Destinations Off the Beaten Track

These locations are found far from towns and main roads. They are places that I have either discovered by accident or by venturing far out into uncharted territory (and sometimes both).

I think there is solace to be found in going far and exploring destinations off the beaten track. You won't find much people there and the sights are mostly unique. Of course there are rules you must follow:

- never go alone,

- have your phone with you (sometimes that doesn't help though, when really remote), and

- tell someone who's not coming with you, where you're going

- have water and something to eat with you

For today's post I decided to share my favorite destinations off the beaten track, collected over the years.

click on the images for a bigger view

Making a Wrong Turn

My friends and I wanted to visit the nearby fortress that day, which you can see in the first image below. We missed the (very hidden) path that leads up the hill to the fortress, and kept walking down the "main" road, looking for the way. After we realized that this was not the way, we eventually returned. But having ventured so far out into the fields, we also found this place to be unique and got a shot from the fortress from a new perspective, that I hadn't seen before.

As the Sun sets over the City

This is a remote location above Mostar, to which I always come to, when in need for some sunset photography of hills and mountains. This is also the place from which I took most of the footage for my "Going to Sleep" Timelapse video. It's a place to too far from home, but still far enough that the spirit of adventurous travel gets you.

In the Valley

The mountains can be a great place to discover locations off the beaten track. Most times, it only takes a couple of steps off the main path to see something new. Just like in the case of the valley of the mountain Rujiste. These two shots were taken far away from any roads, and we just love the results. It really payed off to venture out.

Adventure to the River Spring

Talk about a destination off the beaten track. There is no track here at all. Only the river, which guides you to its spring. This is the river Sanica, that flows in the deep regions of the mountain Prenj in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The woods are so deep here, and you can only hear sounds of the forest. The hike through mother nature takes about one hour from the main road. The sights are priceless. You can find our whole adventure to the river spring in this two-part series here (including what we discovered when we arrived to the spring!)

Dusk in the Bay

A remote beach location is the perfect way to decompress and unwind. In this case, the beaten track is somewhat present, but most of the locations in the Zablace Bay are remote from the city and main road. And when you are there during sunset (or in this case dusk), you will be rewarded with some really cool sights.

I hope your journeys take you somewhere new and undiscovered.

As always, if you enjoyed this post, then feel free to share it on your social media.

Where I'm linking to

How to take stunning Landscape Photos

I figured that I haven't done a tutorial in a while, and while this post isn't strictly a tutorial, but more a list of rules for how to take stunning landscape photos, I still think it will be of use to you. These are the guidelines I go by.

You know these stunning landscape photos you see all over the internet? The ones that are perfectly framed, have great color and look like a painting? Well, there are a few tips and tricks how you can achieve this specific type of landscape shot.

click on the images for a bigger view

Take your Landscape Photos at the right time

The first thing that should be on your mind when taking landscape photos is time. This is sort of a known rule, but it's the most important one. Take your landscape photos 20 minutes before the sun sets or 20 minutes after the sun sets during sunset. It also works the other way around. Take your shots 20 minutes before the sun rises and 20 minutes after. I usually go with the sunset, since I rarely have time to get up so early, but here are two examplels of landscape shots, taken at sunset and sunrise.

Photo taken a couple of minutes before sunset

Landscape photo taken 10 minutes before sunrise

Framing your Landscape Photos

There is the rule of thirds, which you probably have heard of before. Divide the image into three parts and make it 1 part land and 2 parts sky, or 2 parts land and 1 part sky. But you can (and should) play with this rule. Also, when you think about landscape photos, you also think about landscape mode (shooting horizontally). That doesn't have to be the case. Shoot vertically sometimes. It can make your shot much more interesting. Take a look at the landscape photos below:

A Landscape taken Vertically

Playing with the Rule of Thirds, and giving more impact to the water.

Bring your Tripod with you

This is an essential tool that divides Pro Shots from others. When you shoot at these times of the day, sometimes, your shots can come out slightly blurry because the light will start to go. Bring your tripod with you and use a remote clicker to take the shot, or set your camera up that it takes the shot 5 or 10 seconds after you press the shutter button.

 

Shoot in Aperture Priority Mode

If you have a dslr camera, this is a must. Often times, people will tell you that you have to shoot in Manual mode (and you certainly can). But I have found that the easiest solution is to shoot in Aperture Priority Mode. You will find it on your camera's dial. On a Canon camera it's called "Av", and on a Nikon camera it's called "A". This controles the depth of field for your landscape photo. You want the foreground and background (most of the times, unless you are playing with this) to be sharp. So dial your switch to Av or A and choose a high aperture number, starting from f22 for maximum sharpness.

 

Make Moody Weather your Friend

So it's overcast outside, or maybe the clouds are rolling in, and you think: Oh the sun will not come out today, I'm not going to shoot any landscapes. You could be wrong there. Make use of the moody weather and incorporate it into your shots. Also, fog can be your friend as well. All of them will create interesting landscape photos. Just make sure to protect your photo gear in bad weather!

 

Shoot Extremely Wide or Zoom into one Detail

I know that the title sounds contradictory, but let me explain. For stunning landscape photos, you have the choice from the two. Either go all out, all wide as much as you can and capture it all, or zoom into one detail that can suggest the rest of the scene and stay with it. Here are two examples:

A Zoom into the Mountain and Big Cloud hanging above it

A Wide shot of the Valley

Let your Landscape Photos have a Subject

Make your landscape about something. Most of the times, a landscape shot won't work because there is no clear focus to it. Make your shot about something and let the rest of the landscape work its way into the shot. Also make sure to get rid of unwanted objects and clutter in your image. Simplicity is the way to go. You will see what I mean in the example below:

The fortress in the bay is the clear subject of this photo, and leads the eye right to it.

~

I hope I have helped you out a bit if you were in need for some tips and tricks. If you have any further questions, let me know in the comments below.

Feel free to share this post with other who might need it.

5 Spooky Places to get you in the Halloween Spirit

Halloween is one day away, and for today's post I wanted to share 5 Spooky Settings to get you in the Halloween Spirit. Today's Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries, some of which have pagan roots.

Halloween is a celebration and remembrance of the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers. Halloween is commonly reduced to scare and fear, when indeed it is so much more then scary masks and trick or treating.

There is something about the mood around Halloween, that makes me want to pack my things and venture out into uncharted territory, celebrate the fact that I am alive, and maybe, just for a moment, let the darkness come close. And in that sense, here are some locations that will surely, get you into the spirit of the season.

click on the images for a bigger view

Alone in the Woods...

Escape

Isolation

A lonely hike

This one goes to Good Fences

Trapped

What are you planing for Halloween? Is your city decorated? Here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Halloween is not celebrated traditionally like in the USA, but some people do dress up.

15 Relaxing Nature Images

Today we are taking it easy. When the cold autumn days get that one bit too grey and rainy, I yearn for the comfort and relaxation of the green from nature. So for today I chose to post 15 relaxing nature images that I have collected over the years. If you are stressed or simply in need for some relaxation, I truly hope that these will do the trick.

Feel free to share the beauty of nature in this post with others (share buttons are below).

click on the images for a bigger view

1. Golden fields

Linking this one to Good Fences

2. Little White and Yellow Dots

3. The Calm from Within

4. Ruby in the Sky

5. The Grandness of Nature

6. Fruits of the Season

7. In the Orchard

8. Solitude

9. The Busy Stream

10. Overlooking

11. As the cold closes in

12. Plump and ripe

13. In the Mountains

 

14. Arrival

 15. Piercing the Green

Thank you all for stopping by! I wish you a relaxed day.

Let me know in the comments below, which sight from nature you liked the most!

10 Photo Ideas for Fall

Fall is around the corner and just as with any season that is starting, we need a little inspiration for venturing out with our cameras. I have said it before and will gladly repeat it: fall is my favorite season. Especially the transitional period between summer and fall. There is just so much to experience during this time. I hope to share some of my favorite photo ideas for fall with you. Hopefully you will find them inspirational.

click on the images for a bigger view

Photo Ideas for Fall

1. Apples and other Fruit

It's Apple picking season and therefore they should be included in your photos. Fresh picked ones are the best, but I think these small and slightly less perfect ones i found in the forest work as well. Give them a nice rustic background, like wood or a nice old fashioned bowl. Of course, choose to depict fruit that is in season. It's just amazing to look back at the seasons in terms of fruits and vegetables (like pumpkins in fall).

2. Rustic Charm

Venture out into the countryside for fall. You will get much prettier sights then in the cities. As the warm summer season ends, the real work begins here. You can capture activity, as well as quiet moments which are usual for this time of year. But you don't have to necessarily capture whole villages, look for other rustic details as well. Look for barns, wooden doors, strokes of paint, rust or animals.

3. Moody Skies

As the weather is changing, don't be alarmed if clouds cover up the inviting light of the sun. Try to use them to your advantage. Having moody and/or dramatic skies can add that touch of much needed drama to otherwise boring landscapes. Of course if you need a little post-production help in bringing out the drama, you will find a great dramatic landscape tutorial on this blog.

4. Mountains

Not only is this a great time of year to venture out into the mountains, they will start changing color as well and give you many interesting locations to photograph. Look for animal life as well, as most of the animals are preparing for the long winter sleep ahead. Also, go out into deep woods and forests (be safe about it of course), to get moody woods, vibrant leaves, fog or sunset shots.

5. Halloween and Spooky Sights

It's the season of the witch and spooky times are ahead for Halloween. Capture colorful costumes and Halloween decorations. And if Halloween is not celebrated in your parts of the world (like it isn't here where I live), try to capture the spirit of Samhain by shooting graveyards, dark woods and city streets, lonely fields, paths, spooky looking houses, old things, and so on. I love the chill you get when you stare at a slightly unusual image.

6. Home and Decor

Staying inside can be very cozy and calming in the fall season. As the days get shorter and colder, we look for light and warmth inside the house. Capture family gatherings, celebrations, solitary enjoyments, like a warm cup of coffee or cocoa. This is also the time of year when houses have fall colored decor like pumpkins, candles, place settings, flowers and many more.

7. Harvest

Whether you are in the countryside for harvest or are just visiting the local Farmers market, it is the time of year, when the fruits of the long summer season are reaped. Try venturing out into the countryside for harvest time, or make a visit to a apple orchard and pick the fruit yourself. Lots of great activity shots can be taken at this very moment.

8. Trips and Outings

Cooler days are a perfect opportunity to go out and rediscover near sights. Maybe there is no time for a long vacation, but try to get as many weekend trips under your belt before winter is around the corner. I love fall the most when it comes to venturing out. In spring, my allergies can get in the way, and summer is just to hot here. So make it your mission to capture your trips and outings. Remember, you don't have to travel far to enjoy yourself and bring home great photos.

9. Windy Days

It's hard to evoke the sound of nature, but there is just something so therapeutic and calming about windy fall days, so you have to try it. Woods are the perfect place for photos like these. Show the grandeur of nature, solitary moments, and with some luck, the fall winds rushing through the leaves. If your photo camera has a video setting, it's time to turn it on, or go for a fantastic timelapse composition that shows movement.

 

10. Colors of the Season

This list would not be complete without the mentioning of the amazing fall colors. Try to get them as early as possible, as it seems to me, that by the time they become strikingly obvious, they disappear in the blink of an eye. From red, orange to yellow, nature shows, that there is no better way to display vivid colors. Shoot woods and forests, but also city streets that have trees, or try a solitary tree like in the image above.