Vacations for photographers

[Bob Michaels]

I recommended Cajun Mardi Gras in the country around Lafayette LA a few posts ago. We stopped a young guy in a Jeep out in the middle of nowhere to ask directions early in the morning on Fat Tuesday. He sent us to his family's house. We had no idea how big the house was, how big their field was, that over 200 friends and family were coming, nor that the Travel Channel was coming to film the festivities. That's is old time country friendly.



8AM Sunday morning before Fat Tuesday at "Famous Fred's Lounge" in Mamou LA. If you Google "what to do in Mamou" Famous Fred's Lounge will come up first.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I love the French Alps, basically from Corps through Chamonix via Gap to cross at Briancon. I have only had inexpensive digitals and iPhones when travelling there, but that is one region I would go. For warm weather of course, probably late spring through early autumn are best.

The Chamonix Valley is a great place! I've both worked there and visited many times. The Italian (Entreves, Courmayeur) & Swiss (La Fouly, Champex sides of Mont Blanc are equally spectacular.

 

[mrtoml]

Thanks for all the great replies. I have done a very rough count of recommendations:

USA 12+ including national parks, Lafayette, New Mexico etc. I guess this may be a result of the strong US base of RFFers.
Italy comes in 2nd place with 6 or more.
Those others mentioned more than once: Japan, France, Switzerland, Canada
Those mentioned once: Spain/Barcalona, Mexico, Austria, Iceland, SE Asia, Vietnam, Holland, Iceland, Central European countries, Russia/Moscow, Cuba, Guatemala.

Japan is definitely on my list. I may combine it with a stopover on the way (my wife likes the idea of Vietnam). I would like to revisit the US. I have been several times, but only to cities (Chicago, NY, Washington, Boston, Las Vegas) and often just for work apart from Chicago and NY. I have several friends in Chicago, but it looks increasingly unfriendly nowadays and they seem to be moving out to Evanston and Skokie rather than staying nearer the centre - I haven't been for nearly 10 years. US national parks might be something to target. We are also considering a safari in southern Africa. My wife also has mentioned Cuba.

I am going to Italy in September. As I live in Europe I can also easily reach many countries and I have visited every country in Western Europe and Scandinavia several times over. I am sure we will be doing several European city breaks over the next few years.

As to what I like to photograph I would probably like to do more street type photography, but at the moment I am doing a lot of seascapes and landscapes when I travel.

As to what I like to photograph, here are some of my older 'vacation' shots:

France/ Leica M6


Chicago (Buddy Guy's). Sony A900.


India/Kerala. Ricoh GR digital.


Morocco. Sony Nex 7


Spain/Cadiz. Nex 7.

 

[Henry]

Thanks for all the great replies. I have done a very rough count of recommendations:

USA 12+ including national parks, Lafayette, New Mexico etc. I guess this may be a result of the strong US base of RFFers.
Italy comes in 2nd place with 6 or more.
Those others mentioned more than once: Japan, France, Switzerland, Canada
Those mentioned once: Spain/Barcalona, Mexico, Austria, Iceland, SE Asia, Vietnam, Holland, Iceland, Central European countries, Russia/Moscow, Cuba, Guatemala.

Japan is definitely on my list. I may combine it with a stopover on the way (my wife likes the idea of Vietnam). I would like to revisit the US. I have been several times, but only to cities (Chicago, NY, Washington, Boston, Las Vegas) and often just for work apart from Chicago and NY. I have several friends in Chicago, but it looks increasingly unfriendly nowadays and they seem to be moving out to Evanston and Skokie rather than staying nearer the centre - I haven't been for nearly 10 years. US national parks might be something to target. We are also considering a safari in southern Africa. My wife also has mentioned Cuba.

I am going to Italy in September. As I live in Europe I can also easily reach many countries and I have visited every country in Western Europe and Scandinavia several times over. I am sure we will be doing several European city breaks over the next few years.

As to what I like to photograph I would probably like to do more street type photography, but at the moment I am doing a lot of seascapes and landscapes when I travel.

As to what I like to photograph, here are some of my older 'vacation' shots:

France/ Leica M6
View attachment 4823134

Chicago (Buddy Guy's). Sony A900.
View attachment 4823135

India/Kerala. Ricoh GR digital.
View attachment 4823136

Morocco. Sony Nex 7
View attachment 4823137

Spain/Cadiz. Nex 7.
View attachment 4823138

Oh I cannot believe I didn't mention Japan in my initial response! It's such a lovely country to photograph and very easy to explore.

If you are in the region, I think Taiwan is also a photographers paradise in many ways.

 

[Bob Michaels]

I mention Cuba as a potential photo vacation spot with the caveat "Cuba is not for everybody".

Cuba provides an incredible array of experiences from historic, architectural, all forms of cultural including painting, drawing, music, ballet, salsa, either participatory or observational. The people are friendly and open. The government is friendly to tourists. Cuba is mostly low cost. No problems with US authorities about US citizens traveling there. 12 flights a day from the US. Havana is an incredibly diverse large city. There are close by countryside locations. It is all there. One just needs to be flexible and open minded.

But Cuba does have negatives for some travelers. The economic situation creates electrical blackouts from 2-8 hours. There can be limitations on variety of available food but no one goes hungry. There can be major transportation problems. It is hot and humid in the summer.

Do some investigation. Cuba may provide an incredible experience for some. Not so for others.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Thanks for all the great replies. I have done a very rough count of recommendations:

USA 12+ including national parks, Lafayette, New Mexico etc. I guess this may be a result of the strong US base of RFFers.
Italy comes in 2nd place with 6 or more.
Those others mentioned more than once: Japan, France, Switzerland, Canada
Those mentioned once: Spain/Barcalona, Mexico, Austria, Iceland, SE Asia, Vietnam, Holland, Iceland, Central European countries, Russia/Moscow, Cuba, Guatemala.

Japan is definitely on my list. I may combine it with a stopover on the way (my wife likes the idea of Vietnam). I would like to revisit the US. I have been several times, but only to cities (Chicago, NY, Washington, Boston, Las Vegas) and often just for work apart from Chicago and NY. I have several friends in Chicago, but it looks increasingly unfriendly nowadays and they seem to be moving out to Evanston and Skokie rather than staying nearer the centre - I haven't been for nearly 10 years. US national parks might be something to target. We are also considering a safari in southern Africa. My wife also has mentioned Cuba.

I am going to Italy in September. As I live in Europe I can also easily reach many countries and I have visited every country in Western Europe and Scandinavia several times over. I am sure we will be doing several European city breaks over the next few years.

As to what I like to photograph I would probably like to do more street type photography, but at the moment I am doing a lot of seascapes and landscapes when I travel.

As to what I like to photograph, here are some of my older 'vacation' shots:

France/ Leica M6
View attachment 4823134

Chicago (Buddy Guy's). Sony A900.
View attachment 4823135

India/Kerala. Ricoh GR digital.
View attachment 4823136

Morocco. Sony Nex 7
View attachment 4823137

Spain/Cadiz. Nex 7.
View attachment 4823138

You have a superb eye. Wherever you choose to go, I think you'll make some wonderful images. Enjoy your travels!

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

Any photographers with a yen to visit Japan, I will give you this unsolicited advice. Do not visit Japan in August. The heat and humidity are unbearable. Unless you have a special reason to visit Japan in the summertime (e.g. climbing Mt. Fuji) I strongly recommend visiting in Winter, Spring or Fall.

All the best,
Mike

 

[wlewisiii]

Any photographers with a yen to visit Japan, I will give you this unsolicited advice. Do not visit Japan in August. The heat and humidity are unbearable. Unless you have a special reason to visit Japan in the summertime (e.g. climbing Mt. Fuji) I strongly recommend visiting in Winter, Spring or Fall.

All the best,
Mike

January into February was a delightful time to visit Tokyo and the surrounding area once upon a time (1986). Pity I wasn't into photography then but the Onsen in a light snow fall is memory to cherish as was going walking about on my own through the Imperial Palace East Gardens IIRC. Thank you for triggering some memories.