HDR Photography Tutorial & Blog - Meteora, Greece

exploration (and coffee) is the key

Every time I work on these photos from Meteora, I feel an incredible sense of serenity. Every time I look at images of this beautiful place, I fell a strong sense of inner tranquility; the type of calming sensation that reminds me that it’s been at least 2 hours since my last cup of coffee…

Mmmm, coffee… The thought of having some of that tasty beverage brings me to today’s monkey business, exploration.

Now, a lot of people ask me, (at least my Mom does) how do I find some of these shots. Well, my reply is a simple one: I explore, a lot, mostly on foot, sometimes many miles a day. Sometimes too many miles a day…

Not only is setting out on foot the cheapest way to explore, It’s also the most effective. When you walk, you have time to notice all the tiny little details. Here in Meteora, like many other places, the tiny details can guide your senses, giving you the ability to be more in tune with your surroundings. The sounds, the smells, the feelings, these all play an important role in photography, adding to the emotional impact of the shot. Think about it. If it’s emotion that you are trying to portray, shouldn’t you feel it yourself? Sometimes you have to totally immerse yourself in the environment to truly understand and appreciate it, and doing so is much more difficult from behind a wind shied.

So, get some decent hiking shoes, pack a good lunch with a thermos full of espresso, and start exploring. You’ll be happy that you did. 😉