Whether you’re a seasoned travel photographer or just starting out, this space offers practical tips, creative insights, and mindful techniques to help you capture the feeling of a place—not just the look.
Last year, when I was busy photographing a fashion show in Italy I realized that many people drop in for the runways, the afterparties, and then leave- leaving almost no time to explore the local neighborhoods and city highlights. To sit in cafes and restaurants with the locals, or to listen to live music and immerse themselves.
With its cobbled streets, the stunning Sacré Cœur Basilica, artists, and bistros, Montmartre is full of charm. Perched atop a small hill in the 18th arrondissement, this iconic Parisian district has retained the village atmosphere that once captivated the artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. A true melting pot of art and inspiration for cinema, the neighborhood of Montmartre continues to surprise me and is a great destination for travel photographers. However, sometimes, not everything goes exactly as you’ve planned. And the two times I’ve gone to shoot photos of Sacré Cœur, I’ve encountered some… technical issues.
Every September, Recco turns into something different. Bells echo through the hills, cannons shake the air, colored smoke rises from the riverbed, fireworks sparkle in the night sky, and the streets fill with the tantalizing smell of food. This is the Sagra del Fuoco, the feast of the Madonna del Suffragio.
Most of my days involve a fair amount of wandering—urban exploration. But exploring Grenoble one leaned harder into the margins than usual. Less about manicured parks and postcard facades, and more about the edges—those neighborhoods beyond the city’s polished center.
My first day in Grenoble, it was a bit misty and rainy; there were even some light snow flurries. I was still committed to getting out there and capturing the city, and I couldn’t wait.
I spent the whole day walking around, taking photos, videos, etc., and it wasn’t until the day was almost over that I realized I had basically been walking around in circles.
I spent an afternoon in Genova checking out two of its best viewpoints. My goal was pretty straightforward—get two great shots from overlooks across town.
I had my Canon R5 Mark II on my chest with the Canon RF 15-35 f2.8mm, my 5D Mark IV with the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 MK III lens on my hip, and honestly, more gear than I probably needed—but hey, that’s travel photography for you.
After years of shooting with Canon’s 5D Mark IV, I was beyond ready to upgrade to the Canon R5 Mark II. The hype was real, and I couldn’t wait to take it out for a spin. But what I didn’t expect? To feel totally overwhelmed.
I recently decided to challenge myself with a hike through one of my favorite stretches of Liguria, Italy. The twist was that I could only take photographs using the first camera I ever bought- the Canon Rebel XTI from 2006, complete with its original 18-55mm kit lens, and absolutely no editing allowed afterward.
I remember the first time I saw the Colosseum. I had already been living in Florence for a while, quietly dodging the guilt of not having made it to Rome yet. I was learning Italian, and I was trying to figure out how to build a life here- one that actually worked. Rent, bureaucracy, language all felt like too much. I needed a break, so I booked a last-minute getaway to Rome.
When I first arrived in Grenoble, it was late. I’d taken the bus from Genova—it clocked in just under six hours, around five hours and forty-five minutes. Honestly, I loved it. Buses give you a different kind of view than the train—slower, more grounded, more revealing. On the way there, it was dark and I couldn’t see much when we passed through the Alps, but on the way back? Breathtaking.
