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How to Understand Camera Settings When You’re Travelling (Without Overthinking It)

Lisa Michele Burns — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:11:57 +0000

If camera settings feel overwhelming, you’re not alone. There’s often a moment when you arrive somewhere new, camera in hand, and everything feels right. The light is soft, the scene has depth, and you can already imagine the photo you want to take. But when you look at the result, something doesn’t quite match. It might be slightly blurred, a little darker than expected, or lacking the clarity you thought you’d captured. It’s a familiar experience, and more often than not, it comes down to not quite knowing how your camera is responding to the scene in front of you, or not being creative enough with your composition choices. When Conditions Change, So Should Your Settings One of the most common challenges isn’t understanding what each setting does in isolation, but recognising how they need to shift depending on where you are. As light changes, so should your settings, but more than that, learning how to harness it to enhance your photographs will allow you to make better creative decisions that result in more impactful photos. Let’s chat scenes: The Scene: A bright coastal morning You’re walking along the coastline just after sunrise. The light is soft, but already strong...

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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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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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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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Columbia Icefields – Hiking on the Athabasca Glacier with IceWalks

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 10:40:27 +0000

Photographing in the Columbia Icefields of Canada At first glistening crunch, I knew I was back in my happy place. Hearing the sound of ice crunching beneath my crampons, watching as the ice sparkled before my eyes, and marveling as my mind attempted to soak in the immense beauty as it piled in icy chunks toward the head (the top). Glacial landscapes are an environment like no other, and I’m about to share how you can walk upon one! Athabasca Glacier in Alberta, Canada, is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world. Located within the Columbia Icefields on the Icefields Parkway, it’s roughly a one-hour drive from Jasper and two hours to Banff. While you can cruise on by and catch views from the car, it’s beyond worth stopping and staring a little longer. Or, spending a few days gazing upon the magnificent mountainside formations if you’re like me and can’t bear to look away. What makes this glacier so special is that you’re able to get up close to something that’s normally the result of a multi-day hike, hidden in a distant alpine valley. Glaciers are formed when snow accumulates over time, turning to ice over many...

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Glacier Lodge Eqi – Up Close with Greenland’s Calving Wonder

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:26:12 +0000

Glacier Lodge Eqi, Greenland Thunderous echoes of crashing ice ripple across the bay like a constant chorus of nature’s beat. Nothing can prepare you for the sound of a glacier calving. It’s a clap, crack and deep rumble that rolls across the surface of the water, seemingly gathering pitch and speed. The best part, it’s a delayed sound so you need to really focus and watch the glacier to actually catch a calving in action. If you wait for the sound you’ll always be 7-10 seconds too late due to how sound travels across the fjord. Located a 3.5hr ice breaker boat ride north of Ilulissat, Eqi Glacier is one of the world’s most active and there’s no doubt a visit will include it’s fair share of tumbling ice shows. As the boat cruises through the Ataa Strait, teal coloured water shares the scene with icebergs ranging in sizes from mega mansions through to dinner plates* (*not official measurements 😉). If a long boat ride sounds boring, then you’ve been on board the wrong boats. This one is endlessly fascinating. Every passing iceberg is unique in shape, tone and pattern making the journey a photographer’s buffet of potential shots. Before...

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Photographing the Lunar Landscapes of Valle de la Luna, Chile

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 23:04:43 +0000

Landscape Photography Adventures in Valle de la Luna, Chile. Declared a natural sanctuary in 1982, Chile’s Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) is home to an other-worldly landscape of salt flats, craters, sand dunes and rock formations. Located in the Atacama Desert, the dry lunar like landscape attracts nature lovers year round and is inspiring from the first glimpse of its rugged beauty. Photographers, you need to add this to your wish list. Sitting at 2550metres above sea level, this natural wonder is simply extraordinary with endless patterns, shapes and colours resulting in composition possibilities in all directions. Carved by the elements over centuries, the weathered landscapes are impacted by wind patterns and the extreme climate of its geography within the driest desert on earth. I recently visited in May when the nights were chilly and days a perfect blend of sunshine and cool air. The Atacama Desert has over 300 days of sunshine and it’s this fact combined with extremely low humidity levels that result in ideal conditions for photographers and visibility for miles. Where to Photograph the Valle de la Luna To really capture the beauty of the valley, you’ll need to base yourself in...

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The Magic of Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong

Nicole Claringbold — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 06:58:40 +0000

Photographing the Mid-Autumn Festivities in Hong Kong If you are visiting or transiting through Hong Kong in September and early October, you are going to witness Hong Kong at its festive best! The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most significant and colourful festivals on the Chinese cultural calendar is celebrated on the full moon day, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month – 29th September 2023 in the Gregorian Calendar. Also known as the Mooncake Festival, Moon Festival, or Lantern Festival, it’s a deep-rooted custom that traditionally heralds the end of harvest and dates back over 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty, when people thanked the moon god for the crop yield. Hong Kong continues to celebrate this time of giving thanks, and under the full moon high in the sky, the city comes alive under a dazzling display of colourful festive lanterns. Seen dotted throughout Hong Kong’s many green spaces and across all precincts in the territory, the lanterns shine bright each evening. In 2023, the official start date (and Full Harvest Moon) falls on September 29th, in 2024 it’ll be September 17th, with approximately 8 days of celebrations following. Where to Photograph the Mid-Autumn Festival in...

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12 Travel Photography Tips from a Professional Travel Photographer

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 10:13:27 +0000

Improve your Travel Photography – Get Creative and Photograph the World Travel photography offers a creative opportunity to document your adventures and capture the world around you. The places you visit, faces you see and cultures you experience. As a professional travel photographer, I’ve photographed icebergs in Greenland, elephants in South Africa, remote lodges in Canada, and the temples of Japan. There are so many incredibly photogenic experiences and locations out there just waiting for us to photograph them on our travels. If you’re looking to work as a travel photographer, building a portfolio is one of the best places to start, and what better way to do that, that on your travels? This guide below shares 12 travel photography tips that will help you capture more creative images on your next trip. From composition to packing your camera bag, and storytelling to weather forecasting, browse the guide below and let me know in the comments where you’re travelling next! Travel Photography Tips 1. Research and Plan Logistics If you’re serious about taking great photos on your next trip, be sure to research the best places to photograph in the locations you’re visiting. If you’re heading for a major city,...

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How to Photograph Landscapes at Sunrise

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:34:53 +0000

5 Sunrise Photography Tips Photographing a sunrise can be a truly magical experience, if you’re not too much of a grump in the mornings! The soft hues of orange, pink, and purple gently painting the sky can create stunning photographs that capture the beauty of nature. However, capturing the perfect sunrise photograph requires some planning and technique. In this article, I’m sharing five tips to help you photograph a sunrise and make your images stand out. Throughout my career I’ve had a few moments photographing sunrise outdoors that I reflect back on, when the light aligns with the landscape and you just have to compose the scene, click the shutter and enjoy the moment. It’s these special moments that I want you to have, to be prepared and ready for when you’re photographing sunrise! Sunrise Tip #1 – Choose the Perfect Location One of the essential aspects of capturing a beautiful sunrise photograph is selecting the ideal location to ensure you’re ready for the appropriate direction of light once it rises. Research and identify places where you can capture unobstructed views of the horizon. Look for spots with interesting foreground elements, such as cliffs, trees, or bodies of water,...

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Photographing Port Isaac – The Doc Martin Village of Cornwall

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 05:37:59 +0000

The coastal village of Port Isaac, home of the TV series Doc Martin The Cornwall coastline is home to a number of beautiful English villages. A known summer hot spot for visitors seeking coastal hikes, quiet coves and swims in the sea, one village in particular is also home to a rather quirky doctor, Doc Martin. I’ve never been one to travel somewhere to visit celebrities or filming locations, I was actually shocked when I saw groups in Dubrovnik dressed as characters from the Game of Thrones having never seen the show, but the Cornwall region is somewhere I’ve always had on my wish list, and it just so happened to connect with a family trip and one of our shared favourite English TV series, Doc Martin. Rather than soaking up the sunshine in July, I visited Port Isaac, Cornwall, in early March. The weather was drizzly, barely got above 10 degrees and actually, it was beautifully moody. No crowds, sweeping storms, a quiet village, and the chance to photograph outdoors, feel the brisk, wild winds, and then retreat to a warm dinner by the fire. I always enjoy those days outside with my camera, hiding under a raincoat, dashing...

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What Cameras I Packed for Greenland

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 11:16:09 +0000

Photographing in Greenland – What to Pack Endless hours of sunshine shimmer along the coastline of Ilulissat in the summer months. A land of climatic extremes,historic adventures and a culture that’s as fascinating as it is friendly, Greenland is quickly becoming somewhere photographers are flocking too. The frozen wonders of glaciers and icebergs meet humpback whales and arctic foxes with vibrant villages making up the trifecta of photogenic delights. Icebergs over 50m in height drift into the northern waters of The Atlantic Ocean, providing not only an epic sight to see, but to photograph. Still relatively remote, Greenland requires a well planned trip to ensure success with your images. There are of course very distinct differences in seasons so it’s essential to research the type of images you’re after and plan ahead with plenty of wriggle room to account for weather related delays. The winter months offer a chance to photograph aurora over the snow covered scenery, see the Greenlandic Sled Dogs in action and even sleep in an igloo. There will also be a considerable amount of darkness over the winter months, with polar night meaning the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon from a certain latitude. Read more...

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