Visual Hotel Review of Aman Kyoto By Contributor and Photographer Maja Laxdal Nestled amidst the enchanting forests of Kyoto, Aman Kyoto stands as a testament to the seamless integration of modern luxury and traditional Japanese aesthetics. My recent stay at this exquisite resort left me captivated by its attention to detail and overwhelming feeling of serenity.  Aman Kyoto’s secluded location provides a haven of tranquility, surrounded by the lush beauty of nature. The resort’s commitment to preserving the natural environment creates an atmosphere that immediately transports guests away ..read more

The Top 5 Photography Locations in Kanazawa Kanazawa, a Japanese city known for its well-preserved Edo-era districts, beautiful gardens, and art museums, is a gem you need to add to your Japan itinerary. If you’re seeking the best Kanazawa photography locations for your upcoming visit, this is just the guide for you. If you’ve been reading or following The Wandering Lens for a while, you’ll know how much I love Japan. Having visited the country over 11 times, it’s somewhere that’s so special to me, however, it wasn’t until my most recent visit that I managed to get to Kanazawa, and I was so pl ..read more

Your guide to Photographing Porto, Portugal Porto is a city that immediately inspires camera-wielding visitors. With a vibrant energy and colourful photography locations, you’re not only treated to creative opportunities and experiences, but street musicians will form a soundtrack around every other corner as you stroll through the city. A highlight of photographing Porto is the wonderful Douro River with its six iconic bridges, and enchanting old and historic buildings. Luckily not all of them have been extensively restored (yet) and they’re dotted with wonderfully creative street art and cul ..read more

Lunar New Year in Hong Kong In this big city with deep cultural ties and traditions, photographer Nicole Claringbold shares how to make the most of celebrating and photographing Chinese Near Year in Hong Kong. From the best places to photograph, to which angles could work best and insights into the cultural traditions. The festive ambience and visual delights of Hong Kong at Lunar New Year make it a very worthwhile destination or stopover if you are travelling in the region. When is Chinese New Year Celebrated? Determined by the date of the second new moon after the winter solstice on December ..read more

Golden hour is such a beautiful time to have your camera with you. Whether you’re photographing from home, exploring landscapes in remote destinations, or out and about when magic strikes and you capture the sky illuminating from wherever you’re standing in that moment, there’s something so special about this time of day. Sunrise or sunset, it’s inspiring to capture the golden glow as details within a scene are sprinkled with light, shadowed, softly lit, or silhouetted. As photographers, we almost can’t bear to be indoors when the sky is on fire with colour, or when you know the sun is about t ..read more

Your guide to photography locations in Lisbon – Lisboa. Portugal’s vibrant capital is famous for its winding cobblestone streets and seven hills that feature a blanket of terracotta rooftops. You can keep yourself busy exploring Lisbon photography locations for weeks, hopefully this guide helps to narrow down where to go first! While it’s the largest city in Portugal, the historic centre is still small enough to be walkable. Its narrow streets of the old neighbourhoods will let you discover unexpected details, cosy cafés and photo-worthy subjects wherever you go and send you back through time ..read more

Landscape Photography – The Unexpected Moment at Mount Cook Gale force winds and cloudy skies gave the indication that we might not have the best conditions to photograph sunset.   Arriving to Queenstown for a short 4-day trip to photograph ice patterns, I had one location in mind and that was Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Having visited New Zealand and photographed the peaks around Queenstown, Wanaka and Milford Sound many times before, there was one trail I’d heard so much about, but never had the chance to visit.     The Hooker Valley Trail.    It’s ranked as one ..read more

Shibuya Crossing Viewpoints and Photo Spots Shibuya Crossing is an iconic location in Tokyo, Japan, that has captured the imagination of photographers around the world. With its bustling streets, vibrant lights, and mass of pedestrians, this intersection has become a symbol of modern urban life and a visual feast for photographers. A staggering 2.4million people use this crossing daily and if you’re seeking for the best viewpoint to photograph Shibuya Crossing, this guide is for you. I’ll be sharing where you can photograph the crossing from up high and on the ground to ensure you make the mos ..read more

Photographing a Sumo Tournament in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo wrestling has been an integral part of Japanese culture for centuries, and its tournaments have captivated audiences all over the world, some intensely interested, others puzzled but amused by what they’re witnessing. *A little warning for those who don’t want to see too much flesh, the photos within this article do showcase a lot of skin. I’ve tried to photograph the event tastefully and used creative techniques to make the images a little more arty…hopefully you’ll enjoy seeing a peek inside this fascinating Japanese sport. O ..read more

Photographing the Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festivities 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 3,00 ..read more