Vintage car in Cuba
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Everywhere in the world has a prime time to visit, when there is a festival, when the flowers are out, when the sky is at its bluest and the weather is kind
One of the important aspects of travel photography is knowing when to go where. Some decisions are fairly obvious, but sometimes the schedule is out of your hands. Good preparation for any trip is essential to get the best shots, given the season and location. Check websites to see when local festivals are held, as there are hundreds happening around the world on any given day. You might want to photograph them – but you also might want to avoid them. The more homework you do the better.
Classic events are Carnival in Rio, Oktoberfest in Munich, Chinese New Year, and the Pushkar Camel Fair in India. Go by the seasons with spring in the European Alps, summer in Mongolia or the New England Fall. Not all trips can be centred around such famous festivals or locations, but some basic research will reveal what might be expected. It is not a good idea for example, turning up in Western India through June and July not realising that the monsoon is sweeping through. Not that this will stop you from taking some fantastic photographs, but you do need to plan for it. Extreme wet, heat or cold conditions need special preparation and possibly some specialist equipment.
The best or most favourable climate often coincides with the peak tourist season. So whilst the majority flock to Egypt in the winter months, returning with photographs showing hordes of visitors, it can be worth thinking of visiting outside the busiest times. It can be hot and there might be some early starts in the day, but there are more hours of daylight and the heat of midday can be avoided. Peaceful views across a quiet Valley of the Kings at 6am, or the solitude of a brooding Karnak Temple at 3pm, with a few individuals for scale rather than hundreds, can make it all worthwhile.
January
Antarctic
It’s summer in the Antarctic and, though it’s expensive, you only have to take your camera to the end of the earth once – your pictures will help you see it again and again. Don’t forget a polarising filter to cope with that bright white light.
Costa Rica
At this time of year the tropics are especially welcome. And the vibrant colours of the sparkling rainforest, with its dazzling birds, the sharp blues of the rugged coast and the soaring mountains of the interior give a wide variety of subject matter.
Havana, Cuba
Get there while the photogenic old American cars are still on the road! People are friendly, and usually don’t mind being photographed. There is wonderful crumbling colonial architecture, making graphic shapes in the bright light, and the countryside, still worked largely by hand, is extremely picturesque. Get that hand-rolled cigar shot.
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Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
You saw it when you flew into Dar es Salaam, now go back and get the pictures of this spectacular, yet easily conquered mountain. Be prepared for the hike, and use your zoom or long lens to capture the wildlife that will be all around you.
St Petersburg, Russia
This Russian city was built for snow. Take a sleigh ride and capture the richness of Tsar Peter’s grand city, with sparkling interiors of its churches, theatres and museums. Prepare for low lights and a wide aperture, and experiment with black and white.
Torres del Paine, Chile
This is pretty much the end of the world, and a trip to National Park is not for the faint-hearted. The rewards are wild and choppy lakes, and spectacular mountain scenery, still snowy in what is now high summer. Go trekking, hire a horse and four-wheel drive vehicle.
Big Sky Resort, Montana, US
Great skiing – and great shots. With over 5,500 skiable acres, this resort has everything going for it – skiing, snowboarding, cross-country, snowshoeing – so it’s the place to get real action pictures and thrilling videos. There’s a good après-ski life, too, with opportunities for candid people pictures.
February
Azores, Portugal
This is the time to go whale watching in the middle of the Atlantic. The mainland seems a long way away, making you feel closer to these wonderful creatures. Be prepared to be patient… and be ready to snatch the moment when they breach – or when their flukes wave a majestic farewell.
The Camargue, France
This is the best time to see flamingoes as they carry out their courtship rituals and nest in their thousands, creating wonderful graphic images. At the day’s end they take to the air in huge flocks. Arles, Van Gogh’s chosen town, is capital of the Camargue, a colourful place with the bright patterns of the traditional cloth, worn by Camargue’s cowboys.
The Nile, Egypt
A classic destination, following in the footsteps of the early photographers. Take a Nile cruise and keep your lens focused on the banks of the historic river, where small farming communities seem little changed since Biblical times. Use a long lens or zoom for the birdlife, and go as wide as you can on the temples. Photographed and painted for centuries, they are much more impressive in real life, so they present a huge challenge to the travel photographer.
Cape Town, South Africa
Take the Garden Route, the most scenic in the country, as it wends it way along the beautiful coast – but don’t expect botanic gardens. Instead there’s extreme adventure, wonderful beaches and great views. Not far away are the bucolic wine lands of Stellenbosch – keep your hand steady.
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March
Guatemala
In Guatemala, one of the most vibrant of Central American countries, villagers are still distinguished by their particular dress. Holy Week (the one before Easter) excites the whole country, and there are the added benefits of jungle wildlife (howler monkeys, toucans) and Mayan ruins.
Corrie Wingate/APA
The Holy Land
Follow in the footsteps of the pioneering photographers who headed here soon after the camera was invented. Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Mount Sinai, the Sea of Galilee and River Jordan... see what they look like today in these politically hot countries, and offer your own take on these places of Abraham that produced the Western World’s three principal faiths.
Japan
This is hanami or cherry blossom time, when temples and shrines are shown off at their best. You can follow their trail north as they blossom from January through to June, with blooms lasting around ten days. Catch the cherry blossom festivals elsewhere – including the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC.
Las Vegas, USA
March Madness is a high time in Las Vegas, when people come to bet on the Collegiate National Basketball Championship – well, you want to there when the action is on. The buildings and their neon, completely over-the-top designs and ornamentation, offer terrific possibilities for the photographer, as do the diverse characters who come here to bet.
Seoul, South Korea
One of Asia’s fastest growing cities is always buzzing, and everyone has a camera. But you don’t have to go far to find an undisturbed countryside of mountains, monasteries, paddy fields and fishing villages, where a foreigner with a camera is an unusual sight.
Uzbekistan
Bukhara and Samarkand are the romantic cities of the Silk Road. At this time of year it is still cool, but in May days are sunny and tilework on the mosques will sparkle. Photography, including video, is permitted in the museums and monuments, for which there is a small charge.
April
Alice Springs, Australia
Uluru (Ayers Rock) behaves like a changing colour chart throughout the day. At this time of year, when it’s not too hot and vegetation is green, see what hues you can seduce from Australia’s most famous outcrop as well as the nearby Olgas. Aboriginal art is worth capturing, too.
Claude Huber/APA
Greece and Turkey
This is when sites such as Delphi are vibrant with spring flowers, and olive groves are carpeted with red yellow and blue. The Pindos hills, too, ignite in colour, while across the Taurus mountains of Turkey, wild crocuses, primulas, and narcissi cover the hills.
Oregon Trail, US
Follow in the footsteps of the pioneers to make your own visual traveller’s tale. Settlers used to set out in April when the grass was starting to grow, to ensure their horses would be fed all along the route. In Nebraska wildlife refuge you can still see bison – with a bit of Photo-shopping you could put the herds back on the Great Plains.
Paris, France
Time for romance on the streets of Paris. Visit Rodin’s seductive garden and use vignettes, vaseline on the lens, rose-tinted filters, or try to match the black-and-white 1950s classic shot, Le Baiser (The Kiss) by Robert Doisneau.
Seville, Spain
There are few more colourful events in Europe than Seville’s Spring Fair, the horses and riders all gorgeously decked out. The celebrations go on all night, adding to the photographic challenge.
Shanghai, China
March to May is the best times to visit Shanghai, which has hot summers and cold winters. The reason to reach for your camera is the skyscrapers, the 21st-century buildings that throw up so many shapes and offer so many possibilities. Visit the world’s highest observation deck on the Shanghai World Financial Center to get rooftop views, or stay at the Park Hyatt Shanghai, which occupies the building’s 79th to 93rd floors.
May
Bali, Indonesia
The dry season lasts from April to September, and is the best time to visit this magic island of many religions and infinite festivals, with kites, fireworks and the constant sound of the gamelan. A good audio capability is needed for your video – or bring a separate field recorder.
Corrie Wingate/APA
Cappadocia, Turkey
Rock formations known as “fairy chimneys”, rock-cut churches, and even rock cave hotels make this an extraordinary land to photograph. It’s centred around Göreme, an old monastic settlement, where Byzantine frescoes are well preserved. Balloon trips will give you a striking overview.
Grand Canyon, Colorado, US
Rafting and kayaking are some of the adventure sports in this natural wonder, which is always a challenge to photographers. If you’re into watersports, take a separate waterproof or underwater camera to combat the spray. It will also be sand- and dust-proof. There are great opportunities for video clips here, too.
Great Wall of China
This is the best month to visit this man-made wonder. Expect blue skies and good views of the surrounding mountains. Simitai is the best place to visit, and is less crowded than at much-restored Badaling, but expect a climb. Take a wide angle to give of idea of the great sweep of the wall.
Bulb fields of Holland
The Dutch bulb fields come into bloom from late March to mid June, especially in the province of Zuid Holland, where displays are shown off in Keukenhof flower gardens near Amsterdam. Their colourful ranks make wonderful patterns, as do the blooms that are discarded by the thousand – all the growers want is the bulbs.
Mountain Railways of India
India’s five mountain railways – the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway and Kangra Valley Railway in northern India, and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Matheran Hill Railway in the south – are spectacular journeys that curl upwards to hill resorts established under the British Raj. They are ideal for a video story, too.
June
The Amazon, Brazil
June to October are generally considered the best times to visit. If you go at the beginning of the season, the plants and vegetation are not so thick, making it easier to spot wildlife in the trees.
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Bangkok, Thailand
Damnoen Saduak in Bangkok is just one of many floating markets in Thailand, albeit the largest. These offer a wonderful opportunity for photographing people, while the shapes of the clustered boats with their wares make graphic images.
Peter Stuckings/APA
The Galapagos, Ecuador
It probably won’t be long before they close the islands to tourists – or further reduce their numbers – so get your photos while you can. From June to November the cooling Humboldt current brings fish, followed by birds, including the albatross, and the famed blue-footed boobies start their mating rituals.
Yosemite National Park, US
This is about the best time to visit the park that Ansel Adams so brilliantly photographed. Everything is open and the crowds are yet to descend, but beware of mosquitoes towards the end of the month. Tours for photographers are on offer.
Midsummer, Scandinavia
The longest day invites celebration around the northern hemisphere, when the “white nights” have a curious, almost electric light. It’s particularly important in Scandinavian countries, with bonfires and plenty to drink. The midnight sun provides undiminished light and great photo opportunities.
Gregory Wrona/APA
Transylvania, Romania
Midsummer is when livestock is in the high meadows, vegetation is rich and the land looks sweet. Transylvania still has some of the most authentic farmlands in Europe, where life has changed little for centuries. But the 21st century is rapidly heading its way, so get the pictures while you can.
July
Dyer Island, South Africa
Go cage diving in Shark Alley for the chance of getting a close-up snap of the Great White Shark. On the boat, there’s a chance to see them breaching in the high season. And on the island there are Jackass penguins and Cape Fur Seals.
Lake Titicaca, Bolivia/Peru
This is the time to be on top of the world: 12,500 feet up, South America’s largest lake has more than 40 islands to explore. Its residents’ costumes are among the most striking in South America, and you can see women spinning and men knitting their beautiful garments.
London, Great Britain
Britain’s capital is never too hot in summer, when the city gravitates out of doors. Evidence of a social season remains, with Wimbledon Tennis, the Hampton Court Flower Festival, open-air theatre and opera, and so much else that digital photographers should come prepared with a whole bunch of memory cards.
Milford Sound, New Zealand
This is the rainy season in South Island’s spectacular landscape – but that means that its waterfalls are at their most exuberantly gushing, and the foliage lusciously green. The scenery all around Fjordland National Park is wondrous, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to get involved in – and to shoot.
Andy Belcher/APA
August
Alaska, US
Summer in Alaska is all too brief, so make the most of it. Wildflowers arrive, the wildernesses can be explored, and air safaris can give you terrific views of the mountains and glaciers. Take long lenses and polarising filters.
Mount Fuji, Japan
July and August are the best times to climb towards that familiar snow-capped summit, which remains very cold throughout the year. Take warm clothes and join the visitors who make the climb overnight, with glowing torches, and from the chilly summit capture the spectacular sunrise the next day.
Prokletje, Albania
The adventurous travel photographer will make his or her way to the Prokletje – the Accursed Mountains – in the north of Albania, one of the most remote parts of Europe, filled with pristine rivers and lakes with undisturbed wildlife and a large population of butterflies.
Rome, Italy
It’s hot in August in Rome, and most people decamp for the country or seaside. Shops and restaurants close. This means you get the usually abrasive, noisy city more to yourself, and you can photograph monuments and sites without too many people in the way.
Bill Wassman/APA
Swiss Alps
With some of the world’s best known mountains, such as the Eiger and the Matterhorn, this was the high point for early European travellers, and it still has classic scenes. Summer hills are populated by bell-clanking cattle and good-natured hikers. Board one of the many local railways – or get aerial photos in a hot air balloon.
Tanzania/Kenya
The great migrations of wildebeest and zebra from Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve runs from July to September, and is one of the most impressive wildlife sights in the world. By the water in the early morning there will be guaranteed great shots.
Tibet
No longer forbidden, but still endlessly fascinating, Tibet really does make you feel on top of the world. Beneath the clearest of blue skies, the mountains and gorges stand out sharp as pins. Photography is today generally allowed in monasteries, but the visitors from China make good subjects, too.
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September
Iceland
Go early in the month to witness the great sheep round-up, followed by a roundup of wild horses. Shepherds and herdsmen are on horseback and you can join in, too, getting a loftier view. These are timeless scenes in the less visited part of this geologically fascinating country.
New England, US
It’s a cliché, of course, but it is so spectacular that your finger won’t stop clicking. Beneath the bluest of skies, the red and gold autumn leaves can look almost too vivid, leaving you with little to manipulate on your computer when you get home.
Porto, Portugal
The vindima (grape harvest) in the Duoro valley makes a good photo story, from the slopes on the upper reaches of the river, where the vine leaves are burnished red, to the famous port wine cellars in the attractive city of Porto. Ask around to find grapes being trod in the old-fashioned way.
Ulan Bator, Mongolia
This is a good month to visit Mongolia and the Gobi desert, when temperatures are at their lowest. Out on the steppes, the light is phenomenal and the scenery, with horsemen and flocks of sheep, is inspiring. Photography is generally forbidden in temples and monasteries, but is okay in museums, monuments and national parks, where a small fee is charged.
Yangtse River, China
The Three Gorges Dam, opened in 2008 and displacing 1.3 million people, has taken a little of the glitter off this classic river cruise. Nevertheless, the Yangtse’s gorges are still dramatic – a wide-angle lens will get it all in, but will reduce the drama. Stick to a standard lens for the best results.
October
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
There is no getting around the tourists at this phenomenal sight, so you could use the trick of taking several pictures to make them disappear. Nearby Siem Reap, a poor town with burgeoning tourist hotels, is full of visual ironies. But check out the other temples nearby, which look timeless in the early morning light.
Arizona and Utah, USA
It’s hard to take a bad picture in this part of the American Southwest, and at this time of year the colours of the rocks and earth are rich and warm. There’s also a chance of storm clouds as monsoon weather threatens, which is always dramatic. Go during the week to avoid crowds and look out for the interesting Arizona Highways photographic magazine, or visit their website: www.arizonahighways.com
Bhutan
From subtropical lowland to dramatic mountains dotted with ancient monasteries, Bhutan offers a wide variety of subject matter. Added to this are colourful festivals and good trekking possibilities. It is a uniquely expensive country to visit, so your pictures will be at a premium. And it is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Kerala, India
The best time to visit this photogenic southern part of India is from October to April. Street scenes and dance are part of the pleasure. Travel by boat around the backwaters, among the houseboats and fishing nets. A long lens is recommended.
Britta Jaschinski/APA
New York, US
You may know it from photographs, but it’s nothing like taking your own. The Empire State, Ellis Island, Rockefeller Center… there are so many musts. The skyscraper canyons of Lower Manhattan are designed for creative photographers to play with, and there are fantastic views from Brooklyn.
Richard Nowitz/APA
November
Annapurna, Nepal
October and November are the best times to attempt the Annapurna Circuit, one of the world’s great treks, with fantastic view of the Himalayas. There is lots of cultural interest, too, in the villages with Buddhist and Hindu shrines.
Baja California
Sea kayaking here is near perfect. Take a long lens for the whales, dolphins, sea lions and turtles, and keep your camera in a waterproof bag. An additional waterproof or underwater camera would pay dividends.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The streets of Argentina’s capital turn purple when the jacaranda comes into bloom in spring, adding to the vibrancy of the city and covering the pavements with their brilliant snow. And of course there’s the tango – you have to have a close up of those stilettoed dancing heels.
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
This is a prime time to visit the best preserved Mayan complex in Latin America. Hire a horse to get a different view of the site and its surroundings, and take a long lens for bird watching. Tourists are bussed in from the coast between 10am and 3pm: stay at a hotel near the site to see it at less crowded times.
Marrakesh, Morocco
The souks and bazaars offer a special challenge for photographers and they can be richly rewarded. The colours here, of cloths and spices, are magnificent: and it will be a test of your skills to negotiate people pictures. Hiring a guide for the day is one answer.
Clay Perry/APA
Day of the Dead, Mexico
This is an extraordinarily macabre annual event, of skeletons and skulls, altars and tableaux, music, masks and costumes. Add some fireworks and you have a brilliant photographic assignment anywhere over the country.
Venice, Italy
There is a melancholy air to Venice after the visitors have left, and Venice adds to this with sea mist and rain, the puddles reflecting the architecture admirably. This is a place to think about details, and about the sombre side of La Serenissima.
Mockford & Bonetti/APA
December
Agra, India
Go for the obvious and see how you can improve on it: the Taj Mahal under a full moon. October to March is the time that most people visit, as the weather is cool. Yes, it can get crowded – so photograph the domestic visitors and fly-by tourists.
Andaman Sea, Thailand
This paradisiacal corner of the planet has everything going for a photographer: hundreds of islands and turquoise waters that look as if they have been Photoshopped, plus beautiful sunsets. It’s a place for underwater photography, too.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ipanema, Copacabana ... the beaches are, of course, the place for people snapping – just be careful to keep the sand out of your camera. For a more spectacular view of the city, take your camera hang gliding.
Yadid Levy/APA
Shibam, Yemen
In the “Manhattan of the Desert’,” hundreds of high-rise mud-brick buildings huddle together, like a mirage out of the desert. The city presents wonderful photo opportunities, and anybody looking at your pictures is liable to be infected with the travel bug.