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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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17 Natural Wonders to Photograph Around the World

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:13:25 +0000

There’s something truly humbling about standing in front of a vast desert dune or watching icebergs drift silently under a pastel-pink sky. Over the years, my journey as a travel photographer has taken me to places that feel like the Earth is quietly showing off, unveiling landscapes carved by time, shaped by weather, and filled with colour and life in the most unexpected forms. Each trip has been more than just a chance to take photographs. They’ve been filled with moments to connect with nature, with stillness, and with that childlike sense of awe we often forget in the rush of daily life. From the soft silica sands of Whitehaven Beach to the towering spires of Bryce Canyon, these natural wonders have not only filled my camera with images, but also helped me develop a deep appreciation for the wild beauty of our planet. I wanted to pause and reflect on the places that have inspired me the most, places that remind me why we travel, why we explore, and why it’s so important to protect the environments and landscapes we photograph. Below is a collection of 17 natural wonders I’ve been fortunate to photograph, each unique in its beauty,...

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Field Notes: Landscapes and Lupins with the OM-3 by OM SYSTEM

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:57:47 +0000

OM-3 Review : User Experience + Creative Possibilities Well, hello there OM-3. Just announced by OM SYSTEM, this new camera is a game changer for creatives and I’m going to share my recent experience working with it to photograph landscapes and lupins in New Zealand. There are sample images plus a whole bunch of behind-the-scenes visuals to show you what the art tools and camera functions look like. If you enjoy experimenting, playing with colour, seeing the world with a creative eye and producing images with a consistent tone, you’ll want to keep reading. There’s so much inside this compact (and cute) camera! Just a quick note, I am an OM SYSTEM ambassador, however this is an experience and user review. I knew there would be a lot of focus on the technical specifications in other reviews of the OM-3, so as you’ll see throughout the words below, I’ve taken the creative approach, sharing what I found innovative and fun to incorporate as I photographed. In December I took a secret squirrel trip with the OM-3 to New Zealand. On social media I mentioned it was my solo/self-employed Christmas party (which was also the case), however, I wanted to...

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Alpine Adventures – 10 Photographers Share Their Experiences

Lisa Michele Burns — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 08:21:01 +0000

Photogenic Alpine Experiences from Nepal to New Zealand There’s something undeniably magical about the alpine landscape—soaring peaks, crisp mountain air, and a sense of stillness that feels worlds away from everyday life. For photographers, these high-altitude escapes are not just places to explore but opportunities to capture the beauty, drama, and serenity that only the mountains can offer. In this collection, talented photographers share their most inspiring alpine adventures, revealing the stories behind their breathtaking images. From snowy ridges to glacial valleys, each experience offers a glimpse into the unique connection between photographers and the mountains they love. Whether you’re drawn to rugged peaks, tranquil valleys, or the thrill of alpine light, these stories are sure to inspire your next mountain escape—and the photographs you’ll create along the way. Location: Giau Pass, Italian Dolomites Photographers: Karin and Markus Haffert (Website + Instagram) Experience Notes: The 2.236 m high Giau Pass (in Italian Passo di Giau) near Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites in the Italian province of Belluno is spectacular and very popular. Therefore it gets very busy here, especially in high season. But even when we were there in the middle of October there were groups of photographers around. That’s...

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Behind the Lens – The Pastel Peak of Aoraki/Mount Cook

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 04:57:15 +0000

Landscape Photography – The Unexpected Moment at Mount Cook Gale force winds and cloudy skies gave the indication that we might not have the best conditions to photograph sunset. Arriving to Queenstown for a short 4-day trip to photograph ice patterns, I had one location in mind and that was Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Having visited New Zealand and photographed the peaks around Queenstown, Wanaka and Milford Sound many times before, there was one trail I’d heard so much about, but never had the chance to visit. The Hooker Valley Trail. It’s ranked as one of the best day hikes you can do in New Zealand, yet despite driving past on a number of occasions, weather, time or just a different itinerary had always stopped me visiting. For this short and spontaneous trip, I made it the sole destination. Hiring a car in Queenstown, we drove north to Mount Cook Village and while the weather window looked great when I booked the flights 24hours earlier, it had changed quickly and a storm was soon on our tail. I’d researched two other short hikes that I wanted to attempt while in the area, and...

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The Best Photography Locations in Queenstown, New Zealand

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 06:02:18 +0000

Queenstown Photography Locations, New Zealand Be prepared to have your breath taken away by mountain scenery that’s simply inspiring from all angles. Flying into Queenstown is an experience in itself, but the winding roads that venture through sheep-filled paddocks, past river rapids and underneath snow-capped peaks are a photographer’s wonderland. This guide to Queenstown’s best photography locations is based on my experience from three visits in varying seasons. Just as the snow began to gently fall over the autumn coloured forests and harsh rocky mountain tops, twice in the middle of winter. Here are my picks for the best photography locations in and around Queenstown, New Zealand. I could easily list another 50, but if you’re visiting for a few short days or spending some time skiing on the slopes, then these 18 locations will ensure you have a great range of landscape photographs to showcase the magic of real middle earth. As always, let’s begin with a map so you know where you’re heading… Map: The Best Photography Locations in Queenstown #1 Wilson Bay To kick things off I’m listing my favourite spot first, Wilson Bay. A scenic cove nestled on the banks of Lake Wakatipu, it’s an easy pit...

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Landscape Photography – Capturing Details within a Scene

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 24 May 2022 09:19:16 +0000

Landscape Photography – Using a Zoom Lens to Explore Shadows, shimmers, textures, tones and patterns. Within each landscape hides a wealth of wonders just waiting for us to wander along with our cameras and discover. While I wish I could zoom using just my eyesight (and sometimes after too much screen time I convince myself it’s possible), a high-quality and versatile zoom lens provides the ideal tool for those of us keen to look a little deeper into the scenes we’re photographing. Revealing the slight yet significant details of a natural scene in sharp detail enables us to get creative and capture the features we’re drawn to as photographers. If you had asked me five years ago what my favourite lens was, I would’ve said the 12-40mm for epic landscapes, travelling and the underwater world. Now though, after years of photographing glaciers, deserts, and environments of extremities, I’m a little obsessed with the M.Zuiko 40-150mm f2.8 pro lens and even go one step further, adding the MC-20 2x teleconverter to get closer to the details within a scene. Starting at 40mm and slowly shifting focal length to delve a little further, I tend to use the lens as binoculars before...

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The Best Places to Photograph in 2022

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 07:36:59 +0000

Photogenic Destinations to put on your wish list for 2022 The start of a new year calls for a fresh list of places to dream about photographing! The past two years have put quite the handbrake on exploring the world and as such, my notebook has been filled with wish lists and possibilities from online location scouting sessions. Yours too? As borders open in countries near and far, albeit some with restrictions, 2022 feels like the time could be right. A chance to wander away on adventures to photograph open spaces, uncrowded places and beautiful landscapes around the world again. I wanted to put together this list of inspiring places to photograph if, like me, you’re in planning mode and ready to pack your camera bag again and jump on a plane this year. First up, I’ll cover the places I’m crossing my fingers will be on my schedule this year, then I’ll follow up with some places I recommend based on my own experiences! And yes, I’m aware that I’m a dreamer and like to have a lot of plans for far away places that may not eventuate 🙂 *Also just as a friendly note, this list is meant...

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Creative Escapes – Eden Health Retreat, Gold Coast

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 01:13:11 +0000

Eden Health Retreat – A Visual Hotel Review If you could conjure up the perfect surroundings for relaxation and rejuvenation, what would they be? Perhaps a dash of morning birdsong, a sprinkle of lush rainforest, clouds rolling through a silent valley and the gentle hum of crickets as you drift off to sleep… I’ve found just the place. Cocooned within the Currumbin Valley, just 25minutes from the sun-soaked beaches of the Gold Coast, you can escape the everyday, and immerse yourself in a natural environment that instantly makes you breathe a little deeper. There are also gourmet meals prepared for you, spa treatments, beds that feel like a hug and big, bubble-worthy baths. Eden Health Retreat facilitates that perfect balance between doing absolutely nothing, whilst achieving everything you need. Rejuvenation, wellness, health, relaxation and inspiration. I recently ventured to Eden for a 3-night stay with the aim of boosting a little creativity, exploring the hikes and scenery with my camera plus indulging in some signal free time. Disconnecting from WIFI, TV, all devices and screens except my camera (I can never go without it, especially to somewhere this beautiful)! I wanted to see if the cliché statements like, ‘just disconnect...

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A Guide to the Photogenic Wonders + Experiences on K’Gari (Fraser Island)

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 08:59:20 +0000

K’Gari Photography Location Guide – Fraser Island Imagine somewhere with a colour palette featuring many of the world’s natural wonders. Ocean blues, rainforest greens, sandy whites, mineral reds, sunset yellows and pink pastel dusks…they’re all here. As a landscape photographer, the chance to capture these colours and landscapes in one location is rather rare but after a recent visit to Fraser Island, I can confirm, it’s completely possible and I’ve got just the guide to show you where and how. The traditional name for Fraser is K’gari, meaning paradise, and once you lay your eyes upon the scenery found here off Queensland’s coast you’ll see why. Stretching for over 120km with a width up to 22km in places, K’gari is the world’s largest sand island. It’s not only an adventure and outdoor lover’s utopia, it’s for those who love the gentle sounds of birdsong, nature walks and getting creative while photographing wildlife and a plethora of diverse environments. Based at Kingfisher Bay Resort on the island’s western coast, I recently spent three days photographing across K’gari and below you’ll find a series of photogenic locations, experiences and photo tips for your upcoming visit. Let’s get exploring… A little note –...

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The Business of Photography – Is Creative Talent Enough?

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 02:25:55 +0000

Starting a photography business – What skills you need to become a photographer! *Written based on my own experiences working in the industry for 17+ years and the skills I’ve needed to acquire along the way. Take whatever tidbits of information you like from it that are relevant to your own journey in photography. More than 95 million photos are shared daily on Instagram alone. That is A LOT of competition to face as a photographer. It also means the world needs and somewhat thrives off visual content. In that case, do opportunities still exist to carve out a career in the world of photography? Heck yes they do. How do you make your work stand out? What does it take to get discovered? Is there a course or set career path to take? Are my photos good enough? These questions and many more are asked by photographers around the world. Self-doubt and a lack of direction aren’t isolated issues, no matter how much it feels like you’re the only one suffering. They’re actually pretty normal occurrences in a creative industry and can result in zero motivation, burnout and being stuck in a creative rut. However, having a clear game plan...

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05 Green – The Wandering Lens Monthly Collection

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 30 May 2021 07:28:43 +0000

Monthly Collection 05 ‘Green’ within the Environment. Whether it’s a stroll in the countryside, a wander through dense rainforest or just an afternoon spent photographing waterfalls or wildlife, the colour green is evident in many environments. Lush tropics, desert oases, mountainous forests, alpine scenery, city parks and blooming flowerbeds. This month is all about showcasing talented photographers who submitted a green themed image to suit the brief. From all corners of the world (again!), I’ve loved browsing through the submissions to finalise the collection below. Alongside each image is a link to the photographer’s portfolio or social media account so have a little peek at their work. I’d love for these monthly collections to grow as a place where photographers can showcase their work and connect with one another! Okay, let’s take a look at the collection this month… Photographer – Jonathan Racasa Location – Lake Elsinore, California, USA Portfolio – Instagram Photographer – Kaela Elliot Location – Ohio, USA Portfolio – Instagram Photographer – Kate Crock Location – Fairview Lookout walk, Lake Louise, Canada Portfolio – Instagram | Website Photographer – Oihane Azcona Location – Fairy Glen, Scotland Highlands Portfolio – Instagram | Website Photographer – Silke Hefele Location...

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