Colosseum: A camera in the heart of Ancient Rome
Historical buildings around the world are certainly objects of photographs and the Colosseum, gracing the cover of nearly all Rome travel guides, is among them. Construction on the Colosseum began sometime between 70 and 72 CE and has a rich history: Best remembered as an amphitheater, the enormous structure could hold up to 50,000 spectators — through its existence, it was used as a gladiator arena, a shelter and a quarry. Visited by millions of tourists every year, this ancient Roman wonder is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In terms of finding the best angle for photographing the Colosseum, the imposing architecture of the Colosseum photographs nicely in all lighting conditions. For a more dramatic effect, we suggest capturing sunrises and sunsets. While the classic view of the Colosseum is from the front, don’t be afraid to try different perspectives; for instance, you can go to Palatino Hill to capture wider shots.Start planning a trip to the Eternal City purchasing a flight ticket to Rome!
Central Park: A beloved destination for nature photography
It should come as no surprise that Central Park is a popular New York location for taking pictures. Completed in 1858, the park hosts more than 40 million people annually, offering New York’s residents and visitors a green space in the center of the bustling metropolis. Spanning 843 acres, the expansive park has meadows, wooded areas, landscaped gardens, and plenty of walking and jogging paths, along with numerous recreational and cultural areas. There’s Shakespeare Garden, resembling an English country garden, and Belvedere Castle, atop a massive outcropping of rock. Constructed in 1862, Bow Bridge, overlooking the lake, is the subject of numerous images, as is the Great Lawn, a 55-acre section where visitors picnic, sunbathe, and play frisbee, baseball and soccer.
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Statue of Liberty: Photographing a national symbol
Standing in New York Harbor is the Statue of Liberty, recognized as a “universal symbol of freedom and democracy”. Lady Liberty arrived in the United States in the 19th century, a gift from the people of France, and was dedicated in October 1885. The 93-meter-tall structure is made of cast iron and steel, and has a copper coating that has since oxidized into a pale green. The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, facing southeast to welcome the boats coming into the harbor – for immigrants arriving from across the ocean, the statue would have been one of the first landmarks to come into sight: Her torch symbolizes “enlightenment”; the broken chains at her feet symbolize freedom from tyranny; and the seven spikes on her crown represent the seven continents and seven oceans.
As one of New York’s — and the United States’ — most recognizable landmarks, the Statue of Liberty is also one of the most photographed. To view the statue from the water, take a ride on the Staten Island ferry; if it’s later in the day and you’re approaching from the east, you can get nice shots of the sun setting behind Lady Liberty. From Liberty Island, visitors can take wonderful photos of the Statue of Liberty by standing at the base of the site; you can also enter the pedestal and ascend to the crown, if you’re willing to walk up ten flights of stairs! Meanwhile, great photo opportunities are also available at the Statue of Liberty Museum, where the statue’s original torch, removed in 1984, is displayed. You can include both the original torch and the Statue of Liberty in your photo.
The Eiffel Tower: A photographer’s delight in Paris
Erected just a few years after the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower is among the reasons that some travelers visit Paris. The tower is one of the city’s most recognizable — and visible — symbols. An average of seven million people visit the tower each year, making it the most visited paid monument in the world.
The Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889, on the centenary of the French Revolution, and is named for Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed it. At around 330 meters tall, the Eiffel Tower offers spectacular views of the city from its viewing platforms and a multiplicity of photo opportunities from different angles. At daybreak, the tower is stunning; it is even more dramatic in the evening when it is illuminated. An ideal spot for admiring the Eiffel Tower and taking fabulous shots is Trocadéro Square; the Rue Saint-Dominique also offers fantastic views of the Eiffel Tower from its side lanes and alleys. Finally, the Arc de Triomphe presents a beautiful perspective of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower — you can go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for even more angles on the Eiffel Tower.
Buckingham Palace: Photographing royal architecture
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the United Kingdom’s monarchs since the 1830s and has been the subject of London photos since the invention of the camera. The palace is open to the public during the summer; guided tours are also available at specific times during the winter and spring. The neoclassical structure is 108 meters long and houses 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal chambers and 188 staff rooms. The state rooms are accessible to the public, as is the gallery, which contains some of the Royal Collection’s most magnificent artworks.
Although photography is strictly prohibited within Buckingham Palace, you can take pictures on the grounds of the complex. The rose garden and palace tennis court are two of the most notable features of the palace’s 39-acre grounds. Take advantage of these beautiful landscapes and fill your photo gallery with the splendor of Buckingham Palace. Another popular photo opportunity is during the changing of the guard ceremony on the palace grounds.
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Machu Picchu: Photography on the Andean slopes
Believed to have been erected at the height of the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu is an ancient temple rising 2,430 meters above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. Despite the site’s relative inaccessibility, it has drawn history buffs and naturalists since its discovery in 1911 and, consequently, been the subject of countless photographs. Here are a few recommendations for taking the best photos of this UNESCO World Heritage Site: there’s any number of scenarios in which you will be close to the object you wish to photograph so it’s useful to have a wide-angle lens. Don’t ignore close-ups either — focus on the stonework, steps, and other details. Sunrise at Machu Picchu is spectacular, particularly when it is slightly foggy.
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The Pyramids of Giza: Photographic highlights of Ancient Egypt
For nearly four thousand years, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza have captivated the world and these massive monuments are among the world’s most-photographed sites. Built by the pharaohs to serve as their eternal homes after death, the Pyramids are on the Giza plateau near Cairo, Egypt’s capital Cairo, on the Nile River’s western bank. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the complex includes the Cheops, Kefren and Mikerinos pyramids, which are 147 meters tall, 143 meters, and 109 meters, respectively.
So, what are the top tips for photographing these antique wonders? Many professionals suggest including people and/or camels in the frame for scale. There’s also a well-known panoramic viewpoint where the three pyramids can be recorded together in one frame. The mysterious Sphinx is a wonderful photographic subject: the sandy expanse in front of the monument, a lion’s body with a human head, offers an evocative frame. Visitors to the complex are permitted to take photographs inside the pyramids as well — but be sure to confirm the current photography rules at the site.
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Antarctica: Photographing the bottom of the Earth
Although the South Pole is easier to reach now than it was a hundred years ago, Antarctica is still considered one of the most remote places in the world. It is also one of the most barren, in terms of plant life; Antarctica’s animal population — penguins and other seabirds, seals and whales — depend mainly upon the sea for food sources. Yet Antarctica, the world’s coldest and driest continent, is also incredibly beautiful; given the opportunity, most photographers would be more than willing to make the long and difficult journey.
If you happen to be one of those fortunate people, congratulations! You’ll find plenty of dramatic shots in these landscapes. If you’re taking pictures of wildlife in motion, do utilize your camera’s autofocus function. Scale is also important in Antarctica – including a human or a penguin in the photo, for instance, can highlight the breadth of a plain or the height of a glacier.
The Taj Mahal: A masterpiece of love in the frame
The Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is renowned for both its architecture and the love story that inspired it. In the 17th century, the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of the colossal mausoleum in Agra, India, after the death of his beloved wife, Ercümend Bânû Begüm. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. Do keep in mind that the complex opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sundown.
It’s no surprise that the Taj Mahal is one of the most photographed places in the world. The main structure, made of white marble, can be seen at the end of a reflecting pool surrounded by landscaped gardens – a remarkable frame for any picture. We suggest that you use the pool as a tool to enhance your shots — the mausoleum’s reflection makes a gorgeous photograph. Include people in your shots to add scale to this massive structure; in addition, there are plenty of close-up detail shots available, such as the pietra dura-style inlays and red-toned interiors. You can also take advantage of the early opening hours to get sunrise shots.
Louvre Museum: Frames from the art center of Paris
The Louvre stands out among the museums of Europe. The most visited art museum in the world, the Louvre was formerly a royal palace and holds centuries of French history. The museum houses an extraordinary collection spanning ancient civilizations to the mid-19th century and more than 350,000 precious artworks: The Mona Lisa, the Caryatids, the statue of Aphrodite, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Botticelli’s ‘Venus and the Gift of the Three Graces to a Young Woman’ are just a few of the masterpieces in the museum. The museum complex itself is also notable, especially the striking Louvre Pyramid in the courtyard.
The Louvre is one of the world’s most photographed art museums but, in a complex this extensive, where does one start? For exterior shots, the Louvre Pyramid offers a striking subject. As it is nearly impossible to fit the museum’s entire facade in the frame, you can focus on exterior details instead. For instance, the Louvre has several entrances — the Porte des Lions (Lion’s Gate) is a relatively quiet and secluded entrance and thus ideal for great exterior shots.
In terms of visiting the Louvre to see the collections, the museum contains more than 400 rooms and tens of thousands of works of art: it is impossible to see it all in a day. If you have only a few hours, we suggest visiting the Denon wing, with some of the most famous masterpieces — the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Raft of Medusa and, of course, the world’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, in the Salle des États, which is the largest room in the Louvre. Since it is one of the museum’s busiest halls, make your shots quick and practical. The museum allows photography and video shootings in the permanent collections, provided that they are for personal use. However, selfie sticks, flashes and lights are prohibited.
Banff National Park: Majestic photos of nature adventures
We conclude our list of the world’s most photographed places with a natural wonder in Canada. Banff National Park, the country’s flagship park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks system. It is also home to glacial lakes and breathtaking mountain peaks. Camping is permitted in Banff National Park; there are numerous rules in place to protect and ensure the park’s safety.
Nature and landscape photos are the draw in Banff: Moraine Lake, with its fairytale landscape, is one of the most outstanding. You can get great shots of Lake Moraine, focusing on the mountains in the background and the deep blue glacier water. Another natural wonder is Lake Louise, surrounded by soaring mountains. Nearby is Lake Agnès; the lake’s crystal clear water and flowers blooming in the summer are two details frequently highlighted in seasonal photos of the park. The park does prohibit the use of drones for recreational purposes.
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