10 Places You Should Photograph Before You Die

Professional travel photographer Elia Locardi shared some of his favorite places over at 500px ISO.

We picked 10 of them that we would really like to visit. Have you been to any of these or are you planning on writing them down on your bucket list? Personally I’m dreaming of traveling to Tuscany some day.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is an island in the South Aegean Sea that is often considered to be one of the most romantic places in the world. The town of Oia, pictured below, boasts one of the most beautiful sunsets on the planet. Late each afternoon, hundreds of people gather to watch the spectacle of light as the sun dips below the watery horizon. Once it sets, the entire crowd explodes in cheers and applause.

There’s just something magical about the quality of light in Santorini. It’s difficult to explain precisely, but it is the kind of light that artists dream of capturing. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

Tuscany, Italy

I know that I’ve already mentioned one location in Italy, but I just can’t help myself. I’ve never found another country that has so many amazing places to visit and photograph. Tuscany is no exception. In fact, I would venture to say that it’s one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Although, to be honest, that could just be all of the delicious food and red wine talking.

Mt Fuji, Japan

Each season in Japan is distinctly different, and photographically there are countless options to choose from, but I’d have to say that I love visiting in Spring the most. This is because the blooming cherry blossoms are not only a phenomenal photography subject, but they’ve also been cherished by the Japanese for hundreds of years.

Valensole Plateau, France

The lavender fields of Southern France should be on every photographer’s bucket list. Particularly near Valensole, there are dozens of fields that are oriented in every direction possible. This means the entire region is great for both sunrise and sunset photography, allowing you to capture the first and last light as it illuminates the perfectly manicured rows of flowers.

Stockholm Underground, Sweden

Stockholm has quite a few great areas for photography, but you may be surprised to hear that one of the best is actually under ground. A few years ago I started photographing a series of underground stations, but this Solna Centrum in Stockholm was the first and sparked the inspiration for the rest of the series.

The blue line of Stockholm’s metro houses a series of art stations, each created by a different artist, and each with a completely different feeling.

Bagan, Myanmar

The temples, or stupas, of Bagan in Myanmar are an incredible location for photography. If you get to shoot on a day when the balloons are flying, and position yourself perfectly, you can photograph the stupas with balloons overhead as the golden light of dawn streams down. Better yet, if your budget will allow, take the balloon ride yourself and photograph the stupas and other balloons as you fly over these ancient structures.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

As far as famous sunrise spots go, the reflection of Angkor Wat definitely tops my all-time favorites. When colors start to dance above the ancient temple spires, the fatigue from a severely early wake-up call is replaced by pure fascination and delight.

After you have this one in the bag, make sure to explore and photograph the other amazing temples around the Angkor Temple Complex and Siem Reap.

Marina Bay, Singapore

I think it’s about time I introduce some modern architecture into the mix here, and Singapore is the perfect place to start!

Personally, I love shooting Singapore and you’ll find that most of the great photography opportunities are concentrated around Marina Bay and the small Central Business District. At night, this city really comes alive with beautiful lights and a regularly scheduled laser light show. I’ve photographed the spectacle from many different angles, but my favorite vantage point is definitely from the area around the Merlion looking towards Marina Bay Sands.

Hallstatt, Austria

Often called the pearl of Austria, the words “picture perfect” certainly come to mind when I think of Hallstatt. It’s rare to find a place that is this easy to photograph in a town that is this wonderful to spend time in as well. Photographically, there’s really no wrong answer here, and no matter what time of day you visit, this little village is exquisite.

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Some places in the world look like they’re straight out of a fairytale and Lake Bled in Slovenia is certainly one of them. In this shot I unfortunately was a bit too early for the first snow, but on the plus side, I ended up catching the tail end of the fall colors. Bled is really one of those places that can look stunningly different in each of the four seasons.

Read the full article over at 500px ISO.

Source: 500px ISO