catch the morning light is one of the most exciting experiences a photographer can have. Monument Valley is one of Arizona’s highlights and a must visit location if you’re interested in Navajo culture and landscape photography. ...

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Where to Stay in Death Valley? An Oasis of Course!

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 10:38:17 +0000

A Visual Hotel Review: The Oasis at Death Valley Picture this, you’re driving for over an hour amongst some of the harshest scenery in the world. It’s dry, it’s dusty, there’s nothing but shades of brown in all directions then suddenly, a flicker of green. Are they palm trees!? In the desert! Or maybe I’d forgotten to put my prescription glasses on… Like a true oasis appearing like a mirage, The Oasis at Death Valley was a truly incredible sight to see after photographing in 43 degree heat. Death Valley holds the record for the hottest place on earth and the last thing I expected to see was a lush little paradise sitting pretty, luring me in with it’s promise of air conditioning and a swimming pool. Feeling a little like a rock star (note; a sweaty, dusty, mess of a rock star), I drove up to the valet and trudged up to reception in my joggers. Classy. Despite my appearance far from equaling the luxurious interiors, I was treated exactly like I’d flown in via private jet. The lovely team at reception had the keys of room 131 in my hand in no time and wow was I...

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